So I went on Madisound website and was looking for a new project and came across the Fostex Driver’s page and noticed a few weeks ago the Newer FENV line is now updated to the FENV2 line models. That was a short lived updated FE line update. What I got from the update : By eliminating the metallic eyelets new FE-NV series offer reduced harmonic distortion in the midrange. The pocket neck damper developed in the FF-WK series has been adopted to continue the three-point bonding of the voice coil and the damper and cone paper on the same circumference. The shape and material of the dampers have been reviewed for more linear amplitude characteristic than the current FE-En series. Also not shipping paper out with specs. and down loading the specs. on the fostex website. So I guess am posting this to ask if anyone has done any side by side listening or comparisons between the FENV vs FENV2 speakers. I added pictures of both drivers and frequency graphs of both drivers. First graph is the older FE126NV and the 2nd graph FE126NV2 drivers. Jeff
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Ya I agree Dave. It took me by surprise. I have the older FE126en drivers and was looking to buy the newer NV series. I have no idea how they would sound besides the updated literature and the frequency graph? Now I just might buy a pair next month to see if they sound any better in terms of the newer model? So My Parents are looking for a pair of speakers with a small footprint and can listen to them for back round music. Now I have every I need but the drivers. I can report back my findings. I also read or heard somewhere that The Fostex FE108EZ has been discontinued for months now. So I will give an update in the first week of November 2023. Be safe. Jeff
Hmm. Surprisingly brisk, but the NV series was a bit of a departure (at least in published values) for the FExx6 series so they may have decided to implement these as running modifications with a name tweak to avoid confusion. I could wish the 126 didn't have the peaking between 5KHz - 7KHz https://www.fostexinternational.com/docs/speaker_components/pdf/FE126NV2.pdf unlike (at least on paper) the previous, but I'd rather have them than not, even if we can critique aspects of their response, same as any driver. Should appeal to their fans & probably a few others too as like the original NVs they're a bit more flexible than their 6E /6En predecessors. Still no sign of an Xmax value -I'm the first to critique Xmax as a fairly useless figure, but without having a coil / gap height it's hard to assess. I assume Fostex have stuck with their traditional underhung motors, which may explain that -due to the physical geometry the figure itself is always likely to be down relative to some others, and that can get misinterpreted.
Hi ScottMoose. Your very clear and directive points of reference are spot on all these Fostex FE Driver series. I really don’t like the way fostex is going now a days. The FF85Wk drivers are still my top most expensive driver I would buy today. Not to bring in another company in but, the Mark Audios CHN-50 are my favorite Cost to ratio driver now. Thanks for your insights and advice on the fostex FE126NV2 drivers. Be safe. Jeff
Very hard to argue with that. Wish they did a rectangular basket version (for closer C-C) and i could afford 60 of them.
dave
Jesus, Mary, Joseph & the little wee donkey, that box isn't a 'joke' (it really isn't) but I did it firmly with an eye to a particular segment of listener, particularly in Japan where they like this sort of thing (different approaches, focus, material & even manner of listening in certain cases). In this case, it should in some respects beat the (somewhat dodgily named by '23 standards) 'Sweet 16' having smaller drivers packed closer together. Dynamic range / headroom etc. is good, as you'd expect from an array of any kind and output lobing reduced compared to the original; since no specific drivers were ever, er, 'specified' in the original article other than generic 5in units from the local hardware store / electronics retailer the individual unit quality is also likely to be higher / more consistent (albeit smaller). Still, it's still intentionally on the 'specialist' side of things, and if you value pin-point imaging for instance, or the greatest possible HF extension, it's unlikely to suit. If you want something of modest size that will (albeit with limited LF extension) blow the three-little pigs' brick house down, it's in the ballpark.
Dave I wonder how the fostex Fe85wk drivers would sound? or the FE105WK drivers as a step up? Dave you always got me thinking about new projects. To looking into building or designing. 😂.
I like FF85wk better than the FF105.
In my comparisons of EnABLed FF85wk and Alpair 5.2eN, after an afternoon, they were very close. Stock the FF85wk does not do quite as well, but there are easyish mods (short of EnABL) that mostly sort that out.
VERY hard to beat the price/perfoamce of the CHN-50.
dave
In my comparisons of EnABLed FF85wk and Alpair 5.2eN, after an afternoon, they were very close. Stock the FF85wk does not do quite as well, but there are easyish mods (short of EnABL) that mostly sort that out.
VERY hard to beat the price/perfoamce of the CHN-50.
dave
Hello, so given the last response, is it possible to EnABL the FE126NV? has anybody done this? is it the same as with En?
Yes it will be possible… if you want to try it you will need to practise on something you ar eOK trashing if you do a bad first job — my first one was a mess).
If you want to tackle it help can be provided.
I encourage it. Even modest pre-EnABL mods will make for improvements.
dave
If you want to tackle it help can be provided.
I encourage it. Even modest pre-EnABL mods will make for improvements.
dave
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I still have the boxes I made for the old 127E, the sister driver to the 126E. The boxes were built in 2009 as my first DIY audio project. I loved the clarity of these speakers, my first experience of full range drivers. But the treble fatigue grew on me in a bad way so I sold off the drivers. I’d like to give Fostex another chance, these new drivers would likely fit the boxes but the posted data shows they are still showing a humungous peak in the treble. The F85wk seems to avoid that fate. In 2009 I tried cone treatments to no avail. I think today, I would try an electrical notch filter.
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I like Ff85wk, I have build a pair of uFonken and they are great!
Now I am building the Valiant for the FE126NV (I have also build Vulcan and victor before 10 years, great speakers!)
Dave I have ordered all the materials for enabling the fostex, when I am ready I will post again. I have tried enabling a pair of fe206en before ten years and I believe it was a success, but I have completely forgotten how I did that!
When built I will compare them with Vulcan with sigma drivers which I still have.
Now I am building the Valiant for the FE126NV (I have also build Vulcan and victor before 10 years, great speakers!)
Dave I have ordered all the materials for enabling the fostex, when I am ready I will post again. I have tried enabling a pair of fe206en before ten years and I believe it was a success, but I have completely forgotten how I did that!
When built I will compare them with Vulcan with sigma drivers which I still have.
Good morning 😃. No one that I know of or read about? Maybe I missed something? I was hoping to get a pair and mess around with or at least listen to them? But, things have come up and now working on putting my electrical work bench together is now taking my time and funds up. Please let us know if you bought them what you think before and after the enable treatment? Very curious on how the new NV fostex speakers drivers sound? Jeff