I have this kit: Fostex BK-12m Folded Horn Kit - Pair
With the FE126NV installed. I see the FE108EZ is offered as an upgrade.
Are they necessarily 'better' or just different in terms of the sound?
Or, are there other drivers that could be a bolt-in replacement that would be enjoyable (that would work with the existing cabinet).
Just staying with what I have is fine, I am not trying to upgrade for the sake up upgrading, just curious.
With the FE126NV installed. I see the FE108EZ is offered as an upgrade.
Are they necessarily 'better' or just different in terms of the sound?
Or, are there other drivers that could be a bolt-in replacement that would be enjoyable (that would work with the existing cabinet).
Just staying with what I have is fine, I am not trying to upgrade for the sake up upgrading, just curious.
They are smoother thru the mid treble, and don't have the "shouty" peak at 6-7kHz that the FE126 has. Don't expect more bass thou, at least in that horn.
If you get the itch to upgrade down the road, I'd go with the FH3 and one of the Mark Audio 4" drivers.
jeff
The FE108Sigma is an old driver hanging on because it does some things so well… the mid in particular as Jeff suggests.
It is not quite as sensitive as the fe126x, and you have to work the cabinet to get bass. Scott’s BK12m was specifically designed for teh FE126e or En (look at the box date to tell). The new FE126nv is a bit of a departure from the older generations, perhaps a bit more bass capable. The FE08eSigma will work, whether the differences suit your needs only your can tell.
This cabinet is he one that we havre found to extract bass from the FE108. These BTW are for give away for anyone who can come pick them up.
What kind of amplifier do you use? These speakers like and expect highish Rout amplifier.
dave
It is not quite as sensitive as the fe126x, and you have to work the cabinet to get bass. Scott’s BK12m was specifically designed for teh FE126e or En (look at the box date to tell). The new FE126nv is a bit of a departure from the older generations, perhaps a bit more bass capable. The FE08eSigma will work, whether the differences suit your needs only your can tell.
This cabinet is he one that we havre found to extract bass from the FE108. These BTW are for give away for anyone who can come pick them up.
What kind of amplifier do you use? These speakers like and expect highish Rout amplifier.
dave
Thanks! This build was dipping my toe into this area. I don't have any tools to cut large sheets of plywood, so I was limited to these kits. Would love if someone would sell a flat-pack kit with some other choices (it looks like the FH3 flat pack kits are gone). Or just find a local shop that could CNC cut a plan without charging me a kings ransom.
Jeff - thanks for that, yes understand I am not all of a sudden going to get better bass, but any improvements to the rest of the sound would be helpful.
Dave - too bad I am not in YVR! Good info, thanks. Amp-wise I am starting to get a collection. ACA being built now, Decware UFO2 out for delivery after a 6 month wait, McIntosh MC275 and MA7900 (the MA7900 most certainly not being a good fit!).
Overall, if I do another build, I would want to step it up a little in terms of bass. Either a 4" driver and cabinet that can provide more bass (but understand there are limits), or step up to maybe something in the 5" range with a larger cabinet.
Jeff - thanks for that, yes understand I am not all of a sudden going to get better bass, but any improvements to the rest of the sound would be helpful.
Dave - too bad I am not in YVR! Good info, thanks. Amp-wise I am starting to get a collection. ACA being built now, Decware UFO2 out for delivery after a 6 month wait, McIntosh MC275 and MA7900 (the MA7900 most certainly not being a good fit!).
Overall, if I do another build, I would want to step it up a little in terms of bass. Either a 4" driver and cabinet that can provide more bass (but understand there are limits), or step up to maybe something in the 5" range with a larger cabinet.
Bob Berner of Big Wood Studios is taking on flat-pak manufacturem, and is growing his library, FH3/XL/Lite, Halcyon, already, soon a deluxe A26 enclosure, likely more.
dave
Wow thanks! Pretty much a 100% order.
Any general thoughts between the standard and XL? Maybe said another way, if I am happy with the size (and cost) of the XL, are there any downsides I would want to be aware of?
Any general thoughts between the standard and XL? Maybe said another way, if I am happy with the size (and cost) of the XL, are there any downsides I would want to be aware of?
A Frugel-Horn can change its personality by using different drivers.It is a compromise.
For instance A7.3 in FH3 has better top/mid than the A10.3 in FHXL, but the A10.3 really closed the gap (from the A10.2) so is close. The extra bass is usually more important to most where the small difference up higher is often small enuff that it goes unnoticed, or what preceeds them limits both.
Now swap in the A10p, bass is the same/similar but as things go up it has a family similarity but sounds fairly different (and 2-3 dB more sensitive). 6 of one, half dozen of the other. Put FF165wk in, again it sounds different. Still good, not quite as refined, some prefer it for rock (i say it depends). And the Alpair 11ms, which has the potential for even higher levels of refinement without 2 suspensions fighting each other.
For FH3 you have a A7.3/A7ms/P7HD, very similar voicing. FE108eSigma. Must be a TB that fills the role for some.
Versatility of these horns means — drivers, damping, room, room loading, front end kit — lots of variables, we can only speak from our experience.
Note: best of both worlds might be FH-Lite with A5 MAOP and a helper woofer disguised as a deflector.
dave
For instance A7.3 in FH3 has better top/mid than the A10.3 in FHXL, but the A10.3 really closed the gap (from the A10.2) so is close. The extra bass is usually more important to most where the small difference up higher is often small enuff that it goes unnoticed, or what preceeds them limits both.
Now swap in the A10p, bass is the same/similar but as things go up it has a family similarity but sounds fairly different (and 2-3 dB more sensitive). 6 of one, half dozen of the other. Put FF165wk in, again it sounds different. Still good, not quite as refined, some prefer it for rock (i say it depends). And the Alpair 11ms, which has the potential for even higher levels of refinement without 2 suspensions fighting each other.
For FH3 you have a A7.3/A7ms/P7HD, very similar voicing. FE108eSigma. Must be a TB that fills the role for some.
Versatility of these horns means — drivers, damping, room, room loading, front end kit — lots of variables, we can only speak from our experience.
Note: best of both worlds might be FH-Lite with A5 MAOP and a helper woofer disguised as a deflector.
dave
Thanks. Obviously I know you cannot 'solve' my question, just wondering if there is a big, glaring 'thing' to know about either.
This might be hard to answer, but how much more bass could I get with a FH3 (non-XL) compared to the kit I have now...regardless of the driver? Want to note I am not a treble guy, I am more interested in good mids, and obviously more bass (musical, clean bass, not thinking these will 'thump')
I did see your comments from 2018 on the FH3 vs XL, so better understand the difference between those two: FH mk3 vs. XL, sound quality
This might be hard to answer, but how much more bass could I get with a FH3 (non-XL) compared to the kit I have now...regardless of the driver? Want to note I am not a treble guy, I am more interested in good mids, and obviously more bass (musical, clean bass, not thinking these will 'thump')
I did see your comments from 2018 on the FH3 vs XL, so better understand the difference between those two: FH mk3 vs. XL, sound quality
The FH3 with a7.3/7ms/7p/P7HD/FF125wk for instance will produce signifcantly more bass and somewhat lower — with a variable of tuning in how you use the wall/corner to load the horn mouth.
dave
dave