Correction: those are D5nf drivers in that cabinet . . . I was fooled by the gold phase plugs, which are non-standard for the D5nf but standard with the D5e and the D5. I could tell from the photo that it was not a D5 driver so I assumed it was the D5e. Mea culpa . . . .
-- Chris
-- Chris
I will, however, pre-qualify my opinion with an acknowledgement that this is entirely subjective and peoples' aesthetic preferences vary. Also, my aesthetic is one of simple craftsmanship using high-quality materials - beauty in craftsmanship and the apparent simplicity of even inherently complex designs; flashy I am not.
Those "magico" cabinets look somewhat ostentatious and haphazard to my eyes - a whole lot of elements that just do not work together for me. The angles, curves, and general dimensions lack cohesiveness; polished brass / gold, natural alum (I assume) and granite?.. On a positive note, I am almost sure it would sound very nice and the workmanship appears first rate.
OTOH, the cabinet with the waveguide looks very nice, if still a little 'glossy black' for my tastes; yes, very nice.
Okay, now I have that off my chest, I can continue with the remainder of my life 😉
Cheers
Those "magico" cabinets look somewhat ostentatious and haphazard to my eyes - a whole lot of elements that just do not work together for me. The angles, curves, and general dimensions lack cohesiveness; polished brass / gold, natural alum (I assume) and granite?.. On a positive note, I am almost sure it would sound very nice and the workmanship appears first rate.
OTOH, the cabinet with the waveguide looks very nice, if still a little 'glossy black' for my tastes; yes, very nice.
Okay, now I have that off my chest, I can continue with the remainder of my life 😉
Cheers
RC, your points are well taken . . . one of the nice things about DIY and custom-made cabinets is that a broad range of aesthetic tastes can be accommodated. They might not be my personal choice for my own listening room, but I bet they fit right into the listening rooms for which they were intended.
I don't know the details of how the first pair of enclosures were built, but the second pair was built using nothing but really basic tools and a LOT of hand labor. Upon seeing the photos of the latter pair under construction, Mr. Teramoto said, "I have to take my hat off to guys who go to such great lengths to come up with enclosures for our drivers. It really is an honor to be able to provide drivers to people with such a deep level of commitment." Of course, he was by no means singling out that pair of enclosures for praise over others, except insofar as it was humbling to see the minimal tools used to put them together: the primary ingredient in those enclosures is "sweat."
-- Chris
I don't know the details of how the first pair of enclosures were built, but the second pair was built using nothing but really basic tools and a LOT of hand labor. Upon seeing the photos of the latter pair under construction, Mr. Teramoto said, "I have to take my hat off to guys who go to such great lengths to come up with enclosures for our drivers. It really is an honor to be able to provide drivers to people with such a deep level of commitment." Of course, he was by no means singling out that pair of enclosures for praise over others, except insofar as it was humbling to see the minimal tools used to put them together: the primary ingredient in those enclosures is "sweat."
-- Chris
Hi Chris
I agree about DIY accommodating personal taste; visual, auditory, and many others. I am glad my comments were not taken negatively, as the first part of my post was missing!
My respect for the second pair of enclosures has increased in light of your comments regarding their build. Amazing.
I am deciding on my first 'speaker project... it is down to the Feastrex 5nf and GPA 604-8II; two very different drivers, but each has their own charms and constraints. Despite my limited knowledge of such, I have a liking of the more understated examples Japanese design. The Feastrex drivers have an inherent beauty of form (following function) to my eyes and I am very respectful that Mr. Teramoto and his fellow collaborating artisans can bring these pieces to being. I would love to hear a pair one day soon, tho I am not sure there are many available for listening in Brisbane (Australia).
Kind regards
Raymond
I agree about DIY accommodating personal taste; visual, auditory, and many others. I am glad my comments were not taken negatively, as the first part of my post was missing!
My respect for the second pair of enclosures has increased in light of your comments regarding their build. Amazing.
I am deciding on my first 'speaker project... it is down to the Feastrex 5nf and GPA 604-8II; two very different drivers, but each has their own charms and constraints. Despite my limited knowledge of such, I have a liking of the more understated examples Japanese design. The Feastrex drivers have an inherent beauty of form (following function) to my eyes and I am very respectful that Mr. Teramoto and his fellow collaborating artisans can bring these pieces to being. I would love to hear a pair one day soon, tho I am not sure there are many available for listening in Brisbane (Australia).
Kind regards
Raymond
rcdaniel said:
I am thinking of the same two drivers for my next project. I think though I well end up going for the GPA's, simply because there is only so much a 5" driver can do. The GPA's I am thinking will provide a much more satisfying experience on the whole, particularly for my musical tastes which includes rock and playing it loudddd.
A few years ago, I was able to do a virtually side-by-side comparison of the Altec (not GPA) 604-8, a conceptually very similar (but FAR more expensive) Maxonic field coil speaker, and the Feastrex D5nf. The Maxonic field coil speaker wiped the floor up with the Altec 604-8, as well it should since you are paying an arm, a leg, a kidney, and half of your liver for the doggone thing. I preferred the Feastrex D5nf to both, by a large margin. But wixy's remark that 'there is only so much a 5" speaker can do' is true, and it is possible that a 15-inch coax might be a better performer for some. Louddd rock music in a large room with a low-output amplifier? The D5nf will probably NOT have the necessary horsepower for that.
-- Chris
P.S. After my personal experience with GPA, I will never do any business with them or recommend their products to anyone. I don't think they are dishonest by any means but my repeated attempts to do business with them over the course of a year can be succinctly summed up in two words: pure frustration. Did you ever hear a scientist use the phrase, "that's not even wrong?" Well, when I dealt with them they were obviously so far out of their comfort zone that they were not even incompetent. Problem is, they sent out an initial shipment with assurances that more would be forthcoming, and it was on the basis of that initial shipment and those promises that several people invested a huge amount of time and expense to developing a new product that had to be dropped because GPA started acting like they have Alzheimers. A HUGE financial setback . . . "all for the want of a GPA horseshoe nail." One of the worst business experiences of my entire life. I hope that was purely an abberation for them, and it is possible that when their own name is on the product they treat their customers with the respect that they deserve, but based on my experience if I was ever to use a 15-inch coax again I would travel to the ends of the earth if necessary to avoid buying from GPA. (Oh, and just in case you are wondering, the huge loss of time and money was not mine, although I certainly did feel my friends' pain . . . I am strictly in audio for the fun of it.)
-- Chris
P.S. After my personal experience with GPA, I will never do any business with them or recommend their products to anyone. I don't think they are dishonest by any means but my repeated attempts to do business with them over the course of a year can be succinctly summed up in two words: pure frustration. Did you ever hear a scientist use the phrase, "that's not even wrong?" Well, when I dealt with them they were obviously so far out of their comfort zone that they were not even incompetent. Problem is, they sent out an initial shipment with assurances that more would be forthcoming, and it was on the basis of that initial shipment and those promises that several people invested a huge amount of time and expense to developing a new product that had to be dropped because GPA started acting like they have Alzheimers. A HUGE financial setback . . . "all for the want of a GPA horseshoe nail." One of the worst business experiences of my entire life. I hope that was purely an abberation for them, and it is possible that when their own name is on the product they treat their customers with the respect that they deserve, but based on my experience if I was ever to use a 15-inch coax again I would travel to the ends of the earth if necessary to avoid buying from GPA. (Oh, and just in case you are wondering, the huge loss of time and money was not mine, although I certainly did feel my friends' pain . . . I am strictly in audio for the fun of it.)
Something tells me that despite hailing from the UK (and therefore supposed to think that on the 8th day God created Wharfedale & on the 9th He created Quad) I'm fundamentally an Altec man. 😉 Not that I have anything whatsoever against the Feastrex units -sadly, I've never heard one, & it's unlikely that I ever will, unless I rob a bank. Thing is, I do like my rock (although my goddess happens to be Loreena McKennitt -Feastrex owners: let me know how she sounds through your drivers will you?)
Gentlemen. You may now prepare stake & kindling for my ritual burning.
Gentlemen. You may now prepare stake & kindling for my ritual burning.
Far be it from me to kindle a fire under an Altec lover! My first Really Awesome DIY Speaker was a massive tri-amped system built around Altec components and pure A-Class operation amplifiers, and such speakers will ALWAYS retain a fond place in my heart. My wife, she's a different story. She'll get out the kindling and matches as soon as she hears the word "Altec": "You're not bringing that thing into MY living room!" In fact, it was my wife's unsubtle suggestion that the number of children I could look forward to would vary inversely with the size and heat generated by my audio components in the living room that put me on the path to compact single driver systems in the first place. I now am the happy father of seven daughters and a pair of 5-inch fullrange drivers . . .
-- Chris
-- Chris
Seven daughters!! Lord have mercy, you must have done something really wrong in a past life or something😀 Dave🙂
DaveCan said:
You're telling me . . . the only thing worse would be seven sons, all behaving just like I did in my younger years. I'd be pushing up the daisies by now.
-- Chris
I can vouch for how he behaved in his younger years! 😀
Yes, he's a very lucky man to have seven wonderful daughters and a wonderful wife to keep him on the straight and narrow now.
Yes, he's a very lucky man to have seven wonderful daughters and a wonderful wife to keep him on the straight and narrow now.
Okay, one more GPA 604-8II post and I will be back on track - only just brought it up to let folks know where I am at with my current thinking...
Firstly, thanx Chris for sharing your GPA experiences; for me, the way people do business is as important as the product, perhaps more so. That said, I am also willing to give folks a few chances, unless they are unethical in their dealings. Nuff said.
The GPA 604-8II, whilst based on the Altec 604, is a much refined design, which is supposed to translate to its musical presentation, tho don't ask me to explain how / to what degree etc. Also, crossovers make or break these beasts; supposedly, the 604-8II requires a much less complicated crossover than the original Altecs...
What my decision-making may come down to between these two drivers is not so much the total volume or bass for me, but the ability to sound compelling off-axis and to energise a room, when called for. The former is not just a matter of treble dispersion, as I have listened to small wide-range drivers well off axis and felt I am missing little of musical significance, relative to listening on-axis. It is that old “how does it sound from the next room” phenomenon, which is probably more related to dynamic expression than treble... but how a system sounds in the usual listening position also matters (I am very sensitive to nastiness in the upper mids and above and tipped up frequency balance!).
I am listening to Cinematic Orchestra at present and think that the mid-range directness of a 5Dnf would be really nice, with or without bass support; same for the Firekites I was listening to this morning. But when I want to listen to Arcade Fire, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, or even (tho perhaps less so) Cut Copy or the Presets etc, well...
Decisions, decisions...
Firstly, thanx Chris for sharing your GPA experiences; for me, the way people do business is as important as the product, perhaps more so. That said, I am also willing to give folks a few chances, unless they are unethical in their dealings. Nuff said.
The GPA 604-8II, whilst based on the Altec 604, is a much refined design, which is supposed to translate to its musical presentation, tho don't ask me to explain how / to what degree etc. Also, crossovers make or break these beasts; supposedly, the 604-8II requires a much less complicated crossover than the original Altecs...
What my decision-making may come down to between these two drivers is not so much the total volume or bass for me, but the ability to sound compelling off-axis and to energise a room, when called for. The former is not just a matter of treble dispersion, as I have listened to small wide-range drivers well off axis and felt I am missing little of musical significance, relative to listening on-axis. It is that old “how does it sound from the next room” phenomenon, which is probably more related to dynamic expression than treble... but how a system sounds in the usual listening position also matters (I am very sensitive to nastiness in the upper mids and above and tipped up frequency balance!).
I am listening to Cinematic Orchestra at present and think that the mid-range directness of a 5Dnf would be really nice, with or without bass support; same for the Firekites I was listening to this morning. But when I want to listen to Arcade Fire, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, or even (tho perhaps less so) Cut Copy or the Presets etc, well...
Decisions, decisions...
mluckow said:
Yes, Mike is one of few people who know first-hand that the "avoiding deportation from Japan" in my signature is more than tongue-in-cheek.
I'm trying to make up for the sins of my youth by committing more sins in my old age so that my youth appears relatively saintly by comparison.
Like just the other day . . . pulled over for speeding, the cop was then surprised to see that I had five people in a rear seat designed for three, and that I was driving without a license . . . I think I was able to talk my way out of that, but we'll find out. I'll be dreading the mail deliveries for the next few weeks . . . if I get any mail from the police, I know I can look forward to a court appearance and a fine . . .
cdwitmer said:
I can totally relate😎 But what about all those weddings? Doesn't the father of the bride usually have to pay?
😀 Dave🙂
cdwitmer said:
He's actually not kidding about that. We're lucky we didn't land in a Japanese jail cell before getting permanently deported. Chris would have never had those seven daughters. And what's even worse is that we would never have been able to hear a Feastrex driver! The horror!
DaveCan said:
But what about all those weddings? Doesn't the father of the bride usually have to pay?
😀 Dave🙂
We can always hope for seven elopements?
Phosphor Bronze Frame
Here is a one-off pair of 9-inch phosphor bronze frames (milled from a single billet of bronze) that will be combined with an all-Permendur field coil motor (i.e., yoke and pole piece milled from a single billet of Permendur) to create a truly extreme performance pair of drivers. I don't know the details but it is my understanding that there will be various unique features throughout the driver.
I can only imagine the co$t but I'm sure it will make all the other Feastrex drivers look downright cheap by comparison . . .
I'm glad someone is going to such extremes so that I can enjoy their adventures vicariously. The only way I could afford something like this would be to win the lottery.
Presumably the person who commisioned these drivers will be so thoroughly anesthetized by the magical sound of the finished products that he won't even care about the cost . . .
-- Chris
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
Here is a one-off pair of 9-inch phosphor bronze frames (milled from a single billet of bronze) that will be combined with an all-Permendur field coil motor (i.e., yoke and pole piece milled from a single billet of Permendur) to create a truly extreme performance pair of drivers. I don't know the details but it is my understanding that there will be various unique features throughout the driver.
I can only imagine the co$t but I'm sure it will make all the other Feastrex drivers look downright cheap by comparison . . .
I'm glad someone is going to such extremes so that I can enjoy their adventures vicariously. The only way I could afford something like this would be to win the lottery.
Presumably the person who commisioned these drivers will be so thoroughly anesthetized by the magical sound of the finished products that he won't even care about the cost . . .
-- Chris
Hi!
I am a very happy man that you have avoided deportation! Not only have I found what I always looked for in a fullrange driver (but never really thought I would find!)., I have also had the opportunity to meet a great guy, thanks for all your help over the past few years Chris!
BR,
Anders
Happy distributor of Feastrex products in Scandinavia.
I am a very happy man that you have avoided deportation! Not only have I found what I always looked for in a fullrange driver (but never really thought I would find!)., I have also had the opportunity to meet a great guy, thanks for all your help over the past few years Chris!
BR,
Anders
Happy distributor of Feastrex products in Scandinavia.
bappe said:
The best is yet to come, Anders! You have to come back to Japan for another visit. I think I have only been to the Feastrex facilities in Yamanashi once since last time you visited, but I really need an excuse to go again. From what I hear, things are starting to go nuts there, as in the scene of the movie where lightning is flashing, Jacob's ladders are zapping all around, and the mad scientist is cackling maniacally while hunchback Igor looks on with glee. They are gearing up to procure another few hundred kilograms of Permendur, and I'm sure they'd love nothing more than to measure the effects of their latest creations on your brain . . .
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
-- Chris
This is your brain:
This is your brain on Feastrex:
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
This is your brain on Feastrex:
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
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