These "FE103E backloaded horns" look very interesting and thanks Franz G for starting this thread.
Is there a website with detailed construction details/techniques?
Otherwise:
Does anyone have some building tips?
Is everything just glued together?
How do you assemble it to keep everything square?
Has any got recommendation for an alternative to the FE103E, they seem a little difficult to locate in Australia?
Thanks
Is there a website with detailed construction details/techniques?
Otherwise:
Does anyone have some building tips?
Is everything just glued together?
How do you assemble it to keep everything square?
Has any got recommendation for an alternative to the FE103E, they seem a little difficult to locate in Australia?
Thanks
grege said:
The plans are available as a PDF file on the Madisound site. Go to www.madisound.com and click the "Catalog" link then scroll down to the Fostex link and click the "Fostex Speakers" link.
Now scroll down the page and you will see a list of PDF files for different speaker enclosures. Click the FE103E link for the plans.
General Speaker Building Tips
* Yes, everything is glued together. You can use screws to hold things while the glue dries if you don't have enough clamps. You can leave the screws in or take them out and fill the holes, it is up to you.
* To keep things square, cut them square at the start. It really helps to have a table saw. Cut all the pieces of the same width at the same time. For instance in the backloaded horn plan the top, bottom and all the internal members are the same width, they fit between the sides. Cut one long piece of MDF on the table saw at that width then cut the various pieces out of that piece. They will all be the exact same width which will make construction easier.
* Can't help with alternatives in Oz. Sorry.
these people seem to be the aussie fostex rep. perhaps they can help you.
http://www.syntec.com.au/info-fostex.html
to get back to the original thread: this works pretty good...
case is a transformer cover by ae-europe.
clone is a 'classic' briangt board with a 22v toroid.
it contains a diy usb dac (not on the picture) which i made by hand (a total pita to solder those pcm2706's by hand, btw). and has only one input: a usb bus.
speakers are small vifa frs-8 8 ohm speakers in 3,4 liter enclosures.
imaging is great, i have a mini-stage behind my laptop. like a bunch of dwarfs having a great time
case is a transformer cover by ae-europe.
clone is a 'classic' briangt board with a 22v toroid.
it contains a diy usb dac (not on the picture) which i made by hand (a total pita to solder those pcm2706's by hand, btw). and has only one input: a usb bus.
speakers are small vifa frs-8 8 ohm speakers in 3,4 liter enclosures.
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
imaging is great, i have a mini-stage behind my laptop. like a bunch of dwarfs having a great time
Talking of staying on topic, perhaps we should stick to facts rather than speculation. I am not being rude to anybody here but the thread would be of more use as a reference if we list examples that are known to work well, rather than ones that we think should in theory!
That thought brought me to the idea of suggesting actual speakers that do work particularly well with the GC. Now although this is a DIY forum, not all GC builders will want to, or be able to, build their own speakers. So I am suggesting a list of commercial speakers that are known to work well with the GC.
If there are enough suggestions, I could put the list on DD where it would be a bit easier to look through than going through the whole of this long thread.
To get the ball rolling, I will suggest the Mordaunt Short Pageant II's that I use on my GC test system. These are about 22 years old but still available from time to time on Ebay.
Carlos (FM), I think that you have a few to suggest?
BTW - as time allows, I will be developing a DIY speaker to go with the GC's.
That thought brought me to the idea of suggesting actual speakers that do work particularly well with the GC. Now although this is a DIY forum, not all GC builders will want to, or be able to, build their own speakers. So I am suggesting a list of commercial speakers that are known to work well with the GC.
If there are enough suggestions, I could put the list on DD where it would be a bit easier to look through than going through the whole of this long thread.
To get the ball rolling, I will suggest the Mordaunt Short Pageant II's that I use on my GC test system. These are about 22 years old but still available from time to time on Ebay.
Carlos (FM), I think that you have a few to suggest?
BTW - as time allows, I will be developing a DIY speaker to go with the GC's.
Additional to Shermans building tips:
> Is everything just glued together?
Yes, the best is some fast white glue.
If you use screws, drill the hole in the perfect size, to not to break up the MDF/plywood.
If you are not a carpenter or have suitable equipment to cut the pieces properly (square angle, size etc), then you should by it with the partlist in the desired size. Just tell them, to use ONE machine setup for the 150mm pieces.
How do you assemble it to keep everything square?
I did it in my flat
To begin, I lay the sidewalls on the floor and draw the exact position of ervery piece exactly on it, the lines a little longer than needed (for not to hide them with the white glue).
Position every pieces without glueing and think about the order to glue them together!
Now, you begin to glue with one corner: take TWO pieces and place them with glue at the exact position. At the corner, use some brown package tape to temporarly fix it. Control the right angle and press the pieces down. Whipe of the glue with a wet cloth.
While drying, you could continue with the second box.
After glueing all parts, insert the cable (!) and check, if the second sidewall fits PERFECTLY!
No, you need clamps or some heavy weight (>30kg) to glue the second sidewall on the box. For this job, better use slow white glue, to win time.
> Has any got recommendation for an alternative to the FE103E, they seem a little difficult to locate in Australia?
I could offer you a pair of the legendary "ACR FE103" NOS. ACR was the local Fostex brand in Switzerland in the 80ies and 90ies. This is not the "E" version with the banaba cone, sounds a little "softer".
Franz
> Is everything just glued together?
Yes, the best is some fast white glue.
If you use screws, drill the hole in the perfect size, to not to break up the MDF/plywood.
If you are not a carpenter or have suitable equipment to cut the pieces properly (square angle, size etc), then you should by it with the partlist in the desired size. Just tell them, to use ONE machine setup for the 150mm pieces.
How do you assemble it to keep everything square?
I did it in my flat
To begin, I lay the sidewalls on the floor and draw the exact position of ervery piece exactly on it, the lines a little longer than needed (for not to hide them with the white glue).
Position every pieces without glueing and think about the order to glue them together!
Now, you begin to glue with one corner: take TWO pieces and place them with glue at the exact position. At the corner, use some brown package tape to temporarly fix it. Control the right angle and press the pieces down. Whipe of the glue with a wet cloth.
While drying, you could continue with the second box.
After glueing all parts, insert the cable (!) and check, if the second sidewall fits PERFECTLY!
No, you need clamps or some heavy weight (>30kg) to glue the second sidewall on the box. For this job, better use slow white glue, to win time.
> Has any got recommendation for an alternative to the FE103E, they seem a little difficult to locate in Australia?
I could offer you a pair of the legendary "ACR FE103" NOS. ACR was the local Fostex brand in Switzerland in the 80ies and 90ies. This is not the "E" version with the banaba cone, sounds a little "softer".
Franz
Thanks Franz G for the detailed response, I could imagine myself building a pair of these. Wake up, time for work!
Nuuk,
I imagine the GCs will work well with most commercial speakers, so it might be better to have a list of popular commercial speakers that DON'T work well.
I think the list should be limited to simple DIY speakers the work well with GCs. I personally like the idea of one driver and no xover.
Thanks
Wake up, time for work!Nuuk,
I imagine the GCs will work well with most commercial speakers, so it might be better to have a list of popular commercial speakers that DON'T work well.
I think the list should be limited to simple DIY speakers the work well with GCs. I personally like the idea of one driver and no xover.
Thanks
Nuuk said:Carlos (FM), I think that you have a few to suggest?
Me?
Oh.
I keep following the thread and it gives the impression that the only speakers that go well with the GCs are fullrange horns.
I don't wanna take the fun out of the guys that are on that groove, but there's life beyond it.
Actually Nuuk, I agree with you, this is not off-topic, as the thread asks for speakers that make a good match with the GC.
Here's a list of commercial speakers I tested and give very good results:
- Epos 11 (these are mine, not easy to drive, they are now very very happy with regulated PSU) - very good. Indeed. I love'em.
- Rega Ela (I tested an old pair, second generation, and the last ones) - very good transmission lines. I mean: really good.
- B&W 600 S3 and 601 S3 - very good, after an extended period of
-in. And cheap!- System Audio - don't ask me the model, I don't remember. It's a small standmount speaker. Just good. At least the GC drives them very well (even unregulated). Ultimately, the money is much better spent on those two B&Ws.
- Tangent model 3. Anyone remember these? Small, standmount, they kick, they have detail, they are fantastic, and they cost me (new) less than 100€ in London some 6 years ago.
I bought them for my father, and tried them with my (at the time) unregulated GC on his big room.
To my astonishment, these small speakers (10cm woofer, small sealed box) filled the room with impressive punch, dynamics, detail. Unbeatable for the price, but the manufacturer is no more.
grege said:
- B&W 602 S3 - Avoid them as the plague. They are cheap, but demand a Krell. They are 8 ohms, but have impedance dips to around 2.8 ohms. I tested them with (at the time) an unregulated GC. No go. Horrible. For sure, with regulated PSU they would play better, but forget it. They disgrace too many commercial amps.
- Dali. Two-way floorstanders with two woofers, don't remember the model. What a crap.
I could go on if I remembered all the speakers I tried.
The ones I post here are those I clearly remember, for the good or for the bad.
carlosfm said:- Tangent model 3. Anyone remember these? Small, standmount, they kick, they have detail, they are fantastic, and they cost me (new) less than 100€ in London some 6 years ago.
I bought them for my father, and tried them with my (at the time) unregulated GC on his big room.
To my astonishment, these small speakers (10cm woofer, small sealed box) filled the room with impressive punch, dynamics, detail. Unbeatable for the price, but the manufacturer is no more.
Is there more than 1 Tangent?... i sold Tangent in the late 70s. The model 3 was a smallish standmount with a KEF B200 + KEF T27. The RS2s (same size, Audax woofer) were even better.
(i even have a pr of speakers were i recycled the M3 box)
dave
planet10 said:
At the time I bought these (model 3), it was the cheaper of the range.
There was also a model 5, absolutely the same but with double binding posts for biwiring/biamping.
And there was also a floorstander (model 7? don't remember...).
Every one of these speakers received rave reviews at the time, and I'm talking of around 1998~99.
And they were really cheap, unbeatable!
Anyway, of course, I listened to them before buying. You never know...
BTW, I don't know if the model 3 has Kef units?
They don't look like.
Surely sounds much better than a Kef speaker.
perhaps?:
"Tangent is a new name on the British loudspeaker scene - or, to be more precise, it's the revival of a name that first appeared back in the '70s but has been inactive for many years. Its revival is the brainchild of Peter Schmitz, who also runs the Hyper- Fi chain of hi-fi stores,"
http://www.hifichoice.co.uk/archive/perl/400_printreview.htm
sounds like that's these folks now?
http://www.tangent-audio.com/
"Tangent was established in 1996 by a group of dedicated hi-fi enthusiasts. Within two years, innovative designs established the Company as a major specialist loudspeaker manufacturer. Consistently, its products were highly recommended by respected hi-fi reviewers both from the United Kingdom and beyond."
ofb said:
This is the speaker!
This is the model 5.
The model 3 is exactly the same, but with single binding posts.
They are 8 ohms and 87db claimed sensitivity.
They sure don't sound like 83bd
, as they say on the mag.Regarding sound quality, I trust my ears much more than the reviews, and this is a nice sounding little speaker.
Update on the ugly duckling!
I also thought that a small 2-way speaker would be a good fit for the GC.
I have been listening to my small ugly GC a couple of days now on my Proac 2.5 clones. I have to admit that it is very enjoyable. It actually sounds very nice. Not as good as my Zapsolute, but nonetheless good. I can recomend that combination, but perhaps its like shooting ducklings with a too big gun? By the way, I have upgraded the duckling with 2 inputs and a selector! Wauw.
Welcome back on this thread, Carlos. Your opinions are very much apprieciated. We can't afford to have you lurking in the shadows
Here is a pic of the duckling with input selector.
Steen.
I also thought that a small 2-way speaker would be a good fit for the GC.
I have been listening to my small ugly GC a couple of days now on my Proac 2.5 clones. I have to admit that it is very enjoyable. It actually sounds very nice. Not as good as my Zapsolute, but nonetheless good. I can recomend that combination, but perhaps its like shooting ducklings with a too big gun? By the way, I have upgraded the duckling with 2 inputs and a selector! Wauw.
Welcome back on this thread, Carlos. Your opinions are very much apprieciated. We can't afford to have you lurking in the shadows
Here is a pic of the duckling with input selector.
Steen.
Attachments
I could subscribe this statement
Welcome back, Carlos (and Carlos...)
But: please don't just mention for example Zapsolute or Proac 2.5 clones or Rick Craig's X2 and make everybody not knowing this brands, googling...
Please: give links to the mentioned speakers, so it is easy for us to inform ourselves.
Franz
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