Karlson K 15

jwklbm · 28th November 2006, 04:09 PM

The past discussions list the many faults of the Karlson's sonic qualities, but I think that there is a general misunderstanding of the bass performance. These speakers will demolish a home with 8hz from a single enclosure driven by 30 watts. The truth is, bass below 40hz becomes less audible and more visceral. I have never felt more solid and "live" sounding bass in any system and I've heard many systems. The problems I am having with these K 15's is all in the midrange and upper end. I am using some EV TRX 15 drivers. The tweeking has only just begun. I'll report back as I feel progress is made.
Cheers, Josh

freddi · 28th November 2006, 05:36 PM

imo no clean 8Hz but Karlson can exhibit more impact than reflex and similar sized horn and cone excursion is low for amount of power delivered to room or outdoors in passband.

with weak but clean motor Beta 15CX, sideband reduction with 32Hz and 160Hz sinewaves mixed 1:1 was 10dB vs a 50Hz tuned reflex with same driver and same rear chamber volume as K15.

baffle tilt, wings gap at top, wings flare. vent position, rear shelf gap (if employed as choke/lowpass gap) can have bearing on their tone. (pipes and reflex of course have tonal interactions too between vent and driver)

the front nulling shelf disappeared in smaller couplers and may have wreaked too much havoc for hifi in those.

I think its possible to build new Karlson couplers which are fun and musical but it might take a flexible test box and some mucking.

Karlson downsized K15 43% to X15 (sold as two-way system) in 1965 losing nearly a half-octave of response but midbass punch was good (as was that of K12 if loaded with strong motor driver)

I've used low mass low qts 18" in K15 size for fun as xmax is usually higher than low mass 15".

Karlson enclosures are interesting, controversiasl and the design and its inventer probably deserve a Wikipedia entry.

On looks alone K15 from 1951 and debuted in 1952's New York Audio Fair should rate with the finest atomic age furniture.

K15 and EV 15TRX provided sound for dinosaurs and other effects at the 1964-65 Worlds Fair exhibits.

eXemplar re-tunes and boosts K15 for subwoofer use.

when I hit a coupler say with 300 watt peak on odaiko - it hits back :^)

Freddy

ps - what tweaks are you trying?

28th November 2006, 04:09 PM	#1
jwklbm diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2006	Karlson K 15 The past discussions list the many faults of the Karlson's sonic qualities, but I think that there is a general misunderstanding of the bass performance. These speakers will demolish a home with 8hz from a single enclosure driven by 30 watts. The truth is, bass below 40hz becomes less audible and more visceral. I have never felt more solid and "live" sounding bass in any system and I've heard many systems. The problems I am having with these K 15's is all in the midrange and upper end. I am using some EV TRX 15 drivers. The tweeking has only just begun. I'll report back as I feel progress is made. Cheers, Josh

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Karlson Enclosure	Javaman	Multi-Way	123	1st September 2011 09:00 PM
when are you going to try Karlson?	freddi	Full Range	2	20th November 2007 08:45 PM
Karlson Kolumn	PeteMcK	Multi-Way	0	16th November 2007 08:08 PM
What to put on top of a Karlson?	Illusus	Multi-Way	0	25th October 2007 03:10 AM
spawn of Karlson for fun????	freddi	Multi-Way	4	23rd October 2007 05:51 PM

New To Site?	Need Help?
Register to Participate Search Privacy Statement Contact Us	Frequently Asked Questions Did you forget your password? Mark Forums Read


	Please consider donating to help us continue to serve you. Ads on/off / Custom Title / More PMs / More album space / Advanced printing & mass image saving

28th November 2006, 05:36 PM	#2
freddi diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2005	imo no clean 8Hz but Karlson can exhibit more impact than reflex and similar sized horn and cone excursion is low for amount of power delivered to room or outdoors in passband. with weak but clean motor Beta 15CX, sideband reduction with 32Hz and 160Hz sinewaves mixed 1:1 was 10dB vs a 50Hz tuned reflex with same driver and same rear chamber volume as K15. baffle tilt, wings gap at top, wings flare. vent position, rear shelf gap (if employed as choke/lowpass gap) can have bearing on their tone. (pipes and reflex of course have tonal interactions too between vent and driver) the front nulling shelf disappeared in smaller couplers and may have wreaked too much havoc for hifi in those. I think its possible to build new Karlson couplers which are fun and musical but it might take a flexible test box and some mucking. Karlson downsized K15 43% to X15 (sold as two-way system) in 1965 losing nearly a half-octave of response but midbass punch was good (as was that of K12 if loaded with strong motor driver) I've used low mass low qts 18" in K15 size for fun as xmax is usually higher than low mass 15". Karlson enclosures are interesting, controversiasl and the design and its inventer probably deserve a Wikipedia entry. On looks alone K15 from 1951 and debuted in 1952's New York Audio Fair should rate with the finest atomic age furniture. K15 and EV 15TRX provided sound for dinosaurs and other effects at the 1964-65 Worlds Fair exhibits. eXemplar re-tunes and boosts K15 for subwoofer use. when I hit a coupler say with 300 watt peak on odaiko - it hits back :^) Freddy ps - what tweaks are you trying?

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)