I am trying to choose drivers for a uFonken and would appreciate some advice. I will be using a headphone amplifier to drive these speakers (at near field and very low volume). The amplifier is a Millett Hybrid MiniMAX that I built. So there won't be much power. The amp's output coupling capacitors are 470uf, so the -3db cutoff frequency would be 42 Hz at 8 ohms.
Which drivers would you choose for this little amp?
Thanks in advance,
gspence2000
Which drivers would you choose for this little amp?
Thanks in advance,
gspence2000
Do you already have the enclosures?
A6.2 will not fit into uFonken, the bezels are too large. A6p requires more volume.
I have a slightly larger enclosure that works for both A6.2 variations (with no changes)
The new FF85wk works well with only a small change in the size of the vents (an old one can be converted to a new one with an additional port spacer.
eMail me for details (gotta go, can't recall for sure off the top of my head).
dave
that's been my listening impressions as well with many iterations of these smaller enclosures
but then again how much of varying degrees of "subjective" differences we claim to we hear throughout our systems can't be explained by our individual reality distortion fields?
Who you callin' "distorted"??
Best
don
better minds than ours have been decried for their success in recognizing and manipulating this fundamental bug in the human OS
Reality distortion field - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Oh, but you knew that already
When a wave from the driver goes across the baffle, the edges diffract the sound, acting as a secondary sound source, with a small delay between the output from the edge and the driver itself.
If your system has a balance control, sit much closer to one speaker than the other, then adjust the balance so you can hear both speakers. Note there's still not much of a stereo image.
The reason for this, so far as I can tell, is that stereo imaging also needs low-level delayed signals, such as room ambiance.
When you have these wide baffles, you get a delay that's constant for each instrument (assuming a single driver, centred on a baffle), as well as the varying delays in the recording to indicate room position. This has to screw up the imaging at least a little.
Angling the edges reduces the actual output from the baffle edge, as well as making the baffle narrower, so these delays won't have so much effect. The narrow baffle has a delay so small that you'd simply think it was from the driver.
Chris
May I? - as budget / space permits, and not necessarily in order of preference;
- Alpair 6 paper
- Fostex FF85WK / FF125WK
- Fountek FR88EX
- CSS EL70
I'm familiar with all of the above, not so much the suitable Aura or Tang Band to give model numbers - but there must be some.
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These small drivers are so close (with different strengths) a lot comes down to subjective preferences and which strengths carry more weight.
I fortunately am in a position to change them out as often as i like. If i was only allowed 1 set, of the ones i have on hand i'd choose in this order (with comments). Note that all drivers are treated, i do appreciate the differences (a different ranking might well ensue with stock drivers):
1/ FF85wKeN in uFonkenSET (if space constarined the regular uFonken v2)
2/ A6PeN in milliSize (and it would jump over the above if lower bass a requirement) Haven't tried them in anything else, the small box is under construction and i've yet to design the bigger box.
3/ mFonken (looking forward to tasting mFonken v2 with FF125wKeN, stock vrs stock the new driver has an advantage)
4/ mMar-Kel70 (neck & neck w above, more bass required would give these an edge, the mFonken i have are visually stunning so that doesn't hurt their ranking)
Founteks were given a ride, they will fit a small box like FF85wk, but since they have gone from $30 to $50 with the price of Neo, a set of 1 or 2 at a similar price are a level higher.
A6MeN fits in a small box, but its strengths are similar to FF85wk, but the latter a bit better balance (if a bit more bass). That is in its "big" box, the bass differential may largely dissapear in the small box.
We haven't yet built a set of the milliSize for the A7.3eN i fully expect they'd easily jump to the top, albeit at a steep increase in price.
Again, these are all close, and i'd be happy with any. Currently listening to the prototype uFonkenSET with FF85KeN, those will get upgraded to the new drivers after some vent adjustment (and some done up drivers)
I have also had Aura NS3 and TB W3-871 (they are OK but collect dust in the face of competition).
dave
Thanks, Chris. As you know I already have experience with the EL70 and I really love them. What is the smallest practical enclosure for this driver?
EDIT: Never mind. I am now looking at the mMar-Kel70 and similar ~4 litre design ideas. But thanks again.
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Wow! Thanks for all the info. I can only assume the mMar-Kel70 uses the EL70 drivers (which I love so far in my microTowers, as stated repeatedly
). I'll have to look at this design and see if the size fits my needs and if the build is something I can handle...
Yes. And this is as small as i'd try to go. In isolation they are really good (we have 3 pair -- 1 with prototype drivers, 1 with treated drivers, and 1 with stock drivers (matched to within a 1/10th dB). The last have their own roadcase and go out to customers so that they can, in their system, evaluate whether the treated drivers are worthwhile for them.
When you compare to a larger enclosure you get the feeling that they are being held back in the bass. I will probably do a deci or centiSize enclosure to free them a bit without going to the full size prime cabinet.
dave
For my office, I suspect held-back bass might be a good thing, as I do not necessarily need co-workers to be hearing my tunes. My office door is always closed (due to security policy), so some light music will not be disruptive.
I just noticed the Henkjan Desktop TL. The idea of having the centre of the drivers 17" off the desktop (~ ear height) seems promising. Any comments on that design?
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