Driver replacement/upgrade?

[hapinoregon]

Two questions, please:

1.Tang Band's W5-1611SA Driver has been replaced with the W5-1611SAF. Has anyone any experience with both or can recommend that I replace the older with newer?

2. Fostex's FE138ES-R has been discontinued. Is there a viable replacement for it?

Any and all comments, suggestions and opinions will be appreciated...

MTIA

[Scottmoose]

1/ The saf has largely replaced the sa simply due to the increases in cost of neodymium. Performance should otherwise be extremely similar. Neodymium was popular for a few years, in the majority of cases for its marketing value rather than any actual performance gain.

2/ No. Not from Fostex anyway. That was the only driver of those dimensions they ever produced. It was a special edition unit they struggled to sell. Partly because it was an unusual size for a Fostex, and most of their Japanese buyers, who the drivers are pitched at, are quite conservative over such matters, and partly because it was rubbish.

[planet10]

Originally Posted by Scottmoose

partly because it was rubbish.

FE138 had lots of promise but did not deliver. Fantastic bass, but it took the Fostex shout and turned it into a screech so was useless as a FR and expensive for a bass driver.

dave

I have a pair of the older neo for sale.

[hapinoregon]

Many thanks to both Scottmoose & Planet10.

Concerns about the FE138ES-R are resolved...

Merci beau.

[chrisb]

Originally Posted by planet10

FE138 had lots of promise but did not deliver. Fantastic bass, but it took the Fostex shout and turned it into a screech so was useless as a FR and expensive for a bass driver.

dave

I have a pair of the older neo for sale.

Originally Posted by Scottmoose

2/ No. Not from Fostex anyway. That was the only driver of those dimensions they ever produced. It was a special edition unit they struggled to sell. Partly because it was an unusual size for a Fostex, and most of their Japanese buyers, who the drivers are pitched at, are quite conservative over such matters, and partly because it was rubbish.

Indeed, hard to believe that the same engineering team (or perhaps it wasn't? ) who brought you the F120 and 200A, FE166ESR and others could miss the target so widely. Some of the (combination of ) materials, surround and cone profiles etc employed in this designed have been used with great success in models ranging from the FF85K, to the full Sigma line