CSS FR125S Initial impressions

[Timn8ter]

The new driver from Creative Sound Solutions, the FR125S, is a remarkable achievment in low cost single driver design. Fostex and Jordan can rest comfortably on their laurels for a while as they are better known and have earned respect over the years, however, when compared side and side and dollar for dollar the FR125S is the clear winner.
I installed the FR125S into 7 liter vented cabinets, the very same cabinets I use for my Ling Single speakers. No filters were used, just straight from the amp to the driver. They sounded very similar to the WR125S but with a noticable difference in the top end. They actually play everything! My wife was nearby not paying attention to which speakers were playing (there were 5 different speakers in the room at the time) and when I pointed out that they were the new single drivers from CSS she was astounded. "There's no tweeter?" she asked.
They are everything a single driver lover would ask for (save 100db sensitivity). Lows, highs, imaging, neutrality...well almost everything.
I have to admit, after hearing them I was worried. Very worried. I've sunk real money into developing a good two-way bookshelf based on the WR125S. If these are as good as them I'll have to have a fire sale! Fortunately for me, when I did A/B testing between the FR125S and my Ling bookshelf speakers there was a noticeable difference. I wasn't drawn into the music quite the way I am when listening to the Ling's. They are better balanced and lend an "air" to the music that's missing with the single driver speaker due to the Fostex super tweeter.
Now before you cry FOUL! let me tell you that if the FR125S was as good as my Ling's I wouldn't be posting this. The point I'm trying to make is that they were good enough to have me seriously worried. That's very good news for single driver fans and new DIYers looking for something easy to build, inexpensive and still sounds great.
Thank you Dan for designing a wonderful product.
Contratulations to Bob for taking a risk and succeeding.

[Timn8ter]

Oh yeah, one more thing. The Ling Single just got an upgrade. When the shipment of FR125s come in I'm swapping out the single WR125S for the FR125S. (That probably could've gone without saying).

[zobsky]

can you offer any comparisons to the jordan jx92s?

thanks !

[Timn8ter]

I think the JX92S is a fine driver and probably does a little better with highs than the FR125S but not twice as good. I would rather spend the extra $70 or $80 and add a tweeter. As for bass and mids I don't really notice much difference between the two.

[chrisb]

Tim, once Dave is finished with the glamor photos and some TS measurementts on his first set of 4, we should have a couple of pairs of bi-pole MLTLs, based on your 2-way design, ready for auditioning. We'll probably use 8ohm WR125 for the rear drivers.

Care to drop by for a listen in a week or two?

BTW, fill density about the same as with the FE127E?

[maxro]

Bipole FR125s eh? I had been thinking jx92s until a couple days ago when I read about this new FR version of the lauded 125s. Well, at half the price, why not go bipole?

I played around with the MJK mathcad sheets yesterday and figured a MLTL (using the preliminary T/s parameters):

L=39"
Z driver=3"
Z port=30"
So=Sd=70sq"
Density=0.3lb/cu ft
Rp=1"
Lp=1.5"

-3dB at 40 Hz with a fairly quick plummet below that.

Anyone want to check my math on that? For 2 drivers parallel: 1/2 the Lvc and Re and double the Sd and Vad. Correct?

So, mixing a FR125 with a WR125 on the back is no problem? The specs are almost the same, and I guess you'd save a few bucks. Any drawbacks to the combo? Well, I guess you wouldn't have the ability to quickly switch between rear and front firing port simply by turning the speaker around.

Chrisb, I too am in Victoria. Any chance for an invite to the unveiling?

Max

[soongsc]

Originally posted by Timn8ter
I think the JX92S is a fine driver and probably does a little better with highs than the FR125S but not twice as good. I would rather spend the extra $70 or $80 and add a tweeter. As for bass and mids I don't really notice much difference between the two.

Is that a listening comparison or just impression from past memories?

[Timn8ter]

Originally posted by chrisb
Tim, once Dave is finished with the glamor photos and some TS measurementts on his first set of 4, we should have a couple of pairs of bi-pole MLTLs, based on your 2-way design, ready for auditioning. We'll probably use 8ohm WR125 for the rear drivers.

Care to drop by for a listen in a week or two?

BTW, fill density about the same as with the FE127E?

I went fairly light on the stuffing using R13 fiberglass rather than polyester. It doesn't need very much.
I'm waiting for Dave to publish a date for the mountain retreat.

Originally posted by soongsc



Is that a listening comparison or just impression from past memories?

Yep, past memories. I don't have the Jordan's here for A/B testing. I did live with a pair for a couple of weeks and enjoyed them. I can't get past the pricing though.

[Timn8ter]

Been having some fun with them today as PC speakers. I'm sitting about 2 feet away from them powered with a Sonic Impact T-amp (5w/ch 8 ohms). Kinda like wearing giant weightless headphones.

[morbo]

Been having some fun with them today as PC speakers. I'm sitting about 2 feet away from them powered with a Sonic Impact T-amp (5w/ch 8 ohms). Kinda like wearing giant weightless headphones.

Welcome to my world (except I use a 60wpc carver amp) Try filtering out everything under the tuning frequency if you can, and you'l get near limitless dynamic range sitting that close. One neat thing about running these little WR/FR drivers in ported boxes, is that they tend to mate really well with some of the great 70's vintage receivers, especially the ones that had a 50/60hz subsonic filter. I tried them with my old Yamaha and they sounded just great.