Exciting new line of fullrange drivers from Feastrex

[GM]

Hmm, your response strongly implies to me that Clark was leading us down the 'Primrose Path' WRT measuring every driver's T/S specs.

GM

[Phil Townsend]

Everyone must chant....

I want my numbers
I want my numbers
I want my numbers
I want my numbers
I want my numbers
I want my numbers
I want my numbers
I want my numbers
I want my numbers
I want my numbers


Phil
less nervous in Santa Fe

[MJK]

They think there is an over-reliance on T/S parameters and formulaic approaches to enclosure building in the DIY world.

That says a lot about Feastrex and raises a huge red flag in my eyes.

[GM]

'Ring any bells' WRT another manufacturer we've had this conversation with?

GM

[DaveCan]

Thanks for the response Chris, hopefully the top brass at Feastrex will listen to the people

I like my idea that each driver should come with it's own tested T/S specs, and in matched pairs if they differ by much, just like what is done with vacuum tubes. Anyhow looking forward to hearing them someday!! Dave

PS. I bought a cheap car amp a few years back from MTX, and it came with certificate inside signed by the person at the test bench verifying it's power output.. I thought that was kind of cool....

[kmaier]

Well, I continue to monitor this thread and read each post. In the recent activity surrounding published T/S parameters, this should be a no-brainer. Anyone trying to sell drivers should realize that their intended customer base wants an easier path to building a cabinet suitable for the driver... especially at the price level of Feastrex. Also, the availability of cost-effective testers makes this pretty trivial once you have things setup. I actually purchased a WT2 and have used it on my D5nf drivers. Lacking this basic capability at the manufacturer's side makes me wonder how they do any meaningful matching of pairs.

Going back to the way the name Featrex came about, let's divert to Western Electric. The new manufacture 300B triodes all come with an individually calibrated plate curve specification sheet and each tube is individually serial numbered. And this is for a product that costs $400 per single tube. Also, think about trying to sell a new tube type without basic specifications beyond filament requirements and plate ratings, don't think it would fly, anybody else think differently?

I think Feastrex would fare much better if they offered not only T/S specifications but also provided some reference cabinet designs with measured specifications of the final product. This would give the DIYer a feeling of what can be achieved without the guessing game and wondering if they really have a cabinet that extracts the best from the driver. It's really not that difficult to do and would certainly improve the acceptance of these unique drivers.

Regards, KM

[cdwitmer]

Points well taken, KM. Feastrex actually has the WT2 and is able to use it. They also have the Woofer Tester Pro, which should be able to do everything that might be on anyone's wish list and more, but they are still trying to get a grip on how to use it. I never imagined (although in retrospect I should have imagined) that they might have so much trouble mastering a device that requires English language ability to understand.

By the way, I just got an email in my mailbox from the president of Feastrex telling me that they will indeed do these things. So the squeaky wheel gets the oil after all. Keep on squeaking!

They are telling me that when the data comes it will also come with all sorts of information about the ambient conditions under which it was taken. That's important for all the drivers but especially for the field coil drivers.

-- Chris

[Scottmoose]

Originally posted by cdwitmer
"I hear ya"

These recent comments have been duly fed back to the top people at Feastrex...

By the way, I just got an email in my mailbox from the president of Feastrex telling me that they will indeed do these things. So the squeaky wheel gets the oil after all. Keep on squeaking!

They are telling me that when the data comes it will also come with all sorts of information about the ambient conditions under which it was taken. That's important for all the drivers but especially for the field coil drivers.

Good. Thank you Chris. We wouldn't say it if we didn't believe it.

They think there is an over-reliance on T/S parameters and formulaic approaches to enclosure building in the DIY world.

Utter nonsense. If people were simply stuffing them into, say, T/S aligned BR boxes with no other thoughts other than that, I'd agree with them. But they are not. Indeed, most people working with FR units are a very creative bunch indeed. All of the boxes I have done on the FH site for e.g. use driver T/S parameters in their design, and I don't really think you can call them all that formulaic... (?)

A good designer does not blindly use driver parameters or box alignments alone & ignore other factors not part & parcel of, say, Theile & Small's work. Such things are a tool -a very useful one, but to be used in conjunction with other knowledge & experience, not alone.

I have a suspicion (correct me if I'm wrong here) that nobody at Feastrex (Clark aside) actually knows all that much about loudspeaker enclosure design. If they did, that kind of idea would never even cross their mind. Besides which, what the end-user actually does with the drivers they buy is up to them, not the manufacturer. Oh sure, I have a good idea what they're thinking 'we don't want our pride & joy to be stuffed into a box mindlessly taken from WinISD (or whatever) & then hear self-same owner complaining about the sound.' But they have to understand that a) they are selling a product & they have to let it make its own way in the world, and b) that's not a very likely occurance. See posts above.

Whatever, if they are actually serious about selling units to the DIY market, they need to accept these realities, and they have to do it fast, before they start to alienate people. Whether they like these facts of life or not, frankly, is neither here nor there. If they wanted to sell these things as a hobby, they could, of course, go on as they have been. If they want to do more than that, then they are going to have to give the market what it demands. They have to remember -people are doing them the favour by purchasing their drive units. They're not doing us a favour by somehow 'allowing us' to buy their product. Only one company, to the best of my knowledge, has ever made that latter method work. It's the Bristol Car Company if you're interested. And (with respect) Feastrex aren't quite in that kind of league WRT heritage.

I'm sure there isn't anyone here who wouldn't wish them to succeed, but they're going to have to start helping themselves at some point.

[bcherry]

Originally posted by DaveCan
How is everything going in Feastrex land?.. Any new updates or enclosure and happy user pics? Dave

OK these just arrived. Some time back we had some discussion about bamboo wood. These are them. Solid bamboo. Now to try out the sound of bamboo. They sure have a nice tactile quality.

Brian

[DaveCan]

Looks very solid, that bamboo makes a nice looking cab.. Dave