Frugal 3 build

[electric beach]

Bought a flatpack kit from Colin Topps at Christmas and just got around to building it. Colin's kit is a work of art in itself, truly inspiring from opening the box, biscuit joints line everything up and the quality of the finished project is then in your own hands. Sorry the pics are only from my phone.

My only previous DIY venture was the finishing of the Sachikos built by Steve (Aquapiranha), which to be honest I'm pretty chuffed with. Cheers Steve, I still owe you a weekend of unlimited vino for changing my life with your generosity. To get these accepted in a domestic environment was no mean feat!

The Frugal 3's are definately female gender and if you can't get a pass for these then you're stuck with Bose :( - in fact unless you've got four opposing thumbs you should get :goodfriends:

Listening impressions to follow but obviously interesting compared to the Sachikos - 8" single driver at 6' tall compared to WAF friendly 4' driver smaller than the I-ron board. I still need to get some plinths sorted but it takes three days before anyone notices they've been put in the room. Happy Days!



http://theartofsound.net/forum/picture.php?albumid=126&pictureid=754
http://theartofsound.net/forum/picture.php?albumid=126&pictureid=757
http://theartofsound.net/forum/picture.php?albumid=126&pictureid=758
http://theartofsound.net/forum/picture.php?albumid=126&pictureid=755
http://theartofsound.net/forum/picture.php?albumid=126&pictureid=746
http://theartofsound.net/forum/picture.php?albumid=126&pictureid=747
http://theartofsound.net/forum/picture.php?albumid=126&pictureid=748
http://theartofsound.net/forum/picture.php?albumid=126&pictureid=750[/IMG
[IMG]http://theartofsound.net/forum/picture.php?albumid=126&pictureid=759

[keiths]

Very nice. I'm about to start building myself a pair. I was hoping to use toppsy's flat-pack too, but an unforseen event has eaten most of my budget (why does this always happen :steam: ?), so I'm having to downgrade to a cheap as chips, fully-diy build in 18mm mdf unstead - sorry Colin, I really wanted to put some business your way :( I'm sure they won't look as good as yours.

[Toppsy]

Steve,
Nice looking finish. Glad it all went together well.

Though they wont do the scale and dynamics of the Sachiko's they will impress. Just give the drivers time to bed in. And do experiment with the Dacron below the driver to adjust bass. I suggest starting with just a good handful of Dacron and place on the shelf.

Strange how many wives and female partners have such an large say in what they class as domestically acceptable speakers. In some cases no speaker is and then you have to reach a compromise. Sad as they may be. That's why I try to make all my speakers look like a piece of furniture and matching the wood finish to ones furniture seems to be a must.

You might want to consider a set of spiked outriggers to decouple the speakers from the wooden floor. This should tighten up the bass.

Keiths,
No worries mate. To be honest they are a lot of work and hastle to put together as a kit and package up for not a lot of financial reward, but it keeps me busy. Just be cautious when cutting and machining MDF. The sawdust this stuff gives off is carcinogenic so do wear a face mask.

[Toppsy]

Steve,

The 'Outriggers' I referred to above are these:

http://www.lurcher.org/nick/ct/P5130278.JPG

[Tarzan]

Steve,

The 'Outriggers' I referred to above are these:

http://www.lurcher.org/nick/ct/P5130278.JPG


Very pretty Colin!

[electric beach]

Sorry Colin but they're not aesthetically pleasing to me. No offense, it's a personal thing and I'm sure they serve their purpose admirably, but combined with the speaker shape they put me in mind of a child's hobby horse on wheels.

[electric beach]

I think adding some simple granite plinths gives an authorative demeaner while still keeping the delicate appearance. Footprint increased only a gnat's each side and flush at the rear. The speaker is both decoupled and adhered to the base with sorbothene pads. The bass and the speaker are both solid yet the sound flows easily and breathes. Which is nice.


http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/1545/firstfh3030.jpg

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/8338/firstfh3026.jpg

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/8978/firstfh3023.jpg

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/7293/firstfh3028.jpg

[keiths]

They look great Steve.

My build's progress could be described as slow. Very slow. I need a fine day, where my dad is out at daycare and where I can spare a few hours away from working. So far in 4 weeks all those things have occured together precisely once - I got a couple of hours this Monday:

http://www.simister.com/public/fh3/side.jpg

and that's it :doh:

I'll start my own build thread on here soon. I can only hope I end up with something half as good-looking as yours.

[John]

Looks really nice Steve I am sure after the drivers have settled they will sound really nice

[electric beach]

Thanks Keith. I bought some hours though. :rolleyes:

[aquapiranha]

Hi Steve, I am so glad you are still impressed with the sachikos, and I am alsp relieved that they are being used by someone who appreciates them. :) It is a small world indeed, as I have here a pair of CSS EL70 drivers, which will soon be fitted into a pair of FH3's!! I still have to decide on, and then source the materials (not sure if solid ash or ply yet) but I have been spurred on by your efforts. Steve

[electric beach]

Hi there Steve!

Go for the FH3, absolutely :) Although as you suggested before, they dont have the degree of weight and authority unless partnered with a sub, in which case the main difference is in the drivers and the Sachikos front mouth versus the FH3 rear reflection. I did read some words against using solid wood because of shrinkage and joint movement. The FH3 is so well braced that the main benefit would be in the finishing of them, I guess - not your favourite passion eh? ;)

The Frugals actually do some things better; the Mark Audio driver's wide dispersion allied to that rear reflected wave and the suitability for a smaller room, give a more cohesive soundstage, especially off axis. The imaging is sharper although instruments and performers are smaller and more laid back. If you can get them in the corners then they disappear completely, leaving a wall of sound hanging in the air. And they do that horn thing of "breathing" in the room loverly.

I'm building another pair now for a music/movie set up, may try the MA CHR70 for comparison. Race you!

[aquapiranha]

Hi Steve. Yes I would concede that 'finish' is not high on my list of priorities! :lol:

I have heard good things about the FH3 and I have in the past had a pair of Fostex FE103e's in a small RLH and enjoyed them despite the obvious drawbacks. I am hoping that the FH3 will give the same, just more of it!

PS, I am not sure 'race' is a word I would use when it comes to me building speakers :eyebrows:


Steve

[electric beach]

I've just finished another couple of pairs of Frugal 3s, taking the finishing and my particular design style to another level. The black and white ones are Mark Audio CHR70 drivers, which although not as natural as the CHP70 paper cones, have a zest for life that brings alive a wider range of music genres and handles movies better.

But for the best of both worlds it's the Alpair 7s; amazing wide frequency range and refinement. Easily worth the additional £100 for the drivers. Beautiful delicate and extended upper frequencies, clarity and imaging to die for, a real hairs up on the neck class act.

The cheaper drivers certainly don't short change you but for anyone considering building a pair of these speakers I unreservedly recommend finding that extra cash :rolleyes:

http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/7259/006jps.jpg

http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/9798/025ai.jpg

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/8082/022qmb.jpg

http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/3811/012ols.jpg

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/6858/014lr.jpg

http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/714/0092dy.jpg

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/676/018ma.jpg


http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/6251/fh3bwgloss003.jpg

http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/1496/fh3bwgloss006.jpg

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/8052/fh3bwgloss011.jpg

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/3130/fh3bwgloss013.jpg

http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/4143/whiteelevatedside.jpg

The MA CHR70s are for a movies-and-music 2.1 system for a friend and this cute little sub I got from BK Electronics - and fits inside my Sachiko horn mouths :lol:

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/8392/freya024.jpg

[John]

Nice work I look forward to hearing them

[Tarzan]

Steve, they look amazing! Well done sir!:)

[keiths]

They look superb :stalks:

Well done Steve :clap:

[Ali Tait]

Lovely job!

The Alpairs are indeed very good cones, I have a pair of D-MarKens built for me by Colin.

[electric beach]

Thanks guys. The sound quality fully justifies the effort in their appearance. Quite astonishing design in both cabinet and drivers.

[Mark Grant]

I've just finished another couple of pairs of Frugal 3s, taking the finishing and my particular design style to another level.


http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/6858/014lr.jpg


http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/676/018ma.jpg





Looking good Steve :)
The colour looks great.

[walpurgis]

There's some very nice work here. The cabinet finishing looks superb.

[Reid Malenfant]

http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/3811/012ols.jpg

:wow: They look stunning :D :youtheman:

What & where did you get that faux leather looking material if you don't mind me asking?

[John]

They sound pretty good as well Mark

[falcoron]

Bought a flatpack kit from Colin Topps at Christmas and just got around to building it. Colin's kit is a work of art in itself, truly inspiring from opening the box, biscuit joints line everything up and the quality of the finished project is then in your own hands. Sorry the pics are only from my phone.

My only previous DIY venture was the finishing of the Sachikos built by Steve (Aquapiranha), which to be honest I'm pretty chuffed with. Cheers Steve, I still owe you a weekend of unlimited vino for changing my life with your generosity. To get these accepted in a domestic environment was no mean feat!

The Frugal 3's are definately female gender and if you can't get a pass for these then you're stuck with Bose :( - in fact unless you've got four opposing thumbs you should get :goodfriends:

Listening impressions to follow but obviously interesting compared to the Sachikos - 8" single driver at 6' tall compared to WAF friendly 4' driver smaller than the I-ron board. I still need to get some plinths sorted but it takes three days before anyone notices they've been put in the room. Happy Days!



http://theartofsound.net/forum/picture.php?albumid=126&pictureid=754
http://theartofsound.net/forum/picture.php?albumid=126&pictureid=757
http://theartofsound.net/forum/picture.php?albumid=126&pictureid=758
http://theartofsound.net/forum/picture.php?albumid=126&pictureid=755
http://theartofsound.net/forum/picture.php?albumid=126&pictureid=746
http://theartofsound.net/forum/picture.php?albumid=126&pictureid=747
http://theartofsound.net/forum/picture.php?albumid=126&pictureid=748
http://theartofsound.net/forum/picture.php?albumid=126&pictureid=750[/IMG
[IMG]http://theartofsound.net/forum/picture.php?albumid=126&pictureid=759

where do you get the wool felt from? im buliding the frugelhorn XL with the alpair 10.3 driver.
Thanks

[Stratmangler]

where do you get the wool felt from? im buliding the frugelhorn XL with the alpair 10.3 driver.
Thanks

It's carpet felt underlay.

[awkwardbydesign]

:wow: They look stunning :D :youtheman:

What & where did you get that faux leather looking material if you don't mind me asking?

I don't know where Steve gets his from, but I have used the recycled real leather (on a stretch backing) from these people. It worked very well and stretched around some awkward corners. http://stores.ebay.co.uk/I-Want-Fabrics/FAUX-LEATHER-FABRIC-/_i.html?rt=nc&_fsub=5308580015&_sid=643120505&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1581&_pgn=1
BTW, Steve brought a pair of his copper coloured speakers over to my house a while back. Very impressive, but as my room is so heavily damped, some of the damping material behind the drivers had to be removed to bring them to life. It says volumes for the design that it worked!
EDIT; Damn, just noticed how old that question is!