HEMP FR6.5C vs Fostex 167e

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#41
Tripmaster said:


Hi Chris

Thanks again for taking the time to reply to my constant questions.

I haven't tried the speakers in that position, I moved them before I went to work today. The sofas have been pull out and the wife still appears to be happy...which is good to know.

How would you describe the sonic signature of the half chilli? I haven't heard one of these drivers before.

Thanks

Richard
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Richard, I haven't heard the Half-Chilli - but have both Brynn and Mileva with FE127E.

However, if I may be permitted to extrapolate my experience with at least 6 different designs using the FE127E, and apply the musings to the 3 I can remember with FE167E - I be inclined to describe the larger driver as more "dramatic and techno-colored", with definitely greater weight or mass in the lower registers and larger sense of "scale" - particularly on orchestral or big-band music ( LM, Nights at Alhambra for example) .

But for me, the "magic" is in the upper midbass through vocal range- and the 127 or 126 are clearly in their element here. Alison Krauss, Loreena McKennet, Holly Cole, Janice Siegel, etc are not only in the room, but "warming your lap", and when Buddy Guy starts Crawling his King Snake all 'round your den, you know you been served - and need a shower afterwards.

Enough about the drivers, what I have certainly noticed is that the highly resistively loaded vented enclosure design of Dave's achieves a marginally greater degree of what I'd describe as articulation and finesse from the lower mid-bass and down, as well as more dimensionally spacious imaging / sound-stage compared to the Brynn or Mileva. The Fonken167 certainly outclasses the other 2 designs in which I've heard these drivers - which are the factory spec'd small BR enclosure, and the Demetri - rather a study in extremes, those two.

The Half Chilli is certainly in my project list, but kitchens, bathrooms and basement renos keep getting in the way.
 
#42
chrisb said:



Richard, I haven't heard the Half-Chilli - but have both Brynn and Mileva with FE127E.

However, if I may be permitted to extrapolate my experience with at least 6 different designs using the FE127E, and apply the musings to the 3 I can remember with FE167E - I be inclined to describe the larger driver as more "dramatic and techno-colored", with definitely greater weight or mass in the lower registers and larger sense of "scale" - particularly on orchestral or big-band music ( LM, Nights at Alhambra for example) .

But for me, the "magic" is in the upper midbass through vocal range- and the 127 or 126 are clearly in their element here. Alison Krauss, Loreena McKennet, Holly Cole, Janice Siegel, etc are not only in the room, but "warming your lap", and when Buddy Guy starts Crawling his King Snake all 'round your den, you know you been served - and need a shower afterwards.

Enough about the drivers, what I have certainly noticed is that the highly resistively loaded vented enclosure design of Dave's achieves a marginally greater degree of what I'd describe as articulation and finesse from the lower mid-bass and down, as well as more dimensionally spacious imaging / sound-stage compared to the Brynn or Mileva. The Fonken167 certainly outclasses the other 2 designs in which I've heard these drivers - which are the factory spec'd small BR enclosure, and the Demetri - rather a study in extremes, those two.

The Half Chilli is certainly in my project list, but kitchens, bathrooms and basement renos keep getting in the way.
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Thanks Chris...nice ramble 🙂

I think I might only be able to source MDF locally. The supplier has it in 18 or 22mm 8x4 sheets. Which thickness would you recommend bearing in mind the plan says 18mm ply?
 
#43
Frankly, if plywood is out of your budget or simply not available, I'd recommend 3/4" (or 18mm) particle board over MDF for any of these full range speaker cabinets. Of course unless you're looking for a very utilitarian look, that will complicate the finishing quite a bit further, but I always post veneer my builds, and generally don't worry about the aesthetics of the raw carcass.

I've been using baltic birch plywood exclusively for at least 3 years - even a car installer buddy of mine prefers it over MDF for small sub boxes. (overlapped butt joints with 2 layers of 18mm ply make for a pretty damned sturdy and fairly dead box)
 
#44
chrisb said:
if plywood is out of your budget or simply not available, I'd recommend 3/4" (or 18mm) particle board over MDF for any of these full range speaker cabinets.
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Or as the World Audio guy does a laminate of particle board & MDF to the same thickness... he talks about it in the WD25 kit article and in the newsletter IIRC.

Do search long & wide for ply thou... i know it can be had in the UL, althou at a price.

dave
 
#45
planet10 said:


Or as the World Audio guy does a laminate of particle board & MDF to the same thickness... he talks about it in the WD25 kit article and in the newsletter IIRC.

Do search long & wide for ply thou... i know it can be had in the UL, althou at a price.

dave
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I have only lived in this area for the past year, and its taking a while to find the right suppliers. I'll get there 🙂
 
#46
planet10 said:


Or as the World Audio guy does a laminate of particle board & MDF to the same thickness... he talks about it in the WD25 kit article and in the newsletter IIRC.

Do search long & wide for ply thou... i know it can be had in the UL, althou at a price.

dave
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Hi Dave

How many 8 x 4 sheets will I need for a pair of Half Chili's

Thanks
 
#47
Tripmaster said:


I have only lived in this area for the past year, and its taking a while to find the right suppliers. I'll get there 🙂
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A search on location shows 140 members with the word hampshire in the location, a random check splits half-n-half between New Hampshire USA & Hampshire UK so there are members out there who may know where to go looking.

dave
 
#53
gcripps said:
You don't say where you are in Hampshire but I have bought Baltic Birch ply in B&Q in Farnborough for around £50 an 8x4 sheet and they will cut up for you - at least into strips the same width as say the major panels.
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all things considered that pricing is not entirely usurious - out of curiousity, how does that compare to local pricing for MDF / particle (chip) board?
 
#54
gcripps said:
You don't say where you are in Hampshire but I have bought Baltic Birch ply in B&Q in Farnborough for around £50 an 8x4 sheet and they will cut up for you - at least into strips the same width as say the major panels.
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Hello

Its funny you should post this today as I received your message on my mobile just as I was leaving B&Q.

Thanks

Richard
 
#55
chrisb said:



all things considered that pricing is not entirely usurious - out of curiousity, how does that compare to local pricing for MDF / particle (chip) board?
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Good evening Chris

The price isn't too bad. 8X4x18mm MDF is £25 and Chipboard about £15 I think.

The plywood did have quite a few knots removed and replaced with thin biscuits. Apart from aesthetics do these cause a problem?
 
#56
Tripmaster said:



Good evening Chris

The price isn't too bad. 8X4x18mm MDF is £25 and Chipboard about £15 I think.

The plywood did have quite a few knots removed and replaced with thin biscuits. Apart from aesthetics do these cause a problem?
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Not that I've ever encountered. If you do elect to try the BB, sometimes you can hand pick through a lift of material and find a few sheets each with a virtually flawless face (i.e. devoid of pin knots or "boat patches").

anyway - good luck whichever way you go
 
#59
Tripmaster said:



Duh, I forgot to include £50 for ply in my list!

What type of speakers did you build with your ply?
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Lots - BLH (4 types), MLTL, Scottmoose BVRs, Nagaoka style horns, most of the Planet10 Fonken family (i.e. 5 models to date), and a variety of bespoke enclosures

http://www.planet10-hifi.com/custom.html


with the obvious exception of the Bamboo Pawo at the top of the gallery, and the Tannoy Churchills at the bottom. (1" MDF with 1/4" cherry ply overlay - these once and for all cured me of even considering MDF again 😱 )
 
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