Product Description

Kit plans for Jeff Bagby’s Adelphos Loudspeaker

Drivers:

SB Satori, TW29R-B

SB Satori, MW19P-8.

Here is what you get:

• CAD Cabinet Drawings
• Crossover Plans
• Suggested sources for components
• Suggested Hardware
• Specifics for build
• Overall build suggestions for the first timer

The Adelphos is Greek for “brother”.   And, the Kairos is that Brother!  It uses the same components as the Kairos but is optimized for a standard, flat baffle.  If you found the Kairos slanted baffle design difficult to build or unattractive, then the Adelphos version is just for you.

The network has been optimized for the flat baffle, and though not as transient perfect as the Kairos, it is still an exceptional system.  Jeff admitted that you probably couldn’t hear the difference between the two designs.

This kit features the Satori line of drives from SB Acoustics – the 6″ Papyrus cone woofer and low-distortion, ring-dome tweeter.

If you were originally hesitant about building the Kairos, angled front, I encourage you to build the Adelphos version.

This is Jeff’s “standard” cabinet version of the Kairos.  Jeff saw the need for this version as many builders were not adept at making the complex slanted baffle.

They achieve the same electrical time alignment as the Kairos; the crossover becomes a little more complex, but the result is as satisfying as the Kairos.

By themselves, these are obviously not the best speakers for loud rock music, but with smaller-scale music such as acoustic jazz and vocal ensembles, these rival state-of-the-art systems. The bass extension is surprisingly clean and deep, and as long as the SPLs are not pushed too high for the small cone to handle, they sound amazingly full-range.

The high-frequency reproduction of the TW29R is pristine. Cymbals are resolved with almost life-like clarity that leaves most other speakers sounding lifeless and plastic. You do not hear the muddied splashiness associated with so many other tweeters due to their distortion. Triangles and hats both sound extremely clean and sharp; the sonic edges are very crisp, and when listening to jazz being carried by a ride cymbal, I feel I am almost transported to the room the musicians are in. Imaging is excellent, as you would expect for a small monitor that is time and phase-coherent. Of course, this really depends on how the recording is mixed, but when I listen to minimally mic’ed jazz, like “Jazz at the Pawnshop”, and I place myself in the sweet spot between the speakers, it takes on a three-dimensional soundstage. With the tinkling of the glasses, if I close my eyes, I feel like I am in the middle of the room with the audience.”

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