Fostex FE206En Rear-Loaded Horn Speakers

Once again Mark tries on the Fostex FE206En high sensitivity fullrange driver, but this time in large rear-loaded horn loudspeaker cabinets. The horn speaker cabinet plans are from the FE206En driver datasheet.

Fostex FE206En Rear-Loaded Horn Speaker Cabinet

Each horn speaker cabinet is made up from thirty-six pieces of 21 mm thick pine plywood.  Australian beeswax is used on the outside of the horn cabinet and heavy cedar oil was applied to the mouth of the horn.

The sensitivity of the FE206En driver is greater than 96 dB / 1W / 1m, so the rear-loaded horn speakers are very well suited for use with very low power tube amplifiers.

Fostex FE206En Back-Loaded Horn Speakers with 6EM7 SET Amplifier

Mark reports very good performance from the back-loaded horn speaker cabinets.

"Where this type of single driver loudspeaker system does shine is in it's ability to image. The back-loaded horn speakers can draw an extremely accurate soundstage. This is due to the fact the all the music is coming from a single point and is not smearing the sound over multiple drivers." 

"Big, bold and made of pine they are. Excellent sounding they are also. For me, with my Paris amplifier (dual mono SE 6EM7 integrated with 4S tube preamp) in triode mode, the combination of a high sensitivity speaker, razor sharp sound stage and extended and very clean mid-range, can lead to a whole new listening experience." 

Full project details are available on the Fostex FE206En Back-Loaded Horn Speaker page.