Hello all,
Has anyone ever directly compared the Mar-Ken Mini Onken with the Frugel-Horn XL using the Alpair 10.3 driver?
I ask because until recently I'd been breaking in a pair of 10.3's for a future FHXL build by using "cabinets" made from the original shipping boxes cut with appropriately-sized holes (don't ask me how I attached the drivers to the "cabinets"). Anyway, I'd been amazed at the sound quality to that point but the "TF" (that's Tacky Factor - the inverse of WAF) was becoming unbearable. You know it's bad when the guy is offended; it was the living room equivalent of driving down the road in a BMW with an uninstalled pair of 6x9's perched on the back dash.
As I was cleaning out the shop yesterday I discovered a stash of MDF (yeah, I know...) that needed to go away quickly. I searched the Frugal-Phile box plan library and three hours later I had a nice pair of Golden Ratio Mini Onkens. I fired them up expecting a cruel joke - but instead I was astounded.
I mean speechless.
These things are incredible! I was honestly half-expecting to be underwhelmed and disappointed, as my full range experience thus far has consisted of a pair of Zigmahornets (neat speaker, but not much bottom end - and what are they, anyway?) and an equally-disappointing pair of Buschhorn Mark II's. I know now that the drivers were at least partly to blame as they both used the same pair of FE103E's - which aren't exactly Lowthers. Not to mention that my crapentry skills weren't as refined. And there's still that "stuffing" issue. Ooh...
So now I'm faced with a conundrum. These speakers were meant to be throwaway hack jobs to break the drivers in and "detackify" the living room until a proper set of Frugel-horn XLs was built. Now I'm not so sure.
What are the relative pros and cons of these two designs? What does one offer that the other doesn't? Enquiring minds want to know. Heck, I may just rebuild these properly (i.e. with BB ply or solid wood) using the same drivers, then settle the issue myself by ordering another set of 10.3s and building the FHXLs, too. All I know is this Mini Onken design is a real gem. If the FHXL is anything like this box, then I'm definitely in.
Thanks Dave! 🙂
Has anyone ever directly compared the Mar-Ken Mini Onken with the Frugel-Horn XL using the Alpair 10.3 driver?
I ask because until recently I'd been breaking in a pair of 10.3's for a future FHXL build by using "cabinets" made from the original shipping boxes cut with appropriately-sized holes (don't ask me how I attached the drivers to the "cabinets"). Anyway, I'd been amazed at the sound quality to that point but the "TF" (that's Tacky Factor - the inverse of WAF) was becoming unbearable. You know it's bad when the guy is offended; it was the living room equivalent of driving down the road in a BMW with an uninstalled pair of 6x9's perched on the back dash.
As I was cleaning out the shop yesterday I discovered a stash of MDF (yeah, I know...) that needed to go away quickly. I searched the Frugal-Phile box plan library and three hours later I had a nice pair of Golden Ratio Mini Onkens. I fired them up expecting a cruel joke - but instead I was astounded.
I mean speechless.
These things are incredible! I was honestly half-expecting to be underwhelmed and disappointed, as my full range experience thus far has consisted of a pair of Zigmahornets (neat speaker, but not much bottom end - and what are they, anyway?) and an equally-disappointing pair of Buschhorn Mark II's. I know now that the drivers were at least partly to blame as they both used the same pair of FE103E's - which aren't exactly Lowthers. Not to mention that my crapentry skills weren't as refined. And there's still that "stuffing" issue. Ooh...
So now I'm faced with a conundrum. These speakers were meant to be throwaway hack jobs to break the drivers in and "detackify" the living room until a proper set of Frugel-horn XLs was built. Now I'm not so sure.
What are the relative pros and cons of these two designs? What does one offer that the other doesn't? Enquiring minds want to know. Heck, I may just rebuild these properly (i.e. with BB ply or solid wood) using the same drivers, then settle the issue myself by ordering another set of 10.3s and building the FHXLs, too. All I know is this Mini Onken design is a real gem. If the FHXL is anything like this box, then I'm definitely in.
Thanks Dave! 🙂
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The Classic Golden Ratio is the easiest to build of the miniOnken for the A10.3. It also has the highest diffraction signature & is the least likely to “disappear”. As with any miniOnken they only go as low as they go, but bass tends to be very finessed.
The FHXL is generally better in all ways. Deeper bass for 1, and near as finessed as the best of the miniOnken. All the triangular shapes inside mean low level of standing waves. It might not have as low a diffraction signature as the full-on trapezoidal miniOnken, but that seems to matter little as far as openess goes. All of the FRugel-Horns are really quite amazing boxes. At yesterday’s diyFEST, the FH-Lites with Alpair 5.2 were really gob-smacking a lot of people.
Do note that the A10.3 take an inordinate amount of time to break in. You will get over the worst of it fairly quickly but they will keep improving 500-1000 hrs out.
dave
The FHXL is generally better in all ways. Deeper bass for 1, and near as finessed as the best of the miniOnken. All the triangular shapes inside mean low level of standing waves. It might not have as low a diffraction signature as the full-on trapezoidal miniOnken, but that seems to matter little as far as openess goes. All of the FRugel-Horns are really quite amazing boxes. At yesterday’s diyFEST, the FH-Lites with Alpair 5.2 were really gob-smacking a lot of people.
Do note that the A10.3 take an inordinate amount of time to break in. You will get over the worst of it fairly quickly but they will keep improving 500-1000 hrs out.
dave
In fewer words than Dave, and risking repetition- I've built my fair share of all types, and whenever floorspace/domestic acceptance factor permits, I'd take the Frugels over a Pensil, MLTL etc, BR or 'mini onken' style enclosure for any given driver.
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