Darling - Dipolar speaker with Ripol in Klang+Ton 2/2009

Technical data:
- impedance: 4 Ohm
- rated SPL (2.83V/1m): 77 dB
- size (HxWxD): variable x 20.2 x 46 cm
- frequency range (-8dB): 18-22000 Hz
- crossover frequencies: 150, 3500 Hz
- speaker type: double dipole

Darling, the Klang+Ton development impressed already quite a few listeners at the HiFi Music World 2008 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Dennis Frank and Axel Ridtahler design this speaker with a dual dipole: for mids and tops two Mission coax speaker are being used, complemented in the lower frequencies by dipole in a typical Ripol cabinet (Ripol stands for Ridtahler Dipole). The Ripole driver is a 38cm Monacor SP-382 PA.

Usually, the efficiency of a dipole subwoofer is not particularly high; in exchange, the bass is unobtrusive and extremely low. Ripoles and dipoles should not be placed too close to a wall.

Excerpt from the review in Klang+Ton:

... "A dipolar bass produces dry bass without any warning like no other cabinet type. The bass is not rolling and rumbling - it's simply there. Placement is not as critical as feared by some - as long as it's away from the rear wall. The optimum position should be determined by trial and error. The upper midrange reproduced by a somewhat moderate dipolar design is an ideal partner for the Ripol. For quite some time we haven't had the opportunity to listen to such an open and airy sound! The individual instruments are placed precisely where they are supposed to be, but really amazing is how realistic the surrounding space is depicted - the listener is slap-bang in the middle of it. Sure, at times the tonality is not quite right, but that can be forgiven easily since the kit is a unique and reasonable priced dipolar design. The Darling does a magnificent job and doesn't need to fear a comparison with other, similarly priced kits. Anyway, the bass is lower and more accurate than the one coming from most other floorstanders, and the enormous and open three-dimensionality is in a class on its own - ideally suited for revelling in an almost live like musical performance. Verdict: Dennis Frank designed a loudspeaker kit at an unbelievable price that is without equal. His courage and the exceptional sound quality deserve our appreciation. Those who have the courage to turn this project into reality are awarded with a real darling."

Our kit consists of

- 2 x Mission CP-10X coax drivers
- 38 cm Monacor SP-382 PA bass driver
- 6 gold plated brass binding posts
- 1/2 bag polyester fleece
- 16 PAN screws 4 x 20 mm
- foam sealing strips
- 4 metres cable 2x1.5 mm2

- the building instruction

the crossover components
to be mounted on wood:
- 10 mH transformer core coil
- 2.2 mH H71 core coil
- 5.6 mH H71 core coil

- 2 x 1.0 mH air core coil / 1 mm
- 2 x 2.2 mH air core coil / 0.7 mm
- 2 x 0.33 mH air core coil / 0.7 mm
- 220 μF ELCO, etched
- 2 x 150 μF ELCO's, etched
- 2 x 3.9 μF ELCO's, non-etched
- 2 x 10 μF ELCO's (audio frequency)
- 2 x 2.2 μF MKP capacitors
- 2 x 3.9 μF MKP capacitors
- 5 x 12 Ohm/20W resistors
- 15 Ohm/20W resistor
- 3.9 Ohm/20W resistor
- 5.6 Ohm/20W resistor
- 2 x 15 Ohm MOX4 (brown-green-gold)
- 2 x 3.3 Ohm MOX4 (orange-orange-gold)
- 2 x 10 Ohm MOX4 (brown-black-black)

Darling kit without cabinet
Price per unit - not available

Darling with high-end crossover

Our high-end kit has the following improvements:

The capacitor connecting the satellites is a 150 μF MKP instead of a 150 μF ELCO etched. That's a considerable improvement in the signal path to the satellites displaying a significantly lower loss (above facto 100).

In addition, the 4 ELCO's at the two coax bass drivers are replaced with MKP capacitors.

To reduce the microphonics effect baked varnish coils are used in the signal path to the coax bass drivers (microphonics effect: the current produces mechanical vibration in the coil, inducing unwanted voltage that is passed on to the speakers).

- 10 mH transformer core coil
- 2.2 mH H71 core coil
- 5.6 mH H71 core coil
- 2 x 1.0 mH baked varnish air core coil / 1 mm
- 2 x 2.2 mH air core coil / 0.7 mm
- 2 x 0.33 mH air core coil / 0.7 mm
- 220 μF ELCO, etched
- 150 μF ELCO, etched
- 150 μF MKP capacitor
- 2 x 3.9 μF MKP capacitors

- 2 x 10 μF MKP capacitors
- 2 x 2.2 μF MKP capacitors
- 2 x 3.9 μF MKP capacitors
- 5 x 12 Ohm/20W resistors
- 15 Ohm/20W resistor
- 3.9 Ohm/20W resistor
- 5.6 Ohm/20W resistor
- 2 x 15 Ohm MOX4 (brown-green-gold)
- 2 x 3.3 Ohm MOX4 (orange-orange-gold)
- 2 x 10 Ohm MOX4 (brown-black-black)

Darling kit with high-end crossover without cabinet, price per speaker - not available

Modification Kit

Do you want to change the dipole characteristics? In this case we recommend a resistance divider instead of R6 and R7, where R7 is replaced by R6 (included). Instead of R6 3 x MOX10 3.9 Ohm in series are employed. Included is also a PC board and a 4-pin connector (Order No. I-7208), allowing to branch-off a cable (between R6 and R7) per pin between the 3.9 Ohm resistors at your choice.

Price for Modification Kit for one speaker: - not available

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