AK Design Collaborative - Insignia-Class Economy Speakers (a.k.a Indignia)
- Thread starter Zilch
- Start date
interalian
Super Member
Interalian's custom crafted cab Karma Indignias receive "Official" S/N 49 and 50! :thmbsp:
http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?p=2269528#post2269528
http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?p=2269528#post2269528
Nice looking speakers, interalian. Welcome to the Indignia owners club!
Last Tuesday, I spent a few hours comparing the Indignias to a couple other "classic" bookshelf speakers (recapped and redoped AR-4xs; recapped, refoamed and bypass-capped Genesis Model 10s and refoamed Epicure Model 4s). I was assisted by a friend with very good hi-fi ears.
The Indignias, by no small measure, had the widest range, best midrange and best overall tonal balance. However, the Indignias sufferred from placement on a long, low IKEA bench located on either side of a 27" CRT TV and a stack of source components (Sony TA-2000F pre, Kenwood KM-106 power and NAD 4020 tuner). As a result, compared to the the other, much larger speakers in the same location, the Indignias sounded noticably smaller than the other speakers. However, this was not unexpected as I'd estimate that the Indignias were anywhere from 2-4 times smaller than these other speakers. I'm more accustomed to Indignias located in a nearfield configuration on a desk or better yet, on stands with plenty of unobstructed volume between the the speakers.
The next step is to do a similar comparison with all speakers on stands. I also want to throw some A25s into the mix.
Last Tuesday, I spent a few hours comparing the Indignias to a couple other "classic" bookshelf speakers (recapped and redoped AR-4xs; recapped, refoamed and bypass-capped Genesis Model 10s and refoamed Epicure Model 4s). I was assisted by a friend with very good hi-fi ears.
The Indignias, by no small measure, had the widest range, best midrange and best overall tonal balance. However, the Indignias sufferred from placement on a long, low IKEA bench located on either side of a 27" CRT TV and a stack of source components (Sony TA-2000F pre, Kenwood KM-106 power and NAD 4020 tuner). As a result, compared to the the other, much larger speakers in the same location, the Indignias sounded noticably smaller than the other speakers. However, this was not unexpected as I'd estimate that the Indignias were anywhere from 2-4 times smaller than these other speakers. I'm more accustomed to Indignias located in a nearfield configuration on a desk or better yet, on stands with plenty of unobstructed volume between the the speakers.
The next step is to do a similar comparison with all speakers on stands. I also want to throw some A25s into the mix.
Last edited:
interalian
Super Member
Thanks all.
Initial observations: While I'm used to the huge sound stage and wide response presented by the Newforms, the Indignias comport themselves very well. Female vocals and piano come across nicely but do become a bit strident if pushed. Amazing bass extension for such a small package too.
These are good enough that my next project will be to veneer the boxes and make proper stands for them.
Port tuning may not be optimized. I just eyeballed a piece of 1.5 pipe and stuck it on (not glued yet). The port is about 8" long if you ignore the 45s and is aligned roughly behind the tweeter since I put the street into the baffle first. I see mention of a tuning frequency, but all I have to measure is a DMM and a function generator of questionable calibration. Process?
I used a 18x18" piece of pink fiberglass R12 insulation I had lying around, stuffed into the box so it covers most of each side, the back and comes together somewhat at top and bottom. Any thoughts?
Cheers,
AD
http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/photo/Cd4X0cC6ZobJNmrZbb-Cqg?feat=directlink
Initial observations: While I'm used to the huge sound stage and wide response presented by the Newforms, the Indignias comport themselves very well. Female vocals and piano come across nicely but do become a bit strident if pushed. Amazing bass extension for such a small package too.
These are good enough that my next project will be to veneer the boxes and make proper stands for them.
Port tuning may not be optimized. I just eyeballed a piece of 1.5 pipe and stuck it on (not glued yet). The port is about 8" long if you ignore the 45s and is aligned roughly behind the tweeter since I put the street into the baffle first. I see mention of a tuning frequency, but all I have to measure is a DMM and a function generator of questionable calibration. Process?
I used a 18x18" piece of pink fiberglass R12 insulation I had lying around, stuffed into the box so it covers most of each side, the back and comes together somewhat at top and bottom. Any thoughts?
Cheers,
AD
http://picasaweb.google.ca/lh/photo/Cd4X0cC6ZobJNmrZbb-Cqg?feat=directlink
Last edited:
Process in Dickason or on Elliott's website:
http://sound.westhost.com/lr-passive.htm
Function generator's gotta be accurate, or insert a frequency meter in the setup.
Fact is, tuning's not critical, and unless it's documented earlier in this thread, I don't recall our target.
[I could measure, if necessary....
]
clydeselsor
Lunatic Member
Nice job!
interalian
Super Member
Process in Dickason or on Elliott's website:
http://sound.westhost.com/lr-passive.htm
Function generator's gotta be accurate, or insert a frequency meter in the setup.
Fact is, tuning's not critical, and unless it's documented earlier in this thread, I don't recall our target.
[I could measure, if necessary....
I could use the HP audio analyzer at work...
Risky -- somebody might see your Indignias and want you to build them a pair.... :tongue:
I think we went with what BB6 said was maximally flat in the given enclosure. It's been a while now, though.
You're on your own for baffles!!
Russellc
Addicted Member
You're on your own for baffles!!
Did you ever document your "method" for doing baffles? I'll search the thread here and if there was a group buy thread, seems like I remember that. Did the possiblity of this project being a PE kit die with them no longer being an AK sponser, or does one not have anything to do with the other? Just wondering, that would end the baffle cutting if they could supply face plate already prepared.
This is such a small baffle, I imagine it makes it more difficult, that and the pre-finished nature of the baffles.
Russellc
interalian
Super Member
Too late - 3 or 4 have seen the pix... However, I'm not making any more. On to the next project. (A pair of Goodmans Axiom 112s my dad bought in ~1960 (they had hornz) see another thread.)
Here's the port and stuffing FWIW.
Attachments
Last edited:
On that basis, it's saying 39.91 Hz w/ a 7.154" duct length.
Looks like we pushed it a bit lower to 37.25 Hz @ 8.5" with F6 = 41.08 Hz. The maximum acoustic power down there is 98.9 dB SPL. With the shorter 7" duct, they'll do 100.2 dB, i.e., a little better power handling, ~36W versus 26W. Fact is, the curves virtually superimpose with duct lengths anywhere between these and F6 is essentially the same with any of them.
This all seems consistent with how they actually perform; I just don't recall ever measuring the tuning to confirm, is all.... :yes:
Attachments
Last edited:
interalian
Super Member
Alrighty then. I'll chop off an inch and glue 'em up. Then, on to veneering! :tresbon:
BTW, running them off my old NEC receiver (75WPC) now and the meters are pushing over 25W at high listening levels.
Cheers,
AD
Attachments
Last edited:
Russellc
Addicted Member
These little guys aren't supposed to rock the house, y'know; they're "personal" scale.
[Add a sub and highpass them at 80 - 100 Hz for that action.... :thmbsp: ]
A project way down the road, combine Indignia with a pair of 4507 w/2235H via electronic crossover, that should solve the personal scale deal!:thmbsp:
Russellc
Russellc
Addicted Member
Yes they did! I listened to mine all day yesterday, vinyl, lots of vinyl, then a few of the new remastered Beatles CDs....these are real winners. The music as you remembered, but clear, transparent with lots of bass! I buy one everytime I go into Walmart lately!:sigh: This is the system I usually have the A7s on, and even my wife ( big fan of the horns lifelike output ) commented they sounded good! Ray, I cant wait to get the F-5 going, I want to try these great little speakers on it bad! Specialidiot says its quite a synergistic match.
Russellc
Last edited: