They look really good. I'm interested to hear what you think of them as I need a small set of speakers for my PC based system.
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They look really good. I'm interested to hear what you think of them as I need a small set of speakers for my PC based system.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
I still must try some Sterling LS3/5a V2s!
Good advice, chaps. I'll remove the loft insulation pronto!
They look fabulous Martin :cool:
Just needs a 2nd screen and an IBM keyboard and perfect
:)
LOL, I am thinking of upgrading my 22" to a 24" Samsung, the same as at work. I prefer not to have two screens.
That Microsoft keyboard is a good looker and the wireless works perfectly, but it encourages more typos than an old fashioned Cherry type keyboard. The key shapes and short throw seem to be the culprits, as well as lack of positional accuracy on my part.
I like Viewsonics. Have a 28 and 22"Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinT
Check the resolution is 1080 or more when buying as my 28 only does 1920x1200. Can be some daft prices on Ebay
I love having 2 screens
My Logitech wireless is very nice too
Nice, those cabinets look great for the money!
I put 24 hours of continuous music through the Fostex speakers in order to loosen them up, and after sounding a little flat and constrained initially they have opened up very well.
They have a remarkably open and coherent sound, neutral in tone and with reasonable bass extension (the 5" driver does well but they won't give LS3/5as a hard time in this respect), reasonable dynamics but very well resolved microdynamics, very good transparency when used in near-field conditions, and lovely effortless midrange. There is a very slight nasality, just detectable with some music, that I suspect is down to the not yet optimised damping. They are not at all harsh or hard edged as some members or the response graphs suggest.
Listening to different styles of music, their performance with big choral music (Vivaldi's Gloria) is very vivid, creating a wonderful small but continuous soundstage in my study. In fact, they image very well indeed. Trying out their bass extension, Massive Attack's Mezzanine sounded robust with some quite impressive hard struck bass drum. Playing Jewel's Spirit reproduced her lovely breathy voice nicely with a fair amount of insight.
They will certainly take some power and mercilessly reveal the Mini-T's power limitations when it starts to clip (I am constantly amazed that anyone can run a Mini-T as a main amplifier in a hi-fi system, the power envelope is just too limited).
I have some proper lambswool damping on order, as well as Tee Nuts and hex bolts to make the job of modifications easier. Will report on how the sound changes with damping once I've done it.
They are lovely looking cabs Martin, congratulations on a job well done. Are they performing the way you expected them to?
Actually yes, Dave. I have to bear in mind the total outlay of about £88 for the speaker cabinets and £120 for the drivers all-in, so hardly beer money but a tiny fraction of the cost of my big Ushers, and quite a lot less than the LS3/5a kits. In this latter context, they don't try to do what they can't do (i.e. deep bass) but they do not disgrace themselves at all in midrange transparency that is so important to me.
I don't think I could have done better for the cost.
Mission accomplished then, and they do look rather classy ;)
Nice job Martin :)
I have now removed the loft insulation and repacked the speakers with Monacor MDM-3 High End Speaker Dampening Pads, a bit of a misnomer really as it's more wadding than pads. They are made from sheep's wool and polyester. I used a pack in each speaker, folding the dual layers in three and cutting a slot to allow the internal cable through.
I also took the chance to drill out the holes and insert M4 Tee-Nuts, bolting up the drivers nice and tight with M4 domed hex bolts and washers.
Well, what a difference good damping material makes. Of course, there are more hours on the speakers now and things overall have improved noticeably. That slight nasality has gone and the sound is even more wide open, clear and easy with the detail. Bass is a little more up front (although they are no bass monsters) and the sound is very coherent top to bottom.
I am very impressed with the Fostex drivers. They're not cheap but they show real pedigree, performing way better than any small full-range driver I've heard. No wonder they're popular in horn loaded designs.
So, job done and I have an 'emergency' set of small speakers that will always get me out of trouble. Just for fun, I'm going to run them on the 'big rig' to hear what they can really do - just as soon as I can find a pair of stands to put them on. Talk about tiny and huge next to the Ushers!
:worthless:Quote:
Talk about tiny and huge next to the Ushers!
I'd be interested in how these speakers are proving now you've been living with them for a while, Martin - any thoughts?
Hi Chris - the best thing I can say about them is that I don't think about them any more. That's praise indeed as I simply put on music (mostly Spotify at high bitrate) while I'm working at the PC and I get lost in the music and my work.
They are a great match for the souped-up Mini-T and Caiman, the whole definitely sounding like a good quality near-field hi-fi system. I think the quality of the full-range Fostex driver carries them, with their highly detailed and natural midrange, and the cabinets are nice looking, well made and great value for money. I should add that Black Rhodium Twist makes a fine external and internal wiring cable, in fact I'm using more of it for the Gale refurb project.
Are they better than an equivalent ready-made speaker? I think so but of course I haven't heard them all. For their cost and that of the Mini-T, they are excellent. Of course, the Paul Hynes PSU distorts the overall cost but that was a little treat for myself. There's always the satisfaction of having put them together, too.
Love the Avatar, Dave. I wonder how many will get the reference? I'll see if I can take a photo of 'Little and Large' sometime.
That's great Martin, thanks for that - always useful to know how things pan out in the long term after the honeymoon period is over. That first bloom of love for the product is always greater when it's something you've had a hand in building too, I'd think!
I remember when I built my first amp - the Linsley-Hood 75. I was well proud of that and it sounded bloody good, too.
Martin
These look terrific!
You are on to something. I saw a video on youtube of a similar speaker build and they sounded surprisingly good :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq-H_lGnRtQ
Could I ask for the link to were you purchased the speaker cabinates? I tried to find them on ebay but seemed to have missed.
Thanks!
Stuart,
The guy trades on Ebay as Audioproduct - I know of him because he does plinths for Lencos & things and a friend was thinking of getting one.
Here's his Ebay shop
Chris has it, Stuart. Don't be put off by his Moldova address, everything arrived as promised and was very well packed. The cabinets are great value for the money; in fact Wilmslow sell a kit cabinet for the Fostex driver that is more expensive than his ready-made ones.
These are the cabs: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/speaker-bo...item232685f13c
Thanks guys - will take a look :)))
I just bought a Samsung S24B350 - and i can say it is great! very happy with it :)Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinT
Dave
Is there any reason you avoided the larger enclosure for the Fostek 206s?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/speaker-bo...50970167612%26
Im still considering what secondary speakers to get - though i do see a nice set of Ushers on ebay at the mo - probably hard to beat... have you heard these? Im looking for something with 'low listening fatique' risk ... "
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MATCHED-PA...item2ec9577083
Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinT
Just because ' LOADS of people like them ' doesn't mean anything.Quote:
Originally Posted by Covenant
LOADS of people read the Sun newspaper.
Loads of people wouldn't have it in their house...
I say the same thing whenever I'm told that LOADS of people do something ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Martyn Miles