Folks,
I know it's been a long time, but now that I am (temporarily) unemployed, I have some time to build a new set of speakers...
My current setup is a set of Fostex 206Es (with Dave's phase plug installed) in the Fostex 208EZ cabinet, powered by a pair of SET 300bs (Thorsten's 300b DRD amp). I've had these for quite some time now and I'm thinking about messing with the 208EZ as an upgrade that will hopefully reduce the "shout" I've always experienced with the 206 and perhaps refine the sound.
I did some research and it appears that the BIB would work well with the 208EZ (some ripple has been noted), but I don't see any of those beautiful Scott / Dave double-mouth horn designs for the 208 like I do for the 206. Any reason why?
Also, I'm figuring I will need a tweeter (the T90?) to grab some of the upper range as I believe the 208 rolls off around 7kHz or so.
Any thoughts on the 208EZ? Any experiences with the BIB you care to share or any other designs I should look for? Is the 208 worth the extra investment or could I stick with the 208eN and the Vulcan and get the desired performance improvement?
Note that my room is MASSIVE. It's like 26' by 18', so it's unlikely that I will complain about an excess of bass response (I'll eat these words at some point, right?).
Thanks in advance for any guidance you can provide.
Kofi
I know it's been a long time, but now that I am (temporarily) unemployed, I have some time to build a new set of speakers...
My current setup is a set of Fostex 206Es (with Dave's phase plug installed) in the Fostex 208EZ cabinet, powered by a pair of SET 300bs (Thorsten's 300b DRD amp). I've had these for quite some time now and I'm thinking about messing with the 208EZ as an upgrade that will hopefully reduce the "shout" I've always experienced with the 206 and perhaps refine the sound.
I did some research and it appears that the BIB would work well with the 208EZ (some ripple has been noted), but I don't see any of those beautiful Scott / Dave double-mouth horn designs for the 208 like I do for the 206. Any reason why?
Also, I'm figuring I will need a tweeter (the T90?) to grab some of the upper range as I believe the 208 rolls off around 7kHz or so.
Any thoughts on the 208EZ? Any experiences with the BIB you care to share or any other designs I should look for? Is the 208 worth the extra investment or could I stick with the 208eN and the Vulcan and get the desired performance improvement?
Note that my room is MASSIVE. It's like 26' by 18', so it's unlikely that I will complain about an excess of bass response (I'll eat these words at some point, right?).
Thanks in advance for any guidance you can provide.
Kofi
I built the Basszilla Platinum with the Fostex 208EZs... They are excellent and worth the 2x price compared to the 206s IMO.
I don't have any experience with BIB's but have used the 208EZ in a Super Pencil enclosure with excellent results while I was waiting for my 12p's to arrive.
I don't have any experience with BIB's but have used the 208EZ in a Super Pencil enclosure with excellent results while I was waiting for my 12p's to arrive.
Nothing specific for the ESigmas simply because they're more expensive, so fewer people own, and they've been around for a while, so presumably at some point over the next couple of years Fostex will replace them. The 208 is however more or less a direct swap for the 206, so it will go straight in Vulcan (or Kirishima), no modifications required. The BIB is an excellent option also, especially on a budget, albeit at the expense of a bit of refinement, and it really prefers corner loading.
Yeah, my room is ~24 x 16 ft [very bad room ratio] with a wide, full height entry way to the rest of the house and corner loading is awesome IF the listening distance is at least as far away the speakers are apart and at an odd room harmonic [3rd, 5th, etc..], then toe'd in as required.
GM
GM
I haven't heard that particular driver, but IME the better Fostex drivers sound better, which really isn't that surprising.
That room seems a little big for 8" drivers, unless corner loaded as suggested.
That room seems a little big for 8" drivers, unless corner loaded as suggested.
Wow. That sounds interesting. It looks like the plans are not public domain, so I'd have to contact Dick Olsher to get them, correct? I'm assuming the sub is powered by a plate amp of some kind as your standard SET would not be able to push the cone?
correct... the 15" driver is the Eminence Definimax with 96db sensitivity. And no plate amp required, the speaker can easily run off your 300b tube amps.
They have 2 zones of audible concern at approx 2kHz and a bigger zone at approx 4kHz where there's a ring of energy storage. They have a rising response up to approx 5kHz and then roll off and finish by 10k. They do need a tweeter for most music but otherwise sound pretty good to me (auditioned in fostex factory cab with mostly jazz).
I think Olsher has these crossed over to a tweeter at around 4kHz in the Basszilla design. Hopefully this fixes that issue.
Guiness-- I ordered the plans, but I have to wait for them to be mailed. Did you use ply or MDF for your build?
Kofi
Since you have the 208EZ enclosure, I would first try the 208EZ driver in your box, it should be pretty good. If it is not good enough, then investigate other speakers. Yes indeed, you will need a tweeter, the T90 should suffice well. The combination sounds really quite good. I think I have a better filter design than the minimal Fostex filter, mine was published in one of the two german speaker diy magazines. If I find it back, I will post it.
I find that the 208EZ is much better in tonality than the FE206E, which is mainly popular because for many years it did not have significant competition at its reasonable price level.
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