Yeah, the Transylvania tubes would have required a 3 part mold if they had not been slightly tapered. The taper may have had some slight effect, but it had to have been primarily a logistical consideration.
Agreed that solid wood is not the best option. Wood veneers or paper and glue around a former is known to work well.
Diameter should be the same as the comp driver exit. Length? It's a modified plane wave tube, so think in those terms. I used 6.5"L x 1" ID, with a 5.5" slotted section IIRC. That worked well with a PSD2002.
Agreed that solid wood is not the best option. Wood veneers or paper and glue around a former is known to work well.
Diameter should be the same as the comp driver exit. Length? It's a modified plane wave tube, so think in those terms. I used 6.5"L x 1" ID, with a 5.5" slotted section IIRC. That worked well with a PSD2002.
Hi,
I'm sorry if this is OT, I already asked this question in the 'Speaker that kicks butt thread', but since then xrk developed the XKi, so I'd like to know what you guys feel about how the Klam, the XKi, and mini K-15 compare for use as replacement for midrange only device in a 3-4 way(horn) system? 😕
I dunno. After several experiments with midrange K type devices, it's clear to me that these are difficult to get right. I'd prefer to use a midrange horn in most circumstances.
Still, I'm not saying it can't be done. IF I had to design a midrange K-tube, I'd probably start with a midrange compression driver, and use a fairly long tube that matches the throat diameter, let's say 2". I suspect it would be worthwhile to squash the tube into an elliptical cross section, and then cut the slot.
It might be fun to try a slightly enlarged Karlson Rocket. This might work with the right driver.
With some tweaking, the mini karlsonators have pretty minimal coloration, but they are more of a full range enclosure than a mid specific, with good bass and a fun sound in a small box. The same would be true for the xKi.
Still, I'm not saying it can't be done. IF I had to design a midrange K-tube, I'd probably start with a midrange compression driver, and use a fairly long tube that matches the throat diameter, let's say 2". I suspect it would be worthwhile to squash the tube into an elliptical cross section, and then cut the slot.
It might be fun to try a slightly enlarged Karlson Rocket. This might work with the right driver.
With some tweaking, the mini karlsonators have pretty minimal coloration, but they are more of a full range enclosure than a mid specific, with good bass and a fun sound in a small box. The same would be true for the xKi.
Thanks for the reply, Greg B!
By the way, I'm enjoying the Karsonators every day. 😉
It has a nice, full bodied and balanced sound.
(that's why I am looking for a way to implement Karlson type device in the mids in the first place)
Kudos for the design!
By the way, I'm enjoying the Karsonators every day. 😉
It has a nice, full bodied and balanced sound.
(that's why I am looking for a way to implement Karlson type device in the mids in the first place)
Kudos for the design!
I'd say - pick a cone driver be it mid or fullrange with high sensitivity as there's little "gain" and if available, some on-axis rise - use a shallow cavity - I don't think it would need to be tall - think of XRK971's "XKi" in shape but with only enough rear chamber volume when sealed to achieve a system Q of around 0.7 to 1. Experiment with tilt and aperture if possible doing measurements but also subjective evaluations. A couple layers of corrugated cardboard would probably suffice for a temporary aperture.
Karlson's K8 which I think debuted in late 1955, could exhibit a cavity peak then drop - it would be good to avoid that characteristic. The Karlsonator seems to avoid it - there's a chance that shorter cabinet may get past it too. Maybe X will chime in with observations from his K work.
a short klam may work - I get the idea that some klam aspect will have good vertical dispersion but limited horizontal plus the driver is literally buried deeper into the device. A shallow regular Karlson is what I would try for dedicated midrange. The baffle could be extended to hold a K-tube and compression driver.
walters has experimented with midrange size klam so may have different views.
Karlson's K8 which I think debuted in late 1955, could exhibit a cavity peak then drop - it would be good to avoid that characteristic. The Karlsonator seems to avoid it - there's a chance that shorter cabinet may get past it too. Maybe X will chime in with observations from his K work.
a short klam may work - I get the idea that some klam aspect will have good vertical dispersion but limited horizontal plus the driver is literally buried deeper into the device. A shallow regular Karlson is what I would try for dedicated midrange. The baffle could be extended to hold a K-tube and compression driver.
walters has experimented with midrange size klam so may have different views.
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someone with a jigsaw and pvc elbows should be able to test the LF section pretty easy. It would be cool looking - not sure how much power can be delivered.
I have a regular klam loaded with 80oz slug Eminence coax with compression driver - its not "perfect" but much more powerful and clear than a lot of fullrange. Rear chamber volume before loading the coax is around 1 cubic foot.
normal orientation when used by themselves is usually "high" on a tripod or at the junction of a ceiling and rear wall
I have a regular klam loaded with 80oz slug Eminence coax with compression driver - its not "perfect" but much more powerful and clear than a lot of fullrange. Rear chamber volume before loading the coax is around 1 cubic foot.
normal orientation when used by themselves is usually "high" on a tripod or at the junction of a ceiling and rear wall
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There's signs although area is little larger probably where 10 comes from, they mention cloth surround too what a classic 🙂, above 800Hz in plot it's very close to 90dB.
EDIT Here in sealed exaggerated volume 20 ltr. to get rid of overshoot pressed with 15w input. XO hard at 200Hz to a bass driver what a cheap FAST.
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cool - - I'm used to ~100dB tweeters with a K-tube to go with 12pe32 in a little K-coupler and also coaxial rated 99. An Eminence coax with 80oz magnet is around 8dB louder than a 1772.
naw - it would be interesting to move it to the Karlsonator12 as well as trying Beta10cx and stronger 12cx in Karlsonator12. Fane's double whizzer cone 12 plays very well in K12 and Karlsonator in the mids and highs - I had K12's vent damped with bonded Dacron but no fill in the rear chamber - that Fane should work on open baffle and perhaps "in" KaZba.
a super - rare pair of Karlson X15 with the 3" cone tweeter just popped up at Ebay Vintage Original Karlson X-15 Speakers Complete early version | eBay
wild way to do things and followed up by the slotted pipe in later X15. Here's
Dave Young's description of X15's tweeter klam from the old Job Ulfman Karlson Speaker forum
X15 WOOD TWEETER DESCRIPTION
Date: 02/3/01 03:51:16 PM
Name: David A. Young
Email:
Subject: Re: Karlson X-15 1972 Model Organ SPKR.?
I have a data sheet for the X-15 as well as plans drawn from
one of Martin Poppe's cabinets. I have heard the X-15 in a church
with Ann Karlson playing the organ. From what I can remember it
sounded very good. Martin's sounded strong in the lower midrange.
I still have one of the X-15 copies left. In the early eighties
I built 6 and sold them to Bass Guitar players. Great dispersion
and a fat bass sound. The original used a 15" stamped basket woofer with a 54 oz. square magnet, 2" voice coil, straight cone,
and doped 4 roll cloth surround. Kustom Electronics used a similar
speaker in its Bass Amplifiers. It is also similar to a Klipsh K-33. The tweeter had a 3" cone with a styrofoam coffee cup on
the back. The tweeter coupler was triangular and 3 3/4" wide.
The front was 7" long, the back was 4", and the tweeter panel
was 3 3/4". There was a 1/2" hole on eighter side of the coupler
at the base. The slot was radial. The tweeter was fastened to the
baffle at the upper edge of the woofer cutout. The reflector above
the baffle was elliptical and made up of three panels. There is a
short shelf on the rear of the first reflector parel. The port has
a board with 42, 3/8" holes in it. The box was 27 3/4" High,
19 5/8" Wide, and 14 1/8" Deep.
Dave
Dave Young's description of X15's tweeter klam from the old Job Ulfman Karlson Speaker forum
X15 WOOD TWEETER DESCRIPTION
Date: 02/3/01 03:51:16 PM
Name: David A. Young
Email:
Subject: Re: Karlson X-15 1972 Model Organ SPKR.?
I have a data sheet for the X-15 as well as plans drawn from
one of Martin Poppe's cabinets. I have heard the X-15 in a church
with Ann Karlson playing the organ. From what I can remember it
sounded very good. Martin's sounded strong in the lower midrange.
I still have one of the X-15 copies left. In the early eighties
I built 6 and sold them to Bass Guitar players. Great dispersion
and a fat bass sound. The original used a 15" stamped basket woofer with a 54 oz. square magnet, 2" voice coil, straight cone,
and doped 4 roll cloth surround. Kustom Electronics used a similar
speaker in its Bass Amplifiers. It is also similar to a Klipsh K-33. The tweeter had a 3" cone with a styrofoam coffee cup on
the back. The tweeter coupler was triangular and 3 3/4" wide.
The front was 7" long, the back was 4", and the tweeter panel
was 3 3/4". There was a 1/2" hole on eighter side of the coupler
at the base. The slot was radial. The tweeter was fastened to the
baffle at the upper edge of the woofer cutout. The reflector above
the baffle was elliptical and made up of three panels. There is a
short shelf on the rear of the first reflector parel. The port has
a board with 42, 3/8" holes in it. The box was 27 3/4" High,
19 5/8" Wide, and 14 1/8" Deep.
Dave
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