FE126E/FE166E/FE206E Which is best?

[woodturner-fran]

Hi all,


I'm contemplating another full range build and have a design more or less picked out. By modifying the design I can use any one of the above driver, the cabinet being appropriately sized for each.

So, my question is: all things being equal, which driver is the best? Which has the sweetest treble, the most defined bass, the least shouty, most comfortable with the widest range of amps, and so on?


Any info is greatly appreciated!

Fran

[OzMikeH]

Answer: none of them

Little ones for treble, big ones for bass.

[woodturner-fran]

Well, thats why I included the middle sized 166 in the list - I would really prefer to have another go at a single driver rather than a 2 way. And the design (which I have some faith in) calls for one of the above.

I'm just wondering do the bigger drivers in general sound better than the smaller ones? Is the extra cost of the bigger ones at approx twice the smaller ones worth it at all?



Fran

[vitalstates]

Hi Fran

Thats a very broad sweeping question so I'll have a go at a broad sweeping response, not necessarily an answer....

the 206 can do what the other two can to a certain extent, but the other two can't do what the 206 can do.

I have first hand experience of all 3 drivers in various designs, primarily one of mine and two of scott's and they are all good. I would always recommend the 206 tho, if you have the room, because its got more dynamic clout and gives a better sense of space. With a smaller living space I would go for the smaller drivers.

hope that makes sense.

Ed

[woodturner-fran]

Yes, it does, and that's exactly the kind of opinion I'm after.

Keep 'em coming!! - anyone have bad experience of these drivers?


Fran

[hm]

Hello,

I agree with Ed,
Look the Xmax of the drivers, look a simulation how much
you need for 1 Watt.

so, use the 206 in a horn, if you want use the 166, take two,
IMO 126 only over 200 Hz

look my horn solutions.

[woodturner-fran]

So thats 2 for the 206! how do these image compared to the smaller ones?


Fran

[hm]

look my horn solutions.

the satellites, horn, trupet, schalmei with measurements.

look the double horns, for 166 the posaune,
for 206 the saxophon + BG20 Visaton

don´t believe manufactur data like the 206,
look this one made from the german Selbstbau:

[Scottmoose]

Originally posted by woodturner-fran
I'm contemplating another full range build and have a design more or less picked out. By modifying the design I can use any one of the above driver, the cabinet being appropriately sized for each.

So, my question is: all things being equal, which driver is the best? Which has the sweetest treble, the most defined bass, the least shouty, most comfortable with the widest range of amps, and so on?

As said before by both Oz & Ed, none of them. Depends on what you're listening to, what you value most, the dimensions & characteristics of your room and the rest of your system as to which you would find preferable. Remember though that simply taking a speaker (either driver or resultant driver / cabinet combination) alone makes about as much sense as talking nuclear physics with an anaconda. It will have more pressing matters in mind. Something else to keep in mind is that scaling a specific design generally isn't a good idea. If you want to get the best from a drive unit, you design the enclosure for it, from scratch.

Anyway, the 206 will do LF far better than either of the smaller units, at the price of some midrange & treble detail / sweetness. Personally, I think the 166 is a PITA to work with, as it has a very distinct character, & I'd probably avoid it. The 126 is perfectly fine within its own limitations, as anyone who's heard a pair will testify. Nice mids (though Ed has recently identified an issue in the upper bass) & treble & you can get a decent 60Hz out of it at reasonable SPLs (providing you're using it it a sensible space, i.e. you're not trying to pressurise a ballroom ).

None of them like the majority of SS amps, with their low output impedances, very much at all, unless you resort to eq, an exception being Nelson's current-source designs. The FExx6E series drivers are not at all forgiving of amplifier quality -you need something very good (which does not automatically mean expensive) if you want to hear them at their best.

[Puffin]

I have tried the 126's in a zigmahornet, they are very good, but lack the bass clout for me. The 206 in the 208 BLH are fantastic, even in a small room.