Well, who is going to be first to try Steve's new modded fostex driver for their HDT's?

John

I got mine not so long ago,

They where the new fostex who melt if the wax coating is applied.

I've been told the where coated with smething else but I don't have any clues that it's the case.

So what would be the new modifications ?

Arf, I missed the new page.

Interesting, I would like to listen to them first since my pair of fe206em doesn't do at all the 38hz to 20khz in the hdt as told on the site. Would the newer be closer to theses specs ?

I had the driver in december. They have the new phase plug of the  dfr-8, the felt on the back of the cone. Except for the suspension they seem identical to the dfr-8.

I had them play 10-15 hours a day for 3 months (there is always music at home) so they are probably over a thousan hours.

The cabinets are with the alternate tuning.

I heard a pair of hdt made by someone else with about the same result but in a very small room. Slightly more bass but still not flat to 38hz.

From 100 hz and down there is a constant reduction in spl, the highs almost disapear after 16khz.

I made the measurement at 1m in my big room.

The measurement where made only to confirm the listening impression.

The bass is very fast, clean with a lot of impacts and pleasant but in no way flat to 38hz.

I'm actualy boosting them with a pair of OB 12" drivers.

[quote author=franksmith  link=1142914193/0#6 date=1142965548]Except for the suspension they seem identical to the dfr-8.
[/quote]

But the suspension probably makes more difference than anything else! (the other two main ones being cone coating and phase plug change)

Yeah, no way the driver goes 38-20K with any resonable output.  That said, what it does in the 80-16K range is VERY good for the price of admission.

Someone else besides me REALLY has to try using the Aurum Cantus G2Si ribbon tweeter with the HDT's (running through a good 1uf cap).  I don't think you will be disappointed and this is a cheap, and reversible tweak. And I'd like to hear others opinions of this..

I'm using Radioshack's now discontinued supertweeter (96db sensivity), that looks a lot like a Fostex. A definite benefit in my space. They pop up occassionally on Ebay.

[quote author=franksmith  link=1142914193/0#11 date=1143144037]I'm using the lcy100k at 96db eff.

Having more extention in the high mean a need for bass extention too... [/quote]

A pair of  YAMAHA YST-SW215 Powered Subwoofer in the above picture has done right by me.  Not the last word in extension or output/volume level, but adds authority without messing things up - especially for the rediculously low price of $200 for a pair.  I recommend two unless your room is extremely small.

The mod was made for the fostex so I´d do the mod now

LOL, indeed, ... it is done!!! Now on to the veneering...

I'm still using two paralleled Auricap's (sum is around .98uF ~ equivalent 1uF), but I intend when I get around to it to try a 1uF Mundorf silver/oil.  I really liked what the Mundorf's did in my preamp and amp.  

Btw, as an experiment, in an attempt to get the Aurum Cantus tweeters closer to the Fostex driver (without cutting a hole in the baffle - yet), I duct taped the tweeters to the outside side of the cabinet.  It looked like crap but sounded allot better this way.  It probably has something to do with the way these tweeters have great horizontal dispersion, but restricted verticle dispersion.  I'm hoping when I finally cut a hole in the baffle and mount the tweeters directly above the Fostex that it will retain this improvement (and I'm expecting it will).

Well, maybe it could be considered half floating since there is no baffle to the outside of it (side placement) or above it (top placement). Also, the front-back alignment with cone is the same.  I also do not agree that a drive with such low x-max and low mass cone is vibrating the extremely heavy HDT cabinets to any degree which is affecting the tweeter.  It's clear to me that the dispersion characteristics are playing a large part, in addition to it just being at least 4" closer to the Fostex.

Brad,

I couldn't start the thread without also ordering. I ordered last week but no word yet on shipping date.

John

[quote author=gnat leader  link=1142914193/15#21 date=1143758840]...with the cost of shipping, potential for damage, etc. ... [/quote]

Yup, that's smart.

Corey

Brian,

CSP2 is on the boards-- see this thread for SD posts:

https://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=General;action=display;num=1...

Matt

[quote author=gnat leader  link=1142914193/15#27 date=1144092670]Yoda, as per a discussion I had with Steve, he says the HDT with the new DFR8 driver is now on par with the Ultraflex in the midrange.  His words were that he used to lose sleep over how the Ultraflex sounded better than the HDT particularly in cabinet colorations and pulling the disappearing act.  But with the DFR8's in the HDT, he's sleeping fine now .  However the HDT goes lower (~35hz vs. ~58hz).  So you may want to reconsider your building endeavors, or at least wait for a few of us HDT owners to get our DFR8's in and give our opinions. [/quote]

This is paramount to torture I have to wait until summer to get the DFR8´s must be strong..

Brad,

Steves sending me one to compare. I guess I'll have to make the second if I like it.  I know I'm using the same treatment on some 6 1/2" Fostex drivers, and the difference is amazing.

[quote author=Zygi  link=1142914193/30#30 date=1144388621]Brad,

Steves sending me one to compare. I guess I'll have to make the second if I like it.  I know I'm using the same treatment on some 6 1/2" Fostex drivers, and the difference is amazing. [/quote]


What cabinets are the 6.5's going into?

[quote author=Zygi  link=1142914193/30#33 date=1144452366]Brad,

  It looks much like the MG cabinet



  BobZ [/quote]


But with just one driver? Interesting.  And will it be a PR terminated  TL like the MG?

that last sentence sounds funny with the abbreviations

I always liked the looks of that cabinet. Not necessarily the color - though that is fine too.  But the elegant shape - tilted back and the way the base combines openings for venting the bass which also function as built in feet.