LoPhat 3-way 1x15 Review thread

[rpsands]

Hey folks,

Paul from LoPhat sent me his version of the 3-way 1x15 to check out -- taking it slow with this review. As you recall the last time it was on its way out it got damaged, made it in great shape this time and sounds pretty good so far. Still working it through the paces.

The cabinet:
Faital 15" Neo woofer (15HP1020)
Faital 6" midrange driver
Ciare tweeter
Custom 3-way crossover, ~1200hz for the midrange, ballpark. Not sure on the horn. Feels pretty high as it's rather smooth - maybe 5khz.
Polyurea finish - super tough and really nice!
Weight - ~60lbs

Some things I'll be doing:
-direct volume comparison to a Jack 112 (3012HO) and fEarful 15/6
-Recording in a practice mix (tomorrow night!)
-Requests (e.g. distortion, bridge pickup with a pick, chords, slapping).

Teaser - here's some scales in 1st position and up around the 12th fret.

Details: Dingwall ABZ series mode, through a flat mixer to power amp, no EQ or tone shaping whatsoever, all attenuators at unity. Plucked by the neck pickup.

http://63.134.202.170/audio/reviews/...1.0-scales.mp3

[rpsands]

Reserved for review!

[rpsands]

Preliminary thoughts-

It's got a pretty round tone for being totally flat. I'd say it is a little less loud on top compared to the fEarful 15/6, say, above 1khz or so. Plenty of mids for tons of finger noise and stuff to come through if that's your bag, but not quite as zingy on the top -- definitely a different midrange voicing with that Faital 6 and the very smooth horn. I'm really impressed with the sound of the tweeter so far.

I haven't directly A/B'd it to the fEarful yet, but I think it will be right about the same volume on the bottom, but I don't know if it will get as loud; looking forward to A/B'ing them.

A/B'd to the Jack 112 (no tweeters) I'd say that the Jack takes overall volume by a significant margin, but most of that is in the lower mids/mids. I'd say the Jack is a smidgen quieter under 100hz but not a ton. The Jack should take a lot less power though.

Next on my agenda is practice with the LoPhat a/b'd to fEarful, over at my buddy's place. I'll try to have something on that later this week.

[KJung]

Cool. I guess the key is what are the specs of that 15... is it a 'super 15' like the 3015LF, or is it more like the HO?

[rpsands]

It's a 15HP1020 -
http://faitalpro.com/products/schede...p?id=201060110

It's going to be pretty similar to the 3015LF, but its lower QTS but low FS and high Xmax - I'd guess it should be in between the 3015 and 3015LF; low end rolloff like a 3015, power handling like a 3015LF. That's just a ballpark though, it's in a bigger box than a 3015 would typically use, so probably has a bit more low end than your standard 3015 cabinet.

It's hard to tell by memory whether that guess is accurate, because the tone profile of this cab is different from my 3015LF cabinet (which has more innate mids, making it tough to tell whether the bottom is bigger or not).

Because it's smoother in the mids up to 1200hz or so and doesn't have the same huge peak in that region like the 3015LF does, the higher crossover is not a huge concern. So far, the off-axis response seems solid.

[rpsands]

Just jammed on it for an hour or so and rocked a bunch of originals and covers through it, playing the recorded music through the cab (which sounds pretty good but a little smidge shy on top maybe, but I'm used to practicing through a pair of Jack 12s with a huge tweeter array).

There's a different character to the upper bass and lower mids. Preliminarily I think it's a little punchier in the lower mids and smoother on bottom than the 3015LF -- probably rolls off a bit earlier. I'd say guys who like the 3015 tone and spl with more excursion might really like this box -- it feels kinda similar to the 3015 with a really mellow top end. For the guys who like the 3015 but don't care for its midrange character (there're a lot of those) this might be just the ticket.

I'll have a little more to say after practice tomorrow. The bottom is really defined and punchy so I have a feeling it'll sound really good in a mix. The note attack feels a little more pronounced with this cabinet than the 3015LF fEarful box for whatever that's worth.

[Queg]

Lophat website indicates his 1x15 3-way is loaded with an Eminence Neo 15", not the Faital model you listed above. Was your cab a custom order, or has he change specs for this cab?

[rpsands]

He offers both the 3015LF and the Faital 15Hp1020. He sent me the Faital model specifically to see how it compares for me to the 3015LF in my fEarful.

I believe he offers a Beyma midrange option as well as the Faital mid -- assuming the Beyma mid would probably sound more like the 6nd410 than the Faital does. So far I'd say the Faital's got a little bit more character in the mids than the 6nd410, but I need to A/B them closely.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by rpsands

It's a 15HP1020 -
http://faitalpro.com/products/schede...p?id=201060110

It's going to be pretty similar to the 3015LF, but its lower QTS but low FS and high Xmax - I'd guess it should be in between the 3015 and 3015LF; low end rolloff like a 3015, power handling like a 3015LF. That's just a ballpark though, it's in a bigger box than a 3015 would typically use, so probably has a bit more low end than your standard 3015 cabinet.

It's hard to tell by memory whether that guess is accurate, because the tone profile of this cab is different from my 3015LF cabinet (which has more innate mids, making it tough to tell whether the bottom is bigger or not).

Because it's smoother in the mids up to 1200hz or so and doesn't have the same huge peak in that region like the 3015LF does, the higher crossover is not a huge concern. So far, the off-axis response seems solid.

Cool. I've actually played an LDS cab with a similar voicing (Faital 15 and mid, higher crossover point, but with an Eminence tweeter) and agree, it is a different beast... more airy up top, a bit more character in the upper mids due to the higher crossover point (which I actually like more than the typical 800hz thing, and with bass guitar, even with my present upper midrange tone, I don't hear any meaningful difference in the midrange dispersion), and a bit more of a 'tweeter type' top end response due to the nature of that Faital driver.

As we've discussed, that Faital driver doesn't seem very well suited for the 3015LF with the lower crossover point, but this configuration seems to be a nice one!

Put up a pic if you can.

[rpsands]

The one I've got looks literally exactly like on the home page -


Some more thoughts -

I got to jam it with a drummer for a while, and we both came to the conclusion that in the meat of the signal this thing is a tiny bit louder than the 3015LF. The low mids especially. He liked the LoPhat a lot more than the fEarful - less middy, more punchy was what he said. I don't know if I feel that way but I see where he's coming from.

It's definitely got less upper mids, more up top, and more going on in the lower mids than the fEarful. It's colored a bit, and the bottom is quite a bit different. I haven't had a chance to get to taking some direct clips to compare, but I'll try to do that soon - the fEarful has been away from home at the practice location.

I am pretty sure my initial feelings were right. This cabinet would really appeal to someone who wants to improve on the 3015 in a 3cf box design a bit; it's got a bit more on bottom than a stock 3015 it feels like, due to the increase in space. It's also got more pleasant mids with a more organic/natural feel than a stock 3015 full range.

The tweeter is my favorite piece of the cabinet. It's airy and really well balanced to the cabinet tone. Paul did a good job with the crossover in that region especially, and a good job picking a nice sounding tweeter. It can get pretty gnarly if you turn it up but its innate character is very smooth - not like a Selenium paint peeler for example.

Overall I think I might prefer the 3015LF on bottom, but I think the innate sound of the Faital mid driver is more appealing to me than the 6nd410. If you're not a knob twiddler, I think you will most likely prefer the sound of this cabinet over a fEarful.

If you are a knob twiddler who wants closer to studio, I would suggest ordering the box with a 3015LF and Beyma 605nd - I believe Paul offers those options. I got a look inside the box at his crossover, and it's got a lot going on, so I would trust Paul to do a solid job with the 3015LF crossover as well.

I have a few minor criticisms of the box, but I imagine those are a matter of taste; I'd like to see the port divided for stability, and also see the grille not go in front of the port. People who live in areas with critters may feel differently about the port, but my ear is HYPER sensitive to air noise from ports, and there is a little bit when you crank this thing to high volumes. I think it's almost entirely the grille impeding airflow just a little. Caveat: I don't think most people would notice this, and it disappears once drums start up. I think it might just be my ear being finnicky. It's very minor.

I think I like the finish better than Don's polyurea - it's picture perfect all over, with no imperfections at all, and it's much smoother than the LDS stuff. That's possibly a matter of taste as well but I find myself preferring Paul's finish by a good margin.

I do have a little bit of an issue with the width, but that's again a personal taste issue. I find the box is a tiny bit on the wide side of what I want to carry most of the time. Some guys prefer the squatter format, but I do find the fEarful easier to move around (could be that it's about 10lbs lighter too though; Paul uses a heavier crossover, sturdier handles, and the woofers + horn add a good amount of weight). I was able to carry it one handed though. The handles are in as convenient a spot as I think they can get.

[rpsands]

Another important note: Compared to the 3015LF crossed at 1200hz (Which I have another cabinet configured like this, crossed to an Alpha 8MRA) this box is light years ahead. The 3015LF sounds like a piece of crap at 1200hz, but the Faital 15 sounds really nice in that region. I'm definitely happy with the 1200hz crossover's sound here.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by rpsands

Another important note: Compared to the 3015LF crossed at 1200hz (Which I have another cabinet configured like this, crossed to an Alpha 8MRA) this box is light years ahead. The 3015LF sounds like a piece of crap at 1200hz, but the Faital 15 sounds really nice in that region. I'm definitely happy with the 1200hz crossover's sound here.

+1 on what you are hearing. I've played quite a few three way boxes with a more typical 'full range driver' and a higher crossed over mid driver (Don's been doing those for many years with various components). They sound much more like 'regular' 2 way cabs (punchier, tighter, more low mid present than the 3015LF cabs, as you found), with I guess the mid driver providing better upper mid dispersion versus really adding significantly to the tone of the cab, since there is not a whole lot going on in many bass tones in that mid 1K to 3K region that the mid driver is covering in those designs).

Kind of a nice thing if you want a more 'typical sounding box' with a 15, and are worried about upper mid response across the stage.

You also get a bit of that nice upper mid grind from the top of the driver (that 800hz thing), which for many bass tones, results in a bit more 'character' in the grind than the lower crossed over 3015LF cabs, which as your drummer noticed, are quite polite in the low mid punch area, and also in the upper mid grind area.

Looks like a nice cab!

[thudfromafar]

Looks like a good new option for those who want to try a multi-way cab, but don't want to wait months for custom work.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by thudfromafar

Looks like a good new option for those who want to try a multi-way cab, but don't want to wait months for custom work.

+1 If someone really locks down this sort of three way spec in a relatively lightweight box with some relatively high end components, I think they will sell some boxes.

IMO, they will need to get it to 4ohms though.

[Chef]

sub'd

i don't suppose you can play a DB thus this box?

[Chef]

concur...

Originally Posted by KJung

+1 If someone really locks down this sort of three way spec in a relatively lightweight box with some relatively high end components, I think they will sell some boxes.

IMO, they will need to get it to 4ohms though.

[deb]

I probably missed the discussion on the 3015LF +Faital mid. Ken, can you elaborate on why they don't seem very well suited and whether this is based on user experience?

FYI, I recently unpacked a LDS 15/6/1 (3015LF + Faital mid) and, from my limited low volume tests, it sounds quite similar to the LDS 12/6 (3012LF + Faital mid). Mind you the Lpad is turned down on the 12/6 and turned up on the 15/6/1.

deb

Originally Posted by KJung

...As we've discussed, that Faital driver doesn't seem very well suited for the 3015LF with the lower crossover point...

[KJung]

Hello!

I like the Faital much more with the 3015LF than I do the 18Sound with the 3012LF.

I guess my point is, from hearing all these combinations, is that the Faital mid driver sounds much smoother and more 'musical' (whatever that means!) to me in general than the 18Sound. However, part of that is that the voicing of the Faital is a bit scooped from the upper mids to the upper treble, making it, as you know, sound very pure and airy and 'light' for lack of a better term. Almost makes a 12/6 cab sound more like a VERY good standard 2 way cab with tweeter.

The minor downside to me with the Faital and the mighty 3015LF in the bigger box is that that particular driver puts out MASSIVE sound versus the 3012LF in a small box, and the 18Sound seems to have that more midrange 'in your face' voicing through its full range to 'keep up' with that big driver and big low end in that big box.

So, again, I'm sure the Faital will sound find with the 3015LF, just not quite as bright in the upper mids and forceful (to my ear) as the 18Sound with that particular spec.

The only combination I really don't like is the 18Sound and a single 3012LF (of course, with the 212 version, the 18Sound is again my preference.

Pure IMO there, but the above is matched kind of by the LDS 'default' spec if you let Don make the decision.... Faital and single 12LF, 18Sound and either 2 x 12LF or 15LF.

K

[rpsands]

Originally Posted by Chef

sub'd

i don't suppose you can play a DB (through this box?)

I can't play DB at all and don't own one, but if someone in the area has one I'll be happy to let him or her come by and record it while I have the cab.

I expect it would sound better for upright by virtue of the "tighter" bottom end, but I am not sure the tweeter would have the grit some people like in upright. It's a very musical (as ken said) sounding cabinet, but definitely somewhat voiced. Not sure how that'd translate to DB but I bet it'd sound good to most folks - depends on how aggressive you like your tweeter.

[rpsands]

Originally Posted by KJung

I guess my point is, from hearing all these combinations, is that the Faital mid driver sounds much smoother and more 'musical' (whatever that means!) to me in general than the 18Sound. However, part of that is that the voicing of the Faital is a bit scooped from the upper mids to the upper treble, making it, as you know, sound very pure and airy and 'light' for lack of a better term. Almost makes a 12/6 cab sound more like a VERY good standard 2 way cab with tweeter.

The minor downside to me with the Faital and the mighty 3015LF in the bigger box is that that particular driver puts out MASSIVE sound versus the 3012LF in a small box, and the 18Sound seems to have that more midrange 'in your face' voicing through its full range to 'keep up' with that big driver and big low end in that big box.

So, again, I'm sure the Faital will sound find with the 3015LF, just not quite as bright in the upper mids and forceful (to my ear) as the 18Sound with that particular spec.

The only combination I really don't like is the 18Sound and a single 3012LF (of course, with the 212 version, the 18Sound is again my preference.

Pure IMO there, but the above is matched kind of by the LDS 'default' spec if you let Don make the decision.... Faital and single 12LF, 18Sound and either 2 x 12LF or 15LF.

K

One thing to note is that since the Faital is crossed so high, I doubt it is padded at all - so it's probably getting its full 97+db up there (where the 18 sound is padded down to 98-99db to match the 3015LF). The 6nd410 cabinet is definitely louder in the upper mids, but it's not as much as you would think.

The upper mid scoop goes to my comment about most people liking the sound of it a bit more..it really sounds like, as you've said, the top end of a 10" woofer rolling off before the tweeter kicks in. Except it's not quite as bitey as the 10 below the rolloff, and the off-axis response is much better than your typical 4x10 cabinet or even a 2x10 on its end.

I think you could afford to crank those 2khz or so mids in if you wanted them; my amp doesn't really dial them in there so I don't know.