speaker suggestion for 115 sealed cab

[Bergerac]

I broswed the threads but did not find an answer for my question:

Any recommendations for a speaker for a 1x15" cab which is going to be a sealed one ??
The guy who will probably build it for me suggested an Eminence Kappalite 3015LF. Plus he suggested making the cab rear-ported with the option to stuff (seal) this single round port as needed. Is the Kappalite 3015LF a good choice for this?
EBP=90, Qts=0,46, fs=44Hz, Vas=150.9 liters / 5.3 cu.ft.
http://www.eminence.com/speakers/spe...ppalite_3015LF

To understand my question thoroughly: my overall plan is the following stereo-rig:
have 2 of these 115 cabs (stacked) and 2 small extra cabs (left & right) each containing a 6", with 3 switchable crossover frequencies. (The stereo fx I use are mainly in the mid-highs, I leave the bottom bass untouched.)

The more detailed question is:
Is it a good idea to design a flexible ported/sealed cab or will I end up with neither meat nor fish? The sealed option is my preference and if someone can name an efficient 15" for this I would also be sure that this would always meet my sound- and volume-needs.

Most of the 15" speakers seem to be designed for ported cabs. Who makes speakers for sealed cabs that are not too inefficient?

The suggestion for the 6" was a Eminence ALPHA-6A. http://www.eminence.com/speakers/spe...model=Alpha_6A
Other/better options for the mid-high application?


Thanks a lot for your recommendations!!!

[BassmanPaul]

If you are having these built, why not get him to build you a pair of fearfuls?? At least that way you know the results would be superior cabinets.

[RickenBoogie]

+1 to that^.

[John D]

Originally Posted by Bergerac

...Any recommendations for a speaker for a 1x15" cab which is going to be a sealed one ??...The sealed option is my preference and if someone can name an efficient 15" for this I would also be sure that this would always meet my sound- and volume-needs.

[Rafael]

For the most part you're looking at the EPB [ fs/Qes ]to tell you: < 50 is usually good for sealed and > 50 suited to ported enclosures. Notice the EPB of the Eminence Kappalite 3015LF? It's 90 which means it kicks booty in a ported enclosure. Probably not so great in a sealed box.

[DukeLeJeune]

The 3015LF is a very good candidate for this application if the crossover is done properly. In particular, that 1.2 kHz peak is an especially nasty-sounding one that should be aggressively suppressed.

In sealed-box configuration the 3015LF can give you a -3 dB point in the upper 60's, which is quite good.

I use pluggable ports, but my woofer isn't as good in sealed-box mode as the 3015LF. Nearly all of my customers leave the plugs out.

You might also consider a rather low-tuned vented box, which can subjectively approximate a sealed box but with deeper extension.

[staindbass]

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

If you are having these built, why not get him to build you a pair of fearfuls?? At least that way you know the results would be superior cabinets.

the only 1x15 i saw on that site was a sub, and they are ported. i wouldent call them superior, the svt has stronger bracing inside. the kappalites are highly suggested on this forum, i would say its a good choice.

[Bergerac]

Unfortunately I have to buy all the material up-front - no way to try things out (except the port). That's why it is so important to select a really adequate speaker and design the thing properly.

Originally Posted by Rafael

Notice the EPB of the Eminence Kappalite 3015LF? It's 90 which means it kicks booty in a ported enclosure. Probably not so great in a sealed box.

What does it mean "it kicks booty" ?? (I'm German)

I read somewhere that EBP's of 50 - 100 work either way, sealed or ported. Below 50 sealed, above 100 ported. Anyway 90 is fairly high.
What can I expect from the 3015LF in a sealed cab?
what would be a "good" sealed-cab volume for this speaker?
what would be a "good" ported-cab volume ?

[Bergerac]

Originally Posted by DukeLeJeune

In particular, that 1.2 kHz peak is an especially nasty-sounding one that should be aggressively suppressed.

(not by EQ'ing I hope you meant)
can this be achieved by cab-design? If yes, how?

Originally Posted by DukeLeJeune

You might also consider a rather low-tuned vented box, which can subjectively approximate a sealed box but with deeper extension.

how low do you think can I go? approx. which tuning-freq?

[RickenBoogie]

Kicking booty translates to a powerful sounding low end response. Kind of a thump in the chest.

[DukeLeJeune]

Originally Posted by Bergerac

(not by EQ'ing I hope you meant)
can this be achieved by cab-design? If yes, how?

The only practical ways I know of to suppresse that 1.2 kHz peak are by EQ'ing or by aggressive roll-off via a crossover. Cab design doesn't address that sort of issue, unless you design a bandpass bass enclosure... which I don't think would work well for this application.

Originally Posted by Bergerac

how low do you think can I go? approx. which tuning-freq?

Using the latest published data on the 3015LF (similar to what you posted, except for Fs = 43.65 Hz), assuming a 5 cubic foot internal volume:

With a sealed box, you'd have no upper bass bumpage and an F3 of about 67 Hz, along with the typical roughly 12 dB per octave rolloff below that (Qtc = .66 ballpark).

With "normal" tuning, say 45 Hz ballpark, you'd get a broad +1 dB plateau from 100 Hz down to 60 Hz, and a -3 dB point around 44 Hz.

With a "sealed-box simulation" low tuning of 34 Hz you'd have no upper bass bumpage, -3 dB at about 48 Hz, and a 12 dB per octave initial rolloff. So your response curve looks (and sounds) a lot like a sealed box, but you get almost 1/2 octave deeper extension than with the actual sealed box.

In many cases the low-tuned approach sacrifices too much excursion-limited power handling relative to "normal" tuning to be a viable alternative, but the 3015LF has such high x-max that in my opinion you can get away with it. The hard part may be shoe-horning long enough ports into the box.

I'm not specifically recommending 5 cubic feet nor any particular tuning frequency, just giving an example.

[BassmanPaul]

Originally Posted by staindbass

the only 1x15 i saw on that site was a sub, and they are ported. i wouldent call them superior, the svt has stronger bracing inside. the kappalites are highly suggested on this forum, i would say its a good choice.

Look for the 15/6 version.