Treatment for Horns

[rock4016]

As a member of the Single ended triode yahoo group, I get exposure to a lot of info relating to its members. The moderator is from central Florida and there seems to be a lot of CFAS (Central Florida Audio Society) members in the group. One such member has a super speaker treatment process that he has been perfecting for over 20 years now. The treatment takes at least 5 days (it's a multi stage process). Everyone I talked to was very happy with the results, so I started to become intrigued. However, when someone states "speaker treatment" they are ususally referring to single full or extened range drivers. However one of the group members restores TAD speakers and had the treatment done to his TAD 2001 compression driver. . So, I said why not! I sent my PSI 15" speakers http://www.hawthorneaudio.com/drivers.htm, and emailed the crossover design to Mike. He had them for about 6 days or so and was really pleased with how they turned out. So I installed them in my baffles and started playing. Immediately I noticed a change in the overall presentation of the drivers, they had become more relaxed, liquid smooth, more detailed and the horn now sounded very much like a ribbon! I am very happy with my new treated drivers! If anyone want's more info Mike can be reached at theturk57@aol.com Mike states that full range drivers like lowthers benefit even more, so I'm going to be sending my Audio Nirvanna drivers next month.

[Pano]

That Hawthorne Audio, the well known Silver Iris OB guys.

Wonder what he's doing? EnABL?

[planet10]

Tubeguy1954 made some posts on the same treatment applied to his FE206. I doubt we will see the methodology revealed to the diyer.

dave

[rock4016]

I belive Mike is planning on selling the solution to DIY folks in the future, but as of now it's a proprietary process that only he does.

I'm just trying to spread the word, as I've never seen a "treatment" for compression drivers, and based on what I heard with mine, I feel it's worth mentioning, especially to DIY speaker builders looking for the best sound they can get from their drivers. If you feel this post is strictly marketing, then please delete it.

[planet10]

Originally posted by rock4016
I'm just trying to spread the word, as I've never seen a "treatment" for compression drivers, and based on what I heard with mine, I feel it's worth mentioning, especially to DIY speaker builders looking for the best sound they can get from their drivers.

I've done a few compression drivers. The Silver Iris ones definitely benefitted (as did the rest of the driver)

dave

[Cal Weldon]

I have moved this to the vendors area as it pertains to sales.

[thetubeguy1954]

Originally posted by planet10
Tubeguy1954 made some posts on the same treatment applied to his FE206. I doubt we will see the methodology revealed to the diyer.

dave

Hello Dave & rock4016!

Dave is correct I am the person who posted the original comments about Mike's treatment! I can tell panomaniac and anyone else who's curious that it is not the EnABL process but rather it's a proprietory process that was developed by Mike over a 20 year period!

I was so estatic with the improvement in sonic quality this 5-step process made to my FE206E drivers ---{IMHO & a local Lowther dealer they now sonically equal the $1.2Kpr of Lowther DX3 drivers}--- that 4 months later I decided to have Mike treat my FE206ES-R drivers the same way. So I removed the FE206E drivers and replaced them with my FE206ES-R drivers! I wanted to hear just what sonic changes Mike's treatment made so I initailly listened to the FE206ES-R's unborken-in and untreated. Suffice to say I was quite disappointed with the FE206ES-R's at first. To me they sounded quite harsh and shrill. However at the same time it was also immediately apparent that the highs were much more extended than the FE206E and the bass was much tighter and subjectively deeper.

I knew the FE206ES-R drivers were notorious for taking a long time to break in so I decided to leave them installed and give them a chance to break-in. During the day for about 5-8hrs a day all week I played the drivers at a low volume while I watched TV in the other room. Then on Friday 7/3/09 as I was listening to my system Mike came over to apply his treatment the much more $$$$ FE206ES-R drivers. Mike applied 3 of his 5-stop process when he arrived and then he repeated the first 3 steps a second time before he left.

I am amazed the level of improvement in sound quality that Mike's treatment of FE206ES-R provided over the untreated FE206ES-R and over the treated FE206E as well. It's as if another 2-4 veils were lifted from the music. Somehow Mike's treatment removes the main weakness from drivers without ANY noticeable tradeoffs. That is unheard of, when typically any change in one area always causes a change or tradeoff somewhere else, but I haven't heard any since Mike's treated my original FE206E four months ago.

All the transparency, inner resolution and midrange sweetness that fullrange drivers are so loved for remains and in fact improves, while the typical shout is erased or ameliorated to the point of being unoticeable! Add to that better more extended highs and tighter deeper bass and to me having this treatment done is a no-brainer! I cannot believe Mike only charges $150pr for this treatment. There's nothing else I can think of even at $300 to maybe $500 that anyone could do or purchase to make their speakers improve this much sonically.

I can only imagine how much better the FE206ES-R's are going to sound when they finally break-in fully mechanically. I'm told this is a 300-400hr process and as of now they only have about 50hrs on them. I already know I'll never, ever put the FE206E's back in. Drums have a snap that's eerily realistic and while only 2dB more efficient @ 98dB compared to the FE206E it's immediately apparent that the larger motor has much better control over the cone with the FE206ES-R. Everything is just plain clearer and more realistic sounding.

[roscoeiii]

rock4016,

Please let us know how the treatment on the Audio Nirvana dirvers sounds if you end up getting them treated.

[thetubeguy1954]

Hello roscoeiii!

Although I know Mike hasn't treated a pair of Audio Nirvana's as of yet, I can tell you that the effect of a much more relaxed, liquid smooth, more detailed, increased inner resolution, with cleaner highs and tighter, deeper bass is the trademark of this 5-step process!

I've heard the Fostex FE206, FE206ES-R and a pair of Lowthers after having this treatment done and they all improved in the area's mentioned above. This is also what rock4016 heard with his Hawthrone drivers as well. Amazingly Mike's treatment allows this all to happen while it removes the main weakness from drivers without ANY noticeable tradeoffs in other areas!

I was so confident in this treatment and the outcome of it being applied I had it done to my $650pr FE206ES-R drivers. I also know of a man with the Loth-X speakers that just had his drivers treated and should be getting them back any day now. Once he writes what his opinion of them is I'll share that with everyone here too.

Although I know Mike personally I have no financial interest in this process. I'm sharing this info strictly because of how much it improves the sonic quality of drivers, for such a small $$$$ investment and I wanted as many people as possible to know of it's availability. Heck truth be told if someone else out there knew of this treatment and I didn't I'd have wanted them to share this info with me.

Thetubeguy1954

[planet10]

Originally posted by thetubeguy1954
$650pr FE206ES-R drivers

FE206eSR were something like $211 each retail

dave