The BK-12m was actually designed for the 126En. I know because I designed it. 😉 The NV will work, albeit with a bit of an alignment change. I'll have to have a look at that, but it was done as a semi-scoop type alignment, so it wasn't about out & out precision as such, so it's the sort of box that we roll with.
Holy crap, thats pretty cool! I really like the looks of it. I guess Ill buy those EN`s I found on ebay then.
Small world. 😉 They're both nice drivers of their type. Not bass monsters, and they make you think about system design, but they're good examples of their breed.
Scott designed the BK12m for Madisound specifically for the FE126En. It is in the style of the many decades old BK series but uses modern design techniques. Likely will not perform as well with the new driver.
The Frugel-Horn Mk3 would be a better bet for bth drivers as it is designed to be versatile.
dave
Edit: Scott beat me to the much :^)
Ive looked at the Frugel-Horn, but because of the baffle is in the back I thought they needed more space from the wall? I live in a pretty cramped apartment. And the plans for BK12m are so complete with the measurements of every piece measured and drawn up. Does measurements for the Frugel-Horn matched with the FE126EN exist like that? (or maybe even a more sensitive speaker?)
A common misconception. Horns with rear-firing termini are usually (not invariably -check in advance) boundary-loaded designs, i.e. are specifically designed to use the room boundaries as the final part of the horn expansion. In other words, they usually benefit from near-boundary [wall / corner] placement. This applies to FH3; I can confirm that because Dave and I designed it. 😀
Re plans -see what you think. The Frugel-Horn
If you live in a very small space though, you may find the very compact nature of the BK-12m useful.
Re plans -see what you think. The Frugel-Horn
If you live in a very small space though, you may find the very compact nature of the BK-12m useful.
That looks very interesting, thank you so much! How does the sound from the FE126EN differ in a FH vs BK? Is it much better? And how would any of these enclosures and the FE126EN respond to a 2 watt tube amp?
I'll leave that one to the subjectivists. 😉 I don't do subjective comments, what I hear or mean with a given phrase is not necessarily what other people hear, or mean when using the same phrase.
Optimally loaded, FH3 should have a bit more gain. The FExx6En series were designed assuming high output impedance (low DF) amplifiers, which most low power valve amp designs tend to be, so either should be a reasonable match. You won't get sub-bass -neither was designed for that, but they should be reasonably balanced across their operating BWs.
Optimally loaded, FH3 should have a bit more gain. The FExx6En series were designed assuming high output impedance (low DF) amplifiers, which most low power valve amp designs tend to be, so either should be a reasonable match. You won't get sub-bass -neither was designed for that, but they should be reasonably balanced across their operating BWs.
Thats a fair point well made.
Sounds like the Fostex`, FH and the tube amp would be a good combo, and now for building everything.
Thank you so much for guidance, @scottmoose !
Sounds like the Fostex`, FH and the tube amp would be a good combo, and now for building everything.
Thank you so much for guidance, @scottmoose !
If you are talking about plans, the FH Mk3 set is much more comprehansive than the BK12m.
dave
Hi,
I'm considering using the FE206NV in a vented enclosure. I know that the EN version is more suited for back loaded horns. Is that also the case for the NV? The reason I'm considering the NV is because I need to make the box as small as possible due to space constraints. And NV needs about 12 liters for a QB3 alignment whereas as say the W8-1772 needs 24.6. Any suggestions on what to use?
Best,
Selim
I'm considering using the FE206NV in a vented enclosure. I know that the EN version is more suited for back loaded horns. Is that also the case for the NV? The reason I'm considering the NV is because I need to make the box as small as possible due to space constraints. And NV needs about 12 liters for a QB3 alignment whereas as say the W8-1772 needs 24.6. Any suggestions on what to use?
Best,
Selim
Member
Joined 2009
Paid Member
nv ? same old same old, the 126 is still showing a horrible 8dB treble peakiness that demands listening off-axis
.... and look at the 83, a gigantic 17dB+ resonance at 2kHz! 😱 that’s no improvement - this isn’t an updated speaker driver, it’s a joke! and the same disease shows up in the 103, and even vestiges of it in all the larger drivers at around 1.5kHz but at least the 166 & 206 look useable, even interesting 🙂
.... and look at the 83, a gigantic 17dB+ resonance at 2kHz! 😱 that’s no improvement - this isn’t an updated speaker driver, it’s a joke! and the same disease shows up in the 103, and even vestiges of it in all the larger drivers at around 1.5kHz but at least the 166 & 206 look useable, even interesting 🙂
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I've put them into back loaded horns for a friend. I haven't run any measurements. I tested them for a very brief period before I gave them to my friend. But compared to several FE206En's I've used in the past, these sound somewhat fuller in the low frequency region and seem less shouty.
I like them a lot. I replaced Lowther EX3s with the fe206nv and found the 206nvs to be superior, almost too bloomy in the mids to lower frequencies and not as honky in the high mids. If you have a larger space they image like crazy, extending the sound stage way outside the speakers with pinpoint stability.
Fostex FE206EN vs. FE206NV - pros and cons
At first glance the only difference is the weight of diaphragm (12,2 gr/15,2 gr) and the parameter Cms resp. VAS (because fs is the same). In consequence the parameter Qes is above 0,19 with the new "NV" version.
The plot of frequency response seems to be also the same, even the peak between 2,5 and 3KHz - go to
https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/ful...ponse-peaks-1000hz-due-aging.html#post6865482
For me the only benefit with the new "NV" version is the use in vented boxes due to a Qms of 0,26 instead only 0,19 (provided that Xmax is above +/- 0.8mm like with the "En" version - unfortunately this value isn't mentioned in the "NV" datasheet).
Datasheets are here:
https://www.fostexinternational.com/docs/speaker_components/pdf/FE206NV.pdf
https://www.fostexinternational.com/docs/speaker_components/pdf/FE206En.pdf
At first glance the only difference is the weight of diaphragm (12,2 gr/15,2 gr) and the parameter Cms resp. VAS (because fs is the same). In consequence the parameter Qes is above 0,19 with the new "NV" version.
The plot of frequency response seems to be also the same, even the peak between 2,5 and 3KHz - go to
https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/ful...ponse-peaks-1000hz-due-aging.html#post6865482
For me the only benefit with the new "NV" version is the use in vented boxes due to a Qms of 0,26 instead only 0,19 (provided that Xmax is above +/- 0.8mm like with the "En" version - unfortunately this value isn't mentioned in the "NV" datasheet).
Datasheets are here:
https://www.fostexinternational.com/docs/speaker_components/pdf/FE206NV.pdf
https://www.fostexinternational.com/docs/speaker_components/pdf/FE206En.pdf
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Back loaded horns and Fostex
I've been listening daily for over a year and for the most part am extremely happy with the sound. I listen through back loaded horns with the front end a simple Marantz 2252b and Echo Dot with Alexa. I no longer listen through tube 6550 mono blocks or Threshold preamp nor through the Sumo The Nine, nor a multitude of other front end audiophile gear. I'll be selling my VPI Super Scoutmaster and another 3 or 4 audiophile turntables and the Esoteric DVD/CD player is just collecting dust. I've gotten old and no longer questing for the last 10% of perfect reproduction and have settled for stress less sound. I've contracted with a guy to dispose of my 5000 plus audiophile records, which was hard, but I could never bring myself to deal with disposing them myself. Anyway, Fostex has made me happy and Lowther just pissed me off.
I've been listening daily for over a year and for the most part am extremely happy with the sound. I listen through back loaded horns with the front end a simple Marantz 2252b and Echo Dot with Alexa. I no longer listen through tube 6550 mono blocks or Threshold preamp nor through the Sumo The Nine, nor a multitude of other front end audiophile gear. I'll be selling my VPI Super Scoutmaster and another 3 or 4 audiophile turntables and the Esoteric DVD/CD player is just collecting dust. I've gotten old and no longer questing for the last 10% of perfect reproduction and have settled for stress less sound. I've contracted with a guy to dispose of my 5000 plus audiophile records, which was hard, but I could never bring myself to deal with disposing them myself. Anyway, Fostex has made me happy and Lowther just pissed me off.
