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here's my 2c:
choice of amplifier does matter. My full range moon onken speakers (DIY based on Fostex 4" driver) did not sound good on my solid state amp compared to my $4000 floorstanders - it was too harsh with too little bass. But on my SET amplifier these speakers were a different animal altogether. Whilst the cross-over etc. sucked the life out of my tube amp, the full range speakers sang very well indeed.
If I were building again for solid state only I'd likely go looking at the Alpair range of drivers rather than Fostex. Planet10 are a good source of enclosure designs for the Alpair range of drivers.
choice of amplifier does matter. My full range moon onken speakers (DIY based on Fostex 4" driver) did not sound good on my solid state amp compared to my $4000 floorstanders - it was too harsh with too little bass. But on my SET amplifier these speakers were a different animal altogether. Whilst the cross-over etc. sucked the life out of my tube amp, the full range speakers sang very well indeed.
If I were building again for solid state only I'd likely go looking at the Alpair range of drivers rather than Fostex. Planet10 are a good source of enclosure designs for the Alpair range of drivers.
Ok first mymindinside "taste in music and your listening style"
My taste in music is from baroque to the bare naked ladies (hmm... see a patern there) but mostly female vocals (hmm... see the patern continues) McBride, Krall, Jones, Kidjo, Cole, Kozena so from country to opera.
My listening style, I do not know exactly what you mean by that, but I'll give it a shot. Mostly I am awake and sober unlike last last night when I took on this chalange.
picowallspeaker "What is your proposed listening setup?"
Standard 13' x 17' room, with an old HK stereo amp.
HornTube "My Tangband W4-655 in Cyburg sticks sounds much much much better than the most expansive B&W "loudspeaker". B&W speakers are smeared, muddy, slow, transient killers, lifeless without any space or 3D effect."
Well lets just say I am old, so kind of like smeared, muddy, slow, transient killer speakers. (note to other B&W nay-sayers this is the sound I like)
My taste in music is from baroque to the bare naked ladies (hmm... see a patern there) but mostly female vocals (hmm... see the patern continues) McBride, Krall, Jones, Kidjo, Cole, Kozena so from country to opera.
My listening style, I do not know exactly what you mean by that, but I'll give it a shot. Mostly I am awake and sober unlike last last night when I took on this chalange.
picowallspeaker "What is your proposed listening setup?"
Standard 13' x 17' room, with an old HK stereo amp.
HornTube "My Tangband W4-655 in Cyburg sticks sounds much much much better than the most expansive B&W "loudspeaker". B&W speakers are smeared, muddy, slow, transient killers, lifeless without any space or 3D effect."
Well lets just say I am old, so kind of like smeared, muddy, slow, transient killer speakers. (note to other B&W nay-sayers this is the sound I like)
I find that fullrange speakers do female vocals astonishingly well. I am not familiar with Baroque music so cant comment on how it would fare.
People here hold Planet10's modified drivers in high regard, there are also many designs on the website. i don't think you will can go wrong with any of these designs. Also check out the Frugal-Horn Site
You will find that many of the designs have at least one thread devoted to them on this forum.
Cheers,
Mymindinside
People here hold Planet10's modified drivers in high regard, there are also many designs on the website. i don't think you will can go wrong with any of these designs. Also check out the Frugal-Horn Site
You will find that many of the designs have at least one thread devoted to them on this forum.
Cheers,
Mymindinside
Baroque + fullranges fare very well together. The small percussive element of the sound of most baroque instruments is portrayed beautifully. Fullranges also tend to bring forward the detailed organic overtones of the somewhat simple baroque instruments. Chamber reverb is done well too.
Interestingly, fullranges tend to work really well on electronic music as well, for similar reasons – especially the more understated music. A simple and beautiful synthetic sound carries the same magic through a fullranger as a struck harpsichord will.
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Basically, pick a design based on budget/size/driver availability and build it
cheers,
mymindinside
YES!!
"kristleifur
Baroque + fullranges fare very well together. The small percussive element of the sound of most baroque instruments is portrayed beautifully. Fullranges also tend to bring forward the detailed organic overtones of the somewhat simple baroque instruments. Chamber reverb is done well too."
Nice, I thought I was the only one who listened to that stuff.
"mymindinside
Basically, pick a design based on budget/size/driver availability and build it."
That is what I am asking help for, budget $200. size? any will do, driver availability, in Canada.
"mymindinside People here hold Planet10's modified drivers in high regard"
Planet10 while full of info, is to me a bit 'out there' I mean the guy or company seem really nice but paint on speakers? (Hmm.. paint on non-metioned bits could that work?)
Baroque + fullranges fare very well together. The small percussive element of the sound of most baroque instruments is portrayed beautifully. Fullranges also tend to bring forward the detailed organic overtones of the somewhat simple baroque instruments. Chamber reverb is done well too."
Nice, I thought I was the only one who listened to that stuff.
"mymindinside
Basically, pick a design based on budget/size/driver availability and build it."
That is what I am asking help for, budget $200. size? any will do, driver availability, in Canada.
"mymindinside People here hold Planet10's modified drivers in high regard"
Planet10 while full of info, is to me a bit 'out there' I mean the guy or company seem really nice but paint on speakers? (Hmm.. paint on non-metioned bits could that work?)
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Basically, pick a design based on budget/size/driver availability and build it
cheers,
mymindinside
@Godzilla:
Only German speakers like Canton are worse than B&W. Canton = the most rhythm killing speakers of all time. Canton = no mids, muddy & too much bass, disgusting & too much highs. You can play what you want everything sounds like a German wehrmacht marching band
I never listened to Canton speakers and prolly you are right when saying that they are crap but please dont make such a comparision. It's kind of offending.
However, since I first listened to a fullrange speaker I became addicted to that sound. I listened to about 30 speakers in my lifetime, not that many, and there were just a few that could provide that special "magic", realism, 3d soundstage or whatever u wanne call it.
Best example for a 2-way system that I've heard and noticed that magic: Kontra
My first diy speakers were Omnes Audio BB. 3AL and they cost approx. 30euro/pair. Well invested money.
Referring to the topic, dont focus that much on numbers, give fullrangers a try and you'll have your answer, in my view it's worth it
Greetings, Alex
"Hippie Voodoo" i believe, is the technical term
I've tried it, it works....
I'll wait for more experienced voices to chime in before commenting on the options. As i haven't heard any of them (yet. planning a pensil 7 build) my comments would only reflect what i have heard on the forum.
cheers,
mymindinside
I've tried it, it works....
I'll wait for more experienced voices to chime in before commenting on the options. As i haven't heard any of them (yet. planning a pensil 7 build) my comments would only reflect what i have heard on the forum.
cheers,
mymindinside
Huh?
Not many pairs of FH3 have yet been built, but from my experience it works really well, i'd say you'd be fine... but there are lots of good choices. I don't think times have been richer for FRs. Pick some that appeal and go for it. Just keep in mind, that like those cookies, it is hard to stop at just one
dave
First - just do it! Read, learn, ask, build...
Second, I built some Frugal Horns with stock FE126s for a friend and the design is for real! Very refined, IMHO. I think the drivers may have been the quality-limiting factor.
Finally, consider the wide range of "cone" materials that are now being used in small speakers. Carbon fiber, Kevlar, ceramic, various metals, etc., etc. ...makes paper seem so '20th century'!
Check out the cones on these spendy Scan Speak Illuminator 12MU/4731T midranges. https://www.madisound.com/store/manuals/12MU_4731T00_preliminary.pdf Why not get out your paint-by-numbers gear and save yourself a couple hundred per driver?
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