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AK Design Collaborative - Insignia-Class Economy Speakers (a.k.a Indignia)

Spread the word about Indignias, my brothers. IMO the AK Design Collaborative hit a grand slam with these.

I own several speakers that I consider better for obscure reasons, but they generally don't play music as nicely nor please as many as my Indignias. Great "every day, all day drivers."
 
I lost my daily drivers, a pair of ML Aerious Is, last January when our house flooded. What the water didn't do to them, the clods from the emergency clean up crew finished. Those will be another project at some point.

Kinda amazing that the T amp works so well with the Indignias. Must be that "First Watt" thing. :D:D

I have a Scott 222C that has been refurbed by Terry DeWick and will get attached to the Indignias this weekend. Haven't fired up any tube stuff since the 60s.
 
congrats 1MOR and Stratmel! Very nice jobs on both, I'm sure you'll enjoy them greatly. I have noticed that a couple of other forums have similarly
played with bargain two ways. On the HTguide forum, member Augerpro has a bargain 2 way, "The Noobsters, a bargain 2 way" (also available in diappolito w/ 2 woofs) and then there is discussion on the PE forums about the "Recession Buster" by Madisound.

wouldnt it be cool to do a shoot out between these low cost giant killers?
Anyone have any of these?

Well apparently there is more than one recession buster. RB-Kit was 164.00,
but is out of stock. They suggest "RB-2" which is on sale for 59.00! Its two crossovers, two vifa woofers and 2 vifa tweets. Then, there is the "Recession buster Reference" RBR for 399.00, but it uses scanSpeak woofs and a more expensive tweeter, really not a bargain ultra cheap speaker like we would compare here.

Russellc
 
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Russellc said:
wouldnt it be cool to do a shoot out between these low cost giant killers?
Anyone have any of these?
Click to expand...

I've got parts for the Madisound kit but I haven't made it that deep into the todo list. When I get 'em build I'll let you know.
 
Robie said:
Very nice jimbofish. I also use mine horizontally every day but only due to space constraint related to a low shelf over my desk. I position mine with tweeters to the outside. They are also used in a nearfield configuration. I think they sound great that way.

When I play them somewhere else I do use them vertically but will have to try them horizontally now. I would guess they image better vertically but will try to confirm that hypothesis.
Click to expand...

Now that we're back from vacation, I've had a few days to listen more carefully. I've switched them from vertical to horizontal and back a couple of times. It 'seems" as if there's a slight difference, but I'm not sure what it is. I'm more inclined to think it's because I know that that I've switched them. What I need is the wife to help with a blind test...:yes:

I'm using them on top of the JBLs in my basement listening area... L80T speaker stands?... about 8' apart and 3' out from the wall, rather than nearfield like yours. I've also got a pair of Paradigm Atoms on stands next to them and the basic sound is very similar. The Indignia/EV4A's sound more 'open', though, and seem to locate the individual singers and instruments better.

I spent last night listening to Jackson Brown's Running On Empty LP, mainly because I can't find the jacket to put it away :no: I must say they do sound sweet with a good source! "Nothing But Time" and "The Road/Stay" sound especially good, even with the crackles and pops from a BOTL Akai TT. :thmbsp:
 
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Russellc, a "shootout" sounds like a cool idea. I'll be looking for posts once it gets done.

jimbofish, they "DO" have the ability to grow on you even more. Try an uncompressed college jazz of good quality (if one is available in your area) and listen to 'em really shine regardless of whether you like jazz.
 
Russellc said:
there is discussion on the PE forums about the "Recession Buster" by Madisound.

wouldnt it be cool to do a shoot out between these low cost giant killers?
Anyone have any of these?

Well apparently there is more than one recession buster. RB-Kit was 164.00,
but is out of stock. They suggest "RB-2" which is on sale for 59.00! Its two crossovers, two vifa woofers and 2 vifa tweets. Then, there is the "Recession buster Reference" RBR for 399.00, but it uses scanSpeak woofs and a more expensive tweeter, really not a bargain ultra cheap speaker like we would compare here.

Russellc
Click to expand...

I just finished 2 pairs of RB2 Kits (pics posted in DIY, here) and I'm sure that the Indignia's are the superior project. At least thats what I got from skimming through this thread. Don't get me wrong about the RB2 kit, though. $160/pr total, INCLUDING veneered cabs and pre-built crossovers is pretty hard to beat.

How the RB2's sound...? Well these are for a friend, but since he won't get them til Xmas, I've been breaking them in a bit and they do much better than I had a right to expect, for the money. The bass is MIA below around 75-85hz and the tweet is a bit brighter/harsher than my PSB Alpha B1's bookshelves. Some of the HF harseness will surely smoothe out as they break-in. This was my first foray into DIY and my mind is already reeling from the mental onslaught of projects from my research surfing the DIY subject. I may tackle the "Recession Buster Reference Kit" next. Or Curt C's Mini Statements.

The tweeter recesses got cut a hair too big on one of the pairs. The pic below shows this slight defect.

Jim Porter
 

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doucanoe said:
Hey Zilch/Jack,

I finally gathered up enough pieces parts to cobble together the high efficiency woofer crossovers and got one side done this morning. I only wanted to do one side so I could compare and contrast with my makeshift crossover.

Thought I had it sounding pretty good as is, but after listening to them all afternoon now, I would have to say my tempo. falls flat (pardon the pun) in comparison.

Fun project, Nice work fellas!
Click to expand...
EconoWave?

Get the second one running and post a pic over there so we can make you "Official...." :thmbsp:
 
jnporter said:
The tweeter recesses got cut a hair too big on one of the pairs. The pic below shows this slight defect.
Click to expand...

Hey Jim. Get some of the black speaker mounting stuff from PE and put in the tweeter recess. Then center the tweet as best you can in the hole and it will help.
 
Oh for cripes sakes, I posted in the wrong thread.

Where is that embarrassed smiley when you need it.


Sorry Ray, Zilch etc.


RC
 
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Robie said:
Russellc, a "shootout" sounds like a cool idea. I'll be looking for posts once it gets done.

jimbofish, they "DO" have the ability to grow on you even more. Try an uncompressed college jazz of good quality (if one is available in your area) and listen to 'em really shine regardless of whether you like jazz.
Click to expand...

True, I have a few uncompressed stations around the KC-Lawrence area and they sound smashing.

russellc
 
RayW said:
I've got parts for the Madisound kit but I haven't made it that deep into the todo list. When I get 'em build I'll let you know.
Click to expand...

Which kit, the 59 buck one? Will be interested in your comments on that one. I bet Indignia holds up just fine. I guess I could try to obtain parts for the
Augerpro "noobsters".......only got about three sets of speakers worth of parts, what's another? shoot out could be at one of Jay's mini fests, dont know if I'll get done that quick for Oct. though. Let me review the parts list.



russellc
 
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YamahaFreak said:
Out of curiosity, did the Indignias ever get accepted into the Parts Express showcase? :D
Click to expand...


It hasn't been submitted yet. The author is still waiting for a picture from a certain AKer who will go nameless but his initials are Zilch.

Russellc said:
Which kit, the 59 buck one?
Click to expand...

Yeah, it has the Vifa drivers. I'm slowly catching up to that one.

only got about three sets of speakers worth of parts, what's another?
Click to expand...

I'll have to take a pic of my driver cabinet. You'll feel fortunate to only have 3 sets waiting. :D

edit: just checked the Noobster design. I've been eyeing that TB driver for a while. I'll be interested to hear how that one turns out. The tweeter is a nice one.
 
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Port closed with ZilchPlug™, Karma Indignia #001 nearfield bass response (black) in comparison to six classic acoustic suspension loudspeakers plus one "pretender"

attachment.php

Red = Smaller Advent, blue = AR3a. See thread for more info:

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?p=2980192#post2980192
 
Finished my Indignias today!!!!

Well, today I finished my set of Indignias. I'm listening to them at this moment and they really sound good:music:. I've got them setting on top of my ADS L690s... it looks like they just might get the starting job. My ADS's and JBL's will have to fight for the back-up position:boxing:. I'll be ABC'ing all three sets, but the Indignias will get a break-in period, just to be fair. I'm really surprised by the bass. Everything else is great too. How much better do they get with a good break-in period?
I lined them with some under-carpet foam I have (I remembered I had a roll of it in my garage attic. It seems to be doing the job quite well.)
Thanks Zilch and others for the help and the design.
Mike

I had this posted elsewhere, but moved it to this thread. Sorry if it's duplicated.
 
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mjennens, Congrats. They look really nice. My experience is that they "smoothed" out after break-in, with more driver "integration."
 
Definately smoothed out with a little play. I have found an inexpensive amp that drives the heck out of them! The JBL/Urie 6230 power amp. These can be had for a song, mine was 140 buck delivered. Only required massive joint reflowing to get it in top running shape. It really has the beans to control these little beasties!:thmbsp:

Russellc
 
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