Bookshelf Speakers — Diapason KARIS III

The Karis III is a small two-way standmount loudspeaker handmade in Italy by Diapason and presented by the maker as a scaled-down relative of the Adamantes V, sharing its proportions and its multifaceted diamond-derived shape. The cabinet is built from solid walnut, and the model sits beside the Micra III Excel and Adamantes V among the bookshelf designs in the Diapason range. In Britain it has been priced at GBP 4,649 per pair, in Canaletto walnut or olive wood.

Key specs that matter

Diapason lists a response of 50 Hz to 25,000 Hz. Sensitivity is 87 dB SPL measured at 2.83 V and one metre, nominal impedance is 8 ohm, and the minimum impedance is given as 7.2 ohm at 300 Hz. Rated input power is 25 W RMS, and maximum dynamic input power reaches 75 W. Each enclosure measures 190 mm wide, 260 mm deep and 285 mm high and weighs 4.5 kg.

Engineering and use context

A pair of drive units handles the full band. The 19 mm tweeter uses a silk Sonomex dome on a broad surround with a ferrite magnet, and the 110 mm mid-woofer has a polymethylpentene cone, also with a ferrite magnet. The crossover point is 4000 Hz. The mid-woofer is connected with Diapason Direct Drive technology, meaning the rear terminals feed it directly without a low-pass filter. The reflex tuning and the rear exit of the port mean the cabinet reacts to the distance from the back wall. Staves of solid Canaletto walnut form the enclosure, whose faceted, engraved baffles at front and rear help control edge diffraction. Surfaces receive a water-based natural finish, and internal wiring is Van den Hul CS12 halogen-free cable. With its small footprint, the speaker is meant for stands placed a short distance from the wall behind it, in a 20 m2 room or smaller.

Pairing

The impedance stays close to its nominal value, so transistor and tube amplifiers both handle it without strain, and an amplifier of moderate output fits the power ratings. Diapason offers matching stands at extra cost, each weighing 12 kg, and with a speaker placed on top the combined height is 1,110 mm on a footprint of 260 x 310 mm. Rear connectors have the crossover circuit mounted directly on them.

Alternatives

The Diapason Micra III Excel is another two-way bookshelf model from the Classic Collection of the same maker.