Very interesting
I found this thread and read the whole thing as I was considering something very similar myself - a Topping VX1 amp playing from my PC, driving small bookshelf bass reflex cabinets made with small fostex type full range drivers, as a desktop system
The speakers I was looking at are these: Kit Fostex FF85WK
It's a kit for the FF85WK which includes the speaker, the cabinet (flat pack, pre cut and drilled, made from thick birch ply)
External dimensions : H:258mm, W:144mm, D:185mm
it also includes all fittings, like terminals, tube port, screws, feet etc
they're €59 each from France, so £100ish for a pair delivered to the UK
I'm fairly settled on those speakers, unless anyone has dramatically better idea
I notice OP finds the VX1 with the FF85WK too bright, and suggestions are for TPA 3118 which solves the problem, but OP also gets a sub involved too
I was thinking about getting the SMSL SA-36A Pro 2 3118D2DAP amp mentioned on p3: SMSL SA-36A (PRO) 2 * 20W TPA3118D2DAP Tripath Class T Amp Stereo Digital Amplifier + Power Adapter (Silver) with British Standard Plug: Amazon.co.uk: Hi-Fi & Speakers
My question mainly for ezas and is mostly about the amp, and the overall suitability of the system for the desktop situation I want
Output is mp3/flac from my pc, no current DAC, desk is against the wall, music type will be varied, room is about 2.5m square, volumes fairly low
Will it sound too bright?
What kind of (simple) adjustments would I make to refine it?
Would I need a sub for the low end? If so, I have a bunch of other questions about that...
Another option is this HiFimeDIY UD20 USB True Digital Power Amplifier
Interesting looking thing, its a USB amp thats digital all the way from the PC to the speaker output. £95 delivered with all the cables
There’s not much reviews about it yet, but I did see someone mention it was quite bright, so maybe not a good combination for the speakers
Cheers all
I found this thread and read the whole thing as I was considering something very similar myself - a Topping VX1 amp playing from my PC, driving small bookshelf bass reflex cabinets made with small fostex type full range drivers, as a desktop system
The speakers I was looking at are these: Kit Fostex FF85WK
It's a kit for the FF85WK which includes the speaker, the cabinet (flat pack, pre cut and drilled, made from thick birch ply)
External dimensions : H:258mm, W:144mm, D:185mm
it also includes all fittings, like terminals, tube port, screws, feet etc
they're €59 each from France, so £100ish for a pair delivered to the UK
I'm fairly settled on those speakers, unless anyone has dramatically better idea
I notice OP finds the VX1 with the FF85WK too bright, and suggestions are for TPA 3118 which solves the problem, but OP also gets a sub involved too
I was thinking about getting the SMSL SA-36A Pro 2 3118D2DAP amp mentioned on p3: SMSL SA-36A (PRO) 2 * 20W TPA3118D2DAP Tripath Class T Amp Stereo Digital Amplifier + Power Adapter (Silver) with British Standard Plug: Amazon.co.uk: Hi-Fi & Speakers
My question mainly for ezas and is mostly about the amp, and the overall suitability of the system for the desktop situation I want
Output is mp3/flac from my pc, no current DAC, desk is against the wall, music type will be varied, room is about 2.5m square, volumes fairly low
Will it sound too bright?
What kind of (simple) adjustments would I make to refine it?
Would I need a sub for the low end? If so, I have a bunch of other questions about that...
Another option is this HiFimeDIY UD20 USB True Digital Power Amplifier
Interesting looking thing, its a USB amp thats digital all the way from the PC to the speaker output. £95 delivered with all the cables
There’s not much reviews about it yet, but I did see someone mention it was quite bright, so maybe not a good combination for the speakers
Cheers all
Looks like a nice kit. They put the FF85wk in a larger box than i would (theirs 3.5 litre, max i'd use 2.5litre). By their spec they aren't getting any more bass, so i expect it will be a little lumpy. Still probably quite good.
dave
One person's bright is another persons 'accurate'. . . I'll call them revealing, but revealing is also rewarding with the right music/recording, upstream gear etc.
I've listened to a lot of music through mine now and they are very nice sounding speakers, but most of the time I have the eq tweaked slightly to 'tame' them, and I'm always futzing with the eq, which tells me they are not the right speakers for me. But I don't dislike them either and sometimes I enjoy queueing up a play list of songs I enjoy listening to through them and just listen to the nuances and I sit and marvel at the sound i'm getting for the money I spent. I also enjoy them more when I can move away from them like being in my office but not at my desk. Even more so when I've connected them in my living room and I have music playing in the background while doing stuff around the house.
I can't comment on them much beyond that since I had to move on from the DIY audio hobby so I've never been able to compare them to anything else.🙁
The amp was one of the best things I did to improve the sound so don't get the Vx1.
I recommend some type of sub with these. They sound best to my ear when they are not having to work to put out lower frequencies, kind of a let them do what they do best kind of thing. I built the Voxel Sub and I'm very happy with it.
Someone smarter than me can perhaps tell you what they think of the enclosure/port in that kit. (edit: I see that Dave did above)
I've listened to a lot of music through mine now and they are very nice sounding speakers, but most of the time I have the eq tweaked slightly to 'tame' them, and I'm always futzing with the eq, which tells me they are not the right speakers for me. But I don't dislike them either and sometimes I enjoy queueing up a play list of songs I enjoy listening to through them and just listen to the nuances and I sit and marvel at the sound i'm getting for the money I spent. I also enjoy them more when I can move away from them like being in my office but not at my desk. Even more so when I've connected them in my living room and I have music playing in the background while doing stuff around the house.
I can't comment on them much beyond that since I had to move on from the DIY audio hobby so I've never been able to compare them to anything else.🙁
The amp was one of the best things I did to improve the sound so don't get the Vx1.
I recommend some type of sub with these. They sound best to my ear when they are not having to work to put out lower frequencies, kind of a let them do what they do best kind of thing. I built the Voxel Sub and I'm very happy with it.
Someone smarter than me can perhaps tell you what they think of the enclosure/port in that kit. (edit: I see that Dave did above)
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There's certainly no doubt that this, or any brand of "FR" driver in same size class, or even next one or two ( i.e. up to the 4 - 4.5") can highly benefit from relief of bottom (several ?) octaves. At exactly what frequency depends on intended application - I've heard at least 2 or 3 with the earlier FF85K and the current WK crossed over in the 200-330 range.
We usually listen to our tweaked version where any taming needed is done mechanically.
One of the pair i did up for my personal uFonkenSET.
dave
Ok awesome, thanks guys
As the prices are so low, I'm just going to buy them and see how it turns out
Adding a sub, or a kit tube amp or something can wait till later / if required
As the prices are so low, I'm just going to buy them and see how it turns out
Adding a sub, or a kit tube amp or something can wait till later / if required
This is the amp I started using when I got the Voxel Sub and chose it because it could cross over in the range Chris mentions. The plate amp I used before that would only x-over as high as 160. Tuning by ear, and guessing because the knob is not marked I ended up set around 300.
TPA3116 50W+50W+100W 2.1 HIFI digital power amplifier D2 1521-in Amplifier from Consumer Electronics on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group
TPA3116 50W+50W+100W 2.1 HIFI digital power amplifier D2 1521-in Amplifier from Consumer Electronics on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group
Very interesting, how does it all sound?
There's a variety of those types of TPA3116 2.1 amps, not sure most of them actually cross over? I guess most just split the incoming signal into 2, and send full range to both - and the dials on the front let you adjust the volumes of each but not crossover frequency.. so the sub will be ignoring the high freqs but the FF85WK would still be attempting its full range?
however, it looks like the specific amp you linked, as well as this one from hifimediy Hifimediy DDX320v2.3 - 2.1 Digital Amplifier actually do filter and split?
There's a variety of those types of TPA3116 2.1 amps, not sure most of them actually cross over? I guess most just split the incoming signal into 2, and send full range to both - and the dials on the front let you adjust the volumes of each but not crossover frequency.. so the sub will be ignoring the high freqs but the FF85WK would still be attempting its full range?
however, it looks like the specific amp you linked, as well as this one from hifimediy Hifimediy DDX320v2.3 - 2.1 Digital Amplifier actually do filter and split?
spookeh - it looks like the specs for the item ezas posted has similar crossover adjust function
Quick update; Life events took me away from building speakers. Unfortunately I never got to finish the the Lance enclosures. I was really looking forward to hearing them.
In the past two days I got to compare my uFonken with the Voxel sub with the Vanatoo Transparent Ones. I had not had my Ufonkens hooked up for six+ months so I had fresh ears for both speakers.
In short; I like the uFonkens with the Voxel better. And that was listening to them from a Rockboxed Sansa Zip Clip compared too the Vanatoo's connected to my computer via a USB digital connection.
DIY FTW!
In the past two days I got to compare my uFonken with the Voxel sub with the Vanatoo Transparent Ones. I had not had my Ufonkens hooked up for six+ months so I had fresh ears for both speakers.
In short; I like the uFonkens with the Voxel better. And that was listening to them from a Rockboxed Sansa Zip Clip compared too the Vanatoo's connected to my computer via a USB digital connection.
DIY FTW!
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
Transparent One - Black | Vanatoo
dave
My day job is "engineer." And due to the fact that I like building crap, I tend to post projects that are really byzantine. A lot of tapped horns and synergy horns.
But there's a lot of days when I just want to take a couple of Fostex FF85WKs and stick them in a BLH and be done with it. No, they don't sound as good as a pair of SH50s, but considering how inexpensive they are, and how easy it is to get good sound out of them, the FF85WK is really quite special.
Patrick, the 85WK to actually work quite well in the little FH-lite horn - tiny, cute and sound way bigger than they have a right to.
but of course, that's just anecdotal on my part - unsupported by cold engineering math 😀
but of course, that's just anecdotal on my part - unsupported by cold engineering math 😀
I've never used a tube amp with them and I'm not really a big tube fan so I can't really say about tube vs SS. They are bright/accurate speakers so they might sound good in front of a tube amp.
What is your choice for good one as solid state for example? Thanks for your reply. What amp are you using for the same speakers?
I have the FaitalPro 3Fe25 in a big conical horn but the highs are not so good. It is crossed to mid-bass at 450Hz and EQed. But still the highs are not satisfactory.
Anybody hear both FF85K(WK) and 3Fe25?
Does the FF85K produce better highs?
Anybody hear both FF85K(WK) and 3Fe25?
Does the FF85K produce better highs?
I have lots of amps. Coming home from near 5 months at the hospital find the Audio Sector gainclone in use, it is good, the PASS AmpCampAmp is stunning but somehat power limited, i have a couple of tube amps (in particular a DynaMutt PP EL34), some of the better Class D amps are quite good…
dave
dave