Brynn and Alpair...

[lazyfly]

Hi folks,

Just like to let anyone who is interested know that, without measurements, without software, without any advice or recommendations, I popped some Alpair 7's into my Brynn cabinets to compare with the Fostex fe127e's.

If you have some Brynn cabinets and Alpairs, do try it, it's a fabulous speaker package.

I was originally attempting to blend some Vifa M22 woofers using a plate amp to the Alp's using EL34's. The combination worked, and worked very well --- eventually. A high-pass to the Alpairs of ~120Hz worked best (I tried various ranges from ~80 up to ~250). The filter is why I was not concerned with the overly large volume of the Brynn (~13 - 14L). I removed the filter a few days ago and switched off the plate amps. Holy crap!

I wont do any comparisons v other drivers. It does in my opinion beat out the fe127e quite easily, and does too the CSS FR125 (which I love).

So again, if you have some Brynn cabs and the Alpairs, give it a whirl. If you would like to try without commiting then a simple ring shaped piece of timber to accommodate the Alps that can be screwed into existing holes would work fine I'm sure.

[chrisb]

Originally Posted by lazyfly

Hi folks,

Just like to let anyone who is interested know that, without measurements, without software, without any advice or recommendations, I popped some Alpair 7's into my Brynn cabinets to compare with the Fostex fe127e's.

If you have some Brynn cabinets and Alpairs, do try it, it's a fabulous speaker package.

I was originally attempting to blend some Vifa M22 woofers using a plate amp to the Alp's using EL34's. The combination worked, and worked very well --- eventually. A high-pass to the Alpairs of ~120Hz worked best (I tried various ranges from ~80 up to ~250). The filter is why I was not concerned with the overly large volume of the Brynn (~13 - 14L). I removed the filter a few days ago and switched off the plate amps. Holy crap!

I wont do any comparisons v other drivers. It does in my opinion beat out the fe127e quite easily, and does too the CSS FR125 (which I love).

So again, if you have some Brynn cabs and the Alpairs, give it a whirl. If you would like to try without commiting then a simple ring shaped piece of timber to accommodate the Alps that can be screwed into existing holes would work fine I'm sure.

yup, the 7 is a very pleasant surprise in a lot of boxes (the 'onken prime for example)

[Bigun]

Originally Posted by lazyfly

I popped some Alpair 7's into my Brynn cabinets [...]
I removed the filter a few days ago and switched off the plate amps. Holy crap!

Am I connecting the dots properly here - you are saying that the Alpair 7 is so darn good on it's own in the Brynn enclosure that you can get all the bass you need without a woofer at all ?

Is the lower sensitivity of the Alpair speaker c.f. Fostex not an issue (perhaps you have a SS amp) ?

[chrisb]

Originally Posted by Bigun

Am I connecting the dots properly here - you are saying that the Alpair 7 is so darn good on it's own in the Brynn enclosure that you can get all the bass you need without a woofer at all ?

Is the lower sensitivity of the Alpair speaker c.f. Fostex not an issue (perhaps you have a SS amp) ?

I think at the very least that a substantial improvement in transparency from midbass through upper midrange would add to the "wha whazzat?" factor.

And yes, in the only enclosure in which I've had occasion to directly compare them (i.e. Fonken prime / dMar-Ken7), this guy is more smoothly and deeply extended in the low end than the FE127E. In a small room the Fostex might be borderline for some folks, while the MA quite possibly more than adequate.

[planet10]

The Mark Audio drivers with the new multiform cones and the Matsubari-san spiders are pretty special. Mark has gotten the micro-resonance structure of these so that they are bottom to top coherent, doing no harm to the music. Makes one willing to go out and get a bigger amp. Along with the CHR & the EL70 which share some attributes in less expensive drivers, these can be true 9 octave FRs, and will set new standards for no-holds barred when well-integrated with helper woofers (or at least i expect so -- a cross between dMar-Ken7 & FonkenWoof will give me a solid idea)

They have -- in their stock form yet -- joined the FF85KeN & FE127eN on the list of my personal favorite drivers.

The 1st batch of A7eN are underway, BTW.

Since Brynn is directly based on the Classic GR Fonken, there should be little reason that a Mark Audio specific variation cannot be done. Scott's call thou.

Good to hear your call on optimimum XO for A7 to woofer. I am working on a super-Tysen Blade with A7 & 4 SDX7.

dave

[tubesguy]

Originally Posted by chrisb

yup, the 7 is a very pleasant surprise in a lot of boxes (the 'onken prime for example)

Which box is that? Is it the original miniOnken? If so, I've got yet another possibility to explore.

[planet10]

dMar-Ken7

dave

[Bigun]

Sounds like these are really nice drivers.

IF ONLY the Alpair drivers were at the 90dB+ level I'd be using them. But the spec sheets show them at 85dB - which is no good for my tube applications.

[Godzilla]

>>> IF ONLY the Alpair drivers were at the 90dB+...

Can anyone make a real world comparison between these and the more efficient, on paper, Fostex drivers? Is there a noticeable difference in sensitivity?

[planet10]

Originally Posted by Godzilla

Can anyone make a real world comparison between these and the more efficient, on paper, Fostex drivers? Is there a noticeable difference in sensitivity?

Given the measured differemces in efficency i'd expect my 20w amp on the A7 (or EL70) to be running out of jam at about the same levels as the 4.5 w amp on the FE127. By that measure the MA are more efficeint than theys s'posed to be.

dave