The Alpair 5 Generation 2 is a pure Free-to-air Single Suspension Full-Range audio driver. This new
Alpair 5 is more advanced than its first generation version. The new 5 operates only using its all-new
single front suspension.
This design retains designer Mark Fenlon’s classical mechanical engineering approach to reduce
mass and extend long throw operating capacity. Mark, along with Evan Yu and the engineering team
spent several months of research removing mechanical restriction from the ultra thin coil body.
Traditional driver designs use a “spider”, a suspension device located behind the driver’s cone. Bonded to
the coil, it physically restricts a coils ability to transfer mechanical-acoustic signals to the cone. Some
other drivers use damping fluid, springs or other devices, all of which produce losses. This new Alpair
5 design completely removes all these restrictions; Its coil locates cleanly between the driver’s cone
and motor sub-assembly, making the new 5 a pure free-to-air mechanical design.
The accuracy requirement for this new Alpair 5 component design, engineering and detailed assembly
goes well beyond typical commercial audio-driver manufacturing. The front suspension operating
tolerance is measured in milli-newtons. Production Alpair 5 drivers are made to within +/- 2.5Hz @ F
Zero. All production units are then pair matched to with +/- 1Hz @ F Zero.
The result is a detailed balanced sound representation across an ultra wide frequency band for this
class of small driver. A typical box bass-reflex box application with an internal volume of 3 litres can
be port tuned to below 80Hz while the driver retains is high range output up to 25kHz. The outcome
is a very easy to use versatile driver suitable for many smaller applications where higher-end sound
quality is desired from a mini-sized audio driver.
Technical Spec.:
Revc= 3.600 Ohm
Fo= 101.220 Hz
Sd= 28.270 cm²
Vas= 1.324 Ltr
Cms= 1.166m M/N
Mmd= 1.992m Kg
Mms= 2.078 g
BL= 2.522 TM
Qms= 1.493
Qes= 0.755
Qts= 0.502
Levc= 38.886u H
No= 0.181 %
SPLo= 84.593 dB
Xmax= 3.0mm 1 way
Pwr= 15 watts peak Nom.
Price: US$99.8/Pair + shipping cost.
Alpair 5 is more advanced than its first generation version. The new 5 operates only using its all-new
single front suspension.
This design retains designer Mark Fenlon’s classical mechanical engineering approach to reduce
mass and extend long throw operating capacity. Mark, along with Evan Yu and the engineering team
spent several months of research removing mechanical restriction from the ultra thin coil body.
Traditional driver designs use a “spider”, a suspension device located behind the driver’s cone. Bonded to
the coil, it physically restricts a coils ability to transfer mechanical-acoustic signals to the cone. Some
other drivers use damping fluid, springs or other devices, all of which produce losses. This new Alpair
5 design completely removes all these restrictions; Its coil locates cleanly between the driver’s cone
and motor sub-assembly, making the new 5 a pure free-to-air mechanical design.
The accuracy requirement for this new Alpair 5 component design, engineering and detailed assembly
goes well beyond typical commercial audio-driver manufacturing. The front suspension operating
tolerance is measured in milli-newtons. Production Alpair 5 drivers are made to within +/- 2.5Hz @ F
Zero. All production units are then pair matched to with +/- 1Hz @ F Zero.
The result is a detailed balanced sound representation across an ultra wide frequency band for this
class of small driver. A typical box bass-reflex box application with an internal volume of 3 litres can
be port tuned to below 80Hz while the driver retains is high range output up to 25kHz. The outcome
is a very easy to use versatile driver suitable for many smaller applications where higher-end sound
quality is desired from a mini-sized audio driver.
Technical Spec.:
Revc= 3.600 Ohm
Fo= 101.220 Hz
Sd= 28.270 cm²
Vas= 1.324 Ltr
Cms= 1.166m M/N
Mmd= 1.992m Kg
Mms= 2.078 g
BL= 2.522 TM
Qms= 1.493
Qes= 0.755
Qts= 0.502
Levc= 38.886u H
No= 0.181 %
SPLo= 84.593 dB
Xmax= 3.0mm 1 way
Pwr= 15 watts peak Nom.
Price: US$99.8/Pair + shipping cost.
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We have had a set of the pre-production proto-types for sometime now. They are very good.
We have built 5 boxes for them -- Pensil, Frugel-Horn Lite, a Baby Labyrinth, uMar-Ken 5.2, and uMar-KenSET (where they currently reside). The 1st 3 designs by Scott, the last 2 by myself. Scott has also specified a basic bass reflex.
The driver is not yet available in North America (Madisound should just now be getting production samples).
I note that the price (1st time i have seen one) from Tony is quite aggressive, hopefully we see that on this side of the Pacific too.
dave
We have built 5 boxes for them -- Pensil, Frugel-Horn Lite, a Baby Labyrinth, uMar-Ken 5.2, and uMar-KenSET (where they currently reside). The 1st 3 designs by Scott, the last 2 by myself. Scott has also specified a basic bass reflex.
The driver is not yet available in North America (Madisound should just now be getting production samples).
I note that the price (1st time i have seen one) from Tony is quite aggressive, hopefully we see that on this side of the Pacific too.
dave
Hello Dave,
It's great to know the new box designs for Alpair 5 from you and Scott. I will be happy to see the pics of the boxes if you can provide here.
Thanks,
Tony.
It's great to know the new box designs for Alpair 5 from you and Scott. I will be happy to see the pics of the boxes if you can provide here.
Thanks,
Tony.
Sweet cabinet, Dave. Bird'seye maple?
…also, looking forward to listening impressions...
Regards,
Mario
…also, looking forward to listening impressions...
Regards,
Mario
Cone is of similar size, bezel is larger.
The only change to make a uFonkenSET box (FF85) a uMar-KenSET (A5.2) is the venting.
dave
The only change to make a uFonkenSET box (FF85) a uMar-KenSET (A5.2) is the venting.
dave
has anyone commented in the total subjective realm about these ? - "silly good little buggers" was my first reaction - particularly in the little FH lites
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+1
Listening to the treated prototypes now (with the helpof 4 SDX10 on the bottom)
dave
I bought these FF85 treated drivers in hardwood boxes made by Bernie
Would these drivers fit without too much modification?
Would these drivers fit without too much modification?
With LOTs of modification. Propably easier to start from scratch.
We've not yet had a session with FF85wKeN vrs A5.2eN yet.
dave
We've not yet had a session with FF85wKeN vrs A5.2eN yet.
dave
