Fostex Satellite 2.1 speakers!

[Tapehead47]

This little set was made in China! I bought the set at Sam Ash about 3 or 4 years ago. They're self powered, with a little sub, but man do they kick!

I'm listening to the Allman Bros. Live (Stormy Monday) with them hooked into my computer as I'm typing. I didn't think anything made in China hold together for so many years.

I've brought them on vacation a few times to have something decent to listen to hooked up to a Walkman CD or Cassette player. I've always been impressed with their clarity and bass response. I have them set up as nearfield speakers.

I think the model is SP-1, but I'm not gonna yank them out of their place to read the back label.

I heard them at Sam Ash hooked into a keyboard that a customer was jamming on and thought, Man! those little suckers would sound great with my CD walkman.

 

[Dusty Chalk]

Are these the self-powered two-way monitors, with the main driver that looks like an orange juicer?

Yeah, I've always liked Fostex...

EDIT: I think I might be thinking of something else -- you got the PM-1's?

 

[Tapehead47]

Are these the self-powered two-way monitors, with the main driver that looks like an orange juicer?

Yeah, I've always liked Fostex...

EDIT: I think I might be thinking of something else -- you got the PM-1's?

They look like black boxes. I just took a look...The sub is model SW 1.1., and the satellites are model SS 1.1. Nothing fancy, for sure.

 

[Jim Shearer]

My son-in-law's father works as an engineer for a TV station. He says they use Fostex monitors in their on-location set-ups. (This came up after I talked to him about using Fostex full range drivers.) If they can suvive that kind of abuse, they must be good stuff!

Cheers, Jim

 

[Tapehead47]

The little satellite system cost me about $250. So they weren't real cheap compared to some of the 2.1 'computer' speaker systems.

Their powered monitors are of a much higher quality, I believe. If you go to samashmusic.com you can see how good those systems are. Other makers, like Tannoy, Samson, Yamaha, and many others, make some unbelieveable, high-quality stuff that would be awesome for mp3 players like iPods.

http://www.samash.com/catalog/categorysub.asp?categorysubid=68&departmentid=6&sourcetype=deptnav6

I find it interesting in that you don't need a power amp or preamp.

Oh, welcome to AK, Jim Shearer from upstate NY!

 

[k9gardner]

They look like black boxes. I just took a look...The sub is model SW 1.1., and the satellites are model SS 1.1. Nothing fancy, for sure.

They do NOT look like black boxes! They look like grey boxes. Not quite all rectilinear, they have a little ramp on the top to make them look sexy or something. I have a set that is also from that era, I bought them on the same basis; heard someone playing a keyboard through them at Sam Ash, and they sounded awesome. I was just getting into the MIDI at the time and these were my buy. Since that time, something happened to some or all of the drivers - I'm blaming my son for blasting them, but it may not have been his fault. I've just opened one of them up (finally figured out that you just had to pry off the mesh grille to reveal all the screws and drivers and what not) and found an EMPTY case (i.e. no insulation or batting whatsoever), and a big fairly heavy copper plate in the bottom of the plastic case (for weight? Something else?). The mid-woofers both need new surrounds, but I'll just replace the drivers entirely; can anyone suggest a suitable replacement? I've repurposed the SW-1 sub elsewhere so may want to use these without the sub, so something with a bit more bass extension perhaps? They're 2.5", so I don't ask for much. They're stamped 8H833 on the back, but I can't find any other reference anywhere.

Correction: I had earlier reported (if anyone saw that) that there was no crossover; this is incorrect. There was a capacitor partly hidden beneath the tweeter mounting bracket. It's labeled "bennic 3.3mfd 50 wv", which (for 8 ohm) I guess translates to a 6000 Hz cutoff frequency. I will do more detailed testing before I buy new drivers, but when I hooked them up (before dismantling) it just sounded like everything was fried, period. I don't expect much out of them, but I am not one to throw things away. Would like to make them work as well as I can. I am listening to Audioengine A2's as I write this, and that's my current model.

Enough rambling. Anyone have suggestions for drivers?

 

[DaveVoorhis]

Wow. 11 years later...

 

[k9gardner]

Wow. 11 years later...

Yeah, I was busy.

I always like to glom onto an existing historic post if possible rather than starting a new one. But yeah, I still have these damned speakers and I wish I could just throw them away but I'd rather fix them and give them away or find a spot to use them.

 

[PAGS]

 

[musichal]

They do NOT look like black boxes! They look like grey boxes. Not quite all rectilinear, they have a little ramp on the top to make them look sexy or something. I have a set that is also from that era, I bought them on the same basis; heard someone playing a keyboard through them at Sam Ash, and they sounded awesome. I was just getting into the MIDI at the time and these were my buy. Since that time, something happened to some or all of the drivers - I'm blaming my son for blasting them, but it may not have been his fault. I've just opened one of them up (finally figured out that you just had to pry off the mesh grille to reveal all the screws and drivers and what not) and found an EMPTY case (i.e. no insulation or batting whatsoever), and a big fairly heavy copper plate in the bottom of the plastic case (for weight? Something else?). The mid-woofers both need new surrounds, but I'll just replace the drivers entirely; can anyone suggest a suitable replacement? I've repurposed the SW-1 sub elsewhere so may want to use these without the sub, so something with a bit more bass extension perhaps? They're 2.5", so I don't ask for much. They're stamped 8H833 on the back, but I can't find any other reference anywhere.

Correction: I had earlier reported (if anyone saw that) that there was no crossover; this is incorrect. There was a capacitor partly hidden beneath the tweeter mounting bracket. It's labeled "bennic 3.3mfd 50 wv", which (for 8 ohm) I guess translates to a 6000 Hz cutoff frequency. I will do more detailed testing before I buy new drivers, but when I hooked them up (before dismantling) it just sounded like everything was fried, period. I don't expect much out of them, but I am not one to throw things away. Would like to make them work as well as I can. I am listening to Audioengine A2's as I write this, and that's my current model.

Enough rambling. Anyone have suggestions for drivers?

As much as you don't want to, I'd suggest telling yourself you got your money's worth out of them, and let them go. Instead of tossing them in the bin, offer them free on CL, noting that they need new 2.5" drivers and let whoever might respond deal with the replacement. If you get a response.

 

[Auto Analog]

Wow. 11 years later...

 

[k9gardner]

As much as you don't want to, I'd suggest telling yourself you got your money's worth out of them, and let them go. Instead of tossing them in the bin, offer them free on CL, noting that they need new 2.5" drivers and let whoever might respond deal with the replacement. If you get a response.

Now that is actually a good idea! In that case, I may surrender the SW-1 (sub) and let the whole set go then. I like that idea. I just don't want them to go in the bin. And to the rest of y'all, yeah, yeah, I know. I still have a pair of sneakers that were a gift 10 years ago.

 

[bigx5murf]

It's really too bad Fostex only sells their low end stuff here. They've got some really awesome products higher up in their range.