Fonken or mFonken for FE127e?

[oodi]

Hi,

I have a pair of FE127e and a pair of FE167e that I hope to be putting to good use soon, really soon. Am set to build a pair of Fonken. Just cannot make up my mind on whether the Fonken or mFonken.

For the near term I am hoping to power using a TA2020 style amp. In the long term I would like to build a small tube amp.

Thanks,
Adi

[vinylkid58]

Fonken for FE127, unless you need them for the desktop.

Jeff

[planet10]

mFonken is smaller, but sacrifices bass & midrange openess to get the size down... if you don't need smaller, go for the FonkenPrime.

dave

[mikje]

As a proud owner/builder of a pair, I say go with the Fonken!
Mike

[chrisb]

Originally Posted by vinylkid58

Fonken for FE127, unless you need them for the desktop.

Jeff

Originally Posted by planet10

mFonken is smaller, but sacrifices bass & midrange openess to get the size down... if you don't need smaller, go for the FonkenPrime.

dave

Originally Posted by mikje

As a proud owner/builder of a pair, I say go with the Fonken!
Mike

FWIW, as I've built a few pairs of both, ditto to the above.
(the same generalizations as to finesse and extension could be made regarding Mark Audio drivers in this family of enclosure designs - various adjustments in volume and port dimensions are required to suit each model's T/S parameters)



IMHO, in a moderate sized room 250-350sq ft, the sweet spot for FE127E in the prime enclosure would be somewhere in the neighbourhood of 6-10watts of SET (300B, EL34) or 6P15P (SV83) PPT with the Hazen suppressor grid mod. (actually, that one's probably half the power of the EL34)

One of my less used tube amps is a Jolida 302 (EL34 /triode connected), which is capable of at least 3-5 times the power of any of the above, and I've also had opportunity to hear a variety of "conventional" SS and digital amps, an always migrate back the to SETs.

[oodi]

Originally Posted by chrisb

One of my less used tube amps is a Jolida 302 (EL34 /triode connected), which is capable of at least 3-5 times the power of any of the above, and I've also had opportunity to hear a variety of "conventional" SS and digital amps, an always migrate back the to SETs.

I am building (yes, I am a very very slow builder) a tube amp based on a ECL82. I started a thread on that a long time ago and it is still here Building an ECL82 Single Ended Amp .... I am hoping that this will be suitable for the Fonken and eventually a Fonken167 as well.

Also on the drawing board since then has been a 6SL7 and 6L6/EL34 SE amp. There are a few designs that I have noted over the years. The Angela Stereo Single-Ended EL34 Hi-Fi Amplifier being a bit favored over all the others. Having said that, I have just learned about the tubelab.com EL34. I am a little tempted to just buy that PCB instead of pursuing point to point wiring.

Having said all of that, I first started looking at full range speakers and tube amplifiers in 2006. A lot of good things have happened since. I really liked the SOLO103. Being able to put my FE127e and FE167e into a proven box of that type will be great. Just need to wait for my yard to dry so I can chop up some well aged birch ply.

Adi

[planet10]

Originally Posted by chrisb

...6P15P (SV83) PPT with the Hazen suppressor grid mod. (actually, that one's probably half the power of the EL34)

3.2 W measured.

dave

[chrisb]

Originally Posted by planet10

3.2 W measured.

dave

just sounds like more

[planet10]

Oh yes. Quite an amazing little amp.

dave