Big E Speakers - Page 31

5StringPocket · #**601** 12-27-2012, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Arnopol

There is one 6 x 6 out there. He loves it---I'll ask if he can post some impressions.I'm playing a 6 x 6. I'm going to make myself a 6 x 6 in composite next month. We'll see how ridiculously hard it is to make.

Thanks I'd be interested in the impressions on that one. I thought a 6x6 in 12mm ply was about 47 lbs which is already quite light considering everything that goes into it. Even with your composite skills you must either really embrace a challenge or be a glutton for punishment.

From what I've read, a 6x6 would be enough to cover anything I'd do but would it be a problem using it in a 26' x 14' practice room at reasonable volume? I've seen it posted earlier that it's possible to overdrive a room with one of these. Also, my practice room has acoustic treatment and is well insulated which allows me to play at fairly high volume without disturbing the neighbors. Are these Big E's so good at pushing their sound for long distances that my well-insulated room won't be enough and I'll have irate neighbors knocking on my door?

superbassman2000 · #**602** 12-27-2012, 05:36 PM

Did i miss the post where the prices are listed?

christw · #**603** 12-27-2012, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superbassman2000

Did i miss the post where the prices are listed?

PM Mike about it. As part of the commercial user policy he isn't allowed to post prices on the forums.

christw · #**604** 12-29-2012, 01:49 AM

Friggin' snow! It pushed delivery back to the second on my Big E's and I think is pushing my Faital back.

christw · #**605** 12-29-2012, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christw

Friggin' snow! It pushed delivery back to the second on my Big E's and I think is pushing my Faital back.

Guess not! The Big E's arrived today. There is an issue with one of the speakers. I've already called Mike and left a voicemail about it and that's all I'm saying until we sort it out.

First impressions: These things are little and light! My 300 Pro head is bigger! They're lighter and more portable than my Carvin MB10 which is flat out ridiculous.

As far as sound, I'm short on time today but I really liked what I heard. I think I have a learning curve ahead with the Big E and 300 Pro. The amp has always felt pretty linear to me. It batters traditional cabinets by dumping tons of power into those transient peaks and pops. Even with the HPF it was hitting too hard for a single 2x6. I think it'd take 6 to 8 of these 6's to take this amp running hard. I'll do more experimenting later.

My second sound experiment was using my Mesa Buster into a single 2x6. That was absolute bliss. I can't wait to have a head case built for the Boogie so I can gig it with these. I think it'll overpower a single 2x6 on the low end peaks but will fit very well with both up to OD. Oh yeah, they take overdrive well!

FWIW, I'm still sorting out the volume/low end capabilities of these cabinets and have not broken them in. Everything I'm saying are my first impressions and based on plugging one cabinet up to two amps so far...

Edit: Mike got a hold of me in no time and it sounds like a speaker got damaged by a big fall during shipping. The cabs were very well packaged and the boxes showed no signs of damage. Oh well! We'll be taking care of it shortly.

christw · #**606** 12-30-2012, 06:27 PM

I got a bit of time in with the Buster and one of the cabinets today. I was using my Roto 66 loaded P Bass and oh boy did it sound good! It was crisp, bright, and as far as pop & slap... Wow! There is an insane amount of dynamic control available to me that I haven't quite found with any other cabinets. Just based off my initial impressions of one cab, I think there is a very good chance that if I need more volume or power handling in the future I'll be adding a 4x6 to the stable. I can't wait to get the two of them going together... Damn you FedEx!

**kerrycares** · #**607** 12-30-2012, 09:05 PM

M45, January 16,Mowtown, need it!

NorCal Dog · #**608** 12-31-2012, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christw

I got a bit of time in with the Buster and one of the cabinets today. I was using my Roto 66 loaded P Bass and oh boy did it sound good! It was crisp, bright, and as far as pop & slap... Wow! There is an insane amount of dynamic control available to me that I haven't quite found with any other cabinets. Just based off my initial impressions of one cab, I think there is a very good chance that if I need more volume or power handling in the future I'll be adding a 4x6 to the stable. I can't wait to get the two of them going together... Damn you FedEx!

glad to hear that they finally got there, sux to hear of the damaged driver, but it' sounds like Mike is exercising some great customer service with the sale, ( everytime i called/text'd him he was readily available )

post up some photos when ya get a chance

christw · #**609** 01-04-2013, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NorCal Dog

glad to hear that they finally got there, sux to hear of the damaged driver, but it' sounds like Mike is exercising some great customer service with the sale, ( everytime i called/text'd him he was readily available )

post up some photos when ya get a chance

After some extra wiring trouble shooting, I seem to have worked the bugs out whatever they were. The speaker was okay so I'll be sending the spare back to Mike to make someone else's ears happy.

First off, let me say that two is most definitely more than one with these cabinets. They seem to put out everything you put in. These things allow me to hear the subtle nuance like never before while surrounding me with the sound of my bass like I feel it should sound. I'm hearing myself better in a bedroom than I have played back through some expensive studio monitors. It's wild. I'll try to do real a write up after an open mic this Sunday.

Mike Arnopol · #**610** 01-04-2013, 09:32 PM

So happy that you're diggin' it.Your bedroom is starting to resemble my shop!

A note to the 4 x 5 guys---
Just finished the first 4 x 5 to go out ( Louis's) sorry about the continued delays---every time I get things going the Big E guys (Tom and Steve) are like--"we've just made a design improvement". And Duke is killin' with the crossover design. What a humbling experience working with these guys. The rest should be out in short order.
The 4 x 5 is now featuring 4 cross-firing dome tweeters. To be honest, it's probably the best sounding of the Big E's. (magical, as Duke says).It should sound good---the Faital 5fe120 is essentially a high end midrange speaker with low end. It's very warm but detailed. It does have volume and low end limitations. Which is why we're marketing it as an upright cab.It should keep up with a 2 x 10. I had it up against my Crazy 88. Similar volume limits. (much better sounding IMO) I dug it so much with electric that I'm going to try 2 of them with a Fdeck HPF on a loud electric gig. I think that a HPF is really needed if you're going to push these puppies. The low B is surprisingly good but not in the league of the 6.5's or 8's. Better than most 10" based cabs. I think that with a HPF they will be cool with a low B.

The weight came out a tad higher than I had anticipated (right around 30#) The grills arrived 1/2" too big and they are rushing to get replacements here by early next week.

Another bit of news---there is a great Danish company that makes OEM digital amps that I'll be trying. Small and light. I can fit one with a DSP in the tweeter cavity of the 4 x 8 without changing the cab size.1000 honest watts. Should be cool.

Mike Arnopol · #**611** 01-04-2013, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5StringPocket

Thanks I'd be interested in the impressions on that one. I thought a 6x6 in 12mm ply was about 47 lbs which is already quite light considering everything that goes into it. Even with your composite skills you must either really embrace a challenge or be a glutton for punishment.

From what I've read, a 6x6 would be enough to cover anything I'd do but would it be a problem using it in a 26' x 14' practice room at reasonable volume? I've seen it posted earlier that it's possible to overdrive a room with one of these. Also, my practice room has acoustic treatment and is well insulated which allows me to play at fairly high volume without disturbing the neighbors. Are these Big E's so good at pushing their sound for long distances that my well-insulated room won't be enough and I'll have irate neighbors knocking on my door?

The 6 x 6 would be fine in a room that size. In comparing to the Kappalite LF's it should keep up with 2 x 12's or about about 1 1/2 of a 3015LF.

christw · #**612** 01-04-2013, 09:53 PM

That bedroom is my shop.

I'm definitely impressed. I feel like I can identify the fundamental of every note between these cabs and the Buster. I'm afraid to hit them with the 300 Pro flat out because of overbearing room rattles. I can't tell if and when I hit their limit. On that note, I did crank it to nearly full power earlier and blew the dust out of the ports on the Big E's.

lelandcrooks · #**613** 01-05-2013, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5StringPocket

Are these Big E's so good at pushing their sound for long distances that my well-insulated room won't be enough and I'll have irate neighbors knocking on my door?

2 2x8 PA cabs playing in front of my shop. The railroad shops are 7 blocks away. In about 5 minutes they came driving up and said as long as I played classic rock they were fine. 5 minutes later the local gendarmes showed up and said they were getting calls. My shop is about 50 ft from 5 railroad tracks, not exactly a quiet place.

5StringPocket · #**614** 01-05-2013, 01:39 PM

This is my concern. The Big E's seem like an exceptional design which make great gig cabs but if they project through walls and insulation like depleted uranium rounds through armor plate, that could limit their use for me. I don't have many gigs lined up but like to practice a lot at volume (it just sounds so good). Hmm...

cristw, any issues with the neighbors and your bedroom shop/practice area with these if you turn up a bit? I keep reasonable hours and my neighbors are pretty cool - like to keep it that way.

Mike Arnopol · #**615** 01-05-2013, 01:44 PM

I don't think that they project through walls any more than any other cab. But they do move through air more efficiently than any other cab. If you're playing in your living room they will be nearly as loud in your kitchen, but would be the same as other cabs in terms of walls.

christw · #**616** 01-05-2013, 01:47 PM

Well, when I cranked the Buster they carried well enough through the house to be too loud for my father several rooms away. At that level, most any cab would annoy him though. Edit: Seems to agree with what Mike said above...

5StringPocket · #**617** 01-05-2013, 02:12 PM

Thanks that helps. I don't play in the house except with headphones which is why a detached garage with a well insulated mancave is so nice. As long as those walls can keep that sonic nirvana reasonably contained it's all good.

rpsands · #**618** 01-05-2013, 02:38 PM

They do kinda go through open doors though, and internal doors with the hollow centers.

lelandcrooks · #**619** 01-06-2013, 07:30 AM

They do require a rethinking of how you use speakers. You can just plug in and go. But spending some time messing around with how they work to get the most out of them is time well spent. Unfortunately, I have to restrict myself to NPR in the shop. Every time I turn on music I get captured and end up sitting and listening for an hour. An hour of which I don't have.

DirtPoorRobins · #**620** 01-06-2013, 05:23 PM

I used the big e in church again today up on a stool and it made such a big difference. The hollow stage and arched ceiling made horrible boom on stage and a loss of bass response off the stage when I had my berg on the floor, but with the big e off the stage and a touch off bass boost, it was amazing, no boom, just nice and full. Again, the best thing this cab does is accommodate tough sounding rooms but still sound full.