1/ Rounding the internal panel will have little to no effect on performance. Our flat-paks have them rounded for expedience, the CNC the dados are cut will have round tools and it is easier to round the end of the internal panel than to square out the dado.
2/ Most back loaded “horns” have mouths that truncate early to (dramatically) reduce their size. This causes a ¼ wave resonance. We want to keep the lowest one and try to remove the higher frequency ones. The 1st unwanted harmonic can usually be killed with a driver offset from the end of the line, higher up ones can affect up into the lower midrange (midrange = 160 Hz-2.5 kHz). The damping in the point does a lot of work removing these, but some more doesn’t hurt, but the more damping below the driver, the more these are suppressed. But more damping will also suppress the fundamental decreasing the bass quantity. The FHs with most drivers (ie A7x, FF105, not FE126) will have too much gain in the bass and will need to suppress it at least somewhat. How much depends on driver, room, room placement, amp, taste … to name the prominent factors.
I recall when we were 1st showing the FH3 (6 diyFESTs ago?) and we quickly swapped FE126eN for A7eN with no changes in damping. Even pulled out about a metre from the wall, it was clear there was way too much bass. It was tuneful but an obvious need to bring the level down so that it was in balance and so that the FH could be pushed closer to the wall.
dave
2/ Most back loaded “horns” have mouths that truncate early to (dramatically) reduce their size. This causes a ¼ wave resonance. We want to keep the lowest one and try to remove the higher frequency ones. The 1st unwanted harmonic can usually be killed with a driver offset from the end of the line, higher up ones can affect up into the lower midrange (midrange = 160 Hz-2.5 kHz). The damping in the point does a lot of work removing these, but some more doesn’t hurt, but the more damping below the driver, the more these are suppressed. But more damping will also suppress the fundamental decreasing the bass quantity. The FHs with most drivers (ie A7x, FF105, not FE126) will have too much gain in the bass and will need to suppress it at least somewhat. How much depends on driver, room, room placement, amp, taste … to name the prominent factors.
I recall when we were 1st showing the FH3 (6 diyFESTs ago?) and we quickly swapped FE126eN for A7eN with no changes in damping. Even pulled out about a metre from the wall, it was clear there was way too much bass. It was tuneful but an obvious need to bring the level down so that it was in balance and so that the FH could be pushed closer to the wall.
dave
10.3 vs 10P
I recently swapped the 10P in my FHXLs for a pair of 10.3 and thought I would share my impressions.
Originally built a year or so back with the 10.3 I then bought some 10P drivers for another project and installed into the FHXLs to run them in (to they stayed for about a year!). Now, swapping back, I was able to compare. I find such comparisons fleeting in that the differences are only apparent briefly while I can still recall how the previous drivers sounded.
Anyhow, I didn't feel there were "night and day" differences between the 2 drivers. 10.3 seemed to me to have better bass, more extended and fuller - I liked that. I also felt a preference for the top end of the 10.3 - as a big fan of the 7.3 and having listened to them extensively not surprising as I think they (10.3 and 7.3) are very close in this respect and have a certain "sparkle" I have not heard in other drivers. But again, its not a night and day difference between the 2 "10" drivers. All in all I think my preference lies with the 10.3, possibly better suited to the FHXL?
Interested to hear other peoples thoughts.
I recently swapped the 10P in my FHXLs for a pair of 10.3 and thought I would share my impressions.
Originally built a year or so back with the 10.3 I then bought some 10P drivers for another project and installed into the FHXLs to run them in (to they stayed for about a year!). Now, swapping back, I was able to compare. I find such comparisons fleeting in that the differences are only apparent briefly while I can still recall how the previous drivers sounded.
Anyhow, I didn't feel there were "night and day" differences between the 2 drivers. 10.3 seemed to me to have better bass, more extended and fuller - I liked that. I also felt a preference for the top end of the 10.3 - as a big fan of the 7.3 and having listened to them extensively not surprising as I think they (10.3 and 7.3) are very close in this respect and have a certain "sparkle" I have not heard in other drivers. But again, its not a night and day difference between the 2 "10" drivers. All in all I think my preference lies with the 10.3, possibly better suited to the FHXL?
Interested to hear other peoples thoughts.
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Hi Guys,
Just got my flatpack from Stefan (KJF audio).
Panels are nicely CNCed.
I already love them (vs Pencil).
Just got my flatpack from Stefan (KJF audio).
Panels are nicely CNCed.
I already love them (vs Pencil).
Sharing my FHXL Build with MA Alpair 10M v3
Cutting and Assembling the Boards: (Box build credit to my friend Sonny Limjap 'timber715')
Cutting and Assembling the Boards: (Box build credit to my friend Sonny Limjap 'timber715')
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Sharing my FHXL Build with MA Alpair 10M v3
Gluing the boards: (Box build credit to my friend Sonny Limjap 'timber715')
Gluing the boards: (Box build credit to my friend Sonny Limjap 'timber715')
Sharing my FHXL Build with MA Alpair 10M v3
Stuffing and closing the box: (Box build credit to my friend Sonny Limjap 'timber715')
Stuffing and closing the box: (Box build credit to my friend Sonny Limjap 'timber715')
Sharing my FHXL Build with MA Alpair 10M v3
Finishing with natural color: (Box build credit to my friend Sonny Limjap 'timber715')
Finishing with natural color: (Box build credit to my friend Sonny Limjap 'timber715')
Sharing my FHXL Build with MA Alpair 10M v3
Outrigger build: (Box build credit to my friend Sonny Limjap 'timber715')
Outrigger build: (Box build credit to my friend Sonny Limjap 'timber715')
That's a really good illustration of the build. The end results look really good, particularly like the outriggers. I hope the sound lives up to your expectations. The final positioning of the speakers will have quite an impact on the bass response, experiment with them closer to the corners of the room to realise the full potential.
Happy listening,
Ian
Happy listening,
Ian
After the 400 hour break-in period, the mids and highs are to die for ... very articulate and musical. Bass is still shy and still finding the sweet spot from the wall
Thanks Ian for the comment and as well as your build share.
I have adjusted the stuffing with 1 more iteration left and will decide on the best one. Final positioning is still being experimented on.
I have adjusted the stuffing with 1 more iteration left and will decide on the best one. Final positioning is still being experimented on.
Getting there Dave .... and a little more running in for the bass to settle.
When you say closer to the wall, in my case, on the side wall or on the front wall?
When you say closer to the wall, in my case, on the side wall or on the front wall?