I’m considering doing a build of Jeff Bagby’s Kairos 3-ways. I have built the CJD Khanspires, a Dayton RS series 3-way, and like them. I’m now interested in building something with a bit higher end drivers and a bit more exotic cabinet construction would be fun too. These will go in a 12x12 home office, so I don’t need huge output, but…
Has anyone built these, and if so what are your thoughts? Would you recommend an alternative for full-range, high quality sound smallish room?
Has anyone built these, and if so what are your thoughts? Would you recommend an alternative for full-range, high quality sound smallish room?
I have the Helios, brilliant speaker, but check your listening distance - you need to be >2m away from the Helios for the outputs of the drivers to combine perfectly. Probably less of an issue with the Kairos.
Kairos 3 way in a 12 x 12’ home office?
I feel that is too big a speaker.
Why not try the Kairos 2 way first ; in a small room the room gain means you’ll probably get good output to below 40Hz.
You might not need or want the extra 10-15Hz of extension.
I feel that is too big a speaker.
Why not try the Kairos 2 way first ; in a small room the room gain means you’ll probably get good output to below 40Hz.
You might not need or want the extra 10-15Hz of extension.
Last edited:
I found my Helios to be perfect in my 12x11 room but it is heavily treated (RT60 = 180ms) speakers at one end, me seated other end ~9' away.
The Revelation Be would be a better fit for your room and you can always add woofer modules later in the UNLIKELY event that they cant go loud enough or low enough for your taste.
The Revelation Be would be a better fit for your room and you can always add woofer modules later in the UNLIKELY event that they cant go loud enough or low enough for your taste.
Thumbs up to the SB Revolution Mini Be suggestion for your room size - the passive radiator also makes placement a bit easier and you've also got a better chance of being the right distance from it (it's important to define if you want to listen nearfield or far field). Some other options include Linkwitz LX Mini (which is great) or one of Troels Gravesens bookshelf speakers (e.g. BOOKSHELF-3WC)
I have the Revolution Mini in a 16x13’ room;
About 1.5’ from front wall and it’s just a Goldilocks speaker-
Just right.
You can search for it on this forum
About 1.5’ from front wall and it’s just a Goldilocks speaker-
Just right.
You can search for it on this forum
Thanks for all the feedback everyone. I really appreciate it.
I’ve now been scouring the net for a couple days trying to understand whether the Revolution Mini (with the 5” Satori mid) or the Revolution (with the ceramic mid) is the way to go. Has anyone heard both?
Tktran303, it sounds like you really like yours. Which version do you have? Did you spring for the berillium tweeter?
I’ve now been scouring the net for a couple days trying to understand whether the Revolution Mini (with the 5” Satori mid) or the Revolution (with the ceramic mid) is the way to go. Has anyone heard both?
Tktran303, it sounds like you really like yours. Which version do you have? Did you spring for the berillium tweeter?
The background to Revolution is this:
SB Revolution Loudspeaker Kit - Meniscus Audio
“The Revolution began as a project commissioned by SB Acoustics. They wanted a design utilizing the new low-cost Beryllium tweeter and the 5 x8″ passive radiator. A mistake gave you this second version. This kit was originally the “Mini Be” version, but the wrong hole was cut in the test cabinet. Instead of cut for the MW13P woofer, it was cut for the SB15CAC30. Not to let a good cabinet go to waste, Jeff did a version using the Ceramic woofer along with the Be tweeter and SB 5 x 9″ passive radiator.”
I wanted a 1/4 cu ft speaker not 1/2cu ft speaker; so I chose the original with the MW13P.
The downside is slightly is less sub bass and slightly higher cost.
I chose the soft dome tweeter- I thought “well, I could always upgrade later; without a change to the crossover. Almost 12 months later I haven’t been compelled to change the tweeter; much less spend $500 for the beryllium tweeters.
You could build both; but one is not necessarily better than the other;
Just different tradeoffs. ie. bigger cabinets : deeper bass; metal cone vs paper cone etc
Here’s mine:
2020 Jeff Bagby Revolution Mini SD
SB Revolution Loudspeaker Kit - Meniscus Audio
“The Revolution began as a project commissioned by SB Acoustics. They wanted a design utilizing the new low-cost Beryllium tweeter and the 5 x8″ passive radiator. A mistake gave you this second version. This kit was originally the “Mini Be” version, but the wrong hole was cut in the test cabinet. Instead of cut for the MW13P woofer, it was cut for the SB15CAC30. Not to let a good cabinet go to waste, Jeff did a version using the Ceramic woofer along with the Be tweeter and SB 5 x 9″ passive radiator.”
I wanted a 1/4 cu ft speaker not 1/2cu ft speaker; so I chose the original with the MW13P.
The downside is slightly is less sub bass and slightly higher cost.
I chose the soft dome tweeter- I thought “well, I could always upgrade later; without a change to the crossover. Almost 12 months later I haven’t been compelled to change the tweeter; much less spend $500 for the beryllium tweeters.
You could build both; but one is not necessarily better than the other;
Just different tradeoffs. ie. bigger cabinets : deeper bass; metal cone vs paper cone etc
Here’s mine:
2020 Jeff Bagby Revolution Mini SD
Last edited:
My fave of them was the CAC+Be in the smaller cabinet. The mistakes as it were. Those ceramics are pretty special.
FWIW, Jeff preferred the cheaper classic Be tweeter to the other 2, not the Neo.
It was primed for use in plans for what would have been his final build.
Sadly, he never got to complete them.
Wolf
FWIW, Jeff preferred the cheaper classic Be tweeter to the other 2, not the Neo.
It was primed for use in plans for what would have been his final build.
Sadly, he never got to complete them.
Wolf
Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I ended up ordering the Revolutions with the ceramic mid and soft dome tweeter - the Be tweeter may come later. I’m looking forward to the build and will be sure to post pics once underway.