Hi all
Looking for enjoyment, nice weighty and tight bass, holographic soundstage.
Not looking for accuracy. Lower volume levels is where I listen most.
Is a proven horn or TQWT design what I should look for?
Looking for enjoyment, nice weighty and tight bass, holographic soundstage.
Not looking for accuracy. Lower volume levels is where I listen most.
Is a proven horn or TQWT design what I should look for?
If you're ok with the single driver approach, then the FHXL + Alpair A10p ticks all your boxes.
The Frugel-Horn
jeff
Quad ESL57 is hard to beat especially at low levels - tonality and overall pleasure. Been using and designing horns for more than 10 years.
You can certainly go that way...
But if you want great weighty tight bass you may ultimately be disappointed.
Perhaps nice little fullrangers running from 150Hz up, in small boxes easily positioned in ideal place... Plus active subwoofer with plate amp with flexibility of volume/cut off frequency/ even phase... Would be my take.
Not too expensive, flexible, waf friendly, yet potentially great sounding.
Remings me many systems i built for friends... Inspired by one old obscure sony system.
Good luck!
But if you want great weighty tight bass you may ultimately be disappointed.
Perhaps nice little fullrangers running from 150Hz up, in small boxes easily positioned in ideal place... Plus active subwoofer with plate amp with flexibility of volume/cut off frequency/ even phase... Would be my take.
Not too expensive, flexible, waf friendly, yet potentially great sounding.
Remings me many systems i built for friends... Inspired by one old obscure sony system.
Good luck!
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Joined 2009
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I agree with Jeff.
The A10.3 can certainly go down low and if volumes are modest it may really be able to “do it all”. Imaging is amongst the best I have ever experienced.
I started with Pencil enclosure but recently made a smaller stand mount bass reflex for these drivers. If space is a consideration these boxes would be just the ticket.
The A10.3 can certainly go down low and if volumes are modest it may really be able to “do it all”. Imaging is amongst the best I have ever experienced.
I started with Pencil enclosure but recently made a smaller stand mount bass reflex for these drivers. If space is a consideration these boxes would be just the ticket.
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I actually already have four Alpair 7. Bought a long time ago with intention of building Microtower Castles but again, this has to take a back seat as things in my personal and work life took over.
I am now wondering about just using one of the Alpair and building Frugel-Horns, and keeping the second pair of drivers for another project
I am now wondering about just using one of the Alpair and building Frugel-Horns, and keeping the second pair of drivers for another project
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Joined 2009
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Like this — this one for A7.3 but easily tweaked for A7 (A7 goes lower):
or Twin FH3s — here sandwiched in between Maeshowe and FH3, loaded with a CS MTM kit:
or Twin FH3s — here sandwiched in between Maeshowe and FH3, loaded with a CS MTM kit:
Nice boxes, Bigun.
I do some woodworking in my garage at times too.
I love getting sawdust all over the place.
Thanks guys. Food for thought.
What would the main performance differences be between Frugalhorns and say TQWQT from Troels Gravesen?
What would the main performance differences be between Frugalhorns and say TQWQT from Troels Gravesen?
The only Troels TQWT i am familiar with cost exponential dollars more for drivers & box, likely has considerably deeper bass (multiple woofers), and play louder, but with an XO will lack that special magic a good FR brings.
Using A7 with a helper woofer in a big WAW would bring the compeariaon a lot closer, bringin g the bass, and loudness levels without sacrificiny the magic.
dave
Using A7 with a helper woofer in a big WAW would bring the compeariaon a lot closer, bringin g the bass, and loudness levels without sacrificiny the magic.
dave
Thanks Dave, what's the best way you have of describing that "magic" ? I'm in Ireland and know of nobody that has built frugel horns, so I'm really leaning on your expertise and tastes I guess!
A number of things contribute to FR “magic”:
Usually directly driven by amplifiers.
A FR is a single source, pysically & aurally, with superb phase response (adding a whizzer can negate that). No XOs. A coax has the potential to also be such, but that probably requires a DSP XO and a very good dispersion match at the XO.
The other is the generally benign impedance curve, one of the reasons a good FR has a greater potential to match with your highe routput impedance amps (such as typical SET/SEP amps).
dave
Usually directly driven by amplifiers.
A FR is a single source, pysically & aurally, with superb phase response (adding a whizzer can negate that). No XOs. A coax has the potential to also be such, but that probably requires a DSP XO and a very good dispersion match at the XO.
The other is the generally benign impedance curve, one of the reasons a good FR has a greater potential to match with your highe routput impedance amps (such as typical SET/SEP amps).
dave
