Bass speaker -3db point (fs) ?

[jsa0100]

A very importante factor for bass speakers is the -3db point. (That is the lowest frequency that the speaker can reproduce with out any significant lower lever then the midrange). Now i am trying to find lightwight PA speakers I want to run through the PA. Unfortunately small size and deep powerfull bass doesn't mix well. Building a speaker system is a possebillity. So my question how low does the -3db point have to be for a 4 string bass? Some smaler PA speakers typical have a frequency range / -3 db point from around 80 db or so. Is that to high?

[Wes Whitmore]

You hear the 2nd harmonic of the E string, which is 80 hz. The problem is volume and what you are needing these cabs to do, and what environment. I can get by playing through some yamaha club series 12s if I am doing an acoustic gig, but any more than that (and as soon as there are real drums on stage), it doesn't cut it and I have to add subwoofers and use a crossover in the mains. I don't use a stage cabinet. Some people shoot to hit the fundemental of the note, but that takes big cabs, lots of power, or expensive drivers. Most commercial bass cabs have a F3 higher than 40 hz.

[jsa0100]

Yes, cabinetts that goes down to 40hz are big. Some of the systems that i have seen has an fs around 50-55 hz and 15" speaker. I need to get up to the level of the drums so perhaps this is a good compromise?

[will33]

I find that stuff that can get down close to 60 can reasonably sound like a bass but for bass specific speakers I shoot for f3's in the low to mid 50's. That sounds deep and full. Getting speakers to play that low is one thing.....getting them to be able to take power and produce volume down there is another.

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by jsa0100

how low does the -3db point have to be for a 4 string bass?

The SVTs is 58 Hz.

[Petebass]

People regularly bring their commercially made speaker cabs to my place for frequency testing. I'm not set up for AES standards but most ive measured have -3 dB points between 55Hz and 70Hz.

[jsa0100]

So going for JBL PRX635 53 Hz – 18 kHz (-3 db) is suffient for most situations? Even if 53 hz sound a little to heigh. It seems that the larger 2x15" og 1x18" is tuned to arround 40-45hz.

[Wes Whitmore]

You might want to do a little search on using PA cabs for bass rigs. Generally, they are voiced much hotter in the mids, or are a flatter freq response than what you usually need with a bass rig. They go as low as lots of bass cabs, but probably not as loud in that low freq. It's much like playing bass through a stage monitor. If you like that, you might find a PA cab that can fit the bill.

[Petebass]

Originally Posted by jsa0100

53 Hz – 18 kHz

those cabs I mentioned that were -3dB at 60Hz..... They all claimed to go much lower.

[Son of Bovril]

Maybe have a look at the ACME cabs they are voiced similarly to what you are looking for