The Difference..

[NDMstang65 403]

I've had a number of people make comments here recently that there are "Others" that "Make speakers in the states"..and it does not take them anywhere near as long as it does us....

Well..they do drop soft parts in the motors, however all of the motors are machined and pre-built (sometimes even pre magnetized) in China..and they get Chinese soft parts dropped into them with an American coil. There are no worth while viable options that can be put in here or any way of giving you a choice to have things how they should be for your installation. If you do not need a dual magneto setup for your top fuel funny car, but just a regular single pro mag..then only pay for the regular pro mag, you do not need the extra spark.

But..that is not Made in America. That's assembled here, with imported parts.

Bottom line, all of our steel is forged right here in the states, all of the steel poles are cut out of bar stock, all of our plates are finish machined here. The big thing about this is that it is all done in house. We do not have to deal with the inflexibility of hiring a 3rd party machine shop that does not know speakers and what needs to happen with certain parts and why things are machined and done certain ways. Nobody else has the flexibility of changing things on the turn of a dime if something messes up.

So, let's say you place an order with us. First thing that happens We cut the pole down..it gets machined to the correct OD, drilled, tapped, then into the CNC's for final machining of the cooling technology that we use. All of the back plates/top plates are machined, coated, and baked to your order.

Knocking off poles out of the bar stock is the first step. After this it gets chucked into one of the big lathes to turn down the OD, then they are all drilled and tapped. After that they get chucked up into the CNC to have all of the machine work done if you get the cooling option or the pole chamfer option. Again, we have the flexibility and ability to give you exactly what you need for your install..instead of making you pay for something that you do not really need.

This is a stack of Q series back plates that have had their final turn on the lathe to clean up everything before they get tumbled, coated, and baked.

Finished N3 series woofer top plate after being machined, coated, baked and prepped.

I will update this thread as I am able to with more pictures of what goes on.

I leave you all with something to think about, we do all of this work ourselves..in house.. machine and build everything to order...and we're still cheaper using all American parts then most of the others in the market. (aside from the 10,12, and 15" 12 spoke basket, that is imported because it makes sense)

Take a step back and ask yourself where your money is really going when you go to spend it next time! Odds are..it is outside of our local economy.

EDIT: NEW PICS ADDED!!!

Poles poles poles...

SSD top plates turned and CNC machined ready for the tumbler!

Hunk of N2 extrusion that got banged up that we're not using...just a 'whats going on inside' type of picture, it's an actual aluminum extrusion that we cut out of bar lengths on the saws.

After all of the parts get machined they all take a ride in the tumbler for a few hours for deburring before they get coated and baked.

Finished up N3 top plates hanging out beside one of the big lathes.

N3 back plate/pole combos before final assembly...

Little stack of finished SSD top plates

Little stack of finished Q top plates ready for assembly on magnets..

That's it for now..I'll update more as I get around to it...again...think next time when you are spending your money and ask where your stuff actually comes from. Remember, the more money we send over seas the LESS money we have in our own economy which trickles down into less growth out of the recession....we HAVE to push to bring manufacturing back to this country.

Down with lemmings!

[Freshh 11]

That's a great post, thanks for letting us see how it works and what goes on! It's really neat! Looking forward to any updates/more pictures of the process!

[dB Don 0]

Oh shut up Nick! You had me at "Make speakers in the states"

Great post!

[chrishova 2]

As always good read! You da man Nick!!! My SMD is getting louder by the day!!!

[AllenH427 10]

I'm always big about trying new speakers, and I even thought about what I should get next... but when I thought about it more and how my money is supporting our own economy, I'll always be rolling with Fi. The BTLs rank within the top subwoofers anyways, so really no need to switch; Plus I love the way they sound.

[cheese20323 13]

I concur to this,i have a fi bl and a dc lvl 4, the bl surround overall cone looks and feels mor durable while on the other dc it looks cheaper. Only thing they put like 5 spiders so ppl say its stiff and handles 2x rated.

[Shogen 325]

amazing post Nick... thanks for that... :fing34:

[slim2fattycake 85]

If people can't distinguish between MADE in the USA and ASSEMBLED in the USA then they are complete dumb-asses. Its just sad there are so many dumb-asses out there. I have already commented on how funny it is that Fi has cheaper prices while actually using all USA parts compared to the other companies.

[trod2902 26]

Great post, you guys are awesome!

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

[CrownVic 15]

Another reason Im glad I run Fi.....

[shizzzon 461]

I concur to this,i have a fi bl and a dc lvl 4, the bl surround overall cone looks and feels mor durable while on the other dc it looks cheaper. Only thing they put like 5 spiders so ppl say its stiff and handles 2x rated.

i dont see how...

I own several level4s and their suspension is about as soft as a Sundown SA.

[slim2fattycake 85]

maybe with level 5 soft parts, he means.

[shizzzon 461]

well, i have level5 soft parts in ALL of mine so that wouldnt make a difference...

that's why i was irritated when after i bought mine, they came out with D1s in level4 because prior, you had to get lvl5 parts for a D1 config.

[onebadmonte 235]

Cool pics man. It's always great to see the action behind the scenes. Thanks for sharing. God bless the U.S.A.

[MikeMartel 64]

Fi, true American subwoofers. (Even though im Canadian) Still awesome!

[cheese20323 13]

I concur to this,i have a fi bl and a dc lvl 4, the bl surround overall cone looks and feels mor durable while on the other dc it looks cheaper. Only thing they put like 5 spiders so ppl say its stiff and handles 2x rated.

i dont see how...

I own several level4s and their suspension is about as soft as a Sundown SA.

On the spiders im saying that they say they can add like 3 spiders for more power handling while part of is true but it only increases mechanical not thermal. But on the surrounds part yes the ones on the BL are hard to rip and on the DC i was able to make a lil hole with my fingernail. Tinsel leads to they are unwinding.

[Julian 641]

:wub: :wub:

[lee 2]

[Hzd Skizzy 27]

This could be a stupid question but does this go for the AA line as well?

[NDMstang65 403]

Yep.

[shizzzon 461]

This could be a stupid question but does this go for the AA line as well?

Hehe..

Not really a stupid question though...

[95Honda 486]

Awsome, really. You guys do more for the US than you will ever know....

[lamontp1 0]

I've had a number of people make comments here recently that there are "Others" that "Make speakers in the states"..and it does not take them anywhere near as long as it does us....

Well..they do drop soft parts in the motors, however all of the motors are machined and pre-built (sometimes even pre magnetized) in China..and they get Chinese soft parts dropped into them with an American coil. There are no worth while viable options that can be put in here or any way of giving you a choice to have things how they should be for your installation. If you do not need a dual magneto setup for your top fuel funny car, but just a regular single pro mag..then only pay for the regular pro mag, you do not need the extra spark.

But..that is not Made in America. That's assembled here, with imported parts.

Bottom line, all of our steel is forged right here in the states, all of the steel poles are cut out of bar stock, all of our plates are finish machined here. The big thing about this is that it is all done in house. We do not have to deal with the inflexibility of hiring a 3rd party machine shop that does not know speakers and what needs to happen with certain parts and why things are machined and done certain ways. Nobody else has the flexibility of changing things on the turn of a dime if something messes up.

So, let's say you place an order with us. First thing that happens We cut the pole down..it gets machined to the correct OD, drilled, tapped, then into the CNC's for final machining of the cooling technology that we use. All of the back plates/top plates are machined, coated, and baked to your order.

Knocking off poles out of the bar stock is the first step. After this it gets chucked into one of the big lathes to turn down the OD, then they are all drilled and tapped. After that they get chucked up into the CNC to have all of the machine work done if you get the cooling option or the pole chamfer option. Again, we have the flexibility and ability to give you exactly what you need for your install..instead of making you pay for something that you do not really need.

This is a stack of Q series back plates that have had their final turn on the lathe to clean up everything before they get tumbled, coated, and baked.

Finished N3 series woofer top plate after being machined, coated, baked and prepped.

I will update this thread as I am able to with more pictures of what goes on.

I leave you all with something to think about, we do all of this work ourselves..in house.. machine and build everything to order...and we're still cheaper using all American parts then most of the others in the market. (aside from the 10,12, and 15" 12 spoke basket, that is imported because it makes sense)

Take a step back and ask yourself where your money is really going when you go to spend it next time! Odds are..it is outside of our local economy.

Nick I wouldn't worry bout people complaining bout the time it takes you guys to build woofer....your work speaks for itself... this coming from a very satisfied customer.. keep doing what u doing!!! it is very so much appreciated .

[AirLFTN 7]

Very nice thread. Showing the true value customers are getting. Nice work.