SKU: V-5900-Fiesta25 Fiesta 25 Speaker Kit

Visaton Speaker Kit - Fiesta 25
Art. No. 5900

Visaton Fiesta 25 - shown assembled with suggested cabinets, not supplied.

Characteristics and Sound Properties
The strength of horn speakers is, without doubt, in their dynamism. Even short, extremely high peaks and sustained high volumes are reproduced without effort because horns are able to convert electrical energy into sound energy very efficiently. In many cases, this benefit is impaired by the fact that the sound is slightly distorted. This is not the case with the FIESTA 25. Emphasis has been placed in this development on achieving a frequency response curve which is as linear as possible - a key requirement for undistorted sound reproduction and a joy to listen to even if the listening session carries on into the small hours. In order to keep the cabinet down to a reasonable size for living rooms, the bass department does without a tube and instead uses large diaphragms in twin W 250 S - 8 Ohm in a closed compartment.

The striking feature of the FIESTA 25 is the mid-range horn. Here, the DK 8 P - 100 V/15 W horn speaker, based on the pressure chamber principle and borrowed from the public address department, has been applied as a low-impedance version (without the 100 V transformer). It differs from the many other horn speakers of this type which are available on the market by its remarkably good characteristics in the mid-range from 500 to 5000 Hz. Consequently, it is only applied within this range. The tweeter is the HTH 8.7 - 8 Ohm constant directivity horn which has already proved its worth in the MB 208/H kit proposal.

This unusual combination being rather quirky, it was necessary to devise a smart crossover design to achieve the high demands placed on the speaker and satisfy even HiFi standards. Even though the frequency response cannot be as linear as it would be with other loudspeakers, the listener is rewarded with remarkably good sound quality. The FIESTA 25 has a pleasant sound ranging from low bass through the clear, well-defined mid-range up to the finest of the higher frequencies. In contrast to standard HiFi speakers, however, this one can easily produce extremely high peak levels and is quite happy to make the walls bulge with continuous, high-level volumes. Provided the listener takes up a suitable central sitting position between the speakers, the well-controlled directivity of these tightly bundled horn speakers allows well-recorded sound to be easily located while ensuring good range layering.

It is fair to say, then that this is a HiFi speaker which will provide very high levels of satisfaction.

Extract from Klang & Ton 01/07: "The idea of incorporating lots of surface area and masses of volume in a single speaker at an affordable price has been put into practice once again in a thoroughly consistent manner, even if it meant raising the overall standard of the system a notch or two. (...) This loudspeaker can easily deal with even very high output levels, punches out crisp bass, produces brilliantly clear treble and shows more than enough dynamism across all frequency ranges. (...) Vocals and percussion come over powerfully but always pleasantly and well-balanced. (...) Bubbling over with contrast, with a carefully measured shot of directivity, solid, clear bass and a highly satisfying overall sound quality even at realistic volumes, this speaker generates a real live-on-stage feeling. (...) (...) The speaker combines the pleasure of high volumes with a surprisingly balanced overall quality and applicability, even with highly demanding recordings - it is, as it were, a fun speaker with excellent living-room manners."

Technical Specifications

Frequency and Impedance Response

Frequency Response and Impedance Graph

Exploded Cabinet Drawing

Exploded Speaker Box Drawing

Assembly
The cabinet sections, cut from 19 mm chipboard or medium density fibreboard (MDF) board are butt jointed and glued. The chamfers on the baffle can be made with a jigsaw or circular saw set to 45° or added later using an orbital sander. The openings are then milled out and cut out. The crossover can be attached to the rear wall behind the baffle cut-out for the lower woofer.

As the exploded views show, the mid-range horn is screwed firmly between the two upper reinforcing struts. These have to be very carefully shaped to ensure the horn is firmly held in exactly the right place. In particular, the minimum spacing of 114 mm must be observed.

Converting the Mid-Range Horn:

The standard DK 8 P horn is supplied as a 100V version. It can, however, be easily converted to an 8-ohm version by removing the 100 V transformer. To do so, remove the mounting bracket and the rear cap (3 small Phillips screws). The magnet arrangement may be stuck in the cap. If so, ease it out carefully. Disconnect the two crimped connectors - but note which terminal the red wire was attached to (+), so that it is reconnected correctly later. As a rule, the minus terminal is marked with a black line on the side of the magnet. Next, remove the entire contents of the cap (transformer, circuit board and cables). These parts are no longer required. The wire from the crossover is fed into the cap and soldered onto the terminals on the magnet arrangement (check polarity). The openings in the cap do not need to be sealed (this is only necessary for outdoor use). The two square nuts in the horn (under the rubber seal) are removed and replaced with the two M8 nuts supplied. It makes sense to fix them in place with hot-melt glue to prevent them turning when they are tightened up. Next, replace the rubber sealing ring and insert the magnet arrangement in the horn. Ensure the lug on the opening in the mounting plate of the magnet arrangement is positioned exactly in the centre of the horn groove. Finally, refit the cap and screw it in place.

If you intend to conceal the opening of the horn using loudspeaker fabric, tension the fabric over the opening before fitting and hold it in place on the reverse of the horn housing using sticky tape.

Internal Damping
Distribute all the matting evenly throughout the cabinet.

Component Parts List for Each Box - Supplied with Kit
The kit comes with all necessary components (see list below for one box), one set if the speaker is an each, or two sets for a pair, see price above for details.

Speaker Cabinet Material List to Make 1 Box - Not Supplied with Kit

Speaker Cabinet Dimensions

Loudspeaker Box Construction Diagram - all dimensions in mm.

Crossover - Supplied with Kit Already Assembled

Speaker Kit Crossover Circuit