xrk971,
Anxious to hear of your results with this. I've looked at that many times. It's nice to be able to try out ideas quickly in foam!
Surface Tension,
Yes, it is very quick. The layout on the first one takes longer but with a template formed from first the second should go even faster. It took me 2 hours to carefully layout, develop the curved wings concept and test it, and do final cuts. The second unit shouldn't take more than 30 minutes to cut as they are all mostly long straights. If I can get the bass to go down to 73 Hz with the Vifa, that will be an accomplishment. We will see... this is my first build where i simulated it first to make sure it isn't crazy. 🙂
Are you still listening to your cornu's?
Yes, it is very quick. The layout on the first one takes longer but with a template formed from first the second should go even faster. It took me 2 hours to carefully layout, develop the curved wings concept and test it, and do final cuts. The second unit shouldn't take more than 30 minutes to cut as they are all mostly long straights. If I can get the bass to go down to 73 Hz with the Vifa, that will be an accomplishment. We will see... this is my first build where i simulated it first to make sure it isn't crazy. 🙂
Are you still listening to your cornu's?
Update on Frugel Foam 3 progress
Ok, I managed to glue together everything but the base, which is last due to curves. Everything was done with hot glue except for second side panel which was done with pva. I threw in some bracing where needed. I used open cell foam around driver and pillow stuffing elsewhere. The foam let me make a radiused terminus choke point. This is my first foam core speaker with real binding postts. Now just waiting for glue to dry....
It's interesting to note that this is more difficult to build than the cornu since the corners and edges need to be even and square to look good and make a good seal.
Ok, I managed to glue together everything but the base, which is last due to curves. Everything was done with hot glue except for second side panel which was done with pva. I threw in some bracing where needed. I used open cell foam around driver and pillow stuffing elsewhere. The foam let me make a radiused terminus choke point. This is my first foam core speaker with real binding postts. Now just waiting for glue to dry....
It's interesting to note that this is more difficult to build than the cornu since the corners and edges need to be even and square to look good and make a good seal.
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Thanks Scottmoose. If you have nothing to do 😉 would you mind running an MJK sim with 30 in tall cabinet with 4.5 in width and 5 in deep and 1.33 in wide terminus? The driver is TC9FD. Probably not the best driver but it's what I have handy. Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Xrk971
Regards,
Xrk971
Hey X,
I too am very interested. I hope Scott can find some free time, we know he's a busy guy. Is that enough bracing to eliminate panel movement?
Like you I am waiting for glue to dry so I guess we find out tomorrow. 🙂
I too am very interested. I hope Scott can find some free time, we know he's a busy guy. Is that enough bracing to eliminate panel movement?
Like you I am waiting for glue to dry so I guess we find out tomorrow. 🙂
Cal,
I hope it's enough bracing, there is more than picture shows as that was interim. Too late now as she's all buttoned up. We will hear tomorrow. 😀
That whole "I will hang out with my buds at the strip club" made me lol, but wouldn't fly at my house 😉 You got to love how they put up with our hobby. 🙂
Good luck with the new cornu first sound tomorrow!
I hope it's enough bracing, there is more than picture shows as that was interim. Too late now as she's all buttoned up. We will hear tomorrow. 😀
That whole "I will hang out with my buds at the strip club" made me lol, but wouldn't fly at my house 😉 You got to love how they put up with our hobby. 🙂
Good luck with the new cornu first sound tomorrow!
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Mine either, that's why I use it. She knows damn well those girls could be my daughter and also knows how long ago I went to one of those places. She appreciates the sentiment and that's why speakers are soooo good all of a sudden.
Hmm... seems we still need some form of ammunition.
Thanks, can't wait myself. I just hate when it interrupts my sleep though. I hope your mini FH3's have the same effect.
Update: finished gluing the Frugel Foam cabinet. I really like the shape and how it turned out with the flared horn in the back. Still need to cut out hole for driver and mount driver with screws and connect wires. The design is very slim tall and elegant. The flared horn is really needed otherwise additional outrigger feet would have been required. Looking forward to seeing them in action tomorrow.
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Wow xrk you're like a master foam sculptor. This thread is really throwing me for a loop. I mean foam cabinets and they actually sound good? Yea, I don't know nothing about audio...
ChrisRiggle,
Hey thanks! This project is a lot of fun but I would say it is one of the more advanced builds compared to the spiral horn. The curved wing turned out better than I thought it would. 🙂 How this one will sound remains to be seen (urh, I mean herd....), but I have a feeling it's gonna be great! 😉
Hey thanks! This project is a lot of fun but I would say it is one of the more advanced builds compared to the spiral horn. The curved wing turned out better than I thought it would. 🙂 How this one will sound remains to be seen (urh, I mean herd....), but I have a feeling it's gonna be great! 😉
Frugel Foam 3 (FF3) First Impressions
I mounted the Vifa this morning, used a small amount of stuffing behind driver and no more than 2 inches below it. I only have a mono setup so I will have to say that it may be different with stereo but... what I have heard, I really like. I put it through maybe 6 different songs I use to test sound and they all sound very nice. It is very different in character to Cornu which has a very wide soundstage and has much more mid bass. This FF3 sounds more even in character and the bass appears to go lower in frequency or is more pronounced than Cornu at sub 100 Hz. I almost want to say that it sounds more neutral - almost like a studio monitor. The trebles and and vocals sound fantastic, and there is a nice tight and punchy lower bass. However, it needs more volume before the bass kicks in whereas the Cornu is better at lower volumes. This may have to do with placement - I have it about 2 ft from a wall right now. When I place my hand at the vent, you definitely feel the pressure wave on the kick drums. Amazing bass for a 3.5 in driver actually. It will be interesting to see how it measures and compare to the sims.
I really like the sound which can now do rock much better. I think it is a great speaker in a 30 in cabinet paired with the TC9FD. I highly recommend this build. 3.5 sheets of foam per speaker is required.
Attached is a quick sound clip for you to get the idea of the sound. I had a lot of fun building this and the best part is the speaker looks great.
🙂
I mounted the Vifa this morning, used a small amount of stuffing behind driver and no more than 2 inches below it. I only have a mono setup so I will have to say that it may be different with stereo but... what I have heard, I really like. I put it through maybe 6 different songs I use to test sound and they all sound very nice. It is very different in character to Cornu which has a very wide soundstage and has much more mid bass. This FF3 sounds more even in character and the bass appears to go lower in frequency or is more pronounced than Cornu at sub 100 Hz. I almost want to say that it sounds more neutral - almost like a studio monitor. The trebles and and vocals sound fantastic, and there is a nice tight and punchy lower bass. However, it needs more volume before the bass kicks in whereas the Cornu is better at lower volumes. This may have to do with placement - I have it about 2 ft from a wall right now. When I place my hand at the vent, you definitely feel the pressure wave on the kick drums. Amazing bass for a 3.5 in driver actually. It will be interesting to see how it measures and compare to the sims.
I really like the sound which can now do rock much better. I think it is a great speaker in a 30 in cabinet paired with the TC9FD. I highly recommend this build. 3.5 sheets of foam per speaker is required.
Attached is a quick sound clip for you to get the idea of the sound. I had a lot of fun building this and the best part is the speaker looks great.
🙂
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Xrk,
Those look great. Got to thinking on finishing, these could be fiberglass coated, of course that adds a bit to the project. Even a simple cotton material, think t-shirt, could be stretched accords the surface and then coated with resin. Many times this method is used for odd angles or custom boxes, then covered with the fiberglass mesh. May not have to go that far with the foam core providing the strength. Just an idea...
Those look great. Got to thinking on finishing, these could be fiberglass coated, of course that adds a bit to the project. Even a simple cotton material, think t-shirt, could be stretched accords the surface and then coated with resin. Many times this method is used for odd angles or custom boxes, then covered with the fiberglass mesh. May not have to go that far with the foam core providing the strength. Just an idea...
Zayne,
That's a good idea that I will have to try one day. The polyurethane resin is a sticky noxious mess. I think that pva glue and cloth saturated with it will do a lot. This is cheap and non toxic. The speakers don't really need the strength, they seem to sound pretty good as is. It would add durability to the cabinet and probably raise the resonance frequency. Thanks for the suggestion.
That's a good idea that I will have to try one day. The polyurethane resin is a sticky noxious mess. I think that pva glue and cloth saturated with it will do a lot. This is cheap and non toxic. The speakers don't really need the strength, they seem to sound pretty good as is. It would add durability to the cabinet and probably raise the resonance frequency. Thanks for the suggestion.
Very nice indeed! I'll have to add this one to the cue. First I need to tidy up my previous projects and make my final 20" cornu for myself. I'm getting backlogged already!
lol. I haven't even mounted the drivers in the 20" yet and I'm already thinking about the next one. 😀
xrk, I like what you are doing, but please don't call it a Frugel-horn, it is not. FH3 inspired yes.
dave
Thanks Cal!
Whatever surfboard fiberglass resin is, I thought it was polyurethane? You better get cracking with mounting those drivers!
My original post did say it was an homage to the FH3. I have been referring to it as the Frugel Foam but can call it something else then.
My apologies.
Xrk971