After reading many post and articles about full range monitors amd the need for me to upgrade my current set up, i decided to take a look at the Fostex Kanspea Kit. Im not sure if the fostex kit is the best bet for my money. Im looking into something better than the Pionner BS22, I would prefer something that is warm and non fatiguing at near field listening position
Can you guys recommend a DIY kit or speaker suited for desktop use, i would prefer passive speakers. Thanks
Can you guys recommend a DIY kit or speaker suited for desktop use, i would prefer passive speakers. Thanks
It depends whereabouts you are (geographically speaking), what your budget is, how large a cabinet you can handle and whether you're willing to build the cabinet itself rather than simply assemble a kit.
I think it's safe to say as a broad generalisation that the Kanspea kits, while respectible, don't really get the maximum from the drivers. Likewise, if you want a 'warm, non-fatiguing' sound, Fostex is not the name that immediately leaps to mind. Many very good drivers, but not necessarily with that sort of presentation. The exception may be the FE83En, but getting quality LF out of that driver with its 165Hz Fs is technically impossible. That said, if you prefer a more holistic / artistic approach, Clark Blumenstein has been selling 83 based compact speakers for years: not kits, but lovingly made. He has an 85 based speaker as well, but that's unlikely to suit the balance you're wanting. Blumenstein Audio
If you're happy to do a bit of DIY construction rather than assembly (it doesn't have to be difficult, or you could bribe someone), then there are a few more options. I've done a range of small acoustical labyrinths (not alarming: only 2 internal panels) for a variety of wideband units that may be of interest: http://wodendesign.com/downloads/Woden-BabyLabs-081015.pdf You'll also find a variety of designs on this forum for the evergreen Vifa TC9. Not a unit that floats my boat, but a well-designed driver with a very flat response. Plenty around for the 3in Tang Band drivers also.
Moving up a size, there's the Mark Audio Apair 6P, which is a nice non-harsh unit, and there are also the larger 4in Tang Band and Mark Audio units you may wish to look at; the W4-1320 is a relatively gently voiced driver. The 4in MA drivers are not voiced for a warm balance -they aren't harsh, but they're targeting resonant conversion efficiency, so they don't smooth things off. The larger Alpair 10.3 is a more gently balanced unit; likewise some of the 5in TB drivers. The W5-1611 may be worth a look. It's not exciting, but it's not annoying for the same reason: sins of ommission, which is usually the preferable option. 😉
I think it's safe to say as a broad generalisation that the Kanspea kits, while respectible, don't really get the maximum from the drivers. Likewise, if you want a 'warm, non-fatiguing' sound, Fostex is not the name that immediately leaps to mind. Many very good drivers, but not necessarily with that sort of presentation. The exception may be the FE83En, but getting quality LF out of that driver with its 165Hz Fs is technically impossible. That said, if you prefer a more holistic / artistic approach, Clark Blumenstein has been selling 83 based compact speakers for years: not kits, but lovingly made. He has an 85 based speaker as well, but that's unlikely to suit the balance you're wanting. Blumenstein Audio
If you're happy to do a bit of DIY construction rather than assembly (it doesn't have to be difficult, or you could bribe someone), then there are a few more options. I've done a range of small acoustical labyrinths (not alarming: only 2 internal panels) for a variety of wideband units that may be of interest: http://wodendesign.com/downloads/Woden-BabyLabs-081015.pdf You'll also find a variety of designs on this forum for the evergreen Vifa TC9. Not a unit that floats my boat, but a well-designed driver with a very flat response. Plenty around for the 3in Tang Band drivers also.
Moving up a size, there's the Mark Audio Apair 6P, which is a nice non-harsh unit, and there are also the larger 4in Tang Band and Mark Audio units you may wish to look at; the W4-1320 is a relatively gently voiced driver. The 4in MA drivers are not voiced for a warm balance -they aren't harsh, but they're targeting resonant conversion efficiency, so they don't smooth things off. The larger Alpair 10.3 is a more gently balanced unit; likewise some of the 5in TB drivers. The W5-1611 may be worth a look. It's not exciting, but it's not annoying for the same reason: sins of ommission, which is usually the preferable option. 😉
I have made 3 pairs of the Lance design with FF85WK myself in Scott's post above, and they work very well as desktop speakers in my office. They also work very well as dorm room speakers, where the other two pair went. I've paired them all with SMSL SA-60 amps, which provide plenty of power for my office. The source is an iPhone of course. The amp has a bass boost that works pretty well at low volumes in an office. At higher volumes it isn't necessary but still works. I'm not into tone controls but this makes the whole system a little better.
My daughters are always saying that I could sell tons of these on campus, but I'm not interested.
My daughters are always saying that I could sell tons of these on campus, but I'm not interested.
zac - yup those Baby Labs are one of Scott's sleepers - I think I built POC prototypes of almost the entire series, and the Lance (FF85WK) and Stinger ( A6) were probably my favorites. The Bloodhound for A5.2 were built, but I think not yet populated.
One of my better efforts at a little box, although I say it as shouldn't.
You haven't seen Sea Slug yet have you Chris?
You haven't seen Sea Slug yet have you Chris?
don't recall seeing that one, and it's not in the doc you linked to, but then Dave may have missed a keystroke
which driver was that for?
which driver was that for?
And the Lance is easy to build too.
One question: Is there a version of this for the A7.3? I have a pair of these in FH boxes, but I've never been able to get it right, and I find the shape a little difficult to place. Maybe it is the "wood" I used, actually engineered wood flooring. They look nice but I don't think they are as airtight as BB would be. It was 5/8" stock too, so perfect thickness for the plans. I've thought about redoing them in Baltic Birch since I still have the template for the curve, but a cubic box would be easier to place.
One question: Is there a version of this for the A7.3? I have a pair of these in FH boxes, but I've never been able to get it right, and I find the shape a little difficult to place. Maybe it is the "wood" I used, actually engineered wood flooring. They look nice but I don't think they are as airtight as BB would be. It was 5/8" stock too, so perfect thickness for the plans. I've thought about redoing them in Baltic Birch since I still have the template for the curve, but a cubic box would be easier to place.
FF85wk. There's two actually. One dated from roughly the same time as Lance. Different configuration, although nothing alarming. The other's one I've been doodling with for a couple of months that I hung the name on, mainly because it reminds me of parts of the Sea Slug missile. Will get a rough draft over to you & Dave. It's a bit, err, 'unusual'.
As it happens there is, albeit unreleased (I've currently got approximately 90 different designs in the 'completed' folder). I'll send the dimensions over to Dave for drawing up (when he has a spare minute). Should be a rather nice box.
Zac; having heard all iterations of the A7 ( except the MAOP 7 Gen2 -if it "sounds" any different than my own) in a fairly wide range of enclosures - several designed by Scott (Pensil, FH3,Maeshowe) - I opine you'd find a second build of the FH3 in BB /Apple ply to be an improvement. That of course doesn't address the question of their size and placement requirements - IOW, not really suitable for a nearfield desktop monitor ( unless you're really creative) which is after all the original topic of this thread.
For that application, I'll update my current 2 faves :
Alpair5.2 - no discernible tonal contour
Fostex FF85WK - well, it's a Fostex so could be a bit forward and flavoured in the upper mids for some tastes .
I've heard these in perhaps more enclosure designs than the A7? and they can still put a silly grin on my face when listening to well recorded jazz / contemporary folk-rock at levels probably never exceeding 90dB when run FR in the near field ( less than 1 meter in my case) . Now properly HP and bi-amp anywhere around 250 and up, and you have an entirely different beast. That we've done several takes of as well.
and yes, I did promise myself at the start of this post to not run off at the mouth too much - but not unlike my favorite Fostex - if those extra emissions weren't there, something might be "missed"?
For that application, I'll update my current 2 faves :
Alpair5.2 - no discernible tonal contour
Fostex FF85WK - well, it's a Fostex so could be a bit forward and flavoured in the upper mids for some tastes .
I've heard these in perhaps more enclosure designs than the A7? and they can still put a silly grin on my face when listening to well recorded jazz / contemporary folk-rock at levels probably never exceeding 90dB when run FR in the near field ( less than 1 meter in my case) . Now properly HP and bi-amp anywhere around 250 and up, and you have an entirely different beast. That we've done several takes of as well.
and yes, I did promise myself at the start of this post to not run off at the mouth too much - but not unlike my favorite Fostex - if those extra emissions weren't there, something might be "missed"?
I wasn't really looking for the A7.3 as a nearfield speaker, just wondering if there were a somewhat smaller design that would take advantage of it.
I don't have a lot of wall spaces that aren't already occupied, and the tail of the FH makes it stick out too much if I place it in front of anything. There was also the issue with the tippiness of them without a wide base of some sort, which would make them wide as well as deep. My wife's reaction was something to the effect of "where'ya gonna put those things?" and when I was done I thought the same. At least a rectangular box is easy to put on a bookshelf, if it isn't also tall. The baby lab shape seemed to fit the bill.
I know that small won't get me the bass, but my experience with the Lance is that maybe it isn't so important, and is just the compromise you have to make. I've had Spica TC-50s as my main speakers, and they had no deep bass, but my current Proac clones have very deep bass. Anything in between would be fine.
I don't have a lot of wall spaces that aren't already occupied, and the tail of the FH makes it stick out too much if I place it in front of anything. There was also the issue with the tippiness of them without a wide base of some sort, which would make them wide as well as deep. My wife's reaction was something to the effect of "where'ya gonna put those things?" and when I was done I thought the same. At least a rectangular box is easy to put on a bookshelf, if it isn't also tall. The baby lab shape seemed to fit the bill.
I know that small won't get me the bass, but my experience with the Lance is that maybe it isn't so important, and is just the compromise you have to make. I've had Spica TC-50s as my main speakers, and they had no deep bass, but my current Proac clones have very deep bass. Anything in between would be fine.
y'all could do far worse than Spicas as a benchmark for this category of small stand-mount / nearfield "monitor" - I think any of the dMarKen designs for the A7 would be worth a look. While the aspect ratio of dimensions can be juggled around a bit, as seen in attached free planset for the CGRs, http://frugal-phile.com/boxlib/P10free/CGR-dMar-Ken73-190216.pdf
this driver requires /deserves? a larger enclosure than the Lance (FF85) / Falcon(FF105)
which Proac Clone design, out of idle curiosity?
this driver requires /deserves? a larger enclosure than the Lance (FF85) / Falcon(FF105)
which Proac Clone design, out of idle curiosity?
They are clones of the Response 2.5, then changed to use Scan Speak 9500 tweeter based on some advice I got from Troels Gravesen. Sound pretty good and go very deep, I measured them down to 25hz, but not a scientific measurement.
The Frugal Horns in "cinnamon oak", next to my Proac clones, in Australian lacewood. The TT and preamp are hidden behind the right speakers.
I brought the FHs up from the basement, and this time they sounded pretty good, better than last time. They do get some use in the basement so maybe they're breaking in. I had them powered by the "no longer a Dynaco" 6B4G PP amp, my Aikido preamp, and playing vinyl on my Rega Planar 3, with an Ortofon Quintet Blue MC cartridge. The MC preamp is peeking out from the right speakers on the floor (Boozhound). The hockey puck in the middle is my latest addition, an Amazon Echo Dot 2, "Alexa, turn on the tubes", and the tubes come on. "Alexa, play classic rock" and "Hotel California" starts playing. It's actually kinda creepy.
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