This is THE ultimate cabinet.....

[Avezzano]

Uh... well... sort of!!!



Two (80 w rms / 4 ohm) Ciare CM 161 in series and a 80x150 mm tube to tune the cab at around 55/60 hz (WinISD).

You can definitely gig with this light but powerful thing and its natural companion will be my x-mas present to myself: a G&K MB200 that will go on top of the cab as the icing on the cake...

"gross" (external) dimensions: 240X430X370 mm. Realised with 15mm poplar plywood and the front panel is recessed 20 mm inside.

Strongly endorsed by... my own back!!!! You won't surely shoot "Pink floyd at Pompei" and will definitely not play as support group to Metallica with it... but for the standard pub or small stage stuff I think this is a wonderful thing!!! It has a mellow yet quick response even with the 5 string. I spent one hour today with this little jewel.... ok: stop, now



P.S.: only slightly taller than two DVDs!!!!!

[Paul K]

Good think it's on wheels!

[Bass Unique]

Small is beautiful but big is accurate! :-)

[christw]

At one point I threw together a 4x6 + 2x8 rig out of some old Quantum guitar cabs. It actually turned out great.

[Avezzano]

Wheels: actually the cab is really light and it did not need them. But since it will mainly be at home in a "sidekick" role near the stereo for those quiet moments, it will be easily moved by the wife when I am not at home and she's... mopping the floor!!!!

Small is beautiful but big is accurate! :-)

I would rather say that "small is not only beautiful but also much accurate"!!!

[Bass Unique]

My next project is a 1 x 10 using similar technology to my larger cab. Should be small light and powerful. 250W RMS, 97 dB/W 280mm by 300mm by 350mm (including space for a little mark head) and only made from 9mm ply (but very braced!).

I will use it for small acoustic gigs and Jazz workshops etc.

[Avezzano]

well, if you place particular care in the realisation of the project, judging from the specs it will not only be for small gigs. Only concern I have is about 10 mm ply vs instead 15 that would be the best choice, instead... ???

[thejumpcat]

A couple of years ago, when Don still had his brick-and-mortar Low Down Sound shop in Ferndale, I took my upright in and tried about a half dozen cabs. Everything from a 2x15 to something like yours. I think it had four 6.5" speakers. It blew all the other cabs away....for upright. It's ridiculous how good that small of a cabinet can sound. I left, came back a week later to buy it, and it was gone. I think it was $200 too.

[77PBass]

Cool! When your done with the gig you can throw it in your trunk and kick up some Eminem.

[dog1]

Very clean looking. Nice build.

[Avezzano]

Thanks! Actually it plays really good and if you do some math you'll see that the total moving surface of two 6" is more than a single 8" and less than a single 10". With the advantage of a faster response to the transients and an extended amp/frequency response toward the highs.

[blindrabbit]

Looks lovely. Let me know if you ever decide to make more and sell them.

[Avezzano]

Looks lovely. Let me know if you ever decide to make more and sell them.

You know that I am seriously thinking about it, uh?

Seriously: if you look at the dimensions, this cab has slightly more volume than the Minimark (a bit larger and a bit less deep, but mine does not host the amp inside); in addition, the Ciare CM161 woofer, on the data sheet, has a 66 hz lower resonant frequency than the 72 hz B&C 6NDL38 woofer mounted on the Minimark (given that this is the one). Same for the efficiency: 92 vs. 95!

That means more overall extention-response toward the bass area than the Minimark (mind you, I know basically zero on building cabs; I just assembled it and by the WinIsd indications I found the tube dimensions! Furthermore I tuned it in the 55 hz area just to extend a bit toward the lows and don't know if this is correct practice, but.... geez: it damn works!!!!).

In the end, correct or not, this little cab is just astonishing as it plays and holds the G&K head power!!! First time my band members saw it, they said something as "ok, funny! Now: where is the cab?" and "...man: you KNOW you play bass, do you?" etc. Then I started playing thru this little thing (and the MB200, that does not hurt, too!)....

[JimmyM]

So much for the folks who try to say speaker size is related to tone, eh? Nice job on it. Looks like a cool little guy there.

[Avezzano]

yes, Jimmy! And, you know, I was never an amp-aholic: in the sense that my little Polytone Minibrute I and the Nemesis NC210P
have always been more than sufficient for me; so I well know my little Polytone, ok? But this little 2x6,5" eats it up big time in both power handling and overall response amp/freq "sound quality". Too bad the CM161 are not exported in USA (for what I know) because I would definitely advise fellow TBers to build one, not only for fun, but seriously!!!!

V.

[Koeda]

Originally Posted by Avezzano

Too bad the CM161 are not exported in USA (for what I know) because I would definitely advise fellow TBers to build one, not only for fun, but seriously!!!!

V.

Ok, I am thinking on going this direction. Just used a couple years worth of SweetWater gift certs to pick up a MB200. Looking at subbing with the Alphalite 6A's and tuning to about the same. Fs not as low but the response curves not to different...

Downsizing - NROD port tuning question

Your report is encouraging.