Posted on Sunday, 9th August 2009 by Jimmy Auw

I have used this Vifa driver in my DIY loudspeaker for several years. Due to its pocket friendly price and also its performance. Yes, this is the cheapest Ring Radiator design (if you compare with the one from ScanSpeak).

So far, I’m quite ok with its sound. But I want to try something new: Changing its front place with a metal one. The original is made by plastic. So I order a new metal flange from my DIY friend. Click here to email him if you are interested with such project.

Here is the old plastic flange (top) compared with new metal one (bottom). I order simple flange design (no extra cosmetic on the front plate), because this is just for testing purpose. I might order a new one later – if the result is positive.

9_xt25_flange

I open my DIY speaker, remove the old plastic flange and do some short comparison between the old flange and the new one. I hear in some tones (like brass, piano, and harmonica) has more harmonics, better pronounciation, and a little more dynamic.

9_xt25_open

I plug back the Vifa XT25TG30 back to the enclosure. Sadly, I don’t have correct screw, so I must use some nuts to compensate the height of my screw (grmblll…). And with another short listening session, I think the staging is a little bit blur for high frequency notes. I love the overall new tonal balance of my XT25 with this metal flange though.

I suspect the screws could be blamed for this blurry staging issue. Will replace the screws first before taking another listening test. Boy… I think I must have at least a CLIO. I’m getting deaf to believe my own ears… ;)

9_xt25_new


Tags: ,
Posted in DIY Audio | Comments (7)

7 Responses to “Vifa XT25TG30 Metal Flange Mod Project”

  1. opa T Says:
    August 10th, 2009 at 00:08

    Men, that was quick testing :-) Pak Jim, and thanks for the link. Signal Red color + clear coat and all-stainless steel bolts-screws..hmmm. Thanks for great readings here..



  2. Erik HD Says:
    August 10th, 2009 at 22:01

    Pak Jimmy,
    ngeganti face plate aslinya dg metal apa nggak bikin suaranya jd sedikit (ato banyak) bright?
    saya biasanya lebih prefer faceplate originalnya di tempel bahan peredam (soft foam) sekelilingnya, suaranya lebih bersih dan fokus
    akal lainnya pakai tack it di tempel di sisi atasnya kira2 diameter 6 mm – 8 mm.. stagingnya jd lebih dalam..



  3. Jimmy Auw Says:
    August 10th, 2009 at 22:25

    Justru itu yang saya cari hehehe…

    Flange plastik memang salah satu kelemahan XT25, suaranya terlalu kalem dan kurang galak.

    Tapi sekali lagi, ini spesifik untuk XT25 ya. Kalo driver lain tentu harus disesuaikan lagi dengan karakter aslinya. Kadang perlu diredam pake foam seperti saran Anda atau malah diganti flange seperti yang saya lakukan.

    Btw, pake flange metal tidak serta merta menjadikan suara bright. Paling peningkatan hanya sekitar 5-15% lebih bright, itu pun di notes tertentu saja.

    Thanks.



  4. Erik HD Says:
    August 10th, 2009 at 22:49

    wah suka yg agak bright juga ya pak Jimmy
    kalo yang galak suara tweeternya ada fountek ribbon..menurut saya sih agak bright..entah karena saya cobanya pake cap solen, tp suaranya lebih open dan detail di banding XT25
    teman saya di bandung jd main distributor u indo



  5. Jimmy Auw Says:
    August 10th, 2009 at 22:58

    Hi,
    Saya enggak suka yang bright koq, tapi untuk XT25 memang terlalu kalem. Setidaknya itu yang didapat dengan XO saya sekarang. Agak susah karena saya main 2-way dengan PL18 di mana dia tidak bisa main tinggi, sehingga XT25 harus turun ke bawah. XT25 kalo dipotong di atas 3.5kHz bagus koq even dengan flange standard, tapi midbass-nya kasihan kalo 2-way. Kalo 3-way baru ok deh dengan midbass 10-14 cm dan woofer 10/12 inch.

    Ribbon tweeter memang bagus. Bukan kelasnya lawan XT25 lah. Harga juga uda beda bos :)

    Tapi Fountek sendiri saya juga udah coba (temen di car ada yang main). Suaranya ga masuk di kuping saya tuh. Agak nanggung suaranya. Entah mungkin yang desain di mobil temen saya ga beres kali ya? Masih jauh lebih masuk Aurum Cantus yang dipake di FA1 (harganya juga beda sih hehehe).

    Sayangnya ribbon cenderung terlalu “cepat” suaranya. Awalnya saya juga ga nyadar karena mostly reference saya vokal dibanding instrument. Pas temen ada puterin lagu2 yang butuh speed, kerasa banget mid-bass “konus” akan keteteran jika dikawinin ama Ribbon Tweeter. Kerasa ribbon-nya uda tinggal landas, midbass masih di runway hehehe… :)

    Solen suaranya cenderung ga open sih menurut saya. Fountek jauh lebih galak lagi harusnya kalo ga pake Solen hehehe.

    Thanks.



  6. Kasan Santosa Says:
    August 19th, 2009 at 15:52

    Salam Om Jimmy,

    Beli driver vifa dimana ya? Apa di harco – glodok ada? Minta referensinya donk…

    Thanks.



  7. Jimmy Auw Says:
    August 19th, 2009 at 21:55

    Di Glodok ga ada bro. Mesti cari ke car audio installer.

    Thanks.



Leave a Reply