Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2014 18:06:22 GMT
What are these like as speakers? I have read a review by a keen user on another forum, but wanted to know if anybody here has had experience of them? |
|
|
|
Post by John on Aug 22, 2014 18:14:09 GMT
I heard them a few times and for the money think very hard to beat. I know Martin was also impressed with them.
At the time I had my old treble units in my speakers when Steve brought them around. They had more detail at the time than drivers i was using it was a very balanced sound and one I could happily live with.
Steve a real decent guy and has spent a lot of time playing with drivers. What was fascinating was how easy Steve could alter the sound to get them to perform at their best he really knows the speakers inside out. The finish is very good and very room friendly. The do a surprising sense of scale for such small speakers and pretty easy to drive.
|
|
|
|
Post by pre65 on Aug 23, 2014 8:44:14 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by John on Aug 23, 2014 10:45:34 GMT
I had a preference for the Markaudio drivers but both good
|
|
|
|
Post by Stratmangler on Aug 23, 2014 11:14:45 GMT
I like mine.
Mine were built by Colin Topps before Electric Beach knew about the FH3 design.
Mine use MarkAudio CHP-70 drive units, which are paper coned, and I'm using Frugal Supertweeters because the paper cones need a small amount of help in the HF department.
Sadly it's not possible to get the model of CHP-70s I have because they're no longer made - there's a Gen2 version, which is not quite the same beast.
My speakers cope well with everything I throw at them.
I have heard some of the metal coned MarkAudio drivers, and they have fantastic frequency response and do not need the use of a supertweeter, but I prefer my paper coned units - they do something lovely in the midband and communicate wonderfully.
I will add that I have not heard any metal coned units that have been properly run in and with a couple of thousand hours on the clock.
Unlike Phil I'm not particularly fond of the Fostex drive unit - it has a 7KHz hump in response that grates horribly (IMO) with some recordings.
|
|
|
|
Post by John on Aug 24, 2014 15:06:18 GMT
I be visiting Steve (Electricbeach on SAturday to hear the speakers again and the DDAC will see what it like against the Caiman
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2014 16:58:16 GMT
I'm really tempted by the kit version I found today for £280.
The finish won't be as good, but how hard is it to get birch ply to look good?
|
|
shane
Rank: Duo
Posts: 56 
|
Post by shane on Aug 24, 2014 17:34:06 GMT
I'm really tempted by the kit version I found today for £280. Is that the same one that Phil (pre65) linked to? |
|
|
|
Post by John on Aug 24, 2014 17:35:52 GMT
I think time and attention to get it nice looking
Keep us informed what you decide to do
I know Steve done a few extra bits to the horns.
If you wish I let you know how the visit goes
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2014 17:43:01 GMT
If you could please.
I'd be interested to know what he has done extra over the base model.
They are available from Custom Cans in Cheltenham, with the Mark Audio driver for £280
|
|
|
|
Post by John on Aug 24, 2014 18:06:15 GMT
Contact him
The guy is not pushy and easy to get on with
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Aug 25, 2014 15:58:09 GMT
Here's when Steve brought his Frugel 3s around to my place. I thought they imaged extremely well and created a very detailed and deep soundstage. Bass was surprisingly good considering the tiny drivers, which were Mark Audio, but obviously limited in their extension. They create a nice overall sound.  |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2014 16:10:46 GMT
My thoughts were to add a small active subwoofer to cover the lower frequencies, however, having just received my Graham Slee Proprius amps, I'm not rushing into this!
My Cyrus CLS70 are sounding rather splendid right now.
Steve told me that the Slee's should match the speakers really well, and I'll be able to fix them directly to the speakers. They would give me a different presentation to what I have now, and Mrs H may even agree to me having a system downstairs if she saw the FH3's. A pair of small monoblocks fitted to the back, anda couple of smaller (Cyrus) sized boxes in a cupboard, and you have a discrete, good sounding system. The Audiolab 8000CDQ could be an option as well.
Food for thought....
|
|
|
|
Post by John on Aug 25, 2014 16:28:56 GMT
Adding a sub helps them but bass not to bad
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2014 17:59:25 GMT
I got in touch with Steve, and as you say he is very approachable.
Very willing to help, and advise on the speakers. I need to have a serious think, and ideally, travel for a demo before I commit to DIY or the Electric Beach version. 
I know which one will be better, but as I could do with a new pre-amplifier I am restricted by time and funds.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2014 18:21:50 GMT
I'm really tempted by the kit version I found today for £280. The finish won't be as good, but how hard is it to get birch ply to look good? Just in case there is any doubt in my statement above (as I can see it can easily be misread) having never worked with birch play to create a piece of furniture, how difficult will it be to get a good looking finish on a DIY speaker. I have seen a couple of pictures of Steve's work, and they look stunning. I know I will get nowhere near that standard, but for speakers in a man cave how many hours am I looking at to get a good finish, and do I need any special tooling to achieve this?
|
|
|
|
Post by John on Aug 26, 2014 6:51:12 GMT
I seen a few DIY builds Plenty of coats including a good primer seems to be the key
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2014 9:25:33 GMT
The temptation will be to build them so they are functional and listen to them.
The plan will be to finish them later, but this will probably never happen!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2014 10:12:24 GMT
These speakers look very simple to build. A good finish is also easy but obviously a professional finish is a bit harder. I might be tempted to go for one of the vinyls with carbon fibre effect - cheap on eBay. This would cover any small blemishes. If you made them with a very small step where the sides go on, you could do the fronts in the wrap and just paint the sides. Would look great. Alternatively, Ronsenac is not that far from Toulouse  |
|
norton
Rank: Soloist
Hi,just joined and hope to enjoy more audio chat on this site.
Posts: 15
|
Post by norton on Jan 25, 2015 11:23:05 GMT
Hi all,Im new to this site and saw the electric beach thread and thought Id put in my 5 cents worth.I would first like to say that Steve is a top bloke and customer service is second to none and his knowledge of these superb speakers is huge.I purchased Steves demo speakers(no running in for me)and from the first meeting its been a pleasurable stress free experience.My first demo of speakers was more out of curiosity than alooking to buy but god was I in for a surprise.From the first few minutes I was thinking these are special,I couldnt believe the bass,and the mids and highs,two words came to mind f... me I was in shock.As the music session progressed(exellent choice of music)I was drawn into the music in a way I realised I had lost,listening to the system had got in the way of why we all have a system,to listen to music.I have replaced esl57s with these and would never go back,the gain is far greater than the loss.These speakers are in an audio note,audion system which has seen lvibxr2,an speakers to name a few and Ill take the frugals everytime.Steve has been developing some horn extensions and I have been lucky enough to get a pair(delivered and set up by Steve)and first thoughts are more tunefull bass,bigger sounstage etc,and I think a very worthwhile upgrade for any frugall owner.Steve has a special little upgrade for these which are being fitted in a weeks time and Im like a kid at xmas,I cant wait.These speakers have been in my system for a couple of months now and although the speakers compared to the cost of the other equipment are cheap as chips(in hifi terms)I feel they have reintroduced me to the joy of music and since owning them my amazon account has cost more than the speakers,plus Im playing cds I havent played for years.So to sum up,these speakers shine in a system that new would cost over £25000 and to my ears have been the best sound in my room.Great bloke,great service,great product and a price that is totally mad for something as good as this.I will update when Steve upgrades speakers at the weekend and if you get a chance to audition these amazing speakers take your money ,youll want them
|
|
