This system is built around the limited edition fostex FE 166ES-R full range speaker mounted in the Fostex factory recommended back loaded horn enclosure. They are driven by the DIY Lady day + Mono blocks using the TJ meshplate 300B outputs and NOS RCA 6SL7 jan drivers and NOS Mullard GZ-37/CV-378 rectifiers. The front end consists of the Nottingham Spacedeck and Spacearm with Dynavector Sumiko Blackbird MC cartridge. The preamp is the Juicy Music Blueberry with phono. The digital front end is the Audio Note CDT transport with Black gates and tantalum resisters and the Audio Note DAC 1.2 with black gates and AN copper foil and oil coupling caps and Amperex 6922 gold pin outputs.For FM I use a Scott 350C vintage 60's multiplex all tube tuner with dave Scott mods.Recently added the Audience power cord and frutech power cords. The system goals are to produce low fatigue exceptional tonal quality and realistic dynamics.
With the Fostex horns producing 96db efficency the 8 watt Lady day amps really do the job producing lush vistas of sound with explosive dynamic power and bass to 36hz, music is portrayed with an organic and toe tappin presentation thats really addictive. I have lived with so many amps and speakers form tubes to solid state but I have never enjoyed my music so much! Next time how we made the Fostex cabinets!!
Factory recommended back loaded horn using the Fostex FE 166 ES-R driver
DIY audio Hi Fi Lady day + 300B mono's
A 300B mono block using employing Mu circuit S&B grid chokes and built with black gates audio note coupling caps and kiwame resisters. Also uses Tentlabs 300B heater regulators and TJ 300B meshplate outputs.
Audio Note Audio Note DAC 1.2
Audio Note Dac 1.2 with AN copperf oil and oil caps black gates and amprex 6922 outputs
Nottingham Analouge studio Spacedeck/Spacearm
British turnatble made by Tom Fletcher
Scott 350C
Classic mid 60's all tube tuner multiplex ....Sweet..... Dave Scott Mods
Fostex FE 166ES-R Back loaded horn
This is the limited edition Fostex 166ES-R employing the factory recommended back loaded horn enclosure.
System edited: With addition of the juicy music Blueberry with phono I have eliminated the Naim stageline. The stageline though quite good is to my ears not the same beast as the all tube Blueberry. The tonal quality of the blueberry is very easy on the ears and vocals of all kinds are breathtakingly real. I have been experimenting with several power cords lately and found a combination that works very well with my set up. That is Audience power cord on the preamp and furutech on the audio note DAC 1.2 The audience seems to really help with tone and texture and the Furutech adds more dynamics and bass response. The AN CDT transport is powered up with the JPS laps digital cord. Nothing else I've tried can match the quietness of the JPS on the transport. On a vinyl note I recently added the Funk Firm Achromat to the Notts. Now I know Tom Flectcher of Nottingham analog says that the cheap foam mat supplied with the spacdeck sounds best but to my ears and everyone else who has heard the system with the Funk firm mat the difference is not subtle. So Notts owners this ones a no brainer. the 3mm is what I have which doesn't change VTA over the stock mat. I'm very pleased with the Achromat. The big Fostex horns are funny things indeed. They have (believe it or not) took at least 1000 hours of break in I'm not kidding. In fact last year I contacted Carfrae in England makers of the best horn speakers I have ever heard they told me that most Lowthers sound their best right before they die. I'm not sure whats going on here but they have really starting sounding remarkable! OK it's new year and just recieved my first order of new vinly from soundsatge direct.com They have a very nice sized catalouge of LP's and not just the $40.00 to $60.00 that the big 3 sell. I bought 4 titles on original Fantasy Jazz they were all under $16.00 and sound great. Worth checking out for sure. Happy new year to all! And keep asking for vinyl from the stores. Jrook
I think your right regarding the Bk-16 and the Fostex factory BLH. My speakers weigh in at 82lbs ouch!! The fostex plan is very robust compared to the BK-16. That being said the Fostex factory BLH would cost nearly 3 times the price for madisound to produce and it would also require a fair amount of wood working knowledge to build correctly, that is no metal fasteners and no MDF. As for my LadyDay 300B amps. They have continued to impress both myself and several of my audio buddies who have brought over a few high priced 300B designs for a direct comparison. The lady days do all the things that a good SET amp should do in the midrange but also produce the deepest tightest bass I have ever heard in my home. They have a dynamic power that still blows me away. The fostex being 96db efficient surley helps but even hooking them up to a pair of vintage spendor monitors at 85db they still sound really powerfull. Mine are built with all the upgrades available including the black gates the Audio note copper foil in oil coupling caps. The black gate cathode by pass caps, Kiwame resisters, The tentlabs 300b filiment supplies and silver wire throughout. This adds about $600.00 to the base Lady day 300B and that doesn't include the TJ300B meshplate tubes. For the money though I don't think they can be touched maybe not for even twice the cash. My buddy sold his Air tight amps took the extra money and is having the fostex BLH cabinets like mine built by a custom maker. He found a pair of the 166ES-R at a japanese site and should have his speakers done by Christams. Thanks to all who commented on my system. More pictures of the speakers and amps here http://home.earthlink.net/~conartonj/
It seems to me that the BK-16 and the Fostex plans might look similar, but just superficially. Fostex horns are very heavy, while the Bk-16 cuts and kits are rather light, in contrast to the original Fostex plans.
Nice speakers. Are these similar to Madisound's Fostex BK-16 loaded horn kit? I have been interested in this type of speaker as of late. I understand they have a "you are there sound". Will they work well with my low powered single-ended class "A" Pass Labs Aleph 30 amp, or do I have to use tubes to get a balanced sound.
