Hi,
(the speakers are toed in a little and they are approx 7' apart. To get the full view, i had to use a wide angle 18mm lens and hence it may look a little tilted/distorted)
This is an upgrade from my previous DIY Sewage pipe design for Fostex FE103E full range drivers. When i did my first project, i just wanted to put in the least efforts and also allow the drivers to "burn in"
and to hear them for some time. It turn out good and then i thought of giving these little drivers their deserved proper enclosures.
I researched the web for some good proven designs for this little driver considering their short comings etc., like SOLO123, Fostex recommended 2 designs and 1 or 2 more. From the majority it looked Zigmahornett was a better suited design for these drivers and above all, i liked the skinny tall feel of this design which would compliment most of the decors. Then it is easy to make as well.
I did not want to get into the carpentry part of it and hired a local carpenter in Chennai who clearly understood the design and did it precisely in 5 hours flat. The design was borrowed from this link and made to the exact measurements.
Zigmahornet Speakers with Fostex FE103E
Materials used : 12 mm Marine Plywood 6x4 sheet - Rs. 1000
Baffle cutting and labour - Rs. 800
Used a 7" long Coir based foam for the dampening straight behind the driver. Two 12mm sheets were fused together to form the base, drilled holes and inserted 2" long nuts and bolts as spikes.
Then came really my part - painting. I thought of veneering this, but settled for painting it myself as i wanted to do something on my own for these speakers. Went and bought 250ml of Black ASPA (automotive) paint, turpentine oil, different grades of sand paper, wood putty.
Sanded the entire enclosure, filled up the dents, holes with putty, sanded again, applied primer, sanded again, applied first coat using a roller brush, sanded, second coat, sanded, third coat and done. I will do a polish may be in another week time to get it more glossy. Lessons learnt - I should have applied full putty for the enclosure and probably used a softer putty (white instead of grey) so that it could have been much much smoother. Anyway the work was satisfactory.
Connected the binding posts, mounted the drivers and finished.
Listening observations :
Much better than my sewage pipe in all fronts
Clear highs, little harsher mid-range and a descent low
Imaging was right on
Nice sound stage (tested with my only known track - Bricks in the wall)
Excellent room filling presense (14x12 room)
As a next step, added my Mordaunt short 309i sub woofer and it complimented it much better.
To bring down the harsher mids, i used a 2.49ohm 5W resistor in series on the +ve and it was fine. May be a proper BSC would do justice..later
I am not an expert in explaining the nuiances of music, but from whatever mixture i heard like Katie Melua (piece by piece), Mark Knopfler (Private Investigation), Wall, Audiophile voices, The Hunter by Jeniffer Warnes (somewhere somebody and way down way) and some carnatic instrumental, it produces overall good results and way better than my Mission M32i bookshelves. This is my opinion and considering the overall cost of making it - approx Rs. 10000 including Drivers, Enclosure, it is worth.
I think the Ziggies are excellent considering their limitations and they are excellent except may be hard rock and those type of generes.
I would like my forum freinds to have an audition whenever they find time and pass by Chromepet, Chennai.
Currently driving them using a NAD355BEE amp and may be a simple Tube amp would do more good to these beauties.
Swami
(the speakers are toed in a little and they are approx 7' apart. To get the full view, i had to use a wide angle 18mm lens and hence it may look a little tilted/distorted)
This is an upgrade from my previous DIY Sewage pipe design for Fostex FE103E full range drivers. When i did my first project, i just wanted to put in the least efforts and also allow the drivers to "burn in"
and to hear them for some time. It turn out good and then i thought of giving these little drivers their deserved proper enclosures.I researched the web for some good proven designs for this little driver considering their short comings etc., like SOLO123, Fostex recommended 2 designs and 1 or 2 more. From the majority it looked Zigmahornett was a better suited design for these drivers and above all, i liked the skinny tall feel of this design which would compliment most of the decors. Then it is easy to make as well.
I did not want to get into the carpentry part of it and hired a local carpenter in Chennai who clearly understood the design and did it precisely in 5 hours flat. The design was borrowed from this link and made to the exact measurements.
Zigmahornet Speakers with Fostex FE103E
Materials used : 12 mm Marine Plywood 6x4 sheet - Rs. 1000
Baffle cutting and labour - Rs. 800
Used a 7" long Coir based foam for the dampening straight behind the driver. Two 12mm sheets were fused together to form the base, drilled holes and inserted 2" long nuts and bolts as spikes.
Then came really my part - painting. I thought of veneering this, but settled for painting it myself as i wanted to do something on my own for these speakers. Went and bought 250ml of Black ASPA (automotive) paint, turpentine oil, different grades of sand paper, wood putty.
Sanded the entire enclosure, filled up the dents, holes with putty, sanded again, applied primer, sanded again, applied first coat using a roller brush, sanded, second coat, sanded, third coat and done. I will do a polish may be in another week time to get it more glossy. Lessons learnt - I should have applied full putty for the enclosure and probably used a softer putty (white instead of grey) so that it could have been much much smoother. Anyway the work was satisfactory.
Connected the binding posts, mounted the drivers and finished.
Listening observations :
Much better than my sewage pipe in all fronts
Clear highs, little harsher mid-range and a descent low
Imaging was right on
Nice sound stage (tested with my only known track - Bricks in the wall)
Excellent room filling presense (14x12 room)
As a next step, added my Mordaunt short 309i sub woofer and it complimented it much better.
To bring down the harsher mids, i used a 2.49ohm 5W resistor in series on the +ve and it was fine. May be a proper BSC would do justice..later
I am not an expert in explaining the nuiances of music, but from whatever mixture i heard like Katie Melua (piece by piece), Mark Knopfler (Private Investigation), Wall, Audiophile voices, The Hunter by Jeniffer Warnes (somewhere somebody and way down way) and some carnatic instrumental, it produces overall good results and way better than my Mission M32i bookshelves. This is my opinion and considering the overall cost of making it - approx Rs. 10000 including Drivers, Enclosure, it is worth.
I think the Ziggies are excellent considering their limitations and they are excellent except may be hard rock and those type of generes.
I would like my forum freinds to have an audition whenever they find time and pass by Chromepet, Chennai.
Currently driving them using a NAD355BEE amp and may be a simple Tube amp would do more good to these beauties.
Swami
I was trying to say, that would be a great idea and suggesting some more activities. Corrected my post.
