A Kairos build.....

[woodsart]

Firstly, I would like to thank so many of you guys who contributed to the decision making process of researching speakers and building the Kairos! Most importantly Jeff and the kit and help from Mark.

The drivers, for those who do not know of these are......

SB Acoustic Satori Woofer.....MW16R
SB Acoustic Satori Tweeter..... TW29R

This kit is available from Meniscusaudio.com.

While researching for many months, and bugging everyone on the forum.... I found that trying to find a pair of speakers for the office was going to be difficult even though I had a decent budget of 1K. I either wanted a pair with a sub, or two with sufficient bass, a another pair of TL's, definitely something that was already designed as I am not a designer. So, it wasn't difficult finding a great pair of speakers, but decision was which ones.

Some of you suggested to learn how to design and as I read and read, I found that designing was not my thing, I just don't get it. Must easier for me to copy another's renderings.

Talking speakers for 2 channel listening in general..... In all the reading and listening to prior speakers, I found that the upper register sound was significantly important to me as well as good bass...(as most feel). I have the Triton TL pair of speakers now and I love the LD25X tweeter, so I knew it would have to be something to top or eqaul this. And, I also like Jeff's designs, so I decided to stay in my comfort zone. The continuums were right up there, but, think I would go with 2 subs....thus a lot of boxes. The Mandolin was a suggestion and would make a great pair, but with much reading and looking at the measurements and comments SB Acoustics' proven designs, I thought I could not go wrong with the Satori drivers. I read a comment that when a designer says they are keepers, I figure, I need to take note. The Marantz PM8003 would be quite sufficient to drive them as well and well it does..

Receiving the box from Mark at Meniscus found everything in order, well packed and checked off and many, many pages of plans. At that point, I said "OH BOY", am I in trouble, with the Tritons there were two plans, one mitered and one b**t jointed. With the Kairos all mitered, I was really awestruck with such detailed plans and scared silly, because there was no way I could do that without a table saw, so I bought one. All in all I got the pieces cut (not mitered), and some twice......a few pieces took three cuts to get it right. The baffle and the sides are all 1" using 3/4 and 1/4 MDF, norez lined. I recommend the little table/legged table saw at 129.00 from Home Depot, just can't beat it.

Also, I really liked what Joachim Gerhard was doing in his design thread when he posted a set of boxes from SB Acoustics, the shape intrigued me. So I decided after more research to angle the front and top "sides" down to midway of the woofer. This compliments the shape and furthers the stream line modern looking baffle. And of course the Modern/antique painted wood finish.

Now on to some pics of my process......2 coats of white primer and hopefully one more sand! This primer is the best, but it was a mistake with this finish. I remember before I did not use primer, just sealed the edges of the MDF with part glue and water....works great. When I built the Triton TMs and TLs later, I did not use a primer and the finish was better.

[woodsart]

This was the body style I was looking for with some altering....and the finished product.....

[woodsart]

How do they sound?

The tweeter is exactly what I expected, very clean and smooth and the woofer's bass is very charismatic, with an engaging aura and super clear. Seems so far these provide me with enough in the short time I have listened. The overall sound would be described as......well, they are just monitors but they have a towering presentation, but not without at a" price" but definitely with a "windfall" of listening of enjoyment. They not only meet, but exceed my expectations as sometimes more money doesn't mean better sound.

As I mentioned before the Kairos are driven by The older version, Marantz PM8003 with the HRT Music Streamer II+ with some specialty cables with 12 gage monoprice and banna plugs. My music source via Comcast is mostly Spotify Premium or at least for now till I get use to them.

There is not much I can add to what has already been said about the Satori drivers and the Kairos speaker design by Jeff Bagby for Meniscus Audio. Could not be more happy with the overall sound, but, hey at this price point, they should be great, right? Not always, but, these are simply some of the best monitors I have heard.

Very satisfied with the completed finish representing aged wood, with wood grain accents and silky smooth wax finish. This look is not for everyone, but for our home, it just works. Added the stainless screws as it help balance off the aluminum plate on the tweeter.

I might add that the "sky is the limit" for interesting finishes for one's speakers, if you are skeptical of veneering or just want to try something different, I can offer some help, if needed. If your decor and your wife likes Shabby Chic wood, then this is a wide open door with great WAF!

Here you will find information on the Kairos as well as Jeff's comments and measurements............http://meniscusaudio.com/images/The%20K ... 0Bagby.PDF.

[richidoo]

Your speakers look great, woodsart! I want to build them also, so I'm glad to see you took the plunge 1st.

Is your front baffle slant angle per the plan? The pictures look like it is less slant than the picture of Jeff's own Kairos. You know what they say, perspective is everything! Probably just the camera angles.

What kinds of music do you like to play on the Kairos, and do you find that they can play loudly enough for your needs?
Thanks!
Rich

[woodsart]

Hey Rich,

Everything is made per specs, just butt jointed not mitered. The baffle angle is correct as in Jeff's, it is the pic.

I have played just about everything through the Kairos and they handle very well just right in every way (as Jeff said). I did plug the ports up, seems to be great either way though. And, I might add plenty of bass for me so far. Really surprising to me, but these woofers really perform. It was the right move for me to build these. The cabs are 1" as I mentioned making them solid as a rock. They really sound like towers, the sound is very big. I am waiting for the day to really get the volume up on them, then we will see, but I figure they will continue to perform as they do in lower volumes. I really am very happy and can find no fault with them.

Classical, Techno, Chillout, bassotronics, pop and vocals all sound just as they should.....great.

Robert

[Jeff B.]

Your speakers look great, woodsart! I want to build them also, so I'm glad to see you took the plunge 1st.

Is your front baffle slant angle per the plan? The pictures look like it is less slant than the picture of Jeff's own Kairos. You know what they say, perspective is everything! Probably just the camera angles.

What kinds of music do you like to play on the Kairos, and do you find that they can play loudly enough for your needs?
Thanks!
Rich

I thought the same thing, I even made him send me a pic of a side view so I could see the angle. I think the illusion is due to the facets on the edges fo the cabinet, it just throws off your perception of the angle.

(The Kairos is still my favorite speaker to listen to music with, unless I want to rock out, then I pull the Focal towers out and crank it up).

[woodsart]

Didn't even trust me, what kind of friend is that?



I am lovin the Kairos everytime I listen!!!

Robert

[mattsk8]

Those are beautiful!! They remind me of the Joseph Audio speakers I saw at the AXPONA show in Chicago (If you google Joseph Audio and click 'images' you'll see them). I love the bevel you put on top and on the sides; IMO they look more uniform that way. Any plans for grills?

What did you use for veneer and finish?

[woodsart]

Good morning Matt,

I will look that up, I have heard of Joseph Audio.

The finish is raw MDF with a thin coat of rustoleum red, then black and then wet sand to expose the red, buffing with Finnes wax....several coats, very easy to do and the rewards are very good....slick as glass.

The sky is the limit on colors.

And yeah, they are getting better sounding, really good, solid sounding speakers as they/ears break in. And, with no router used.

Thanks for the compliment, I am very proud of them! Money well spent.

Robert

[richidoo]

I listened to the Joseph Pulsars at the CAF show this past weekend. Sounded and looked great, but cost 8x more than Kairos kit.

[woodsart]

Well, my ears, are getting use to..... but they really are adjusting to the Kairos amazing sound. These two speakers are just doing better and better. I just can't find a thing I can complain about, cept occasionally violins, but I understand they are the most hard to reproduce.

I sooooo highly recommend these.

[richidoo]

What concerns you about violin? That's something I listen for also. I have been pleased with some rigid dome tweeters for violin, but I am hoping this soft dome won't do the kazoo buzz that most soft domes do on violin. Thanks Robert. Could also be the cap on the tweeter. Violin needs good crossover parts, and good caps usually need some break in time, but you probably already have 100+ hours right?