Foster Speakers in North America

[RAART]

I hope that some people will chime in with information where to purchase Foster speakers, preferably in Canada but USA is fine too.

Looking for the following:

Foster Hi-Fi Woofer 434126 or 434127

Will need 4pcs.

Link to Foster: Foster Electric Company, Limited : Hi-Fi Woofer series

 

[planet10]

I was under the impression that you bought Foster mostly in OEM quantities. I to would be interested in knowing if you can get small quantities.

dave

 

[RAART]

I emailed Fostex but until now no response from them... That is the reason I posted this here. I was hopping that someone knows more...

I will email Foster also (if I dont get response from Fostex soon) but Foster and Fostex is the same company and Fostex has a distribution in North America.

 

[planet10]

Fostex is a tiny subsidury of Foster, selling pro gear and a limitednumber of diy loudspeakers.

dave

 

[RAART]

The worst is that I need exactly those speakers from Foster and do not know how to get them... Need to replace my old speakers (currently refoamed by someone who should know how to do this but I am not satisfied and now want to replace all 4 drivers (2 woofers per speaker) and those ones are match just different product code from oem manufacturer. Foster make them for them.

 

[RAART]

Dave, it didn't come to my mind before that you are "Dave" from Planet 10 HiFi even it was the same nickname... I checked your webpage in a search for my first project driver.

While you have access to many good full range drivers like Mark Audio CHR-70 I just was thinking if one of these can match specs on that Foster drivers I need. Just a thought.

I just want to save my old speakers (Beovox CX100) which design I love and have something that can play really nice and right now I am thinking if some of those full range drivers can fit there and looks like that MA CHR-70 holes are match but sides might need some shaving. If you can take a look at specs and let me know. It might need some tweaks to it too but later to that...

 

[planet10]

I'm going to guess that if you can't get the drivers you need from B&O or someone parting out a functioning pair, a reengineering might be required... but you won't end up with the same speaker -- if done right you could end up with a better one. Refoaming using generic foams is alwsy a crap shoot, as they are unlikely to have the same compliance as the original.

Can you post pictures?

dave

 

[RAART]

Probably right...

I will post some pictures later on however those guys at Audio Oasis delivered crap and worst thing is that I payed for it $160 + tax. IMHO the drivers are ruined and I do like them replaced. I do think even that I will do better job refaoming but I did say let professionals do it... and the end result was a disaster. Anyway short story I need new woofers.

a reengineering might be required... but you won't end up with the same speaker -- if done right you could end up with a better one.

I do like this idea since even you said this and just think from where to begin. First I was looking to find a driver which can fit there and during research find some probably suited donor drivers according to dimensions. Those are Marc Audio CHR-70 (with some modifications on the casting - it needs probably to be squared) and Marc Audio Alpair 6.

Then I was looking into this Linkwitz-Riley Electronic Crossover

Any idea?

Regards, Rade

 

[RAART]

Hello Dave,

Here are the pictures as requested.

add info:
- width (between screws) is 11cm
- opening hole is 9cm

 

[RAART]

and I am currently looking into this pair of speakers... Looks like it will fit the opening just sides needs to be squared.

CSS WR125ST

 

[planet10]

The WR125ST would be a decided upgrade if you could make them fit... they like a smallish sealed box.

but i'd be very hesitant of taking a dremel to the bezel if it is needed to make them fit. Bob is sold out, but i have some.

Seeing the pictures my 1st thot was the FF105wk.

Are the existing woofers 8 or 16 ohms?

 

[RAART]

I did take a look at FF105WK and was thinking that is the right one. Fitting is almost perfect but the rated music power is too low compared to Foster 434127 and according to someone at B&O that is the right one. Foster was making speakers for B&O Beovox CX100.

Then I was thinking into WR125ST and just need two sides of the bezel to be fitted.

I went to Occam Audio web page and really liked his MTM4. Similar configuration of the speaker...

 

[RAART]

I am really not sure about how many ohms they have.
The only info I have is from the web...

Product Archive - Bang & Olufsen
Beovox CX 100

That is also the reason I opted for CSS WR125ST while they are 16ohm and I can connect them parallel.

 

[planet10]

The data says 6 ohms total so 12 ohm drivers and a net volume of 4 litres. CSS not suitable -- they really need 4.5 litre minimum each driver.

dave

 

[RAART]

Hmm, I thought 2 drivers parallel got me to 8ohm, and then 4ohm tweeter will get me down to 6ohm... anyway didn't think about volume.

 

[planet10]

Because of the XO the tweeter doesn't count.

dave

 

[RAART]

and back to square one...

do you think that something can be done with Fostex FF105WK?

 

[RAART]

and got reply from Fostex... Need to contact Foster now.

"Dear Sir,

Thank you for your email to our website.

Fostex is however a different division from Foster's OEM business. We
suggest you should contact with Foster USA for inquiry, but we believe
they work on 1K-10K quantity basis while they do not sell directly to
endusers.

FOSTER ELECTRIC (U.S.A.), INC.
Address
1000 E. State Parkway, Suite G, Schaumburg, IL. 60173 U.S.A.
Phone & Fax
+1-847-310-8200 / +1-847-310-8212

Best regards,"

 

[planet10]

I'm looking about...available 12 ohm drivers are scarce, you are likely going to have to much with the XO if we can find anything that is happy in 2 litre (per driver)

dave

 

[RAART]

Thank you for your support in this matter... I hope that something can be done thus if we have this done right I think all people owning CX100 will be after you. ;-)
and there is whole community out there I think...