[hotdrop]

I’ve been looking to make my first leap into the world of HiFi speakers and I've been Debating between getting either some Dana 640i or buying/building some full range speakers like the Fonkens with the Fostex drivers. I would love to demo some full range speakers but I can’t really find anybody that sells them commercially. I find it hard to believe that a little 4” driver like that could really fill up a whole room but from what I read it seems to do just that. Do you guys have any suggestions on how/where I could go about hearing some full range speakers (I live in the Seattle area)? Also if anybody owns a pair could you comment on how well they do for listening outside the sweet spot (off to the left of one or the other speaker) or if they are really directional.
 

[Letitroll98]

Don't know much about the Dana's other than they might be connected with Swan speakers in some way, which are HiVi speakers produced in China.  Although I've heard good things about Swan speakers as value for dollar winners, it looks like a lot of shady marketing with the Dana line, "reviews" in various online forums that all appear to be written by the same guy under different aliases.  Maybe they're great values, I have several import products from China that have turned out very well for me.  However I'd make sure to listen to a pair before purchase.

Single driver speakers are a whole other ballpark.  They are very seductive, but have a few flaws.  You can't get fullrange sound without compromises, either beamy treble or rolled off bass.  Obviously bigger drivers produce better bass and smaller drivers better treble, the 4" Fostex drivers produce a glorious sound, but slammin' bass drive, not so much.  Several manufacturers have gone to using larger full range drivers mated with a supertweeter for fill in.  Try Zu or Tekton, and for DIY fullrange I'm sure you've already gone to Planet 10 website, a wonderful resource.  For conventional speakers you should check out our own GR Research, Danny is a great guy to deal with. 

[WC]

Since you are in the Seattle area, you may want to check out the Blumenstein Orcas. They are made in Seattle. They use a small Fostex driver. You might be able to demo them.

http://www.blumensteinaudio.com/

[hotdrop]

Letitroll98: Thanks for the advice on the Danas. I feelt pretty uncomfortable with the idea ordering speakers online without listening to them and based on what you said here It gives me enough doubt to avoid them. As someone new to HiFI its really hard for me to tell what is and isn’t a good value. For example I went out this weekend and listened to some B&W C5s and I really loved how they sound but value is really important to me and from what I read it seems like B&W does not offer a great bang/buck. Hence why im looking at alternatives.

[Letitroll98]

There are some great online speaker deals out there, and the Dana's might be one of them, but I would feel more confident with ones with a lot more history or if someone I know had some, it's buyer beware out there.  I wouldn't sell B&W short, they're not everyone's cup o' tea, a little bland, but they make some very nice speakers.  My GF still loves her B&W 302's.  And they're an excellent baseline to branch out from.  They have that corporate, middle of the road, do nothing wrong sound that you can use to judge other speakers from. 

I would just mine through the circle's posts for recommendations, as well as the Single Driver circle, maybe the OB circle, and most definitely the Manufacturer's circles.  We have about the only website around that you can go online and immediately converse with the owner and designer of the speakers you're interested in.  Plus just about all of them can arrange for you to hear a pair in your area.   

[planet10]

Not far from Seattle to Victoria, where we could give you an opportunity to listen to a range of FRs. And if that is too far afield, it might be possible to hook you up with some Seattle locals.

dave

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Dave, didn't realize you were that close. I've heard nothing but good things about your designs. I might be able to convince the GF to go up to Victoria and listen to some of your speakers while were at it. Since you are sort of the the authority on full range speakers and opinions on how they are for listening off angle outside the sweet spot? Are they very directional like planars? 

[planet10]

I might be able to convince the GF to go up to Victoria and listen to some of your speakers while were at it

email if that becomes the case.

opinions on how they are for listening off angle outside the sweet spot? Are they very directional like planars?

We are almost invariably lisrening to treated drivers and they have a pretty wide sweet spot. Certainly not like the ESLs i had before i got into FRs.

dave

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WC:
Thanks for the advice on the orcas speakers from blumensteim audio. The lady friend and I went over there today to give them a listen and they were really impressive sounding. They had a very warm and precise sound I wasn't really expecting from such a small enclosure. They sounds great off angle and really fill up a room with sound. My room is probably a bit big for them and they really need subs to sound their best in a large area like that. They would be perfect for a small living room or bedroom even without subs. Clark really put a lot of effort into every detail of these and you can hear it in the finished product. Probably one of my favorite sounding speakers so far. I'll likely be judging every other speaker against these. Sadly at @ $800 + $2k for the two subs its a bit outside of my price range for this space.
I guess I should add that the only thing I didn't really like about them was the way the speaker sat on the subs aesthetics wise. It sounded like Clark was working on a redesign but they could stand to be a bit higher up and separated a bit using feet or some other method.

I really need to make a trip out to visit Dave and listen to his frugal horns If they sound anything like the Orcas with a bit more range due to the larger size I might have to buy or build a pair.