Replacement for Knowles Fox speakers

[Bill H]

Group:
Now that the Knowles fox speaker is gone, I think I read that Knowles had a new speaker as a replacement. Anyone know the name of that one? Any suggestion for an alternative of the same quality / size ?

Thanks in advance,
Bill

[peteski]

Bill,
it might really make more sense to pose this question in https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=32461

[Bill H]

Peteski;
Thanks, I have posted it over in the other forum. Still have not quite adjusted to the changes in forums.

Kind regards,
Bill

[peteski]

Peteski;
Thanks, I have posted it over in the other forum. Still have not quite adjusted to the changes in forums.

Kind regards,
Bill

I was thinking more of just posting a reply to that thread I linked to (since it is specifically about what you're asking). But posting your question in that forum section should do the trick. BTW, DCC/Electronics section is not one of the new additions - It's been there since before I joined few years back.

And I don't have an answer for you - I bought several Fox speakers and haven't looked for replacements.

[Bill H]

Peteski:
Wonder if JD will proffer a thought?

Kind regards,
Bill

[Bob Horn]

Bill, if JD will not, maybe JB will. Bob.

[markt]

"wildcat" I believe is the new Knowles nomme.

[Bill H]

Markt;
Thanks. Any idea if the "wildcat" has the same performance as the "fox"?

I have tried searching most of the forums I frequent and haven't seen a comparison.

Kind regards,
Bill

[jdcolombo]

The Wildcat is the official replacement for the Fox.  Details here:

http://www.seltech-international.com/en/Products/Acoustics/Speakers-Receivers/Knowles-micro-size-speakers/541-9x16x3-WILDCAT-S9.html

Here is the complete current Knowles lineup:

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

The response curve of the Wildcat is similar to the Fox, although I think the 900-hz low-end limit is a tad higher than the Fox (actually, if you look at the curves, you get useful low-end response to about 700hz).  Honestly, though, you're not going to get much real bass from a speaker this size no matter what.  The overall efficiency of 93db is a bit higher than the Fox, so it will be slightly louder at the same input power.

Overall, I doubt anyone would notice much of a difference between the two in sound, but I haven't tried a Wildcat yet - last time I looked, DigiKey didn't stock them yet.

John C.

[lashedup]

Thanks for the input John.

Have you looked into slightly larger sizes of speaker for say something like the Kato FEF tender where there is quite a bit more room than a narrow hood unit. I wasn't sure if Knowles made a variety of sizes of similar speakers.

Thanks!

-jamie

[jdcolombo]

Thanks for the input John.

Have you looked into slightly larger sizes of speaker for say something like the Kato FEF tender where there is quite a bit more room than a narrow hood unit. I wasn't sure if Knowles made a variety of sizes of similar speakers.

Thanks!

-jamie

In the past, I used the Knowles Dumbo (13mm x 18mm) in a tender.  The Dumbo also is no longer with us, replaced by the Grand (which IS available from Digikey right now).  When I do the FEF, I'll almost certainly use a Dumbo/Grand in an appropriate sealed enclosure.   Going from the Fox to the Dumbo (or from the Wildcat to the Grand in today's parlance) is a very noticeable improvement, particularly at the bass end of things.

John C.

[lashedup]

Thanks John. Ordered some Grand speakers today.  Now just waiting for the new Wildcat's to show up!

- jamie

[Scott Lupia]

Guys, I am feeling a little technologically stupid here asking this. What speaker do I need to order from digikey to fit in an atlas geep or RS?  I found the knowles speakers but am not sure which one is the right one.

Thanks
Scott lupia

[milw156]

Fox/Wildcat in hood units,  have used Donau in full width situations. Slight sanding of inside of hood needed to allow the hood to slide over the decoder board and not catch it each time.
Rick

[jdcolombo]

Guys, I am feeling a little technologically stupid here asking this. What speaker do I need to order from digikey to fit in an atlas geep or RS?  I found the knowles speakers but am not sure which one is the right one.

Thanks
Scott lupia

Hi Scott.

If you're just doing a single unit, what I'd do is order the 8mm x 12mm "sugar cube" speaker from some on-line e-tailer, like Litchfield Station (do an internet search for 8mm x 12mm sugar cube speaker and other sources should come up; MB Klein sold them at one time).  This will cost $10, and come with a molded "enclosure" (what they call a "sound chamber") attached to the speaker via some sort of double-sided tape or adhesive.  Free the speaker from the enclosure (the speaker will be face-down on the enclosure; I used a new #11 blade in a hobby knife between the edge of the enclosure and speaker housing to free it), and then build your own enclosure to do the install.

The Knowles Fox is no longer in production.  The Wildcat is its replacement, but the last time I checked, it was not yet available on Digikey.  And honestly, the 8mm X 12mm "sugar cube" (which I'm pretty sure is a Star Micronics OEM speaker) provides almost as good sound in a slightly smaller (and therefore more easily installable) package.  Plus, you will then have room in front of the speaker to put a 220uf 16v tantalum chip capacitor as a keep-alive, should you want to do that.

John C.