What full-ranges offer most midbass punch?

[CZ Eddie]

Guys,

I'm looking for plans to build a set of full range speakers that excel in the mid-bass area. Something that will really deliver some serious kick to the chest.

Budget is about $800.

Maybe something with a pair of 12's on either side?

99% Home Theater. I always watch at or slightly above reference level (75db).

My current subwoofer is an 18" in a ported enclosure tuned to about 15hz and I'd like to keep that crossed over very low.

I ran a search on this forum, but all the threads I found were talking about individual drivers, rather than complete plans. So maybe I'm expecting the wrong thing from this forum? But any advice is appreciated.

PartsExpress has plans on their site. The "Magna Cum Laude" plans are within my budget and at least appear to meet my needs?

I've read a few threads on it here at diyaudio, but don't see any mention of midbass performance. And the 12" subs used are out of stock at partsexpress.

http://www.partsexpress.com/projects...agna/index.cfm

[bottom_feeder]

I know you asked for full range, BUT . ..

for midbass punch, it's REALLY hard to beat a properly implemented 15 inch Karlson setup . . . I have a pair stuffed with Altec 418's (yup - guitar speakers) and they have ridiculous punch . . I've had as much as 400 W RMS going to them . . the more power the better

I think they do funky things above 200 / 250 Hz, so I cross them over around there with an active x-over, and the upper frequencies are handled by some DIY open baffle line arrays . . .

[CZ Eddie]

I'm definately open to implementation. Something like an MTM paired with a seperate midbass unit would be fun, and allow me to duplicate a center and rear satellites.


I did a quick search on Karlson and everything so far is turning up dead links. I'll search some more after I eat my dinner. Thanks!

[bottom_feeder]

check out the Karlson Group ; )

http://gainclone.com/Karlson/index.php?board=1.0

there's a TON of info on there . . .

I've always wanted to build mine into a wall since they are ENORMOUS . . .

[TerryO]

Originally posted by bottom_feeder
I know you asked for full range, BUT . ..

for midbass punch, it's REALLY hard to beat a properly implemented 15 inch Karlson setup . . . I have a pair stuffed with Altec 417's (yup - guitar speakers) and they have ridiculous punch . . I've had as much as 400 W RMS going to them . . the more power the better

I think they do funky things above 200 / 250 Hz, so I cross them over around there with an active x-over, and the upper frequencies are handled by some DIY open baffle line arrays . . .

Those Karlson's do have a lot of "kick" and would make a great mid-woofer complement for some OB Visiton B200s or Tone Tubby 8 inch ceramic mids with a super tweeter of some sort (or not!).
This could be a fun project.

Best Regards,
TerryO

[bottom_feeder]

Originally posted by TerryO


Those Karlson's do have a lot of "kick" and would make a great mid-woofer complement for some OB Visiton B200s or Tone Tubby 8 inch ceramic mids with a super tweeter of some sort (or not!).
This could be a fun project.

Best Regards,
TerryO

yup . . . I definitely agree . . . . my only issue (if you really wanna call it that) is the Altec's I'm using are about 100 db efficient, so they practically require something as efficient as line arrays (8 drivers per side) to match up well with them. I use vintage KLH 4.5 inch fullrange drivers in the line arrays, and for a super tweeter I use a pair of the old Radio Shack / Lineaum Dipole Ribbon tweeters.

CZ - I think you're on the right track . . . doing an MTM arrangement, but relieving them of the sub-250 Hz midbass duties would really open your option up for drivers . . . you could also consider doing Karlsons with 12 inchers - cabinets would be a little more managable. My Altec-stuffed Karlson's are huge and must weigh 70 pounds a piece

[CZ Eddie]

Wow, the Karlson is a funky looking speaker enclosure.

From my little research, it seems the "K15" is something that could work for me in an MTM/Midbass combo?
But I can't tell for sure. Is the K15 a full-range intended enclosure with some weird midrange/tweeter tube or is that just the X15?

Also, I have not been able to find any plans for the K15 enclosure.

I found a couple of drawings, but nothing that would make me confident in being able to build one of these enclosures.

There are tons of plans available for various MTM's, so that shouldn't be difficult.

[bottom_feeder]

I have a link somewhewre to some plans . . . I lucked out with mine, as a a friend got them for free stuffed with some EV woofers . . he kept the woofers and gave the cabinets to me, since they needed a little work (new wings & braces)

I'm pretty sure mine were built in the late 50's / early 60's

check out this thread on the Karlson forum for more incentive

http://gainclone.com/Karlson/index.php?action=search2

[bottom_feeder]

actually, the original plans (apparently ):

http://home.earthlink.net/~buddhaboy2/K15.PNG

[bottom_feeder]

Originally posted by CZ Eddie
Wow, the Karlson is a funky looking speaker enclosure.

From my little research, it seems the "K15" is something that could work for me in an MTM/Midbass combo?
But I can't tell for sure. Is the K15 a full-range intended enclosure with some weird midrange/tweeter tube or is that just the X15?

Also, I have not been able to find any plans for the K15 enclosure.

I found a couple of drawings, but nothing that would make me confident in being able to build one of these enclosures.

There are tons of plans available for various MTM's, so that shouldn't be difficult.

Originally, they did market it as a 'silver bullet' of sorts. . . used lots with coaxial EV's / Jensen's / etc . . some (like mine) had a tweeter mounted on the 'shelf', aimed downwards, bouncing the tweeter signal off the woofer cone.

Here on DIY, (and out in the 'internets' ) the master of all things Karlson in freddy . . . if you post over on the Karlson forum, I'm sure he'll chime in and give you some pointers.

here's the main link page I was looking for:

http://home.planet.nl/~ulfman/constr.htm

two really good K15 plans here (in metric, but hey, still works)