Optimum horns for a FE126e drivers?

[Rafal]

Hi All,

I'm thinking of building horns for FE126E drivers. Currently I have them in BIB cabinets and they sound very nice and dynamic. This time I'd like to attempt a build of the best horn enclosure currently available for this driver. If this design doesn't reach the lowest frequencies, I plan to augment that with a sub but I'd like the rest to be as good as a horn can do with these drives (I would like to be able to reach 50hz fairly easily though without the sub). This is kind of an excercise, actually. If I end up liking the sound of a well executed horn, next I may build an ultimate horn with a really high end driver (like a Lowther.)

Currently I'm considering the following designs for the FE126E (both from http://www.frugal-horn.com/):

A126 designed by Ron Clarke
Saburo

Which one would you recommend as the most optimal/ succesful design of a horn loudspeaker for this driver? Are there some other designs that you think I should consider?

Thanks in advance,

Rafal

[just a guy]

Technically there's no such thing as "best", it's more a matter of personal preference and matching speakers to the room. I've tried the 126 in BIB and Frugel-Horn. I like the BIB and I don't like the Frugel-Horn (details on my website). I haven't tried either of the designs you mention but I imagine both of them are quite good and both should get down to 40 hz with no need for a sub w/ most music.

I see you are in London. I'm about 1/2 hr away, so that would make you the closest diy'er I've ever (virtually) met. If you make the A126 or Saburo I'd love to hear them sometime.

[Scottmoose]

They can't really be compared Rafal; it's an apples & oranges sort of thing. All back-horns are not created equal, and regularly feature completely different design objectives / goals. For a useful comparison to exist, they need to be designed for the same purpose.

Saburo & Ron's A126 for e.g. couldn't be much more different. On the one hand, we have a 6ft tall double-mouth design with a target 40Hz LF extension and object of throwing a huge soundstage with lots of height & depth. On the other, we have a more compact cabinet intended for rear-wall loading, with similar extension & a smoother response but a much smaller scale sound.

Then we have internal design takes. The A126 aims for maximum energy preservation, with a minimal number of smooth internal bends etc. Saburo takes the opposite approach, with multiple internal bends, sharp edges and manifold style expansion rather than continuous, with the object of rapidly attenuating unwanted energy.

Both are known to work well, and have recieved very little criticism from those who have built them, so horses for courses really.

[planet10]

You have picked 2 of the best 3 to consider (i'd include Mikasa on the list -- one member has creted both Mikasa & Saburo so there is at least one person's opinion (six of one, half dozen of another IIRC), Scott may have his blog site URL handy)

In your end the choice of RonHorn vrs Spawn(s) comes down to room, room placement, and aesthetics, Not one of these horns should be considered less than excellent.

dave

[Scottmoose]

Yes indeed, here's Derek's blog site with Saburo & Mikasa mentioned. Flea Watt Unfortunately, many of his comments on the performance / sound of the different designs were lost when he originally took the site down, but still worth perusing.

[planet10]

I believe thecomments are duplicatedhereon the forum somewhere too...

dave

[hm]

Hello,
because of the small Xlin of the 126
i would take two of it and test the
small KORNETT down to 35 Hz.