Chilli Chang review/mod

[greenie512]

Okay so this might be subtitled raise your horns?"

6-8 weeks ago I was sick and spent a miserable few days in bed and decided I needed a small system for the bedroom. The only bit of kit I needed was a set of speakers and I had a pair of FE167's hanging around so I built Scott and Dave's Chilli Changs.

I've been running them for a few weeks now but held off posting as I was disappointed with them and found this very odd as I have a lot of faith in this pairs work and the guys don't publish bad designs - so I knew it must be something I'd done.

So what was wrong - well firstly what's good about them - well almost everything - image - voice - clarity etc etc. What I missed was any semblance of bass - it was there - kinda - but not enough "gain/volume" only on over bassy recordings did it shine. I'd on purposely over stuffed the chamber and eventually removed all of it, which helped the mids.

Then yesterday I added stabiliser legs and spikes for my carpet - POW WOW - what a different speaker - bass by the bucket loads (all in the right place). Chilli Changs are a great design guys.

Now I know stability and coupling have a big part to play in a speakers performance but would like to hear if anyone else has had this experience.

Probably a question for Scott - how low are the Chilli's designed to go - I'm really happy with their new performance but would be interested to Know.

Cheers - Phil
Build and review - http://www.greenie512.net/greenie512/html/wip.html

[neutravlad]

Hi,
I fully agree with you. I built the BK16 kit form Madisound. Of course they sounded great, but I was missing couple of things - bass and wider sweet spot. I got the phase plugs form Dave (Thanks@) and I got a wider sweet spot.
Before that I put 3 spikes under each speaker. Like you said the improvement was a fact. I could not believe my ears
I have one advice for you. You are better off having 3 spikes under each speaker. 3 points always make a plane.
Here are some pics:

[holdent]

Phil:

I'd be interested in hearing how the Chilli Chang sounds compared to the ML TQWT you built earlier (shown on your site).

Thanks,
Ted

[greenie512]

Originally posted by neutravlad
I have one advice for you. You are better off having 3 spikes under each speaker. 3 points always make a plane.
Here are some pics:

Hi Neu - yep agree about 3 but the spikes/legs were just a quick and easy job.

Originally posted by holdent
I'd be interested in hearing how the Chilli Chang sounds compared to the ML TQWT you built earlier (shown on your site).

Hi Ted - I sold the ML TQWT (boxes) on, they were just a tad too big in footprint. I certainly liked them but found the Chilli's finally more impressive all round and now certainly more bass. Not bad for a smaller footprint and same height!

[lazyfly]

Hi greenie,

I wonder what your impressions are when you compare the Chang to the Frugal-Horn? I see the FH's were for someone else but you had a good listen right?

Cheers!

[greenie512]

Originally posted by lazyfly
I wonder what your impressions are when you compare the Chang to the Frugal-Horn? I see the FH's were for someone else but you had a good listen right?

Oh yes - first clause of any commission - "Phil gets first play/audition"

I really think we are looking at two completely different beast here and both are first class.

Frugal are little (but complex) animals, with a suprabaffle give a much larger sound stage than you'd expect. The FE126e is a great driver with beautiful voicing. If properly corner loaded punch well above their weight for bass. BUT position is everything with them and I'd probably be more happy to have them in a smaller?? room.

The Chilli's - well obviously give a "larger" sound and with those double horns one of my mates said if he closed his eyes he couldn't work out where the drivers were! - almost line array effect. Now I have the bass functioning properly there's more than enough without to much worry about positioning. This is the best I've heard the FE167e's sound.

I've had the Chilli's in the shed undercoating them today and will put the top coats on Wed/Thur but am getting anxious - I miss them already.

[Brisso57]

Originally posted by greenie512
<SNIP>
I've been running them for a few weeks now but held off posting as I was disappointed with them and found this very odd as I have a lot of faith in this pairs work and the guys don't publish bad designs - so I knew it must be something I'd done.

<SNIP>
Then yesterday I added stabiliser legs and spikes for my carpet - POW WOW - what a different speaker - bass by the bucket loads (all in the right place). Chilli Changs are a great design guys.

<SNIP>
Cheers - Phil
Build and review - http://www.greenie512.net/greenie512/html/wip.html

I've heard Phil's Chilli's before and after the legs & spikes.
"Before" they were quite underwhelming. Bass lacking. No zap. Lifeless.
"After" they are what I expected to hear the first time. Good amounts of bass, though not what you'd get from (say) an 8" driver.

To anyone who hasn't tried the feet ... do it!

cheers

Doug

[lazyfly]

Thanks for that greenie. It's great to read about positive experiences, especially comments like yours, "I miss them already"

Mostly because I understand physics about as well as I understand women, I still get amazed by how such a simple thing as floor coupling can affect a speaker! Now if we could only couple women to the floor, in another room, at the opposite end of the house... wait, that doesn't sound right :/

[chrisb]

Originally posted by lazyfly
Thanks for that greenie. It's great to read about positive experiences, especially comments like yours, "I miss them already"

Mostly because I understand physics about as well as I understand women, I still get amazed by how such a simple thing as floor coupling can affect a speaker! Now if we could only couple women to the floor, in another room, at the opposite end of the house... wait, that doesn't sound right :/

you know, there's a place on Hollywood Boulevard, where you can get coupled to the floor, for $20

[Godzilla]

Neato! Yeah, stuffing can make or break everything. Cool spikes too.