High Efficiency Speaker Asylum

Posted by ddriveman (A) on April 16, 2007 at 03:52:08

Hi,

I am interested in the Feastrex 5nf driver and wondering what box (or OB) would be a good macth. The Featrex website shows a 3 port bass reflex and I know that Disk Oshler has a review of the driver in an OB with a large sub. I would prefer not to do OB/Sub combo. I already have a REL Strata III sub and so am hoping that a box will do. Will a TWQT be a good match? Any comments?

Rdgs
Addicted to Tubes

• Yes, BIB seems to be good and bass reflex can be surprisingly good too - Christopher Witmer 21:07:37 04/16/07 (0)
  In Reply to: Feastrex 5nf cabinet options posted by ddriveman on April 16, 2007 at 03:52:08:

  I have heard reports of very good results with BIB type enclosures, and I have heard with my own ears the Feastrex original bass reflex enclosures sounding REALLY good with no sense that the bass is lacking. Overall I am fairly sure that bass reflex, when properly implemented, can give results that will satisfy (and probably surprise) just about anybody.

  Here are the impressions that one user shared with me --

  "I installed the Dimension 5nf loudspeakers in my home today and listened to the speakers on stands. The incredible has happened: everything works just great with plenty of bass and the characteristic Feastrex magic in the mid-highs! Image, detailing, sound stage, all are amazingly fantastic. By the way I am selling my pair of vintage 15-inch Altec Duplex 602A speakers. Although they have a reputation for fine bass, the reality is that they sound somewhat dull and dark compared with the Feastrex units."

  In a subsequent mail that user told me he plans to add a subwoofer crossed at 80Hz; much of the time he will use the D5nf units full range, but with really bass-heavy music, especially music that needs to be played loud, he will use the subwoofer to reduce the stress on the D5nf.

  One "problem" with the Feastrex original enclosure is that it seems to put the driver too low to the floor. The best bass seems to result when the speakers are placed in extremely close proximity to the floor, separated from the floor by speaker insulators that are just 2-5mm in height! (Essentially, three wood screws are put in the bottom and their flat heats are allowed to protrude from the enclosure.) But when the speakers are used that way, most people intuitively feel the drivers are too far below ear height for optimum listening. In fact, if you were seated on the floor, they would be "optimal" height. The reality is, you can sit in a standard chair or sofa (which puts you "too high") and they still sound great. The off-axis response is so good and the sweet spot so huge that you simply don't mind the fact that the speakers are "too low." But the fact of the matter is, the enclosures could probably be made taller -- either with the internal volume constant or with the volume increased -- without any impairment of the sound, and quite possibly with an improvement of the sound. Feastrex didn't make the speakers taller because at their current size they could make most efficient use of a sheet of plywood. But there is no reason the speakers couldn't be made taller. If I was going to make those enclosures, I would make them tall enough so the driver came precisely at ear height, and then I would use rocks or cloth sand bags (or whatever) to reduce the cabinet's internal volume until I thought the sound had been optimized. I predict there is a good chance I'd decide to just use the cabinets as I built them without any subsequent volume reduction, although it's also conceivable that the current internal volume is ideal. That would be rather ironic because the current enclosure is more or less Feastrex's initial effort at that size. (The similar but larger enclosure for their D6 driver apparently took a LOT of work, but once they had that finished, they just made a guess as to how it could be reduced for the D5 and D5nf, and they liked the initial results so much that they just stayed with that. I can't say I blame them, as the sound is very good indeed. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it.")
  
  

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• Re: Feastrex 5nf cabinet options - Mr. P 07:32:19 04/16/07 (0)
  In Reply to: Feastrex 5nf cabinet options posted by ddriveman on April 16, 2007 at 03:52:08:

  Dick Olsher gives a good review of the Festrex in a OB
  

  • Feastrex in an OB   (Open in New Window)

  
  

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• Re: Feastrex 5nf cabinet options - BTW 04:14:39 04/16/07 (0)
  In Reply to: Feastrex 5nf cabinet options posted by ddriveman on April 16, 2007 at 03:52:08:

  Not so sure about the TWQT but the Fs of the D5nf will allow it to work in BIB cabinets. Will send you an email ... :-))

  
  
  

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