BAck loaded horn for Fostex FE166

ziocalepino · 21st March 2010, 08:43 AM

Hi everybody. I would like to build enclosures for Fostex FE166 using back loaded horn technique. Fostex's project is very difficult, with a lot of pieces. The project for FE126En has less pieces but not all of them are straight. So, does it exist a compromise? A cabinet with not so much pieces and all of them straight? Or am I asking for a dream become really? I've evaluated BiB's projects, but I've not room enough.

Many thanks to all of you

Ziocalepino

Scottmoose · 21st March 2010, 11:58 AM

Neither the FE126En or FE166En are particularly forgiving drivers to work with, and if you want a back-horn, then frankly, you have to expect some complexity. That's just the nature of the beast.

The Factory 166 horn isn't an especially difficult build; while it's a large number of pieces, that's not really a big deal providing you're patient & willing to take some time. After all, it's all 90 degree angles, butt-joints etc. Doesn't get much simpler than that. It's a reasonable performer, if not steller. The Factory 126 box is rubbish, quite frankly, and is best avoided.

ziocalepino · 21st March 2010, 12:55 PM

Well, I thought Fostex project for 166 was better, speaking of sound you can obtain. My goal is to build my own spekers doing really all by myself. Time is not a matter, I can spend months to do this. So, if you (or anybody else) confirm that Fostex's project for 166 is good I can consider this as a challange, knowing that at the end of the work I'll be satisfied. Ok?
Thanks a lot, expecially for your comment about project for FE126

By

Ziocalepino

rjbond3rd · 21st March 2010, 03:38 PM

The Spawn Family of Double Horns

Ron Clarke Horns

Scottmoose · 21st March 2010, 03:40 PM

Ron's A166 would be my top choice. Not as easy to build of course as there are more complex angles involved; Hiro's a decent box too, but if a BIB is too large, that probably rules it out.

hm · 21st March 2010, 05:11 PM

Hello
i made this construction,
for the low Xmax of the driver
as a double horn.

alternativeroute · 21st March 2010, 10:01 PM

Hi There,

I built the fostex recommended enclosures. It is not too difficult if you can get your local wood merchant to do all the cutting for you.

That is my cat doing quality control...

Checking the driver fitment...

More checking....

Getting the wood....

Dry fitting....

Just before glueing... You can see where I did some prefinishing on the hard to reach inner pieces (the mouth)

Eventual plugging in...

After doing this project (OK I am still finishing them at the moment on the outside) - I have the following suggestions...

Hook up the drivers in the meantime and start burning them in so that they are ready to go once your horns are finished. It takes longer to run them in than you think. At first i was dissappointed with the horn performance and then suddenly they started smoothing after a month of being in the horns...
Get a decent setsquare. It sounds obvious but halfway through the project I discovered that my little set square was slightly off...
Follow the Fostex plans numerically. The Japanese are clever. The second speaker I did according to the numbers on the plan and it went so much smoother than the first speaker...

As for other boxes I have tried...

I tried a pair of Voight pipes...

Nice sounding but a little lean on the bass side. The upside was that I could again intergrate my sub into the equation... For the life of me I cannot get the sub and the back loaded horns working properly together...

I just built these ones.. Angular spirals... http://www3.ocn.ne.jp/~hanbei/eng-angular.html
These have been a major surprise!!! i built them with sceptisism thinking that I would probably bang some cheap drivers in then and use them in the garage. The sound is amazing and very balanced...

Conclusion

My next project with these speakers is to try Ron's A166 BL horns. I will also try the Bigger is Better option...

Why build so many boxes for one driver??? It's a learning experience for me both in terms of the woodworking and the principals and nuance of speaker design...

Godzilla · 22nd March 2010, 02:59 PM

>>> Why build so many boxes for one driver??? It's a learning experience...

Agree. It also allows you to understand and hear how one box design sounds different than another. Neat pics.

Godzilla

Scottmoose · 22nd March 2010, 03:22 PM

Build a pair of Voigt pipes, gain two new hatstands!

Nice touch.

serenechaos · 27th March 2010, 06:21 PM

I also built Ron's A166 BLHs.
Subs built into the corner reflector integrate very well.

The only thing i see going for bibs is ease of construction;
sound is much smoother, more balanced with austins.

21st March 2010, 08:43 AM	#1
ziocalepino diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2010	BAck loaded horn for Fostex FE166 Hi everybody. I would like to build enclosures for Fostex FE166 using back loaded horn technique. Fostex's project is very difficult, with a lot of pieces. The project for FE126En has less pieces but not all of them are straight. So, does it exist a compromise? A cabinet with not so much pieces and all of them straight? Or am I asking for a dream become really? I've evaluated BiB's projects, but I've not room enough. Many thanks to all of you Ziocalepino

21st March 2010, 10:01 PM	#7
alternativeroute diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2010	Hi There, I built the fostex recommended enclosures. It is not too difficult if you can get your local wood merchant to do all the cutting for you. That is my cat doing quality control... Checking the driver fitment... More checking.... Getting the wood.... Dry fitting.... Just before glueing... You can see where I did some prefinishing on the hard to reach inner pieces (the mouth) Eventual plugging in... After doing this project (OK I am still finishing them at the moment on the outside) - I have the following suggestions... Hook up the drivers in the meantime and start burning them in so that they are ready to go once your horns are finished. It takes longer to run them in than you think. At first i was dissappointed with the horn performance and then suddenly they started smoothing after a month of being in the horns... Get a decent setsquare. It sounds obvious but halfway through the project I discovered that my little set square was slightly off... Follow the Fostex plans numerically. The Japanese are clever. The second speaker I did according to the numbers on the plan and it went so much smoother than the first speaker... As for other boxes I have tried... I tried a pair of Voight pipes... Nice sounding but a little lean on the bass side. The upside was that I could again intergrate my sub into the equation... For the life of me I cannot get the sub and the back loaded horns working properly together... I just built these ones.. Angular spirals... http://www3.ocn.ne.jp/~hanbei/eng-angular.html These have been a major surprise!!! i built them with sceptisism thinking that I would probably bang some cheap drivers in then and use them in the garage. The sound is amazing and very balanced... Conclusion My next project with these speakers is to try Ron's A166 BL horns. I will also try the Bigger is Better option... Why build so many boxes for one driver??? It's a learning experience for me both in terms of the woodworking and the principals and nuance of speaker design...

22nd March 2010, 02:59 PM	#8
Godzilla diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: New York	>>> Why build so many boxes for one driver??? It's a learning experience... Agree. It also allows you to understand and hear how one box design sounds different than another. Neat pics. Godzilla __________________ www.zillaaudio.com/bib/bib.asp www.ZillaAudio.com

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21st March 2010, 11:58 AM	#2
Scottmoose diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK	Neither the FE126En or FE166En are particularly forgiving drivers to work with, and if you want a back-horn, then frankly, you have to expect some complexity. That's just the nature of the beast. The Factory 166 horn isn't an especially difficult build; while it's a large number of pieces, that's not really a big deal providing you're patient & willing to take some time. After all, it's all 90 degree angles, butt-joints etc. Doesn't get much simpler than that. It's a reasonable performer, if not steller. The Factory 126 box is rubbish, quite frankly, and is best avoided.

21st March 2010, 12:55 PM	#3
ziocalepino diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2010	Well, I thought Fostex project for 166 was better, speaking of sound you can obtain. My goal is to build my own spekers doing really all by myself. Time is not a matter, I can spend months to do this. So, if you (or anybody else) confirm that Fostex's project for 166 is good I can consider this as a challange, knowing that at the end of the work I'll be satisfied. Ok? Thanks a lot, expecially for your comment about project for FE126 By Ziocalepino

21st March 2010, 03:38 PM	#4
rjbond3rd diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2007	The Spawn Family of Double Horns Ron Clarke Horns

21st March 2010, 03:40 PM	#5
Scottmoose diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK	Ron's A166 would be my top choice. Not as easy to build of course as there are more complex angles involved; Hiro's a decent box too, but if a BIB is too large, that probably rules it out.

22nd March 2010, 03:22 PM	#9
Scottmoose diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK	Build a pair of Voigt pipes, gain two new hatstands! Nice touch.

27th March 2010, 06:21 PM	#10
serenechaos diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: los alamos	I also built Ron's A166 BLHs. Subs built into the corner reflector integrate very well. The only thing i see going for bibs is ease of construction; sound is much smoother, more balanced with austins.

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