AK Design Collaborative - Insignia-Class Economy Speakers (a.k.a Indignia)
- Thread starter Zilch
- Start date
Ballylongford
Bailey ; He's a great guy
+1
You have been busy Sir.Byrd...
when did you find time to make it to your graduation?
Bullitt5094
New Member
Those last two pair are really impressive. Nice job gentlemen.
princeoftides
Born in Charleston SC
Audiom at Zalytron.com
zalytron.com is still showing some of those AUDIOM tweeters on its website. Don't know if anyone else is even reading this thread anymore but as of Sept. 2012 they're showing under Focal some old inventory for a tweeter that may be like the one you're showing here. I used to buy from the Zaly family back in the 80s and 90s (living in the South then, I just enjoyed calling them up and hearing the lady holler out "Ellllllllioooooot" in what was then .. to me at least back then, this strange and fascinating NJ accent, and I remembered that Audiom spelling as I was readng through this old interesting and informative thread.
They're showing several vintage Focal's on their site now, assuming someone is still around there, which it apperars that they are from as the site is still appearing active. I've since seen old tubes marked in boxes marked Zaly so I presume they're one of those old family businesses that used to be so common in the NY area back in the good old days that's managed to survive. They used to do really good speaker cabinets for me once upon a time back in "the good old days". They also seem to have some more vintage Focal inventory even now. I once bought some fantastic kits with Cabasse woofers from them once.
This is the focal tweeter i was thinking you were talking about.
zalytron.com is still showing some of those AUDIOM tweeters on its website. Don't know if anyone else is even reading this thread anymore but as of Sept. 2012 they're showing under Focal some old inventory for a tweeter that may be like the one you're showing here. I used to buy from the Zaly family back in the 80s and 90s (living in the South then, I just enjoyed calling them up and hearing the lady holler out "Ellllllllioooooot" in what was then .. to me at least back then, this strange and fascinating NJ accent, and I remembered that Audiom spelling as I was readng through this old interesting and informative thread.
They're showing several vintage Focal's on their site now, assuming someone is still around there, which it apperars that they are from as the site is still appearing active. I've since seen old tubes marked in boxes marked Zaly so I presume they're one of those old family businesses that used to be so common in the NY area back in the good old days that's managed to survive. They used to do really good speaker cabinets for me once upon a time back in "the good old days". They also seem to have some more vintage Focal inventory even now. I once bought some fantastic kits with Cabasse woofers from them once.
Sir.Byrd
Lunatic Member
I entered the Indignias in the Puget Sound DIY speaker contest last saturday, and they won their category, and also would have won best in show (by about 50 points which is a 20% lead) but were not eligible since I was not the designer.
Oh well.
In other news, this article might be interesting for tweaking the tweeter.
http://www.speakerdesign.net/dayton_dc28f/dayton_dc28f_tweeter.html
Oh well.
In other news, this article might be interesting for tweaking the tweeter.
http://www.speakerdesign.net/dayton_dc28f/dayton_dc28f_tweeter.html
What would they have won for? Was it design, execution, sound quality or all them?
I'm hoping it at least included sound quality because these little babies are deserving of some recognition.
skywave-rider
Slumming in Akihabara
Congrats, Byrd, you're an inspiration!
Sir.Byrd
Lunatic Member
It's purely sound quality, because they were blindly tested by judges who had no idea what they were listening too.
Thanks, Sir.Byrd. Exactly what I was hoping for!
They are not my best speakers but those I listen to most often and they really never disappoint. Zilch, RayW and others really designed something special with these little gems.
Mine go plenty low sitting on my desk, nearfield, particularly given their relatively small size.
I believe their strength is a very smooth, non-edgy presentation and, borrowing a term from the Miller Lite commercials, "listenability". They are so smooth and easy to listen to they never invoke ear fatigue in me.
dnewma04
The Healer
I think you nailed it, Robie. During the design phase, I think most of us involved probably could have predicted a very smooth delivery. There were crossover iterations that had a midrange hump that could have provided a sound with more detail, but I think the decisions to smooth those out was the right decision. While bass impact certainly falls short of larger speakers, for their size I think they are very respectable performers when it comes to deep bass.
Thanks, Dave. As I recall you had a substantial hand in designing these little gems, too. To others I've forgotten, thanks too.
As this was my first (and only) DIY speaker to date, I could only stand by and act as chief cheerleader during the design exercise while others with skills and knowledge applied them in this project.
I hope others get the urge to build a pair. As I've said before, if I could do it, anyone could. You won't be disappointed.
As this was my first (and only) DIY speaker to date, I could only stand by and act as chief cheerleader during the design exercise while others with skills and knowledge applied them in this project.
I hope others get the urge to build a pair. As I've said before, if I could do it, anyone could. You won't be disappointed.
aldous.sound
Member
I'm starting to wrap my head around making myself a pair of these beauties as a side-project in my woodworking apprenticeship. A couple of questions...
I can't seem to access the page linked throughout the thread about potential group buys for the components, is this still ongoing or has it died out in recent months/years? If so, should I still be able to find all the crossover components on PE (or elsewhere) for a reasonable price, or does a single-buyer make it cost-prohibitive?
Also, as I intend to build the cabinet and baffle from scratch, does anyone have any suggestions on wood types for these? I've noticed a lot of MDF layering being used for the sides, which seems reasonable, but would well-joined slabs of good hardwood work as well, or would there be a risk of too much natural vibration?
Thanks for the incredible amount of work that has gone into the design and implementation of these by the creators and the builders since it's inception, really looking forward to wrapping my head and hands around this project.
I can't seem to access the page linked throughout the thread about potential group buys for the components, is this still ongoing or has it died out in recent months/years? If so, should I still be able to find all the crossover components on PE (or elsewhere) for a reasonable price, or does a single-buyer make it cost-prohibitive?
Also, as I intend to build the cabinet and baffle from scratch, does anyone have any suggestions on wood types for these? I've noticed a lot of MDF layering being used for the sides, which seems reasonable, but would well-joined slabs of good hardwood work as well, or would there be a risk of too much natural vibration?
Thanks for the incredible amount of work that has gone into the design and implementation of these by the creators and the builders since it's inception, really looking forward to wrapping my head and hands around this project.
The group buys were probably in the paid subscriber-only bartertown subforum. The parts cost runs $150-200. http://www.parts-express.com/projectshowcase/indexn.cfm?project=karmaindignia
It's easy enough to manage with hardwood for small speakers in terms of dealing with vibration, but if you're not a professional woodworker, they are likely to warp, crack, and fall apart eventually.
It's easy enough to manage with hardwood for small speakers in terms of dealing with vibration, but if you're not a professional woodworker, they are likely to warp, crack, and fall apart eventually.
jimbofish
for TRULY GREAT MUSIC
The Indignia is a Parts-Express project also.
http://www.parts-express.com/project-gallery/speaker-projects/
Parts can be ordered as a complete set with one click. Looks like the current price is $153/pr, not including cabinets.
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/bas...0&multi_qty=2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2&BaskDO=ADDPRODUCT
FWIW mine are #s 33 & 34.
http://www.parts-express.com/project-gallery/speaker-projects/
Parts can be ordered as a complete set with one click. Looks like the current price is $153/pr, not including cabinets.
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/bas...0&multi_qty=2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2&BaskDO=ADDPRODUCT
FWIW mine are #s 33 & 34.
Yeah, what they said. The group buys came with the initial surge of folks building them. Without a group, a group buy is tough to come by.
I've used MDF on all the ones that I've done except for the Roundignias. Those are cardboard concrete forms with veneered MDF end caps. Hardwood is certainly viable and I think a person or 2 has done that in this thread. As long as you know how to orient grain to keep things from cracking with moisture/heat you should be fine.
I've used MDF on all the ones that I've done except for the Roundignias. Those are cardboard concrete forms with veneered MDF end caps. Hardwood is certainly viable and I think a person or 2 has done that in this thread. As long as you know how to orient grain to keep things from cracking with moisture/heat you should be fine.