The one speaker system that was right in there, performing at the level of the Fonken and Harvey duo, was the pair that won the last pacific northwest speaker shoot out in 2008. Built by Dave Rosgaard, who took what looked an awful lot like plain vanilla Vifa drivers and through extremely clever SERIES crossover design and a non resonant box design, made these drivers perform very close to the equal of the Fonken/Harvey duo. A slight lack of downward dynamics and a narrower sweet spot were the only drawbacks I heard. And, had the 127's not been there, these speakers would have ruled.
Thanks for the kind review. Only a slight correction, my TMM's took best 2-way in 2004 (not 2008). It was John Nail who was the 2008 winner with his Purple Puppies.
Here's the newsletter summary from 2004 - unfortunately the caption has r/h and l/h mixed up. 😕
http://audiosociety.org/pugetsound04/pugetsound2004.html
And here's the 2008 newsletter with contest results.
http://audiosociety.org/audioletter/Audioletter Oct 2008.pdf
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For the EnABL I actually have three tests going or in the making.
The Fostex A/B in under way.
Pioneer 4 inch NSBs in a matched set with EnABL
and Roland NSB 8 in full range which need outfitting with cabinets.
I think that my primary interest is the ability to improve inexpensive speakers dramatically enough to recommend the EnABL process. I suppose this could be an extension of interest in Caveman Audio.
Conversely, if I'm attempting to upgrade cheap speaks it may be just futile to get the effects Alex and Budp describe.
The Fostex A/B in under way.
Pioneer 4 inch NSBs in a matched set with EnABL
and Roland NSB 8 in full range which need outfitting with cabinets.
I think that my primary interest is the ability to improve inexpensive speakers dramatically enough to recommend the EnABL process. I suppose this could be an extension of interest in Caveman Audio.
Conversely, if I'm attempting to upgrade cheap speaks it may be just futile to get the effects Alex and Budp describe.
Lon,
I have EnAbled a very cheap sony speakers that came with a mini component CD player/receiver/Ipod docking station etc. for practice. When I first plyed them by themselves I thaught they sounded not much different from before the process was applied i.e just like 3" or 4" driver in a box with a limited frequency response. However, when I played them together with my Pioneer B20's (voight pipes) I realized how much more detail they revealed and how much better the sound stage got. Even though unable of producing much of bass on their own, they "anchored" the bass coming from the B20s. Naturally the mids were greatly improved too(since those are the frequencies these toy speakers play).All the instruments sounded much more realistic even though far from perfect. I found myself reporting the results to my wife with the same excitement many EnAblers on this forum displayed when describing their own experiences. The pioneers played on their own sounded unsufficent all of a sudden. I guess I will have to get those babies done soon. I think I have crossed the Rubicon.
Branko
I have EnAbled a very cheap sony speakers that came with a mini component CD player/receiver/Ipod docking station etc. for practice. When I first plyed them by themselves I thaught they sounded not much different from before the process was applied i.e just like 3" or 4" driver in a box with a limited frequency response. However, when I played them together with my Pioneer B20's (voight pipes) I realized how much more detail they revealed and how much better the sound stage got. Even though unable of producing much of bass on their own, they "anchored" the bass coming from the B20s. Naturally the mids were greatly improved too(since those are the frequencies these toy speakers play).All the instruments sounded much more realistic even though far from perfect. I found myself reporting the results to my wife with the same excitement many EnAblers on this forum displayed when describing their own experiences. The pioneers played on their own sounded unsufficent all of a sudden. I guess I will have to get those babies done soon. I think I have crossed the Rubicon.
Branko
branko,
That's the reason I have made this how to thread with the help of others. It is likely that my setups or age or all of the above could skew what results I get.
And I have heard mixed results on the B20's.
One dream I have for the future is to make a build of the Super 12 clone with Audio Nirvana 12in. As my speaker collection increases I have noted that the Fostex FE167e is a big step up the food chain. Boxes can only do so much and that mainly on the backwave rather than the detail for instruments.
The proof of this is that even though the FE127e is rated full range from 20Hz up, I have lost the 35 hz studio tone I heard listening to audio streams with the 167e. The 35hz tone is used to cue station idents on the web.
That's the reason I have made this how to thread with the help of others. It is likely that my setups or age or all of the above could skew what results I get.
And I have heard mixed results on the B20's.
One dream I have for the future is to make a build of the Super 12 clone with Audio Nirvana 12in. As my speaker collection increases I have noted that the Fostex FE167e is a big step up the food chain. Boxes can only do so much and that mainly on the backwave rather than the detail for instruments.
The proof of this is that even though the FE127e is rated full range from 20Hz up, I have lost the 35 hz studio tone I heard listening to audio streams with the 167e. The 35hz tone is used to cue station idents on the web.
Lon, trying to get 35Hz at full blast out of so tiny a driver - theoretically possible, but a) it´s cruel, and b) don´t expect music. Be the nice chap you are and don´t even think about it.🙂
The Marchand test gave about 80hz for the Fostex 4 inch FE127e.
And Pit you are right, there is no need for 35hxz unless you want your gonads tingled.
When I mentioned to WCPE that I heard the 35hz tone signaling station break, the program director wrote me back and said no one had ever commented on it before. My hearing is pretty good yet. It just isn't much on EnABL listening.
And Pit you are right, there is no need for 35hxz unless you want your gonads tingled.
When I mentioned to WCPE that I heard the 35hz tone signaling station break, the program director wrote me back and said no one had ever commented on it before. My hearing is pretty good yet. It just isn't much on EnABL listening.
🙂 >there is no need for 35hxz unless you want your gonads tingled.<
Horses for courses! If you have the bad luck to be German and to like Bach (guilty in both cases), a church organ, pedal to the metal, in your tiny living room...
(Toccata&Fugue in d minor - your neighbors have a firearms licence?)
Horses for courses! If you have the bad luck to be German and to like Bach (guilty in both cases), a church organ, pedal to the metal, in your tiny living room...

(Toccata&Fugue in d minor - your neighbors have a firearms licence?)
Pit, what's your avatar picture all about?
As to organ recitals, yes I have BIB and (in the old days) 81 inch PVC to get those pipe chords.
This a good site to stream all the best music from The King of Instruments:
http://pipedreams.publicradio.org/
Hearing pop tunes on one of these is a real hoot as well.
See entry called "All That Jazz"
As to organ recitals, yes I have BIB and (in the old days) 81 inch PVC to get those pipe chords.
This a good site to stream all the best music from The King of Instruments:
http://pipedreams.publicradio.org/
Hearing pop tunes on one of these is a real hoot as well.
See entry called "All That Jazz"
😀Lon,
# Avatar - my own mug is even uglier, so I prefer to use this one.
Forum fellow´s four year old son: "Daddy, what´s wrong with that boy?"
"Leave him alone, he´s German."
"Poor boy."
# Organ (in German we call it the Queen of instruments) - A short train ride gets me to Lüneburg, hearing pieces by JSBach on the very organ he composed them on. It somehow beats the Buschhorns I use as PC speakers - thanks for the link all the same.
# Avatar - my own mug is even uglier, so I prefer to use this one.
Forum fellow´s four year old son: "Daddy, what´s wrong with that boy?"
"Leave him alone, he´s German."
"Poor boy."
# Organ (in German we call it the Queen of instruments) - A short train ride gets me to Lüneburg, hearing pieces by JSBach on the very organ he composed them on. It somehow beats the Buschhorns I use as PC speakers - thanks for the link all the same.

I have a question for the 127e EnABL experts.
In my country it is not possible to find "Mod Podge" but we have a wide range of artistic materials of local brands.
I found this one:
Mural Color - Decoupage Glue for Surfaces
The yellow one has the following description:
Decoupage Glue for Surfaces
Ideal glue for porous surfaces in general. Can be applied to wood, glass, paper,etc. Perfect finish, a glue with final finish.
The green is for exterior exposed materials and the blue for fabric.
It seems that it pretty much similar to mod podge, what do you think?
thanks
Highef
In my country it is not possible to find "Mod Podge" but we have a wide range of artistic materials of local brands.
I found this one:
Mural Color - Decoupage Glue for Surfaces

The yellow one has the following description:
Decoupage Glue for Surfaces
Ideal glue for porous surfaces in general. Can be applied to wood, glass, paper,etc. Perfect finish, a glue with final finish.
The green is for exterior exposed materials and the blue for fabric.
It seems that it pretty much similar to mod podge, what do you think?
thanks
Highef
So long as it is an Acrylic based material, that dries with a relatively hard and shiny surface, you can thin it with water and it will work well. Other plastic substances are not recommended, as the EnABL materials are all Acrylic based and chemical interactions could arise and not be to your benefit.
Find some cheap speakers and using thin coats, paint the cone, allow to dry and listen to the information content. If you find the left hand of the piano becoming more informative, without causing greater shrieks in the upper right hand ranges, it should work well.
Bud
Find some cheap speakers and using thin coats, paint the cone, allow to dry and listen to the information content. If you find the left hand of the piano becoming more informative, without causing greater shrieks in the upper right hand ranges, it should work well.
Bud
I'd use the yellow. Modpodge is available in similar forumlations, and interestingly the colours are the same... you want gloss, not matte
Do keep in mind that this is not part of the actual EnABL process, but part of the pre-treatment that i use on paper cones to enhance the driver before adding the EnABL magik
dave
Do keep in mind that this is not part of the actual EnABL process, but part of the pre-treatment that i use on paper cones to enhance the driver before adding the EnABL magik
dave
If you find the left hand of the piano becoming more informative, without causing greater shrieks in the upper right hand ranges, it should work well.
Bud
hi Bud,
Although it could be off-topic, could please suggest me some records you use to assess the left hand piano?
thanks
Highef
Any recording by Jessica Williams. I have yet to find a poorly recorded album and she is one of the best musicians you could ask for as her style is very deliberate and clean, letting you hear all of the note she is playing.
Bud
Bud
Yes. Godzilla had them for a trial, they are now in Texas.
The dustcap is a real bear to do.
dave
The dustcap is a real bear to do.
dave
Should I try to figure out the trifoil pattern for this driver, or just the light puzzlecoat/modpodge?
Should I try to figure out the trifoil pattern for this driver, or just the light puzzlecoat/modpodge?
which driver? not all drivers need the trifoil pattern
if FE126 or 127E - contact Dave directly via Planet10 website link
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