help me decide

[bigvag]

I want to build a full range speaker for a listening room. So far I've found 2 different speakers I'm interested in. The Alpair 12 or the fostex FE168E. This will be the first time building a full range speaker. If anyone can think of another speaker in the same price range let me know. And any first hand experiance with either one of these speaker, tell me your impressions of them. My plan is to get a 8 or so watt tube amp that I found and a pre amp(emotiva perhaps). I already have a nice ht using b&w speaker just want something when the wife is watching her general hospital I can go and relax listening to some music.Trying to say somewhere between 1000 to 1500 $ for everything.

[lanchile]

Well with that money, you can get better speakers and save some money.
Try Kef. they are good and they are something like single drive (But they are two way, coaxial).

[bigvag]

The 1000 to 1500 is for the amp, pre amp, speakers and some nice wood to make the cabinets.

[planet10]

Mr Vag...

The 2 drivers you have short listed couldn't be more different... The 168 is more efficient than the A12, with 8 watts you might find yourself a bit dynamically limited with the A12, but at moderate level s(like what i usually listen to) you'd be fine. The Fostex really wants to be in a horn (A166 is one of the best choices), the A12 is a bit more versatile but a bit tricky. It is new enuff that cabinet designs are still coming.

dave

[lanchile]

Originally Posted by bigvag

The 1000 to 1500 is for the amp, pre amp, speakers and some nice wood to make the cabinets.

is the amp diy too?.I have build some speakers and crossover too but, trust me it is not just get an enclosure and stick the driver in. a lot math for that.I would not build speakers again.I did two way and three way speakers using first order, second order, third order crossovers.and also using zobel network (impedance compensator).I ended up with a lot of headaches.( I am not good in math lol).

[bigvag]

Originally Posted by planet10

Mr Vag...

The 2 drivers you have short listed couldn't be more different... The 168 is more efficient than the A12, with 8 watts you might find yourself a bit dynamically limited with the A12, but at moderate level s(like what i usually listen to) you'd be fine. The Fostex really wants to be in a horn (A166 is one of the best choices), the A12 is a bit more versatile but a bit tricky. It is new enuff that cabinet designs are still coming.

dave

If I went with the fostex I would use the recomended eclosure they have on the website. It is a horn. I don't crank my speaker when I listen to them so 8 watts of tube power per channel should be loud enough for me. The cabinet for the a12 is one of your as long as your the planet 10 plans I seen on marks site.

[bigvag]

Originally Posted by lanchile

is the amp diy too?.I have build some speakers and crossover too but, trust me it is not just get an enclosure and stick the driver in. a lot math for that.I would not build speakers again.I did two way and three way speakers using first order, second order, third order crossovers.and also using zobel network (impedance compensator).I ended up with a lot of headaches.( I am not good in math lol).

Yes the amp is a diy this one.Elekit TU-879S Stereo Tube Amplifier Kit I wont need a crossover for the fullrange. The enclosure isn't a problem to build I've been doing wood work for awhile now, and the amp is diy but it is set up so you can really mess it up. Heres the plans for the fostex. I just have to convert the metric over to standard mesurements, damn americans last peopl still using standard lol. https://www.madisound.com/pdf/fostex...ez_enclrev.pdf

[bigvag]

Originally Posted by planet10

Mr Vag...

The 2 drivers you have short listed couldn't be more different... The 168 is more efficient than the A12, with 8 watts you might find yourself a bit dynamically limited with the A12, but at moderate level s(like what i usually listen to) you'd be fine. The Fostex really wants to be in a horn (A166 is one of the best choices), the A12 is a bit more versatile but a bit tricky. It is new enuff that cabinet designs are still coming.

dave

How about sound difference between the two.

[bigvag]

That a166 looks interesting.

[lanchile]

Originally Posted by bigvag

Yes the amp is a diy this one.Elekit TU-879S Stereo Tube Amplifier Kit I wont need a crossover for the fullrange. The enclosure isn't a problem to build I've been doing wood work for awhile now, and the amp is diy but it is set up so you can really mess it up. Heres the plans for the fostex. I just have to convert the metric over to standard mesurements, damn americans last peopl still using standard lol. https://www.madisound.com/pdf/fostex...ez_enclrev.pdf

it is more than wood work!!!
Do you know if your driver is suitable for port or sealed?
are you going to build it ported or vented and if it is ported what kind of port are you using length and width.
will you use grill on your speakers "diffraction distortion can accured" if you use just regular speaker grill.
how are you going to deal with internal cabinet resonances? it is not just adding foam or filling inside cabinets.
Do you know the correct cubit foot for you drivers?