F205: Den lille høyttaleren som setter ny standard for lyd
The F205 is something special. It is the combination of all properties of the speaker that makes it special. It has dynamics and realism, there is this sense of clarity that makes you see straight into the scene where the musicians are playing, each instrument is sharply defined, yet there is this sense of sound filling the room, where the acoustic reverb from the recording blends seamlessly into the listening room.
The testing for the F205H was mostly preformed in the media room, and I also use this room to watch media content from the net, and listen to music. Here is an example of what may be enjoyed, casually, just for entertainment:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZ5G66XfIPw
Julie Horsch is playing flute, and it sounds amazing. The energy and presence of the instruments is addictive. And this special sound quality of the F205 speakers makes a difference, it adds so much value to the experience.
Dynamic Contrast
There was an attempt at describing how the acoustic port radiation control affects perceived sound:
We can call this Dynamic Contrast - the ability to present signals with different transient properties so they retain their individual sound, like real instruments, rather than sounding flat and similar. This is the property all small hifi-speakers lack, and the reason why so many enthusiasts end up with large horn systems.
So it was never about removing reflections from the room just to achieve a smoother frequency response.
Try to play Flashbulb, Autumn Insomnia Session, from the album Kirlian Selections. On a good system, this will be literally explosive, and this explosiveness is present even at lower volume.
F205H - New version
A new version of the F205H will be tested now, slightly different shape of the H-baffle parts will result in a small difference in radiation and reduce diffraction around the edges.
The mount for H-baffle parts is changed so it is easy to test it on existing F205 speakers with on need to destroy them with holes for mounting.
Update:
New H-baffle works much better than previous versions, looks very promising. Or, rather, sound very promising. A F205 that is better on all parameters, no cons.
F205H - New version - initial listening impressions
Very promising, the negative properties mentioned earlier are now gone.
Presentation is more solid and realistic. And it is amazing how sounds appear far to the sides, sometimes at 90 degrees and even to the back, the whole soundstage appears much larger in the depth direction, with sound now coming from close or far to the sides, and even better depth forward far away up front.
The sound fills the room better, and it does not collapse when you move around, even getting up and walking to the side of the room still retains a soundstage and some of the illusion of real instruments playing.
F205H pictures
We need some pictures now.
Parts for F205H for testing on my F205 in Room2:
H-parts mounted:
Listening in Room2:
Development of the F205H involves lots of listening. Here, it is not known exactly how the best radiation pattern is or how diffraction affects perceived sound, and the only way to find out is by listening. Measurements can tell how the speaker produces sound, but not how this way to produce sound is perceived by a listener.
This iteration of the H-parts does not work well, I have an idea why that is, and corrections will be made. Then more listening..
H-parts for the Carrara White F205 mounted.
New F205H parts mounted on the black F205 in Room2.
Sound:
Using F205H for some time now, how do they sound.
The F205 already is rather special, and the H just adds more in the same direction towards realism, impact, sense of presence. This speaker never tries to cover up faults in recordings, everything comes through in a very revealing and unforgiving way. Yet, it is remarkable that even bad recordings sound great.
Tonality is bright, it is not warm and full like some more typical speakers do it. This can of course be changed using eq, but even then, this tendency to the sound character will still be present.
Voices have this sense of presence, where there is a location and solidity, like the voice is contained with space around, also behind them.
Dynamic contrast and impact on transients is on a different level, compared to typical speakers. Drums get this solid sense of impact, giving it realism and excitement.
The presentation can cover the whole room, including behind the listening position. On recordings with object far off to the sides, sound from say 90 degrees out still sound like the sound emits from a very precisely defined position, like it would of there was a speaker at that location. Inside the L-R space everything is of course precise, and any object panned in any location sounds like coming from one contained position, completely independent from the speakers.
F205 option list:
Rather than a new model for each smaller or larger change to the speaker, an option list is a better solution. The H radiation control parts will then just be an option that can be fitted to the F205. It is the same speaker, in a different configuration.
F205 option list
- H radiation control
- H crossover network with fixed eq for H option
- Adjustable base
More options may be available later. I have thought about a new HF section horn, to match the H radiation.