|
Post by FOH on Apr 23, 2011 11:54:32 GMT -7
A welcome update
|
|
|
Post by ficaraudio on Apr 29, 2011 1:29:37 GMT -7
First sample 18 came in and dimensioned correct. They will go through and set the pins for the spotting of the holes and we will drill in house. Much beefier than the original with heavier fillets in all corners and where the legs attach to the mounting flange. We are working on some fixturing off of the sample and have ok'd production on them. We hope to take stock of them in about 2 weeks.
I will know more about the steel in the next few days too. We can't wait to get rolling with the IB3s again.
Thanks, Scott
|
|
|
Post by FOH on Apr 29, 2011 8:50:51 GMT -7
Scott,
We certainly appreciate the update.
As a current owner of (4) IB3-18's, and as a likely owner of at least four more, like many here, I am wishing you well and am truly looking forward to your IB products being back into the market. I really appreciate the effort to stop by and post. As many enthusiast forums are out there, few if any are as focused on one particular product of yours as The Cult is.
I've not followed your updates elsewhere closely. That said I'm curious as what changes, if any, will be implemented to the IB3-18 that will impact performance in a significant manner. I've read the previous statements stating the essential moving parts of the IB3-18 are remaining the same. However, is all that still in place wrt any of the small changes since then?
Thank you
|
|
|
Post by larrymcconville on May 31, 2011 17:56:37 GMT -7
Emailed Fi today inquiring about IB3 status and Nick promptly replied.
Nick indicated they had approved the forging last week, and that he hoped to load an image to the Cult this week.
He did qualify this by stating; "I have to find time to machine it down and coat it and assemble it to snap a picture of it."
Sounds as though they continue to make progress; I don't recall reading this on the Cult, but why was the IB3 being retooled?
Was it only to incorporate a Neo motor?
Larry
|
|
|
Post by FOH on Jun 1, 2011 4:43:15 GMT -7
My understanding was they wanted more in house control of additional aspects. They geared up for a Neo version, scrapped it, retooled again. I'm not sure what's going on, however with the current absence of IB drivers, they could do quite well by re-entering the market. That said, whatever the issue is, I'm sure it's a significant obstacle as evidenced by their own absence.
IMO, there must be some other issues, I just hope they're sorted out.
|
|
|
Post by larrymcconville on Jun 10, 2011 13:11:07 GMT -7
and yet another week has passed.
Once available, the pent-up demand shall likely create months of back-orders...
|
|
|
Post by ficaraudio on Jun 16, 2011 14:15:07 GMT -7
Back up on the site. Some changes include new motor design with solid pole and increased thermal capacity (although we cant increase mechanical ability) reducing thermal compression/distortion. US made and in house machined 18" basket.
Been a long ride going to neo and having things sorted/tooled only to have the rug pulled out from under us on several Neo projects. We are supposed to have steel in house in about 10 days, but giving us a buffer time wise on the site just in case there are any unforseen delays.
Thanks for the patience...
|
|
|
Post by larrymcconville on Jun 16, 2011 18:55:20 GMT -7
Very cool, are there discounts for Cult members?
I'm signing up for 8 of the 18s.
|
|
|
Post by ficaraudio on Jun 17, 2011 11:38:24 GMT -7
Hidden discount for purchases of 4 or more (showing the discount when you are checking out). We do not advertise the IB3 discount as we do not want to offer it for the balance of drivers. We try to cut pricing close, and with the 18" drivers using a US made basket it is getting tougher to keep pricing down. Raw basket costs twice as much as finished Chinese basket, but we are trying to do as much in the US as possible. Beefed this 12 spoke version up quite a bit more.
|
|
dave7
Full Member
Posts: 100
|
Post by dave7 on Jun 17, 2011 12:03:28 GMT -7
Will you have the 15's available too?
|
|
|
Post by ficaraudio on Jun 20, 2011 16:12:56 GMT -7
Yes, the 15s are up on the site as well. We have 12, 15, and 18" IB3 drivers.
Thanks, Scott
|
|
|
Post by justdhruv on Jun 27, 2011 12:11:02 GMT -7
could you please post the shipping size and weight of the 18" driver.
|
|
|
Post by lampim on Jul 14, 2011 6:37:56 GMT -7
Not to be a nag here Fi, but nearly a month since your last post again. I think at this point we're all just as concerned as we are eager. hope things are going well. any news for us?
|
|
|
Post by ficaraudio on Aug 28, 2011 12:38:33 GMT -7
Big thanks to all those that waited for the initial new IB3 drivers to ship. We are getting great feedback on the new drivers and are back under our 15 business day lead time for them again.
Scott
|
|
|
Post by FOH on Aug 29, 2011 5:48:34 GMT -7
Scott, Thank you for stopping by and providing the brief update.
Anyone here have any first hand experience, or knowledge of anyone with the new drivers?
Thanks
btw, if they're similar to the previous version, still quite a solid bargain at ~$220 apiece in quantity of 4. Not the most trick driver out there, but employing multiples lessens the significance of many of those factors.
I wish them well.
|
|
|
Post by bigjon on Aug 29, 2011 17:53:39 GMT -7
Ordered 4 Friday, should be a huge jump over my previous build (2 Tempest-X). I'm sure they will be worth the wait! Thanks for the update Scott.
|
|
|
Post by justdhruv on Aug 29, 2011 23:28:42 GMT -7
i ordered a pair myself about 10 days ago. It's great news that their lead time has reduced considerably.
I have ordered the drivers through a freight forwarder. I wanted to know if these guys give a order no. with which one can track the status of the order on their website.
|
|
|
Post by chrisbee on Aug 30, 2011 6:16:46 GMT -7
Anyone here have any first hand experience, or knowledge of anyone with the new drivers? Not the most trick driver out there, but employing multiples lessens the significance of many of those factors. With which other IB specific drivers are we comparing apples to lemons? Your comments are apt to undermine the confidence of those patiently waiting to place orders for the only true IB drivers currently available on the planet. Particularly those of us who have not had the benefits of your lifetime of IB driver design and manufacture. In the context of IB "standard practice" and 80Hz crossovers how, in your expert opinion, might the Fi IB3 offerings be (further) improved?
|
|
|
Post by FOH on Aug 30, 2011 11:41:57 GMT -7
Anyone here have any first hand experience, or knowledge of anyone with the new drivers? Not the most trick driver out there, but employing multiples lessens the significance of many of those factors. With which other IB specific drivers are we comparing apples to lemons? Your comments are apt to undermine the confidence of those patiently waiting to place orders for the only true IB drivers currently available on the planet. Particularly those of us who have not had the benefits of your lifetime of IB driver design and manufacture. In the context of IB "standard practice" and 80Hz crossovers how, in your expert opinion, might the Fi IB3 offerings be (further) improved? Chrisbee, The last thing I want to do is "undermine the confidence of those patiently waiting to place orders for the only true IB drivers currently available on the planet". These guys at Fi avail the diy community to one of the stand out steals in all of diy subwoofing in my opinion. A 4x set IB of IB3's, aptly powered, is a killer route to LF nirvana in the home based on performance. Plus, it's solid bargain. You bring up a good point however, and it's certainly slim pickens out there wrt IB specific drivers. I wasn't comparing them to IB specific drivers, I was referencing the entirety of LF drivers out there. Regardless if the magnetic circuit design, the moving parts, or even the soft parts could be improved, the significance of the non-linearity resulting from any driver's design is generally lessened by implementing multiples. Whether it's inductance non-linearities, suspension non-linearities,..reduction of excursion via multiples is very effective. One doesn't need a "lifetime of IB driver design and manufacture" to see a few of the choices Fi has made to allow enthusiasts access to outstanding LF reproduction in the home. More-so than any other aspect in audio, driver and loudspeaker design is a endeavor of a series of compromises. The product Fi offers, combined with the enthusiast support groups such as The Cult, avails a level of performance to the diy individual that would take at least several thousand dollars of ready made consumer subwoofer products to even come close. As we know, there are certain traits to the IB alignment, that are not attainable regardless of price with conventional products. Chrisbee, I've championed Fi's IB3-18 product as much as anyone. However, there are much more trick drivers out there. A small, sealed box 18, needs as sophisticated of a design as possible, mated to an extraordinarily powerful amplifier of up to 5kw to fight the inefficiencies of the design. If one is going to push the single 18 to it's 38mm Xmax, it better behave as nicely as possible. And yes, that's doable,....but that single driver is as expensive as four IB3-18s. Within the IB specific drivers, it's been argued that the design choices from AE, allowed their 15 to be somewhat more efficient in the lowest range that that of Fi's work. However clearly many enthusiasts chose the superior Sd of the Fi over that of the AE. Anyway, do you really think I'm trying to undermine Fi's driver sales? I take exception to the idea we can only compare IB specific drivers. It's my opinion one needs to examine all efforts from all comers..., IB specific or not. Clearly the $/displacement parameter absolutely rules(and the IB specific generally has the upper hand), when one is examining the bottom octaves without throwing money where it's not needed. I think it's a disservice to high performance/$ driver options like Fi not allowing comparisons to all design avenues,... I think they stand up well. So thanks for pointing that out I apologize if I ever gave you or anyone that idea,...couldn't be further from the truth btw ... (4)Fi-IB3-18's + EP4K =
|
|
|
Post by chrisbee on Aug 30, 2011 12:23:59 GMT -7
Thanks foh. One has to be very careful with one's chosen words when there are pedants like me around. You made the point yourself that four big drivers and an inexpensive amp can thrash a great many commercial subs. However, it is a common enough claim that DIY can bat at well above its price point. There are fans of all sorts of sub designs who swear blind that their way is superior. How can a crude box in wall, floor or ceiling be so superior? More hype? It may be that many IB wannabes think they are getting hyped into discarding their expensive subs. To build something cheap and cheerful. Something that will go loud and low but sound rather inferior. Being told that the IB3 is not the most trick sub on the shelf only reinforces their doubts. The leap of faith to invest in something they have never heard is not an easy one. There aren't enough IBs about, even now, to be able to guarantee a demo. At least not within a short drive of every home theatre. The irony is that we can't reproduce the SQ of an IB via a YT video or even a high quality recording. The video would only be replayed through an existing subwoofer. With whatever limitations the computer replay system puts in the way on top of that. Mike certainly expresses the enthusiasm and sheer awe at the power and SQ of his "Usul" IB videos. But you can't hear "Usul" for yourself. Not without being there. Or, already having an IB yourself. Meanwhile, Thomas has repeatedly said that more expensive drivers are a waste of money in an IB. So which "trick" drivers would you suggest we should look at while going against this expert advice? Should the well heeled ignore Thomas and blow a stack of cash on a stack of $1k drivers and crazy expensive amps? And, if they did, what exactly would they hear that the IB3/EP4K owners would not? I think we should be told.
|
|