Member
Joined 2009
Paid Member
It's been awhile since I built a speaker and I'm a bit out of date on things,
My amp is a low power SET (6A3 tubes, expect 2-3W) and I want some speakers that will be sensitive enough for regular listening (not looking to recreate a rock concert) in an average Canadian living room.
My last project were FE127's in Onken enclosures. They were too 'bright' so I had to add some BSC and now they sound good, perhaps not as lively as I'd like so the BSC maybe overdone. I want something larger with more sensitivity and still a full-range driver.
I figure that a larger driver would give higher sensitivity (e.g. >95dB). I want to avoid the need for a tweeter so I believe I should not be going above a 6.5" driver. Hence the Fostex 166/7/8.
1) Is this thinking correct - is this a good driver choice ?
1) Which of these drivers does Fostex still make ?
2) What kind of enclosure is recommended e.g. Fonken167 / BVR (Chang?) / Back loaded horn (Hiro?) ?
Thanks in advance !
My amp is a low power SET (6A3 tubes, expect 2-3W) and I want some speakers that will be sensitive enough for regular listening (not looking to recreate a rock concert) in an average Canadian living room.
My last project were FE127's in Onken enclosures. They were too 'bright' so I had to add some BSC and now they sound good, perhaps not as lively as I'd like so the BSC maybe overdone. I want something larger with more sensitivity and still a full-range driver.
I figure that a larger driver would give higher sensitivity (e.g. >95dB). I want to avoid the need for a tweeter so I believe I should not be going above a 6.5" driver. Hence the Fostex 166/7/8.
1) Is this thinking correct - is this a good driver choice ?
1) Which of these drivers does Fostex still make ?
2) What kind of enclosure is recommended e.g. Fonken167 / BVR (Chang?) / Back loaded horn (Hiro?) ?
Thanks in advance !
It's been awhile since I built a speaker and I'm a bit out of date on things,
My amp is a low power SET (6A3 tubes, expect 2-3W) and I want some speakers that will be sensitive enough for regular listening (not looking to recreate a rock concert) in an average Canadian living room.
My last project were FE127's in Onken enclosures. They were too 'bright' so I had to add some BSC and now they sound good, perhaps not as lively as I'd like so the BSC maybe overdone. I want something larger with more sensitivity and still a full-range driver.
I figure that a larger driver would give higher sensitivity (e.g. >95dB). I want to avoid the need for a tweeter so I believe I should not be going above a 6.5" driver. Hence the Fostex 166/7/8.
1) Is this thinking correct - is this a good driver choice ?
of course - any would likely be satisfying; depending on the physical space available you may or not be limited to enclosure style / dimensions *
while there still may be some FE167Es stashed away in basement labs undergoing polka-dot quarantine, for now Fostex is still manufacturing the new FE166E and FE168EZ1) Which of these drivers does Fostex still make ?
see * above2) What kind of enclosure is recommended e.g. Fonken167 / BVR (Chang?) / Back loaded horn (Hiro?) ?
after building more than a few each of many types, I'd opine that even though some of MLTL /BIB or BVR will be larger boxes, they'd be a less time consuming and fiddly build than the floorstanding Fonken for 167
🙂Thanks in advance !
Member
Joined 2009
Paid Member
Thanks Chris - I'd really value your opinion on how you perceive the differences in sound (if such a thing can be described) between these enclosure types ?
Which builds represent the 'best' of each class (e.g. for BVR which box appears to have the strongest following for 166/8 - I prefer to use currently available drivers) ?
p.s. I'm not concerned about the complexity of the build, I very much enjoyed building the Moon Onkens.
Which builds represent the 'best' of each class (e.g. for BVR which box appears to have the strongest following for 166/8 - I prefer to use currently available drivers) ?
p.s. I'm not concerned about the complexity of the build, I very much enjoyed building the Moon Onkens.
This may be of interest (uses the Fostex 166E):
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/diyaudio-com-articles/158899-arpeggio-loudspeaker.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/diyaudio-com-articles/158899-arpeggio-loudspeaker.html
FE166En will go into Hiro, Austin A166, Valiant (think next gen Hiro), or a design requiring a dedicated woofer such as Arpeggio (would probably require some change for the new driver), or the doc bottlehead scheme which is somewhat similar but not as well documented.
dave
dave
Member
Joined 2009
Paid Member
Tom, That's a great article to read, explains things clearly. Shows with simple math the cold hard truth.
Unfortunately, I just don't like the appearance of this design, aesthetically.
Edit: Dave, just saw your post.... I'm studying the Spawn Family....says this web page is being updated soon, can you say when ?
Unfortunately, I just don't like the appearance of this design, aesthetically.
Edit: Dave, just saw your post.... I'm studying the Spawn Family....says this web page is being updated soon, can you say when ?
Last edited:
Continuously... a major update on the plans page was done a bit ago... the intro page is behind.
dave
dave
The 167's (eNABled, of course!) in the Fonken floorstanders are very fine, IMHO.
The bass is way more taut and better integrated than a previous MLTL cab using the same drivers, albeit not treated.
I also heard the "Demetri's" at Dave's, and remember thinking the bass was better controlled than the said MLTL's
Have Fun!
Don
The bass is way more taut and better integrated than a previous MLTL cab using the same drivers, albeit not treated.
I also heard the "Demetri's" at Dave's, and remember thinking the bass was better controlled than the said MLTL's
Have Fun!
Don
The 167's (eNABled, of course!) in the Fonken floorstanders are very fine, IMHO.
Jeff is going to be building a pair as big standmounts...
dave
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
- Home
- Loudspeakers
- Full Range
- Help: which 166/7/8 enclosure for tube amp ?