Cabinets for Fostex 168es

[mr ed]

After reading the entire BiB and most of the Spawn of Frugal threads, I would like to know the most promising cabinet choice for my smallish room, 12 x 14 x 8 feet.
I have ruled out Hiros as I feel the room is too small. Would a BIB or a Ceinwyn be a better choice?

Thanks to all for so much information on these pages!!!

Ed

[rjbond3rd]

Hi Mr. Ed, speaking strictly as a newb, I would say it's a tie. I assume you'll want your speakers positioned along the 12' foot wall, which means you can sit far back from them.

The double-mouth horns are often positioned a healthy distance from the wall / side walls, but I have heard them in corners (Harveys) wih heavy toe-in and a very close listening chair, on a concrete slab floor, and they were incredible.

[Godzilla]

You will never know which sounds better in your room unless you build them both. That said, whichever you build should work great and will be a great speaker. If you were choosing one of these respected designs vs a ported cabinet for the 168es the choice would be clear... go for the back horn design.

There are lots of excellent choices for full range drivers these days! Be confident whichever you choose the results will be great.

Godzilla

[mr ed]

I guess I have to agree with RJ,

The BVR's are going to move out into the room were the BIB in the corner will give more distance from the speaker to the listener.

I currently have some open baffles but with the small room I have to listen pretty much in near field. This is what I am trying to avoid, as well as let the 168es's do their justice in the best suited enclosure.

Ed

[Samuel Jayaraj]

I am currently testing my 168ES in a Tapered Quarter Wave Pipe. It is actually meant for another driver but the Fostex sounds incredible in the mid and highs, but the bass is not going as deep. It is understandable. I am also on the lookout for a suitable enclosure for smaller rooms.

My suggestion is that if an enclosure of any sort is designed to mount the driver at a slightly upward angle so that the normal listening point is about 15degrees off axis, some of the typical 'shout' of this driver can be avoided, you get a bigger stage even at a close(r) listening position and without fear be able to use Solid State Amplification capable of taut bass and superb resolution.

[mr ed]

Hi Sam,

It would be a relatively easy thing to put some angle on the supra baffle, I think. Could be worth a try out if some cheep material as an experiment.

Thanks for the input!

Ed