Acme Full Range Series III 112

[KJung]

Hey guys. I thought I'd start a new thread on this one, since the other Acme thread is quite long already and primarily discusses the 'Flat Wound' one way version of this cab.

The cab arrived earlier this afternoon, expertly boxed and in perfect shape. It is one of what I call the 'Super 12's, along with the Thunderchild (pictured for perspective with the Full Range) and the various 12/6 executions. By 'Super 12', I mean that these cabs all use PA type drivers with very good power handling and mechanical capabilities, allowing them to go much lower and much louder than you would think possible in such a small, lightweight box.

Here are a few pics to get started:

[KJung]

As you can see, the Acme is front ported, a bit larger than the Thunderchild, and has a more typical 'tweeter/woofer' design versus the big, low crossed over horn of the Thunderchild. The Acme is about 3 pounds heavier than the Thunderchild, but given the larger size, it somehow actually feels a touch lighter. Basically, both are wonderfully lightweight (in the mid 30 pound range). Both have similar tough spray/roll on finish, and top handles that are well designed.

I've been playing the Acme for about an hour now with my Markbass F500 and my most 'full range' bass, the Alleva-Coppolo LM5 (a 70's style J with relatively new stainless steel roundwounds). The cab truly is full range, and Andy is some sort of magician to get the huge low end AND a very nice midrange and upper midrange response out of that woofer. The little soft dome tweeter in the lower left hand corner of the cab adds a very warm, organic upper treble response that is a bit 'sweeter' than the very nice top end of the Thunderchild.

The Acme, as they have always been, is pretty low SPL. I have to turn the master up a bit more to get to the same db level as the Thunderchild (both are 4ohm cabs). The tonality is more similar than different, but the Acme low end is definitely more open and 'bigger' below the D on the B string, and not quite as present and fat in the low mids.

Both are great cabs, and I need to spend quite a bit more time with the Acme (and also let it break in a bit) before I put up clips and give a more complete review.

So far, VERY impressive.... seems more aggressive and punchy than what I remember when I was gigging my B210's. It is definitely a 'different but similar' flavor to the other 'super 12's (Thunderchild and 12/6).

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Thanks for the review, Ken. Is it easy enough to carry with the single handle and its bulkier size?

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Bryan R. Tyler

Thanks for the review, Ken. Is it easy enough to carry with the single handle and its bulkier size?

Very easy carry... definitely a 'one hander' over relatively short distances. And, the handle is nice and flat, so the micro heads sit flat right on top, just like on the Thunderchild.

Not much of a review yet, but I wanted to put some pictures up and start the ball rolling. I'm very impressed so far. I dig the look of the cab also. Like the Thunderchild, definitely a 'unique' execution compared to the typical 112 cab.

The thing I'm most impressed with so far is the very present and even midrange of this cab. MUCH punchier to my ear than the original B series. I never relt that little 5" mid driver could quite keep up with those super duty 10's in those cabs. This box is very articulate, and has a very organic, warm, paper cone tone, all the way up through the tweeter range. A bit 'sweeter' all around than the Thunderchild, which I guess makes sense, since more sound is coming from that woofer.

[T. Alan Smith]

I gotta stop keeping up with this stuff. [GAS]

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Cool. I love my B2s, but I wouldn't say the midrange, or anything really, is very present. They're super even from low to high, like good monitors. I do sometimes miss the punch other cabs have- I remember being a bit jealous playing through a TC head and matching mini rig last year

[DLM]

Once you spend more time with the Acme, I would be interested in your thoughts on the following...

1. Dispersion vs. the TC112 - which is "better?"
2. Is the Acme tuned so low that it could potentially be unwieldy and problematic?

Thanks, Ken!

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Bryan R. Tyler

Cool. I love my B2s, but I wouldn't say the midrange, or anything really, is very present. They're super even from low to high, like good monitors. I do sometimes miss the punch other cabs have- I remember being a bit jealous playing through a TC head and matching mini rig last year

+1 This cab still has that signature Acme 'wide and even.

[jnewmark]

As far as popping and slapping in the upper treble area, how would you compare this cab to the Thunderchild, as well as the other 12/6 cabs you have tried?

[KJung]

Originally Posted by DLM

Once you spend more time with the Acme, I would be interested in your thoughts on the following...

1. Dispersion vs. the TC112 - which is "better?"
2. Is the Acme tuned so low that it could potentially be unwieldy and problematic?

Thanks, Ken!

Will do. One of the things that eventually caused me to move away from the original Acmes was that super low voicing that I had a hard time controlling, and also balancing with the mid mids with the limited EQ I had back then.

So far, I can get the Acme and Thunderchild to sound relatively similar if I crank quite a bit of 100hz into the Acme, and soften the upper treble a touch with the Markbass VLE control to match the upper treble response of the Thunderchild.

I'll let the Acme break in for a bit (I have to woodshed quite a few charts for a gig this Saturday, so that will be perfect over the next few hours to open that cab up a touch).

I'll post back up tomorrow when I've spent some more time with it.

In the meantime, here is my little 'listening set-up':

[KJung]

Originally Posted by jnewmark

As far as popping and slapping in the upper treble area, how would you compare this cab to the Thunderchild, as well as the other 12/6 cabs you have tried?

Top end is more extended than the Thunderchild... it goes ALL the way up. Of course, the Flat Wound would be closer in performance to the 12/6 cabs regarding top end. The soft dome tweeter that Andy uses is very sweet... very paper cone. The Thunderchilds top end is very smooth also, it just doesn't extend quite as high.

[rpsands]

The flat wound would be closer in performance to a 12/6 regarding top end? Am I misreading something?

[KJung]

Correct. The FlatWound plots seem pretty even up to around 4K. I believe the 12/6's with the 18 sound driver start rolling off pretty heavily at around 5K (to my ear anyway). The Full Range is pretty even all the up to the stratosphere (15K, whatever).

Of course, depending on the tweeter and crossover, a 12/6/1 can extend all the way up there also.

Edit: The Markbass amps are very cool for figuring out what is going on up top, with the variable lo pass filter control (VLE)

[rpsands]

Three things:

1) You are reading the plot wrong. There are 5db peaks in the mids starting by 500hz. The alpha 6 nor the 6nd410 have peaks bigger than 2db. There's also a 3db scoop around 1khz that the alpha 6 covers up in the 12/6 with Greenboy's crossover anyway (no guarantees with the off-the-shelf models).

2) The alpha 6 extends to 5khz relatively smoothly. The Flatwound is -6db by 3khz, even on-axis, worse by 5khz.

3) The off-axis performance is nowhere near as smooth and is totally useless above 2500hz or so. Look at all those places where you lose and then regain intelligibility. I know you don't care about this, but the performance is going to be remarkably different for most people who do hear differences off-axis

Edited myself for some unnecessary jerkiness

[KJung]

Originally Posted by rpsands

Three things:

1) You are reading the plot wrong. There are 5db peaks in the mids starting by 500hz. The alpha 6 nor the 6nd410 have peaks bigger than 2db. There's also a 3db scoop around 1khz that the alpha 6 covers up in the 12/6 with Greenboy's crossover anyway (no guarantees with the off-the-shelf models).

2) The alpha 6 extends to 5khz relatively smoothly. The Flatwound is -6db by 3khz, even on-axis, worse by 5khz.

3) The off-axis performance is nowhere near as smooth and is totally useless above 2500hz or so. Look at all those places where you lose and then regain intelligibility. I know you don't care about this, but the performance is going to be remarkably different for most people who do hear differences off-axis

Bottom line, you are just wrong. Wrongity wrong wrong. Go ask Andy if the Flatwound will hang with an alpha 6a above 2khz. The answer will be not only no but hell no.

+1 Off axis will be less even in the upper midrange with everything coming from the woofer. And +1, minor deal for me, especially in that 1K-2K gank area that many of us roll back a bit anyway.

However, there is nothing similar to the 12/6 and Full Range in the treble region at all (which was my point). The Flat Wound would be more similar up there. The Thunderchild kind of falls between the two in upper treble response.

The nature of the upper mids in the Full Range (and I assume FlatWound) is very pleasant and musical. Obviously not as flat as the 12/6, but it sounds very good to me.

[jnewmark]

BTW, I don't see any prices listed for the Full Range, or Flatwound on the site. Where are they ?

[KJung]

Originally Posted by jnewmark

BTW, I don't see any prices listed for the Full Range, or Flatwound on the site. Where are they ?

You have to click down all the way to the individual product detail. $499 for the FlatWound, $599 for the FullRange, plus shipping. Andy also has padded covers available.

I'm sitting here playing and checking into TB with my laptop sitting on the coffee table. I like my new little 'bass space' in the new house (which of course, is a very old house!). There is a LOT of sound coming out of that little tweeter. Kind of funny, given how small it is. I've had to roll back the treble a bit more than on most other cabs at this point. No big deal, but plenty of sizzle.

Part of this might have to do with the bit of dip in the upper mids (that RPSANDS points out), that allows the tweeter to float a bit above the top end of the woofer response. That can be a very pleasant sort of voicing (like the EPI UL cabs), and works quite well with a 70's style J bass.

This thing KILLS with the PBass. I would think a Flatwound with a PBass with nickels or flats would be a pretty awesome old school vibe in a small box.

[BenHack]

I'm really interested in the sound of this. I currently gig 2 x Low B2's and love the sound. The only thing I find lacking in these cabs is the mids, which I find affect the way they handle effects as well. Many people have decried them as polite sounding and the fEarful guys are telling me their mid range is much more prominent.

Seeing as how I'm currently thinking about new cabs this info couldn't be coming at a better time!

[JxBass]

Originally Posted by jnewmark

BTW, I don't see any prices listed for the Full Range, or Flatwound on the site. Where are they ?

Just click on the desired cab for prices and specs:

Twelve Inch Models

[CapnSev]

Originally Posted by KJung

This thing KILLS with the PBass. I would think a Flatwound with a PBass with nickels or flats would be a pretty awesome old school vibe in a small box.

Um yeah. I didn't need to hear that! Maybe in the future...