Custom DIY 2x15 cab build

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by johnk_10

.... i'm going to use it on the next gig.

Hey, John,

My question goes back to the beginning of your thread and possibly has been answered already: did you use bracing on any of the cab's side panels?

I didn't see any pics so I'm just wondering. If you didn't, would there be a downside other than weight? It seems other cabs have more bracing for reinforcement, especially when using 1/2" plywood.

Thanks!

[johnk_10]

nope. there's no bracing on the side or top panels. being that the grade of the plywood that i used is extremely stiff, and the cab really isn't very deep, measuring from where the front baffle to the back panel is, i felt that it didn't need it. more bracing is probably always a good thing sonically, but i wanted to keep the weight as light as possible and i have not noticed any ill effects from not having more bracing.

[LowGrowl]

Hi there! so many good comments about this build!!! BUT the pictures are not showing... Broken links?

[johnk_10]

the pictures are showing up for me. my server may have had a temporary issue (they're linked from my website).

[Joe Louvar]

i can still see the pics ok too

[johnk_10]

i got my Faital 15PR400's today and i just installed them.

just an FYI, their frame diameter is just a little larger than the 3015's (so i had to slightly open up the two cutouts), and they don't come with the front loading gasket (the one on the back of the frame). IMO, these are very smooth sounding speakers with more top end extension that the 3015's. the 3015's are tighter sounding and a bit more punchy (their bass hits you in the chest and move more air ). they break up less than the Faitals when pushed hard, and due to their peak around 2K, they seem more efficient (louder), but like greenboy said, they do sound closer to a JBL. they're quite a bit brighter than a K140, and their high end is closer to a K130, but still have all of the low end of a K140. it's hard to say which one i like better, but right now i'm leaning toward the faitals since they actually sound better with the ST900 with minimal or even no eq.

[will33]

Probably too early to tell but do they have a little more musical sound when pushed close to the edge, or is it a kinda good-to-gank thing?

[johnk_10]

they're super musical and sound great when pushed. they are very even sounding with no weird peaks .

[will33]

Originally Posted by johnk_10

they're super musical and sound great when pushed. they are very even sounding with no weird peaks .

That's cool. I find I'm starting to appreciate that kind of stuff a little more in certain cases, rather than just linear as loud as you can make it.

[Joe Louvar]

What made you want to try/switch from the 3015s to the 15PR400s - anything particular? Also, after you break them in if you’re up to it an audio clip would be way cool.

[johnk_10]

Originally Posted by Joe Louvar

What made you want to try/switch from the 3015s to the 15PR400s - anything particular? Also, after you break them in if you’re up to it an audio clip would be way cool.

when i decided to build this 2x15 cab for the streamliner, my original plan was to use either the 15PR400's or the 3015's, but the best price that i could find on the Faital's was $229 from USSpeaker. i get Eminece speakers at dealer's cost, so i went with those instead, but in the back of my mind i was wondering what the Faital's sounded like. then i found some for $159 each, which is actually a little less than i paid for the 3015's, so i figured, what the heck, i'll try 'em, and either build another cab with the extra perf grill panel and herculiner that i have from buiding the first one, or just sell the pair that i'm not going to use. but i'm not ready to get rid of the 3015's yet though (since i really like them), so i'll probably sell four of my JBL K120's that i've had laying around for 20 years to offset the cost of the 15's.

i'm going to break in the faitals tomorrow and then i'll record a clip of them. the trouble is, if i compare the two, to be fair, i'll have to remove them and reinstall the 3015's temporarily, so that i have the exact same settings on the amp when i make the new clips.

[Joe Louvar]

Way cool, and I’m looking forward to hearing the clip.

[3rdcurve]

Originally Posted by Joe Louvar

Way cool, and I’m looking forward to hearing the clip.

+1

[johnk_10]

okay. here's the sound clips comparing the 3015 to the 15PR400. again, the H4n was distorting a little bit, but you'll get the idea:

3015

15PR400

IMO, the 15PR400 sounds quite a bit more open, smoother, and natural sounding, but the 3015 is no slouch.

[jnewmark]

So John, do the Faitals come close to the K140 vibe? Any chance of putting those clips up to compare ?

[johnk_10]

a K140's high end is ALOT darker than the Faital's, but the low end is about the same.

[3rdcurve]

Thats a tuff call, I might actually prefer the 3015.

[johnk_10]

Originally Posted by 3rdcurve

Thats a tuff call, I might actually prefer the 3015.

yeah, for me it's kind of a toss up. they are both really good and i don't think that you could go wrong with either one. the 15PR400's frequency response is a little more consistent (better) off-axis, but the 3015's have a super punchy and tighter sound which almost makes them sound like they're in a sealed cab even though the cab is ported.

[3rdcurve]

Have you tried the faital with the ports plugged?

[johnk_10]

Originally Posted by 3rdcurve

Have you tried the faital with the ports plugged?

nope. and IMO, there's really no need to, since i love the sound of it the way it is right now, so i'm going to continue running the cab ported.