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I might be moving into a rather small condo in Seattle and I might have to "go small" on my audio rig. I can't see myself giving up my 2A3 mono blocks despite this change. My Cain and Cain "Abbys" have fostex 156 near field drivers (Forgive the spelling or the numbers)......anyway....is there such a thing as a fostex based monitor speaker. I'm thinking of dimensions H 12-14" x W 8" x D 10-12. Sorry guys...I'm a musician...I can't hammer two sticks together....so DIY isn't an option.
Any info gentlemen would be greatly appreciated.
Regards, Tom B.
Follow Ups:
If the ports get bo ked you'll lose some bass. If you go to small stand mounted monitors, you'll lose some bass. No reason to change it seems. Stay with what you like.
_
Make super easy diffusors:--> http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/everything-else/269366-making-easy-diy-depot-sound-diffuser-panels-step-step.html#post4215464
Horn Design Spreadsheet:--> http://libinst.com/SynergyCalc/
I took a look at your Liberty page. It's quite impressive. I've book marked the article explaining your room diffusers. I might need something like that when I finally arrive at my next home, or should I say, when I arrive in my new listening room/ living room.
Thanks, Tom B.
Well, after all the input gentlemen, I've decided to keep the Abbys no matter what. I did really fall in love with Omega speakers and ended up purchasing a Deep Omega 12 sub woofer. Louis has just redesigned the sub and what I'll be getting is a sub with the 12" driver front loaded rather than bottom. On top of that, I'm getting the upgraded finish in EKO Ebony for no charge! It's characteristics are exactly what I'm looking for. It won't be getting down 18HZ or shake the foundations of my domicile. Instead, it will be very very fast and detailed without the typical bloating one finds in many conventional subs.
Thanks for turning me on to some great high efficiency speakers. I think I was won over by Louis at Omega. In the future I wouldn't be surprised if I pick up a pair of SUPER 7 MONITOR MK2s.
Regards, Tom B.
Inner Spirit v2 from unityaudio. No affiliation.
I got a pair of Fibhorn 4's about six months ago and love the full-range sound of the four inch Tang Bands. The stock speakers sound good but I upgraded to TB's top four inch driver: W4- 1879. These little demons do go down to the 55hz range and yield a much richer sound than the stock ones. Of course, there is a difference of nearly $120 per speaker increase to make the swap. Then again, for $399 you could get just enclosure ready for you to install the driver you want.
So, Fibhorn 4's start at $499 + $300 for the 1879's. These speakers are perfect for small to mid-sized rooms. I ended up getting a Velodyne 6.5" subwoofer which to partner with the Fibs in both scale and quickness.
There are other Fibhorn options as well.
I can vouch for the omega line. Would love to hear the tektons and blumenstiens though
Tom have you checked out the Audience Clairaudient 1+1 speakers? I have a friend who used these or their larger Clairaudient 2+2 speakers. He actually started with the Clairaudient 2+2 speakers and switched to the Clairaudient 1+1 speakers! I personally use a Mastersound Reference 845 with Sachiko double-back-loaded horns. So I know how much you must love the sound of your Cain & Cain Abby's and how much you must dread moving down to a smaller set of speakers. But I have to tell you I was literally blown away by what I heard coming from these tiny Clairaudient 1+1 speakers. Those 3" fullrange drivers are amazing and when coupled to the passive radiators on the cabinet's sides, they make for some impressive lows from such a small enclosure! You really should look into these. I know you'd love how they sound and they are really small too...
I'm listening to: Dust & Dreams by Camel
Thetubeguy1954 (Tom Scata)
Central Florida Audio Society -- SETriodes Group -- Space Coast Audio Society
Full-range/Wide-range Drivers --- Front & Back-Loaded Horns --- High Sensitivity Speakers
I don't think they're going to work with his 2A3 amps. They're 87db!Cut-Throat
Edits: 10/06/15
Yes my friend you're absolutely 100% correct! A pair of 87dB sensitivity speakers with 2A3 amps probably won't play loud enough for Tom B. even in his small room. That's really a shame because those Clairaudient 1+1's speakers sound amazing, within the frequency spectrum they're actually covering AND surprisingly enough they even sound as amazing, within the more extended frequency spectrum they appear like they're covering...
By that, what I'm trying to say is these Clairaudient 1+1's speakers are either:
a) covering a much wider frequency spectrum than you'd believe they possibly could.
or else...
b) they're able to convincingly portray a sonic illusion that's capable of completely outwitting the listener into believing the Clairaudient 1+1's speakers are playing a more extended frequency spectrum than they actually can or are!
Either one of those two options would be acceptable to me! Tom B. how many watts does your 2A3-based amp have per channel? In The Absolute Sound review that I provided a link to below. The reviewer was able to play at " satisfying " volumes with a 13W amp.
Despite everything I've written in this post, I believe Cut-Throat is most likely correct in his assessment. It's just that for small, fullrange driver, speakers, I believe these are the very best I've heard so far. It would almost certainly take a pair of larger, horn-loaded, speakers like your Abby's to better these speakers. Too bad they just weren't more sensitive, huh?
I'm listening to: Night On Bald Mountain by Fireballet
Thetubeguy1954 (Tom Scata)
Central Florida Audio Society -- SETriodes Group -- Space Coast Audio Society
Full-range/Wide-range Drivers --- Front & Back-Loaded Horns --- High Sensitivity Speakers
I can testify first hand that my PASS LABS First Watt SIT amps at 10 watts per channel were not nearly enough to drive the 2+2's to satisfactory volume levels. These little speakers are remarkably good sounding, but ARE NOT remotely high efficiency speaker systems.
Hi Lance!
Thanks for clearing that up. I'd hate to steer someone wrong...
I'm listening to: My Favorite Things by Joey Alexander
Thetubeguy1954 (Tom Scata)
Central Florida Audio Society -- SETriodes Group -- Space Coast Audio Society
Full-range/Wide-range Drivers --- Front & Back-Loaded Horns --- High Sensitivity Speakers
Tangband D4-1. I think about $640 delivered for pair. For some reason, I have a hunch that these are good. Unfortunately, I've never heard them. Am very close to ordering a pair for myself. Anyone here have these?????
Linn Sondek LP-12, Lingo PSU, Ittok LVII arm, AT OC9ML cart, Audio Origami lead, scratch-built tube phono stage with separate power supply (design by inmate NAZ!), Cayin TA30 integrated tube amp (with Bizzy Bee mods), TAD (Bizzy Bee) 805SD speakers.
a review
Karlson Evangelist
I saw that review- seems a bit inconclusive to me. "Quality construction"? Nice- but so is Audio Research- doesn't necessariy make it sound better. Could not find much else out there on the TangBands. I might buy some to find out.....
Linn Sondek LP-12, Lingo PSU, Ittok LVII arm, AT OC9ML cart, Audio Origami lead, scratch-built tube phono stage with separate power supply (design by inmate NAZ!), Cayin TA30 integrated tube amp (with Bizzy Bee mods), TAD (Bizzy Bee) 805SD speakers.
I've got a houseful of little single driver speakers. They just seem to accumulate...everything from Blumensteins to Mark Audios to Omega.
My favorite is Omega. Orca's are fun, but you can only get so much out of that little driver. I've got Mark Audio's in Pensil's and Fonken cabinets. Both are good, and depending on one's priorities I could see if someone preferred the MA's.
Keep that 2a3!
They were called the 4.5..... Have a single 4.5 inch driver and are only 17 inches high. I can easily drive these with my 2A3 Moondogs. He does not have these on his website, but I think he has a 4.5 v2 underway.
I bought these Bubinga Finished ones for $500 for the pair about 7 years ago. they sound really wonderful.
Cut-Throat
This said, I agree with Rod in that the OP's current speakers will take up the same amount of floor space as stand mounted units.
Not certain what frequencies emit from the speaker ports, but if they are fairly low I don't see much of a problem with furniture et cetera.
I'll second Omega. Lots of happy owners over at their lively Audiocircle forum. Aside from that, I agree with Rod. Keep your current speakers until you're absolutely sure they won't work in your new setting.
The little Fostex "Kanspea" kits really (honest) aren't bad at all.
No bass, of course, but pretty nice from, I dunno, 150 Hz on up.
Cheap too, and attractive if not exactly gorgeously crafted.
A pair lives here -- and even gets used, sometimes.
I don't doubt that the larger boxes from folks like Tekton and others are better overall (but they're 'spensiver, too).
yes, in the interest of full and complete disclosure, that is a very vintage soiled state integrated amp (quasi-complementary push-pull HH Scott LK-60) being used to power a pair of the 4" Fostex in this photo. They do work well with 2A3, too, though.
Would I kid you? :-)
all the best,
mrh
m, did you seriously mean it, the soiled state of the amplifier?
Cheers
Bill
As opposed to the clean, pure vacuum state.
Of course ;-)
Yes the LK-50 is solid state; fairly early ss, too -- thus the quasi-complementary configuration (i.e., the output is capacitor-coupled as there is a DC offset throughout the circuit all the way to the output).
That one was a) dirt-cheap (no pun intended) and is b) unrestored -- but it sounds surprisingly good.
Despite being chock full of transistors ;-)
all the best,
mrh
since it was barely visible in the previous post, figured I'd post a cheesecake shot (or two) of it :-)
all the best,
mrh
I have owned and listened to numerous different tubed amps & preamps since 1972. For years I powered the mid range (actually wide range) and tweeters of my triamplified DIY horn speakers with Cary Audio 2a3 monoblocks. 2a3 SET amps sound very good. Then I found amps I like even better.
Now the mids and highs of the same speakers are amplified by a pair of Nelson Pass built First Watt F3 single gain stage, single ended, JFET SS amps. To my ears they have all the immediacy, tone richness and excitement of 2a3 SETs plus more.
It's a small world.....I have a Nelson Pass First watt F-5 rated at 25 watts per channel. What I really have is a DIY F-5 which is incredibly over built and measures 36 Watts per channel. The fellow who built it works for Nelson Pass on his side project....the First Watt amps. With all that said and as beautiful as it sounds I still prefer the 2A3 SET.
Tom B.
my 20 some ugly 2a3 clunker is in the pile gathering dust - was pretty good with analog and Edgarhorn system - could not drive AR M1 even in near-field
a Dyna120 sounded better on my K-horns than some later solid scrape ;^)
Karlson Evangelist
You're not a big fan? :-)
Well... it all depends on one's taste
and
one's loudspeakers.
all the best,
mrh
Beautiful room - - do I see helper tweeters ? - - - I like 2a3'a quite a bit (a favorite output for horns) - depends on the speaker. The weakest amp I bought was a Norh 6l6 - didn't realize it was triode tied 1.6W won't run a 99dB rated (mediocre Eminence) 15 coax in a K15. Somehow, my Heresy I which aren't the most efficient things do alright with with SE EL34. If music is good enough then it will survive a range of amplifiers - those little 3116 are good for 30 bucks. My clunker needs re-grounding - the long buss is tied at the IEC socket ground and probably should be hooked at the chassis right between the two RCA input sockets.
Karlson Evangelist
Very cool indeed my man ! All those components have soul. I started out in high school with my dad's hand me down RR tape deck powered by a Scott valve amp. The TT came about two years later.
What I appreciate about this thread is that I have so many options to look into. All of it is premature at this point. Next spring my new music environment will become a reality and that's when I'll see if I can keep my existing sound system or I'll be changing over to something more appropriate. I do want to keep with my flea powered SET. Everything else will be guided by that personal priority.
Thanks Again, Tom B.
The footprint of your Abbys is no more than a monitor on stands except for the height. Placement isn't going to be much different and a single driver monitor just won't have the bass response you've got now which isn't earth shattering anyway.
Perhaps it exists, but I can't say that I've ever heard a fostex based speaker than sounded as balanced as the Cains that wasn't big, most of them, huge.
-Rod
Excellent point Rod! A friend loved my Sachikos, but once his wife heard about how tall they were, she killed the idea immediately. I told my friend to go home and ask his wife what she planned to hang over his speakers. When she responded " Nothing! " I told my friend to ask his wife if dimensions of 13W x 18D was too big and she responded " No! " So I told him to ask her: 1) if those dimensions are not too large and 2) if you aren't going to hang anything over my speakers. Then why can't they be 72" tall?
I was actually surprised when she eventually gave in to him and allowed him to build a pair of Sachikos. I was even more surprised to later learn she now loves the Sachikos and tells him they'll never leave the house! So Tom B. I now ask you the very same questions my friend asked his wife and Todd raised to you...
I'm listening to: Dust & Dreams by Camel
Thetubeguy1954 (Tom Scata)
Central Florida Audio Society -- SETriodes Group -- Space Coast Audio Society
Full-range/Wide-range Drivers --- Front & Back-Loaded Horns --- High Sensitivity Speakers
So Tom B. I now ask you the very same questions my friend asked his wife and Todd raised to you...
I agree with you. I'm keeping the Abbys no matter what. Wherever I end up will have to have the space needed to place the low frequency ports without being blocked.
With all the tips I got from all you folks I ended up purchasing a gorgeous 12" front loaded sub from Louis at Omega speakers. It should match beautifully with my Cain pipes.
Regards, Tom B.
I agree with you to a great extant. I love my Abbys...both sonically as well as their stunning appearance. I was lucky enough to know Terry before he passed. The problem is that I'm probably going to find myself in a small place and I do need to bring some of my furniture into the picture you might say. For most of my life, I always had a music room with a single chair placed right in the sweet spot. The ports at the bottom of the Abbys will be totally blocked by my favorite couch and my line of 8 guitars. My bed room will be my storage room.....5,000 LPs, 2,000 books, and 3500 CDs. The bed will be placed in the center of the room. No room for guitars....that's why they'll be in the living/Music room.
With the smaller speakers on some stands, the sound won't be as compromised, because the ports will be higher up and not blocked by the furniture. I'll admit.....I've always had a powered sub in a corner...possible only about a foot from the walls. The furniture will not be blocking the sub to any great extant either.
LOl....I realize I could be totally out to lunch on my grand theory. If anybody out there has their sound system right in the middle of a very busy living room and they've found a way of not mucking up the soundstage, I'd be interested on how they pulled it off! I'm very open to ideas from this forum.
Thanks, Tom B.
The Abby's were Terry's best work, at least in my opinion.
Wow....thanks everyone for all your takes on what I can checkout for my new North West home. I'm heartened by the apparent fact that I will not have to give up my flea powered SET ! I'm a hopeless tone freak and the 2A3 sound is what I've been in love with for 16 years, with my Paraglow mono blocks being my choice since 2001.
Thanks Again Gentlemen, Tom B.
look up projects at Diyaudio's Fullrange forum - check out Triticum Audio - he can build anything and rates are extremely reasonable - consider a cheap 3116 amplifier (~$30 in a case) and 19v laptop supply (~$10)
Karlson Evangelist
Edits: 10/02/15
You don't list a price range but all those guys sell high(er) sensitivity monitors. I haven't heard any of them.
Ah yes....price range....that will depend on what I get from my inherited "Google" house. My sis and myself will be selling it in March. The prices are INSANE, but we don't know as of yet, how insane! We won't have to wait long. Places in Mountain View ( Googleville) take from 48 hours to 5 or6 days to sell. We will see. That will determine how much my budget will be. I'm a simple guy. I pour all my $$$ into audio (equipment and Vinyl) or acoustic steel string guitars and Classical guitars.
I think I'm a man with my priorities straight!!
Regards, Tom B.
Nt
Clark Blumenstein is in Seattle and makes Fostex monitors. He also worked for Cain and Cain back when they were operating.
You beat me by a few seconds :)
Edits: 10/02/15
Ask Here:
http://www.planet10-hifi.com/
It's not unheard of that Complete Speakers can be supplied... if not, certainly decent info will be.
Edits: 10/02/15
Teresonic Megus
Beatnik's stuff http://web.me.com/jnr1/Site/Beatniks_Pictures.html
Jack, you really ought to read (and edit) what you write once in a while before you hit send.
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