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
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
Attachments
+
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:
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:
Re: +
Hi Neu - yep agree about 3 but the spikes/legs were just a quick and easy job.
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!
neutravlad said:
Hi Neu - yep agree about 3 but the spikes/legs were just a quick and easy job.
holdent said:
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 said:
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.
greenie512 said:
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
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 :/
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 :/
lazyfly said: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
Cone treatment
I'm about to speak before I research ….
I remember seeing Dave mention Dammar as part of his cone treatment and I stopped in front of a crafts shop this afternoon so went in and bought some + refined turps. Before I attack the FE167's do you think they'll improve if I treat the cones with a 50/50 mix?
Yes I'll probably get Dave's phase plugs at some later date for them as well!
I'm about to speak before I research ….
I remember seeing Dave mention Dammar as part of his cone treatment and I stopped in front of a crafts shop this afternoon so went in and bought some + refined turps. Before I attack the FE167's do you think they'll improve if I treat the cones with a 50/50 mix?
Yes I'll probably get Dave's phase plugs at some later date for them as well!
Re: Cone treatment
I don't use damar on FE167. I have used damar on some whizzer cones. Limited experience but i did get more top from a couple that had falling off HF.
On 167s i'm doing 2 thinned coats of puzzlekoat (mod podge). This can also be considered pretreatment for EnABL.
dave
greenie512 said:
I don't use damar on FE167. I have used damar on some whizzer cones. Limited experience but i did get more top from a couple that had falling off HF.
On 167s i'm doing 2 thinned coats of puzzlekoat (mod podge). This can also be considered pretreatment for EnABL.
dave
Well Chilli's back in the house sooner than I planned. Two undercoats but only one top coat - due to my compressor telling me in no uncertain terms my temporary wiring has been to permanent and it's time to get a professional to do a decent job.
As tradies are as rare (and costly) as hens teeth these days that may take a while so moved the boxes back into the house.
As tradies are as rare (and costly) as hens teeth these days that may take a while so moved the boxes back into the house.
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An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
I totally agree with this!Godzilla said:
A few days ago I added some more stuffing in my BIBs and the sound changed dramatically. They sound more detailed and clear.
I'd like to do some more experiments with stuffing.... as I think I overstuffed them! But it was the only way not to hear anything above 300Hz.
Yes, I followed your plans in your website. Thanks for the info! Nice stuff!
Greenie,
Nice Cheelies! Did you add any bracing in them?
What kind of stuffing did you use?
I'm planning to build the Chilli Changs too! ...or the G Changs?!
I'm not sure yet....
Any pics during the construction?
myster_maze said:
See link on my very first post above [here it is again - http://www.greenie512.net/greenie512/html/wip.html] - I started off with 650 gm acrylic speaker damping material but in stages removed the lot.
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