Fostex BK-20 Folded Horn Kit - Pair

I bought this when they were supplied with the FE-206EN. The newer FE-206NVs were recently on sale so I upgraded. Overall, the newer drivers are better. They sound more balanced and are a touch more sensitive, which is good because I am driving them with a lower watt amplifier.

I built these and finished them with cherry veneer. It was a somewhat time-consuming process but went together as described.

I am powering them with a First Watt J2 and use a sub to round out the bottom end. They are fine without a sub, but I prefer it with a sub.

These cabinets are fabulous, and for mid-sized rooms (I have them set up in a 14'x17' room) they offer plenty of bass (which is the concern of many folks). I used the modified Fostex 206en drivers that Decware offers (called the DFR8), which have many of the basic mods you'll read about on the forums, including a finely machined phase plug. It's true that the highs are crisp and clear and very revealing, but I never find the sound to be harsh, which is why I shelled out the extra money for the phase plugs. The cabinets, it should be said, are NOT simple to put together. They require a lot of patience, a lot of head scratching, cursing, and dry-fitting. The key is to dry fit as much of the cabinet as you can during each step before you glue and clamp. Also, you simply cannot have enough bar clamps. I found that between 6 and 8 36" clamps did the trick. And you'll need a second person for some of the fitting, especially as you get near the end of the process (the sides). In the end, however, what you get is an absolutely amazing-sounding and -looking cabinet. The Fostex drivers sound wonderful in these, and after several hours of running music through them, they do indeed start to reach further down. I felted the rear panel (the panel opposite the magnet) of the cabinet and used the Acoustistuff poly fill in first chamber. If you've never finished birch before, you definitely need to do your research. Birch is a very, very demanding veneer to work with (it's famously difficult to stain evenly--just read any woodworking forum). I sanded these cabinets, sealed them with sanding sealer/wood conditioner (a must), and brushed on a satin clear. Birch veneer makes for a beautiful, elegant, and modern look, and in my opinion a clear finish brings out the wood's best qualities. How do they sound--awesome. I have an all-tube setup, listen to mostly vinyl, and I love what I hear through these cabinets. I listen to all types of music, from Tycho to Arvo Part to Neko Case to the Cure, and I have a sizable jazz collection. Acoustic music sounds the best, but isn't that true of just about any speaker? There are times when I yearn for a deeper bass response (when I'm listening to James Blake or Bonobo, for example), but those moments are the exception. But, when I put on a track with Paul Chambers, the sound of the acoustic bass is flat-out remarkable--rich, full, detailed, fast, and BIG. When I spin tracks that have a lot of big, artificial bass (like Aphex Twin or Daft Punk), I want more from the low end. But not enough to even think about adding a sub. There's just not one speaker for all music, and there's always a trade off. The best part about Hi Fi is enjoying the music, and I'm loving rediscovering my record collection. If you're rolling with tubes, I highly recommend this kit. You'll be pleased, for sure.