Knowles Fox speaker available

[lyled1117]

There's still a chance to get some of these if one desires. Knowles had a last time buy a few weeks ago, Digikey has them in stock. Almost 4K in stock, a couple of weeks ago there were a little less than 3K. They seem to be stocking up on what they can get.  Knowles does have a replacement coming, but I don't have any details as to when. None the less, they can still be gotten for a little bit longer through Digikey.

Lyle Dowell

[reinhardtjh]

Between the 50 I bought at the end of the year and the 58-60 Star Micronics SCP-8b speakers I also have, I think I'm set for a while.    But that 3865 can disappear quickly, I know.  When I bought mine they had around 1800 and in two days they were all gone.

[Smike]

Well it just went down by 10 this morning 

[reinhardtjh]

I don't know if any one else who bought Knowles Fox speakers from Digi-Key got the notice, but I got another one the other day saying the speaker had been discontinued (again).  No specified cut off date or replacement has been announced by Knowles.  Last I looked Digi-Key had roughly 5500+ of the speakers on hand.  But that number can go quickly.

[peteski]

I don't know if any one else who bought Knowles Fox speakers from Digi-Key got the notice, but I got another one the other day saying the speaker had been discontinued (again).  No specified cut off date or replacement has been announced by Knowles.  Last I looked Digi-Key had roughly 5500+ of the speakers on hand.  But that number can go quickly.

Did  you buy all 5500?!    I just tried to order some and they were all gone!   

They will probably show up on eBay for twice the price...

[reinhardtjh]

Indeed, they are gone!  I was just thinking about ordering a few...  Someone beat us to it.  Must have been JD   

I did notice that MBKlein's has a ton of the Zimo speakers now...

Still no replacement announced for the Fox either.

[peteski]

Someone beat us to it.  Must have been JD 

You might be right.... 

I did notice that MBKlein's has a ton of the Zimo speakers now...

Yes, but they are quite pricier than the the ones from Digikey.

Still no replacement announced for the Fox either.

Unfortunately. 

[jdcolombo]

I've been told that a replacement is in fact coming for the Fox.  It will be called "Wildcat" and will have improved output (e.g. it will be louder).  We will see if this information is correct.

I was also told that Knowles does an 8x12mm speaker (or perhaps, will do) but I've never seen such a creature for sale (I've seen an 8x12 32-ohm transducer by Knowles, but it doesn't have enough audio output to use in our applications - it's designed for near-field applications, like putting a cell phone to your ear; it may be that my information source thought this item was a standard 8-ohm speaker).

I've also been told that Knowles is aware that our market (model railroading) exists and is considering these applications in its new designs.  Again, we'll see if any of this information turns out to be true.

John C.

[peteski]

I've been told that a replacement is in fact coming for the Fox.  It will be called "Wildcat" and will have improved output (e.g. it will be louder).  We will see if this information is correct.

I've also been told that Knowles is aware that our market (model railroading) exists and is considering these applications in its new designs.  Again, we'll see if any of this information turns out to be true.

John C.

Thanks for the update John - looks like you have been doing your homework! 

[kevinrr]

I just ordered four from DigiKey.

I'm hot to do some installations and don't want to wait for the new speaker.

[reinhardtjh]

I just ordered four from DigiKey.

I'm hot to do some installations and don't want to wait for the new speaker.

Interesting.  It's now marked an obsolete item, but they have 1200+ in stock (for now).  Get'em while you can!

[peteski]

Interesting.  It's now marked an obsolete item, but they have 1200+ in stock (for now).  Get'em while you can!

That's weird!  They were listed as obsolete and out of stock few weeks ago. I wish that I knew this yesterday when I placed an order for other items. 

[peteski]

Interesting.  It's now marked an obsolete item, but they have 1200+ in stock (for now).  Get'em while you can!

This time I was able to put my order in!  1050 still available. 

[jdcolombo]

The replacement for the Fox apparently is real:

http://www.seltech-international.com/en/Products/Acoustics/Speakers-Receivers/Knowles-micro-size-speakers.html

The first speaker listed in the above link is the Wildcat, 9mm x 16mm (the dimensions of the Fox), with an SPL rating of 94db.  Don't know when these will show up at retail places like DigiKey - they apparently are clearing their stock of Fox speakers first.

Still no 8mm x 12mm speaker from Knowles, however, and that's the size we really could use for smaller diesels.  I'm still wondering what kind of speaker will end up in the Atlas S-2, Intermountain SD40-2, Rapido GMD-1 and so forth.  Steamers are no problem; the Cobra or Donau would fit in nearly any tender, and the Grand would be the choice for larger steam tenders. 

John C.

[reinhardtjh]

Still no 8mm x 12mm speaker from Knowles

They never did have one, right?  I don't remember seeing one in the Digi-Key catalog.  Nor on the Knowles site.  The 8mm x 12mm speaker we all hunted down was a different mfg.  I wonder if Knowles just doesn't do them that small.  It would be nice if they did though.