AudioKinesis 112 Cab

[KJung]

Since I believe this is the first production model that has been shipped, and since the design has changed a touch since the earlier threads on this cab, I thought I'd start a thread as a place for those who will shortly receive their cabs from the first batch to post up.

I've only spent about 45 minutes playing it so far, but I TOTALLY like what I hear at this point. I will post up a clip when I get back into town early next week after it opens up a bit more.

This is in the family of what I consider the 'Super 112's... those 112's that are based on the amazing Eminence 3012LF driver, with a complex crosover and either a mid driver (like the fEarFul, Alexclaber's cabs, or the executions that Don at LDS is doing) or in this case, a super duper horn, crossed over low to handle the upper mids and treble.

The crossover in this cab sounds just stunning... which means you don't even know it is there. I was a bit concerned about that big horn, since so many PA cabs (at least the 'off the shelf models) sound horrible with bass guitar... clacky or too sizzly, etc. You would NEVER know the upper mids/lower treble are coming out of this big horn if you didn't see the cab. You can also see that almost subwoofer type driver pistoning with that super high xmax... wonderful low end already (similar to the wonderful Bergantino HT112ER that I recently spent some time with).

OK, some pics!

First.. the packing job was so beautiful, it warrants a picture:



Next, a front view:



And a back view. Big flared ports (Duke supplies 'plugs' to make the cab sealed and change the tuning... haven't gone there yet), super heavy duty switched to turn the horn on and off, and to roll the treble off at, I believe around 3.5K.



And... with my 'reference' head.. the TecAmp Puma500, which has a very wide range (deep bass and super hi fi pure top end):

[rpsands]

Man, I bet that whumps at 4 ohms with the Puma. And it looks great too. That's also a really professional looking packing job. I'm impressed

I think you made the right call for you here. Duke's stuff is on the pricey side but his engineering is also on the Acme side. He pays attention to every detail and thinks them out thoroughly. I've spent a lot of time going back and forth with him in threads and PMs and I definitely hope to be able to afford some of his cabs one of these days. Great guy!

Anyway count me in as excited to hear your clips!

[KJung]

A few very early impressions:

1) Handle... GREAT! Heavy duty leather (or faux leather... really nice) that is recessed so the micro heads don't wobble around. Excellent. PERFECT balance when carrying, and this cab came in around 34 pounds... feels lighter due to the handle and balance

2) 4ohm, with a driver that can take the power of the typical 400-500 micro head. Wonderful.... a deeply voiced, low SPL driver, with a 4ohm impedance (this driver is Duke's proprietary take on the 3012LF). It is LOUD and even right out of the box, deep but not flubby.

3) Quality.. primo... the switches on the back look like they came from a nuclear power plant.. heavy duty. The spray on finish, while not absolutely perfect, looks great. The speaker grill is heavy duty, and the whole thing looks great.

4) Horn... my gosh, again, paper cone warm and smooth up top. One switch turns off the horn compeletely. Most would never use that. The second switch is a beauty, and just rolls off the upper treble sizzle... making it sound a bit like one of the 12/6 two way cabs.

So far, I am just thrilled, and my worry about no tweeter attenuator and a possible 'metallic sounding' upper mid lower treble response was unwarranted. That crossover must be a beautiful piece of work.

That's it so far! I'm going to play it a while, and then post back up when I return from a road gig on Monday.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by rpsands

Man, I bet that whumps at 4 ohms with the Puma. And it looks great too. That's also a really professional looking packing job. I'm impressed

I think you made the right call for you here. Duke's stuff is on the pricey side but his engineering is also on the Acme side. He pays attention to every detail and thinks them out thoroughly. I've spent a lot of time going back and forth with him in threads and PMs and I definitely hope to be able to afford some of his cabs one of these days. Great guy!

Anyway count me in as excited to hear your clips!

It is really something. And, the price is in line with the other 'super 112s'. Surely not cheap, but not crazy, especially since this is designed to be a 'one cab solution'.

I wish I knew enough about crossovers to intelligently comment on this one. The only thing I can say is you would think this is one big speaker or something. A totally transparent transition from the driver to the horn.. really a bit disturbing when you are playing it looking at that big horn, yet hearing a smooth, organic sort of tone. Don't get me wrong... it goes all the way up to the sizzle area, but it is totally smooth and, well, 'good sounding'.

With the switch set at that 3.5K cut-off (if I have that right... I'm going to ask Duke to post up the nitty gritty on that stuff here), you would never know there is even a horn in this thing.

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by KJung

A few very early impressions:


4) Horn... my gosh, again, paper cone warm and smooth up top. One switch turns off the horn compeletely. Most would never use that. The second switch is a beauty, and just rolls off the upper treble sizzle... making it sound a bit like one of the 12/6 two way cabs.

So far, I am just thrilled, and my worry about no tweeter attenuator and a possible 'metallic sounding' upper mid lower treble response was unwarranted. That crossover must be a beautiful piece of work.

Looks nice, and glad you're digging it Ken.

IIRC, at the Seattle GTG where we were testing the prototype not one single person even ended up wanting to run with the attenuation switch on (apart from wanting to hear what it does), much less using the off switch. But I'm sure some players will find those switches very useful...

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Passinwind

Looks nice, and glad you're digging it Ken.

IIRC, at the Seattle GTG where we were testing the prototype not one single person even ended up wanting to run with the attenuation switch on (apart from wanting to hear what it does), much less using the off switch.

Hey Charlie! You guys were right on with your reviews. I'm very pleased. Deep and smooth, but also PUNCHY. I'm very pleased so far.

Thanks for the tip on this one a while back!

[jnewmark]

So, would you say that it meets your tone goals?

[KJung]

Originally Posted by jnewmark

So, would you say that it meets your tone goals?

Totally and completely... plenty of mid punch (no scoop, which I hate), plenty of sparkle up top if you want it, and low end that, so far, does not compress when slapped or played at high volume like more 'traditional' 112 cabs. And, an easy schlep.

I'm already planning on spec'ing and ordering a cover from LeCover, which is usually the sign that it is a keeper

OK, back to the woodshed with it!

K

[IntrepidCellist]

What do you think of the low B response?

EDIT: PM me the details of the LeCover cover. I just sent Duke a note asking for dimensions and handle placement for the same reason, but if you've got everything all set that's even better.

[rpsands]

Originally Posted by KJung

Totally and completely... plenty of mid punch (no scoop, which I hate), plenty of sparkle up top if you want it, and low end that, so far, does not compress when slapped or played at high volume like more 'traditional' 112 cabs. And, an easy schlep.

I'm already planning on spec'ing and ordering a cover from LeCover, which is usually the sign that it is a keeper

OK, back to the woodshed with it!

K

What about the natural top end rolloff of woofers? Don't you miss it?

[KJung]

Originally Posted by rpsands

What about the natural top end rolloff of woofers? Don't you miss it?

I totally do with the 12/6's, but this one sounds more like a 'traditional' two way cab to me (again, with the 'better' characteristics we all have been talking about)... again, I assume due to that crossover and that particular driver. Plenty of burp and grind coming through that, for some reason, I didn't hear in the 15/6 and 12/6 cabs. Don't know if that is good or bad, but I like this voicing a lot.

I just spent a bit with the Markbass F500, and that is sounding great also, and that bit of upper midrange grind that head has built in is translated beautifully by the cab.

Can't really evaluate the true low end yet, since I assume it will break in a bit. The low end is good already, although I hear just a touch of roll-off of the deepest low end fundamental as you get to the 'D and below' on the B string... but still clean and punchy and full. I'm betting that comes back in a touch, although Duke did say he didn't go out of his way to go super low with this one.

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by KJung

I'm already planning on spec'ing and ordering a cover from LeCover, which is usually the sign that it is a keeper

Heh!

Duke and I discussed the idea of doing something like a NYC Undercover soft case with a hard plastic front. Seems like something to protect the exposed grill screen in transit would be worth considering...

[babebambi]

Ken, thx for posting.
Very Nice!

[KJung]

Originally Posted by IntrepidCellist

What do you think of the low B response?

EDIT: PM me the details of the LeCover cover. I just sent Duke a note asking for dimensions and handle placement for the same reason, but if you've got everything all set that's even better.

I'll measure it up and then put in the order. The LeCover guys are great. I would recommend that you wait until I get my cover so I can make sure the spec's and fit are perfect. If so, then all you need to do is call Larry and say I want one.

[KJung]

One more pic. Here's a shot of the port plugs that Duke includes with the cab (with one in, and one on its side so you can see what it looks like). Duke recommends 'both or nothing'.

It not suprisingly turns the cab into a sealed cab, with less bass extension down low. While the cab sounds much better in my low volume, solo situation at home with the ports open, I can see this being useful in big, boomy rooms, or where the volume is so high that you don't want to drive that speaker to super high volume level with all that bass extension.

You can literally see the speaker almost stop pistoning when the port plugs are in, and you hear the deepest low end being reduced. Still sounds good!

[alexclaber]

That looks excellent! Just shows that it's all about the precise components and implementation when it comes to what the cab sounds like - tweeters, crossovers and of course the huge variance between a 'super 12' and the more run of the mill but superficially similar woofers. By the way, we do have a company name: Barefaced - I'm just the boss!

Had an email from a customer yesterday with a video of a gig he'd played using our Midget T, 3 days after receiving it, with no PA support in a proper loud rock band - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgfaoq5J3kY

I'll be fascinated to hear how loud the Thunderchild proves in practice for you - with one of your bigger amps I think you'll find it closer to the AE212 than the 1x12" in max output. Vd counts!

[mrpackerguy]

Do those speakons accept 1/4" speaker cable jacks?

Really nice crisp and clean looking cabinet. What are your thoughts on it from a volume perspective in relation to room size? This could be a great alternative to a 1212 cabinet. I'm interested in it from a doubler's perspective.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by mrpackerguy

Do those speakons accept 1/4" speaker cable jacks?

Really nice crisp and clean looking cabinet. What are your thoughts on it from a volume perspective in relation to room size? This could be a great alternative to a 1212 cabinet. I'm interested in it from a doubler's perspective.

Yes... combo jacks... speakon and 1/4"

So far, my impression of these 'super 12's (including the wonderful Bergantino HT112ER.. which is of traditional design but WUMPS big time) is that they put out 'High quality 210 level' volume (i.e., more than a typical 112, not as much as a similar quality 212...although not many 'similar quality 212's out there). Neither the HT112ER nor this one will keep up with my Bergantino AE212 (I can tell that already), but will totally bury the typical Epifani 112 or AE112 or GK112 or whatever.

That top end roll-off switch (gentle roll-off starting at 3.5K) seems to be right up a DB players alley.

I'll put up a couple clips on Monday with both my Rob Allen Mouse (somewhat DBish) and my Sadowsky with a couple of different heads to you have at least an idea of the tone.

Volume is quite impressive.. that driver has lots of ooomph!

[KJung]

Originally Posted by alexclaber

That looks excellent! Just shows that it's all about the precise components and implementation when it comes to what the cab sounds like - tweeters, crossovers and of course the huge variance between a 'super 12' and the more run of the mill but superficially similar woofers. By the way, we do have a company name: Barefaced - I'm just the boss!

Had an email from a customer yesterday with a video of a gig he'd played using our Midget T, 3 days after receiving it, with no PA support in a proper loud rock band - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgfaoq5J3kY

I'll be fascinated to hear how loud the Thunderchild proves in practice for you - with one of your bigger amps I think you'll find it closer to the AE212 than the 1x12" in max output. Vd counts!

Hey Alex! Good to see you on the site.

I actually just posted above that my early impression of the volume is that it sits between the AE112 and AE212... more like a really good 210 cab. We shall see, but so far, very impressive. I can always get a good feel to what a cab can do at high volumes by slapping my E string. If there is no perceptable compression in the low end comparing a hard slap to a moderate fingerstyle pluck, I know I have a good one. So far, this thing takes all the slap wump you can give it.

[KJung]

Have good gigs this weekend guys and happy Friday. I'm on the road until Sunday night. 'Talk' with you all on Monday morning!