Which Fostex driver for Dallas 2 in 2021

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naylorpd

Member
Joined 2018
#1
I'm just starting to make my shopping list for a pair of Dallas 2 horns.

The original design was for a Fostex FE206e but this was replaced by the FE206En, but on starting to shop I find that this has also been replaced, now by FE206NV. Is this a straight swap? I see that it's 2mm deeper.

Or should I try to find NOS FE206En?

Or perhaps the FE208EZ - though I read that this needs a cabinet modification, and I haven't been able to find definitively what that modification is...

Thanks
 
#4
planet10 said:
FE206NV should work fine. Some tweaking of the Air Cavity may be needed to detail the transition between direct and horn loaded parts.
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Is that tweaking with wadding, or something more structural?

Scottmoose said:
FE208ESigma is the nearest to a direct equivalent in loading terms to the design unit. Pricier however & designed for use with a supertweeter.
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I think with the supertweeter that will blow my budget - which also might be better spent changing the planned single ACA to a pair of monoblocks (plus change) and still give me an upgrade path.

Thanks
 
#5
Also picking up a reply from another thread:
Scottmoose said:
The NV series units have some notable differences, particularly the 166 and 206 where the published Qt is significantly higher than the previous En and 6E series units....possibly reflecting a shift in approach by increasing Q a bit so a SET or equivalent amplifier / compensation is no longer as necessary as it used to be.
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But I'm planning to use this with an ACA (only one stereo one in mind at the moment) - so would this suggest that I'm better to look for NOS FE206En? My alternative to the ACA is an EAR 859, so firmly in the SET camp.

Thanks
 
#6
naylorpd said:
Is that tweaking with wadding, or something more structural?[/quoe]

Probably a volume increase given the lower mass-corner of the driver. Albeit assuming the actual Q is higher than specified, as was often measured to occur with the defunct E and En series units.
Click to expand...

I think with the supertweeter that will blow my budget - which also might be better spent changing the planned single ACA to a pair of monoblocks (plus change) and still give me an upgrade path.
Click to expand...

We all of us pick based on our individual priorities.
 
#7
naylorpd said:
Also picking up a reply from another thread:

But I'm planning to use this with an ACA (only one stereo one in mind at the moment) - so would this suggest that I'm better to look for NOS FE206En? My alternative to the ACA is an EAR 859, so firmly in the SET camp.
Click to expand...

As I recall, Ron assumed near voltage source conditions, so if you're planning on an amplifier with a higher output impedance, I'd personally be inclined to stick with a unit that's as close as possible to the original design spec. As noted though, we all pick our priorities / what's important to us, so YMMV as ever.
 
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