Hemptone FR5 what were they smoking?

[brucegseidner]

Well, my Hemptone FR5 drivers arrived safe and (hopefully) sound. But the application of my first measure, a ruler, finds the cone 4". Presumably they would be the FR4's but what do I know. Be that as it may, the only reference to this driver that I can find with Google is http://www.zaphaudio.com/tidbits/Hemptone-HTFR5-FR.gif

All the other sites redirect to bottom feeding retail snaring pages.

Would some kind soul with either better search skills or the driver parameters available be kind enough to post them.

They are apparently less efficient than the FE127's but would I consider the same horn or BVR cabinets as the FE127 or the cabinets for the FR103/FR107?

Is there a formula to "shrink" the Curvey Chang's?

Clearly I am out-driving my lights. That is moving faster towards building than my understanding of how the driver's parameters relate to this cabinet design. But "non impediti ratione cogitationis conloquium currus" or unencumbered by the rational thought process I am. Besides I would like to read about these topics with some relatively balanced and well performing speakers playing in the meantime.

Thanking all in advance.

[Scottmoose]

Originally posted by brucegseidner
[B]Would some kind soul with either better search skills or the driver parameters available be kind enough to post them.

Zaph also posted the T/S parameters & various other measurements he took of the driver on the tidbits section of his site. Here's the parameters: http://www.zaphaudio.com/tidbits/Hemptone-HTFR5-TS.gif For the others, just go to the tidbits section of his site & scroll down

They are apparently less efficient than the FE127's

Yes, looks to be about 4 - 5dB less.

but would I consider the same horn or BVR cabinets as the FE127 or the cabinets for the FR103/FR107?

Neither really; you'd be better off with something designed for them. FWIW, boxes for the 103/7 would probably be somewhat closer though.

Is there a formula to "shrink" the Curvey Chang's?

Afraid not -dedicated design very much required.

[chrisb]

Well, Bruce this subject is certainly one easy to make cheap jokes over - if it wasn't for some of us having been burned by mr Pecker, going back several years now, most of us would be happy to join the party.

Even if the cones contain actual Hemp fibers, there's nary enough "active" ingredients for first or second hand smoke to elicit any medicinal effects.


but seriously, folks

The Hemptone (A Brown Soun) drivers' parameters may (or not) be similar enough to the infamous Hemp Acoustics products, but I can tell you that the pair of little HA FR4.5 that I have are nothing transcendental, but quit nice.

If you're game to invest a few hours and a sheet of material (I'd personally recommend BB plywood, but that's another Pandora's box), you could probably blast together a small pair of enclosures in less time than it takes to find consensus as to the merits of relying on most manufacturers published specs, or what makes a "good" enclosure. ( the joke of course is that the latter will never happen)

Scott may have beat me to the punch, but I can tell that while I think he may not have heard them, as I mentioned in another thread recently, and several times last year, his BVR design "Brynn" (the half height version on the left below) works like a charm with the HA FR4.5 drivers, and in fact I prefer them to the FE127 in this box - mostly for the variety of tonal balance i.e. darker and fuller bodied "flavour" . Think Selma Hayek vs a young Natasha Henstridge - either a delightful experience I (continue to) imagine, but certainly different.



drawings:


http://homepage.mac.com/tlinespeaker...map-021107.pdf

[planet10]

Originally posted by Scottmoose
Neither really; you'd be better off with something designed for them. FWIW, boxes for the 103/7 would probably be somewhat closer though.

That would be my call on a "equivalent" Fostex. Vas is about half of FE127. You might be able to use 2 in place of a single FE127.

<rant>And if you believe that they follow the preferred cone recipe in their patent ap, you might as well just smoke your banana peels instead of composting them as they are close to whacky weed than anything they put into the hemptones...

Loius can't even get an answer out of the hemptone guys about what is really in these.</rant>

dave

[brucegseidner]

I feel like I am coming late to a party that has ended poorly. Ah, well, I will find some local way of revealing their actual values, continue trying to relate these values to the parameters and dynamics of these cabinets, actually, musical instruments, and reconvene when some of the dust has settled.

I am likely too new on the scene to inquire as to "enabling" these orphans......

Cheers,

Bruce

[planet10]

Originally posted by brucegseidner
I feel like I am coming late to a party that has ended poorly. Ah, well, I will find some local way of revealing their actual values, continue trying to relate these values to the parameters and dynamics of these cabinets, actually, musical instruments, and reconvene when some of the dust has settled.

You are blazing a trail with these. Put them in a box and get some listening time on them. Pobably 5-7 litres sealed would work fine.

dave

[brucegseidner]

Does anyone have any experience with this Dayton WT3 woofer tester?

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...TOKEN=80967946

Seems like something I could purchase with a couple friends given the frequency, rather, the number of times a year any of us would need it.

I will follow the advise for a sealed box, it is quite good and rational and I can start breaking them in. But for the final home, I don't know. I used the Hornresp to think about a cabinet. TL's are something I have been around for years and understand. It is clear to my how to change the length, shape of the line, and position of the driver in a basic design subsequently adapted for different drivers.

But I am sensing some stubbornness in me. I think I must be as invested in a wood crafting project as an audio project at the moment so sensible suggestions like the Brynn are appreciated and acknowledged, but then I keep looking at the Nagaoka horns.

This reminds me of the sensible advise I got when first buying a car in my senior year of high school. I needed to get my 6'4" body 20 miles to a lifeguard job and friends urged me to get a Datson 510 or a Volvo. I of course duly bought a 15 year old MGA that required ongoing maintenance, all the while looking like Mr. Potato Head in a vehicle not well proportioned to my frame.

So, I seem dead set on building either the Mikasa or Saburu because they look like wooden origami puzzles. The total volume and the baffle sizes will need to be adapted to the parameters of my orphan HR-5's. I welcome public chiding and incredulity. I also request back channel suggestions on the changes needed given the differences between the Fostex drivers that y'all have the most experience with in this box and this odd little Hemptone. I paid about the same as I would have for the FE127's and these are brand new drivers. But my first clue that something was up should have been that they were shipped in FE127 boxes! This fellow swapped at quite a monetary loss. But I am the one with a 4db loss. LOL

Thanking all in advance.

Bruce
brucegseidner@mac.com

[chrisb]

Bruce - as Scott has oft repeated, in this thread and elsewhere, his designs tend to be optimized to best known T/S parameters of specific drivers.

Having built more than a few of his designs, with several more on a short project list, I certainly understand their aesthetic appeal - although my wife doesn't share the appreciation as far as "her" space is concerned.

However, be advised that many of the dual manifold designs are not quick builds, nor conservative on materials, and "adapting" any of them to a driver with unproven characteristics can lead to unpredictable results. It's far less frustrating to strike out at first bat with a simple sealed box that took less than an afternoon to assemble and cost $10 in materials (bin dare - dun dat)

The Dayton product is probably as inexpensive a speaker tester as you can find that will give you reasonable results, and could likely pay for itself after only a few projects. Keep in mind that I prefer to let those who enjoy it more than I play in that particular sand-box.

[planet10]

Originally posted by brucegseidner
Does anyone have any experience with this Dayton WT3 woofer tester?

You would do much better buying the Smith & Larson Woofer testor 2 http://www.woofertester.com/

I see the PE WT3 as predatory marketing. Calling it WT3 seems to indicate it is an advance instead of the cheapish knock-off it is (at least as far as SW is concerned)

dave