Hi everybody. I would like to build enclosures for Fostex FE166 using back loaded horn technique. Fostex's project is very difficult, with a lot of pieces. The project for FE126En has less pieces but not all of them are straight. So, does it exist a compromise? A cabinet with not so much pieces and all of them straight? Or am I asking for a dream become really? I've evaluated BiB's projects, but I've not room enough.
Many thanks to all of you
Ziocalepino
Many thanks to all of you
Ziocalepino
Neither the FE126En or FE166En are particularly forgiving drivers to work with, and if you want a back-horn, then frankly, you have to expect some complexity. That's just the nature of the beast.
The Factory 166 horn isn't an especially difficult build; while it's a large number of pieces, that's not really a big deal providing you're patient & willing to take some time. After all, it's all 90 degree angles, butt-joints etc. Doesn't get much simpler than that. It's a reasonable performer, if not steller. The Factory 126 box is rubbish, quite frankly, and is best avoided.
The Factory 166 horn isn't an especially difficult build; while it's a large number of pieces, that's not really a big deal providing you're patient & willing to take some time. After all, it's all 90 degree angles, butt-joints etc. Doesn't get much simpler than that. It's a reasonable performer, if not steller. The Factory 126 box is rubbish, quite frankly, and is best avoided.
Well, I thought Fostex project for 166 was better, speaking of sound you can obtain. My goal is to build my own spekers doing really all by myself. Time is not a matter, I can spend months to do this. So, if you (or anybody else) confirm that Fostex's project for 166 is good I can consider this as a challange, knowing that at the end of the work I'll be satisfied. Ok?
Thanks a lot, expecially for your comment about project for FE126
By
Ziocalepino
Thanks a lot, expecially for your comment about project for FE126
By
Ziocalepino
Ron's A166 would be my top choice. Not as easy to build of course as there are more complex angles involved; Hiro's a decent box too, but if a BIB is too large, that probably rules it out.
Hi There,
I built the fostex recommended enclosures. It is not too difficult if you can get your local wood merchant to do all the cutting for you.
That is my cat doing quality control...
Checking the driver fitment...
More checking....
Getting the wood....
Dry fitting....
Just before glueing... You can see where I did some prefinishing on the hard to reach inner pieces (the mouth)
Eventual plugging in...
After doing this project (OK I am still finishing them at the moment on the outside) - I have the following suggestions...
I tried a pair of Voight pipes...
Nice sounding but a little lean on the bass side. The upside was that I could again intergrate my sub into the equation... For the life of me I cannot get the sub and the back loaded horns working properly together...
I just built these ones.. Angular spirals... http://www3.ocn.ne.jp/~hanbei/eng-angular.html
These have been a major surprise!!! i built them with sceptisism thinking that I would probably bang some cheap drivers in then and use them in the garage. The sound is amazing and very balanced...
Conclusion
My next project with these speakers is to try Ron's A166 BL horns. I will also try the Bigger is Better option...
Why build so many boxes for one driver??? It's a learning experience for me both in terms of the woodworking and the principals and nuance of speaker design...
I built the fostex recommended enclosures. It is not too difficult if you can get your local wood merchant to do all the cutting for you.
That is my cat doing quality control...
Checking the driver fitment...
More checking....
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
Getting the wood....
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
Dry fitting....
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
Just before glueing... You can see where I did some prefinishing on the hard to reach inner pieces (the mouth)
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
Eventual plugging in...
After doing this project (OK I am still finishing them at the moment on the outside) - I have the following suggestions...
- Hook up the drivers in the meantime and start burning them in so that they are ready to go once your horns are finished. It takes longer to run them in than you think. At first i was dissappointed with the horn performance and then suddenly they started smoothing after a month of being in the horns...
- Get a decent setsquare. It sounds obvious but halfway through the project I discovered that my little set square was slightly off...
- Follow the Fostex plans numerically. The Japanese are clever. The second speaker I did according to the numbers on the plan and it went so much smoother than the first speaker...
I tried a pair of Voight pipes...
Nice sounding but a little lean on the bass side. The upside was that I could again intergrate my sub into the equation... For the life of me I cannot get the sub and the back loaded horns working properly together...
I just built these ones.. Angular spirals... http://www3.ocn.ne.jp/~hanbei/eng-angular.html
These have been a major surprise!!! i built them with sceptisism thinking that I would probably bang some cheap drivers in then and use them in the garage. The sound is amazing and very balanced...
Conclusion
My next project with these speakers is to try Ron's A166 BL horns. I will also try the Bigger is Better option...
Why build so many boxes for one driver??? It's a learning experience for me both in terms of the woodworking and the principals and nuance of speaker design...
>>> Why build so many boxes for one driver??? It's a learning experience...
Agree. It also allows you to understand and hear how one box design sounds different than another. Neat pics.
Godzilla
Agree. It also allows you to understand and hear how one box design sounds different than another. Neat pics.
Godzilla
I also built Ron's A166 BLHs.
Subs built into the corner reflector integrate very well.
The only thing i see going for bibs is ease of construction;
sound is much smoother, more balanced with austins.
Subs built into the corner reflector integrate very well.
The only thing i see going for bibs is ease of construction;
sound is much smoother, more balanced with austins.
Be worrying if it wasn't. 😉 Not that the BIB is bad, just that it's a much simpler, rawer style of cabinet.
I have a BIB with FE166e and I'm very interested in their reviews.
It is heartening to see someone like you to try many different types of enclosures.
Regards.
Sergio Fontenla.
It is heartening to see someone like you to try many different types of enclosures.
Regards.
Sergio Fontenla.
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