Half Chili-Chang Help

[vconsumer]

I have a pair of Fostex 167e that have several years of break-in on them and that I’d like to build a set of Half Chili-Changs for. I don’t have access to a shop of any kind, so I’m working with a local builder who is going to cut the pieces which I’ll assemble myself (I do have lots of clamps). The builder only has 18mm ply. I have the plans for the HCCs but I don’t trust myself to break the project down into individual cuts. Anybody here who has built some HCCs and would be willing to share a cut list?

 

[ctsaudio]

I have just completed one. Disappointed about the bass, absolutely nothing. Trying to run in a bit for improvement. Not very much hope.

 

[chrisb]

I have just completed one. Disappointed about the bass, absolutely nothing. Trying to run in a bit for improvement. Not very much hope.

absolutely nothing for bass? very strange indeed- while the 167E is not a home theater sub woofer, the lack of LF performance is not something that I've heard in 3 or 4 different designs for this driver

 

[ctsaudio]

There is very little bass and it is boomy. However I have a demo cd for drums and it sounds very good. Double bass is absolutely disappearing. Again it is very forward and shouty. Guitar sounds awesome! I follow the measurement except changing the bracing(see pic). Instead the vetical side braces I use 2 horizontal. Stuffing is just a little bit in the main chamber on 2 sides and back. My cone 1SC is way better. I switched from EL84 PP to 300B SE, the bass is still disappointing.

 

[vinylkid58]

How many hours on the drivers?

jeff

 

[ctsaudio]

The driver is reused from a bass reflex box. It was used for a couple years and collecting dust for 3 years. It is on the half chilli for couple hours only.

 

[steviedon]

The suspension likely stiffened up from sitting. Give them 50 hours or so. Also, from experience with my 207's, they have noticeably better bass when using small diam solid core copper wire for cables.

 

[Jim Shearer]

Do you use BSC? I built a pair of Half Changs with FE206e. Yes, 206's. I know, wrong driver. But with BSC of 1 mH and 5.5 ohms (IIRC), they sound great. No shortage of bass. No overly detailed, fatiguing high end.

RE: stuffing-- I lined the top, back and one side with the cheap egg crate foam from Parts Express.

I also agree that 50 hrs or so of 'wake up' time is needed for those drivers.

Cheers, Jim

 

[kevinkr]

I built a pair of these a couple of years ago, and find the bass pretty non-existent even with BSC which is definitely needed with this design. (In fairness my reference, a couple of 11 cu ft Onken bass cabs with 16" Iconics are not a fair comparison.) Perhaps in addition to BSC a little additional DCR to tweak the driver Q might help?