DLK MODEL 4 Speakers

[automojo]

Cool.
Yes I can't recall ever hearing a speaker this size with clean bass yes that will play very loud with out getting harsh, or compressing much.
They really stay true to the music-musical but no funny stuff.
The nice thing about the aforementioned Vifa upgrade is that they still keeps these same qualities without getting harsh-just add a lot of detail and air.
These are some smoothing sounding tweeters-much like the Peerless plate tweeter-that DLK used in some special addition models.
I know why...

 

[wilke87]

Dlk

Here is one of the original 1 1/2 's !!

 

[automojo]

Yep those look like mine except for the inverted dust caps.
Still have a small air leak in one speaker-can't pin point it yet-although the top gaskets are a bit loose on booth the woofers-this may be it-as every thing else appears ok.
What kind of tweeter are you using?
Looks like you notched it for a soft dome...plus the extra holes..
I found on my recently restored later model 2's, after some listening- mentioned-too much mids through the woofers (silver basket-screened dust cap)-I'm going to try some different dampening first.
The stock stuff is not crumbled away yet like my 1.5's-but I feel it's not doing a good job-so I'm going to line the sides and back with foam, and a small amount of poly-and see what happens. The dual material is the way to go-as I found out on my AMT3's.
Next I might try the felt dust cap-as D mentioned.
I know these speakers (bass wise) should sound better-with new caps/l-pads-so I will eventually figure it out.
Wish they were the earlier Alnico woofers, but the price was right...

 

[wilke87]

Have not run them for a long time , but yes notched them out for the midwest soft dome tweeter , then put tweeters is another set , these were from Don himself , not sure could be a proto type, I also have a set of prototype Janszens electrostats, and a set of electrostats that were made to sit on top of the 1 1/2 's , you would then turn the tweeter all the way off , these were not the ulms though , different design .

 

[wilke87]

This is the tweeter Don designed to set on top the 1 1/2 by turning of the l pad

 

[automojo]

Very nice
I always thought about putting a small Amt Heil on my 1 1/2's
but have never got around to it mainly because of the cost
Pretty happy with the Vifa tweeter so far.
It a good match spl wise and has a low fs and no ringing

 

[dhanson64]

Here is one of the original 1 1/2 's !!

Hi hope your doing well wilke87, ya those look like Heppner motor assemblies/ baskets he used, maybe they are one of his prototype's he was playing around with. I can't remember seeing any 1 1/2's having any inverted dust caps or that large as well that came from the factory standard an went out for sale to the public looking like those 8" driver's, do you know if there Alnico motor assemblies or Ceramic.I'm thinking there Alnico's because Don seamed to always use larger sized dust caps on all those woofer's when compared to his Ceramic mag driver's. But who know on a prototype, have ya taken a look see on those.

 

[dhanson64]

This is the tweeter Don designed to set on top the 1 1/2 by turning of the l pad

Hi.... wow how do they sound wilke87, I never seen one of those before, is this also prototype ? Do you know if he ever release these for sale/purchase to the public ?

 

[wilke87]

Here is the back of the woofer, these are the pair of soeakers I grew up listening to , the crossover only has one cap on it , so not like the others , also the electrostat tweeters were to the best of my knowledge sold out of his shop , I will ask my brother he worked their for awhile , the current set I have have blown power supplies and were going to be repaired but then he passed away , z 132 w janszen is the model of the tweeter designed to go on the 1 1/2 .

 

[automojo]

On my Model 2's I currently switched back to the Goldwood GT510.
For $11 this is really a smooth tweeter-no harshness at all.
It seems to be a great match for the rest of the drivers.
Plus you always have the l-pad if needed.
It gives me enough air and spaciouness with out loosing much imaging if any.

 

[automojo]

Here is the back of the woofer, these are the pair of soeakers I grew up listening to , the crossover only has one cap on it , so not like the others , also the electrostat tweeters were to the best of my knowledge sold out of his shop , I will ask my brother he worked their for awhile , the current set I have have blown power supplies and were going to be repaired but then he passed away , z 132 w janszen is the model of the tweeter designed to go on the 1 1/2 .

Interesting those are using ceramic magnets.
My early pair 1.5's have Alnico, while my Model 2's have the ceramics.
After a couple weeks of playing, and adjusting the damping material, the 2's have rounded out to a nice flat bass response.
The Goldwood soft dome completes the picture-very smooth and detailed response, that doesn't draw attention to it's self.
As a earlier member found-the metal plate/mesh grills are best removed as they interfere with the sound.
Great sounding speaker overall and well worth the effort IMHO to restore.
Much more listenable to any competing JBL's of the era, as mentioned earlier- as they were basically disco speakers, with very colred and unmusical sound, IMHO.

 

[bottonic]

Hi All. Been a lurker here on AK for a while now. I just wanted to post my most recent find. I have owned a pair of 1-1/2's for a few years, and absolutely love them. I happened to come across (4) Model 4's, from the original owner, in the boxes! I haven't started digging into them yet, but I'll post some pictures later!

 

[dhanson64]

Hi All. Been a lurker here on AK for a while now. I just wanted to post my most recent find. I have owned a pair of 1-1/2's for a few years, and absolutely love them. I happened to come across (4) Model 4's, from the original owner, in the boxes! I haven't started digging into them yet, but I'll post some pictures later!

Hi thanks for posting !! I would sure love to see some pics of those bad boys!! Hope it was you who snaged up the two pairs of 4's that were local in southern Mn and listed for sale on flea bay few months back one pair had Don's outstanding custom handmade dual voice coil 12" woofers very hard to find that version of the model 4's there very very rare.Please Post some when you get a chance. I to just recently scored another very nice pair of dlk 4's an still all factory original pair. They are in just fantastic shape an seller was just asking a ridiculously unbelievably low price of $25 for the pair I kid you not I just couldn't pass them up at that price an they still had all factory drivers in them an with the factory marble top inlays in still near mint condition. This is now my 4th pair of these Dlk 4's an all 4 pairs are different using slightly different factory drivers an x-overs in them but are original factory condition. These Dlk 4's are in a class of there own an are a rare an very Special all custom hand made speakers you just can't get quality like this, I hate to think what it would cost in today's dollars to manufacture speakers of this quality now days. Enjoy all them 4's there hard to find an they sound unbelievable !!! :yes: :thmbsp:

 

[mnrocketry]

I sold the Model 4's that I had acquired before restoring them or even getting the chance to listen to them. Simply no room for them at the time. Now that my wife and I have moved into a much larger house, I'm hoping to someday acquire another set of 4's. Until then, I shall stack two pairs of Model 2's. (2 + 2 = 4, right?)

There was a pair of 4's on Minneapolis craigslist recently that appeared to have the dual voice coil woofers. Asking price was too high for my budget.

 

[dhanson64]

I sold the Model 4's that I had acquired before restoring them or even getting the chance to listen to them. Simply no room for them at the time. Now that my wife and I have moved into a much larger house, I'm hoping to someday acquire another set of 4's. Until then, I shall stack two pairs of Model 2's. (2 + 2 = 4, right?)

There was a pair of 4's on Minneapolis craigslist recently that appeared to have the dual voice coil woofers. Asking price was too high for my budget.

Hi hope your doing well, yes the guy in Plymouth was asking more for the dlk 4's then most people seem to be around here. But in his defense they were all in factory original condition with the outstanding dual voice coil 12" woofers an also still having the factory original marble top inlays. That version of the model 4's is the rarest an hardest to find because it was a custom order to spec only, meaning this dlk 4 model was not the normal Standard model 4 drivers , because on top of the upgraded dual voice coil woofers they also came with Don's own custom upgraded 5" mid ranges an he used high output peerless soft dome tweeters just outstanding in there day an even great today. Might have been wise to try an acquire them. After I got mine there now way I'm letting them go there outstanding an do sound unbelievable! But having said that all model 4's sound outstanding!! Hope you find another pair keep looking an you will there been many of them popping up over the last 2 or 3yrs an all still in original factory an nice condition good luck. :thmbsp::yes:

 

[dhanson64]

I also have some nice factory informational data on the dlk model 4 speakers I'm going to post the whole an complete factory pamphlet on the model 4's as soon as I get back in town. I want to post it here fora good historical record of factory information on the model 4 speakers.

 

[dhanson64]

Hi I also happen to acquire over the last few months four pairs of DLK quarter plus speakers three in very nice shape near mint one pair little ruff, but they Rock so I moved the ruff pair to my cabin bedroom. I used to think this modle was rare and all but I been seeing them lately all over and in nice condition . actually that 1 inch Peerless dome tweeter match with Don's own custom handmade 4 1/2" full range woofer sounds great!!! I have two pairs still in there original boxes too! I redopped the cloth surrounds with some of Vintage AR sealer I get from Larry. There now all in mint restored condition. If you happen to find a pair of these rare Dlk 1/4 plus speakers sang them up they were only in production for a year an half an sound great for what they are :yes:

 

[dhanson64]

Hi All. Been a lurker here on AK for a while now. I just wanted to post my most recent find. I have owned a pair of 1-1/2's for a few years, and absolutely love them. I happened to come across (4) Model 4's, from the original owner, in the boxes! I haven't started digging into them yet, but I'll post some pictures later!

Hi any update on your 4's ?

 

[bottonic]

Hi any update on your 4's ?

Haven't had any time to devote to these babies....but soon. Appears that one set has had the drivers replaced. I will need to refoam the original drivers in the first set. I will check all the caps and give them a good cleaning. All marble tops are original, and intact. (except for one small corner on one of the tops - fell out of the box when I initially removed the speakers) All wood is in excellent condition. You can see the boxes and the original grilles in the background. I will get all of these back up to par, and probably keep the one set for myself, and sell the 2nd set.:thmbsp:

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[/url]IMG_0008 by Chris Bottoni, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[AUDIOGEEK58]

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Hi MJB1959 thanks for posting, I totally Understand why you an other's may call dlk's mid-hifi speaker's, everyone has there own perspective on how they sound and that's ok. I would just interject that IMHO I feel those who feel there dlk speaker's are sounding just like a mid-hif speaker is because they are No longer in proper factory form/specfcations. Those speaker's sounding flat muddy an or boomy an muffled are most likely very tired 30/35yr. Speaker's that are no longer in spec. I'm in 100% agreement with automojo that on most model's where there performance is poor in sound quality it's most likely do to the dampening material being bad n or disintegrating to dust and thee L Pads that are no longer in spec and maybe down a dp or 2 in output from very poor condition and not connecting properly. I've posted this before that the the L pad's and dampening material are most likely the main causes for poor sound followed by the caps being out of spec, you can't judge a pad's performance just because it has no static or turns freely and what I can't emphasize enough on these an other dlk speakers is that all drivers woofers/mids an Tweeter's are all wired in running through these pad's. There needs to be a proper good electrical connection that's reliable to get the proper midrange and treble out of these great speakers. Like he says adjust the dampening material accordingly or replace it if needed. If your positive there flat sounding or muffled in sound quality after adjusting or redampening check the L-pads if good just clean them pad's an replace caps if they're out of spec get new ones.Doing this will be getting them back to the way they were designed from the factory. Do that an you will be impressed with their sound quality, but that said some dome tweeters are great sounding an great to try butit can be hit or miss on matching the voicing up so IMO if the Speaker's are in proper working form there's nothing wrong with the CTS cone tweeters there voiced with the woofers an mids an also with the L pad's and crossovers/ dampening fixed or adjusted to the way they're supposed to be and all is working properly they're very nice sounding Speaker's in my opinion. Also back in the day right from their factory on the 1 1/2's they were factory capped with a 10.0 uf 50volt cap to take the now obsolete and very hard to find heavier duty CTS cone tweeters model number 1008 having alittle heavier 12oz magnet's on them an with the 1" voice coils an 10.0 Micro farad cap they were matched up well with the woofers and that's why they croosed them over lower then their other models in there line. But most of the older 1 1/2's don't have there original 1" voice coil Tweeter's still in them an some people just replace them with 1003 a lighter duty version of this tweeter that has a 3/4" voice coil 10oz mag. Also as well when all other speakers in their line were using a 4.7 cap when crossing the tweeters over to a higher freq most of the cone tweeters now are the 3/4" voice coil type and do not put out as much midrange as the older 1" coil Tweeter's and IMO that's making those 1 1/2's sound a little flat an muddy. If it were me I would change that cap to what I prefer which is a 4.7uf 50v cap that came in all their other models from the dlk 1/2's to 3/4's to the model 1's/2's/3's and be in heaven with the sound but that's just my opinion here.