Suggestions for FE168E Sigma

[bigjppop]

So after responses from several other threads, I think this is the driver for me. It appears people are getting bass response into the 30's with this and no need for a tweeter. With 94.5 dB sensitivity, I don't know if I'll get any better.

So, I've already heard that the BIB is a fantastic design for this driver (which is great because it looks to be pretty dang easy to build) but I'm open to other suggestions if anyone has tried this driver in another enclosure.

Thanks for any advice!

[MJK]

You might try OB with two Eminence Alpha 15A woofers. Probably could be done with an active or passive crossover. HUGE powerful sound, great bass and dynamics.

http://www.quarter-wave.com/Back_Doo...er_7_03_09.pdf

http://www.quarter-wave.com/Back_Doo...ve_8_23_09.pdf

You would need to rerun the simulation with the FE-168 EZ substituted for the FE-167E to dial in the crossover.

[mr ed]

Originally Posted by MJK

You might try OB with two Eminence Alpha 15A woofers. Probably could be done with an active or passive crossover. HUGE powerful sound, great bass and dynamics.

http://www.quarter-wave.com/Back_Doo...er_7_03_09.pdf

http://www.quarter-wave.com/Back_Doo...ve_8_23_09.pdf

You would need to rerun the simulation with the FE-168 EZ substituted for the FE-167E to dial in the crossover.

Martin, this leads me to the question of 2 bete 15 on open baffle with active vrs the goldwood H frame. I have a pair of 168es but felt it might be tough to use them with the H frame do to spl difference.

Thanks
Ed

[MJK]

Originally Posted by mr ed

Martin, this leads me to the question of 2 bete 15 on open baffle with active vrs the goldwood H frame. I have a pair of 168es but felt it might be tough to use them with the H frame do to spl difference.

Thanks
Ed

If you are going active and can boost the bass driver's output, you could go with the Goldwood 18" woofer in the H frame since it gets down below 30 Hz. But that would require a lot of boost which may or may not be a problem depending on the desired volume level. It would work better with a less efficient full range driver.

For OB, I favor the Alpha 15A over the Beta 15A but that is an often debated trade-off. A pair of either 15" woofers would mate better with a 94 - 95 dB full range driver.

Any of these combinations would work ith an active crossover, it is up to the designer to think through the trade-offs/limitations and what they want for final performance.

[mr ed]

Thanks Martin
I did misspeak and meant to say the Alpha 15. I am wanting to try ob again and definitely active. I wish I had known of your work the first time around,
Toughest decision is size, one 18 in an H frame looks like it winning that war.
Two 15 gets large, but I would assume better air movement, and dynamics.
Cheers
Ed

[MJK]

Originally Posted by mr ed

Thanks Martin
I did misspeak and meant to say the Alpha 15. I am wanting to try ob again and definitely active. I wish I had known of your work the first time around,
Toughest decision is size, one 18 in an H frame looks like it winning that war.
Two 15 gets large, but I would assume better air movement, and dynamics.
Cheers
Ed

I tried my 18" H frame combined with my Lowther DX3 in the ML TL just to see how they sounded together and it worked great, the best of both worlds. I applied a lot of boost to the H frame so if you wanted very loud volumes I might worry about the woofer's deflection on bass heavy material (HT or 1812). It might work fine for your music in your room, I just don't know for sure.

[bigjppop]

I appreciate the suggestions but I think the addition of a second set of drivers, crossovers, etc might push me over my price/skill level.

So far, it seems the BIB is the simplest/easiest approach; any other thoughts?

[bigjppop]

Alright, did a little searching through the archives (like I should have done before asking... and it appears that there are a couple of thoughts on this driver.

BIB = Easiest build, lowest bass
Hiro = Can't find much (but I think they look cool)
Chang (of some flavor) = Not as much bass as BIB, but "better" overall sound (not sure what that means)
And of course what Martin mentioned above with the extra 15" drivers

I think all three of those designs are doable at my current skill level (the Ron Clark stuff looks a little beyond me right now). So, have I characterized these options correctly? Am I missing anything?

[Scottmoose]

Originally Posted by bigjppop

Alright, did a little searching through the archives (like I should have done before asking... and it appears that there are a couple of thoughts on this driver.

BIB = Easiest build, lowest bass

That's about the size of it.

Hiro = Can't find much (but I think they look cool)

Glad you like them. They're not designed for the FE168ESigma, although it would probably do reasonably.

Chang (of some flavor) = Not as much bass as BIB, but "better" overall sound (not sure what that means)

Nothing. They're completely different in terms of presentation. The driver isn't really ideal for this type of load; can be done, esp. with a high output impedance amp, but you'd probably be better off with something else IMO.

If you want easy, I'd suggest sticking with an OB + bass drivers, or the BIB. Both will sound very good, albeit in very different ways.

[Godzilla]

If you can put them into corners, the 168ez should work really great in BIBs.

Godzilla