Just a reminder:
 
"The K-system is not just a meter scale, it is an integrated system tied to monitoring gain..
" Bob Katz, September 2000
 
The idea is that you pick a dBSPL for listening. Bob Katz copied the old standard of 83dBSPL but you might want 77 or 85... pick one. Hint: there's a good reason to use 83.
 
Now, no matter what you use, K12, K14, K20 yada yada yada, always listen at the same SPL. If you switch K ranges while you are metering... turn your monitor volume up or down so that you continue to listen at the very same consistent SPL level that you have choosen.
 
That's it... that's the K System and how to use it with your speakers.
 
Read this: http://www.digido.com/how-to-make-better-recordings-part-2.html
until the grand simplicity of it makes sense, and you have that aha moment and realize why mixing with a K20 reference at 83dBSPL encourages you to make a more fine tuned and detailed mix while mixing with a K12 reference at 83dBSPL encourages you to make a flatter, full on type of mix. If this doesn't make sense read it again, and stay focused on the idea that when you change your meter range you keep your monitor loudness level the same dBSPL from project to project and day to day.
This might even make your speakers sound better, and, perhaps, when you do it some other way you'll probably have greater appreciation of why you choose to do so.

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Which speakers do the K-system?
 
I'd say all of them. (as long as they can produce 83dbspl at your listening position)

Blast pink noise out at the reference level and turn up the volume until you hit 83db - now you're 'K-System'd'.

Still using my 30yro RadioShack SPL meter...

Bumping with the anticipation that someone already using the K-system may find this info useful. 

This should really be in Techniques Mike,  in fact it would make a good topic for "Technique Tip of the Week"...

Hi Karen,
 I have seen the K system explained erroneously in the techniques section far too frequently. I generally prefer to avoid the techniques section because I have realized that it is a too often a place where people seek affirmation of their preconceptions and if you are not supportive of that goal then your contribution to a discussion is trivialized.
 
 I am hoping that a new perspective on the topic, which is my suggestion that one think about speakers and SPL instead of meters, and the hope that one will read and understand the original, and official, explanation of the K system before explaining it to others, may cause some people to pause and reevaluate and refine an understanding of the core idea.
 
 
 
 

I respect your knowledge level Mike.  I'd prefer that you corrected peoples preconceived misconceptions with good factual posts, as I know you can, rather than just leaving them to humour themselves with misinformation.
If people don't use the K-system correctly it's because they don't understand it.
 
Much more useful than a post here that'll go largely ignored.

 
Thanks Mike for the article link, this will give me some good reading for the holidays.  I recently bought the Klanghelm VU meters so I'll be playing with them as well (and I have an SPL meter).
 
For those who're interested, here's Part I of the article.
 
 

Ya, send the article to the Producer of the "Interstellar" movie then. That might have helped the sound out in that movie from the candle being lit (rockets taking off) and the soft parts of the voice dialogs being heard.
Ya, they could of benefited from that article.
(and then that movie is rated so high).
 
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0816692/
 
I almost left because of the sound of that movie just was not agreeing with me that day.
(and certainly not the speakers in a movie house - digital sound or not).
 
-spelling