B200 is one of the great bargins in OB FRs. The top gets a bit beamy as one would expect with am 8". I never felt that the graphs showing a rising FR really showed itself when we were listening, and i'm not alone amoungst thoes that heard the pair i had (now in TO).
Andrew B has a pair, maybe he can comment.
The FR125 sounds good in the same OB, but is limited by its small size and efficiency and -- in the "room" we listened to them -- ran out of steam fairly early. In the same listening sessions a Korean unonbtainum alnico cast-basket was the hit of the FEST, and, particularily after extending the baffle to ~16' wide, produced some amazing bottom.
There are also some vintage drivers that make really good budget OBs. One of my favorites is an RSC (Marsland had one too) 8" with an isophon* cone (later ones had an isophon-inspired cone) that are pretty much B200 analogs (except that Fs ~80Hz).
*(the isophons, in general, are pretty good too)
Another is a Coral:
Occasionally found in an alnico version.
And if you are willing to add an active woofer(s) in a FAST system, a whole nuther world opens up...
The Silver Iris i'd like to hear sometime too... with an XO right in the middle thou...
dave
Andrew B has a pair, maybe he can comment.
The FR125 sounds good in the same OB, but is limited by its small size and efficiency and -- in the "room" we listened to them -- ran out of steam fairly early. In the same listening sessions a Korean unonbtainum alnico cast-basket was the hit of the FEST, and, particularily after extending the baffle to ~16' wide, produced some amazing bottom.
There are also some vintage drivers that make really good budget OBs. One of my favorites is an RSC (Marsland had one too) 8" with an isophon* cone (later ones had an isophon-inspired cone) that are pretty much B200 analogs (except that Fs ~80Hz).
*(the isophons, in general, are pretty good too)
Another is a Coral:
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
Occasionally found in an alnico version.
And if you are willing to add an active woofer(s) in a FAST system, a whole nuther world opens up...
The Silver Iris i'd like to hear sometime too... with an XO right in the middle thou...
dave
I'm not sure where the idea originated that the Silver Iris midrange is suspect, because that simply isn't true. Sure they're more laid back than the forward sound of a rising response driver such as the Fostex FE206E. I know, I have both. My real test of the midrange is in HT use, where clear and natural dialogue is so important and that occurs all in the midrange. Head to head the SI blows the 206 away in terms of natural clear dialogue.
If you're looking for a high resolution speaker, then a 15" driver is simply not capable. If you're looking for a nice simple OB solution for a smooth easy to listen to all day long speaker of reasonable size without EQ or other electronic correction, then the Silver Iris is hard to beat.
If you're looking for a high resolution speaker, then a 15" driver is simply not capable. If you're looking for a nice simple OB solution for a smooth easy to listen to all day long speaker of reasonable size without EQ or other electronic correction, then the Silver Iris is hard to beat.
I'm saving up to buy a pair of PHY KM30's, which are designed to be used in an open baffle. I know they're way over your budget.
One thing to consider though is the Electro-Voice 12TRXB driver. It has nearly identical Theile-Small parameters as the PHY with the exception of Fs (mid 40's instead of mid 30's). When I modeled the response in Thorsten's open baffle calculator, the response (except the bass) was nearly identical to the PHY drivers. The E-V's go for anywhere between 150 to 300 dollars a pair on eBay and are available in 8 or 16 ohm versions with the older types having alnico magnets.
Disclaimer: I have not heard the 12TRXB in an open baffle, so while they model relatively well, it's no guarantee that they'll sound good.
So, moreso than usual, YMMV 🙂
One thing to consider though is the Electro-Voice 12TRXB driver. It has nearly identical Theile-Small parameters as the PHY with the exception of Fs (mid 40's instead of mid 30's). When I modeled the response in Thorsten's open baffle calculator, the response (except the bass) was nearly identical to the PHY drivers. The E-V's go for anywhere between 150 to 300 dollars a pair on eBay and are available in 8 or 16 ohm versions with the older types having alnico magnets.
Disclaimer: I have not heard the 12TRXB in an open baffle, so while they model relatively well, it's no guarantee that they'll sound good.
So, moreso than usual, YMMV 🙂
BHD said:
Hello BHD!
I didn`t find the open baffle calculator on Thorsten`s homepage. Where can I get it?
The Klangfilm Kl.L 405 would be somewhere between the PHY and the EV.
http://cgi.ebay.de/One-Pair-Klangfi...590258921QQcategoryZ22062QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I have a pair. I described in a post before with pics I think but anyway, I have them in an OB ~22"W X 40"H about 10" form the top and centred. In the bottom is a sealed Rythmik Audio 12" Sub with Servo amp in a just under 2Cu' sealed cab.
Playing the B200 by themselves is very good. I do not hear any problem with a rising response, I see it on the graph but ???
Maybe its my hearing, my room is quite live so I don't think its that.
If you think it suffers from a rising response then toe them out.
I do not think a tweeter is necessary, highs are very good as is the tone, better than than the Fostex models I have used before.
A very clear and transparent speaker. I am buying another pair for posterity. They have decent mid bass the way I have them positioned but know with the proper placement with them lower in an open baffle with some floor reinforcement they will go lower, I would guess probably healthly into the lower 50's.
Andrew
el`Ol said:
Your welcome!
Andrewbee said:
At 1 meter it would likely be a problem.. but when you start getting into greater distances (typically 3 or more meters away) then its likely that the averaged response is a bit more "flat" through the top of the midrange and likely depressed in level at higher freq.s..
Rising responses...
well, I'm 42 and I suspect my hearing isn't what it used to be. I have never been a real "headbanger" so have had limited exposure to live rock and way too loud home audio for extended periods of time...
BUT, I do know that the top end of my hearing is a little shot (as all males over the age of 30 or so experience ---except of course the current crop of car audio guys who have no hearing at all...). So in most cases with men, a slightly "rising" top end isn't that objectionable. Of course I can always ask my daughters or wife to help with their impressions of the top end performance of a loudspeaker.
well, I'm 42 and I suspect my hearing isn't what it used to be. I have never been a real "headbanger" so have had limited exposure to live rock and way too loud home audio for extended periods of time...
BUT, I do know that the top end of my hearing is a little shot (as all males over the age of 30 or so experience ---except of course the current crop of car audio guys who have no hearing at all...). So in most cases with men, a slightly "rising" top end isn't that objectionable. Of course I can always ask my daughters or wife to help with their impressions of the top end performance of a loudspeaker.
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