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Revision as of 19:35, November 5, 2009
The lightweight but loud and low fEarful™ 12/6 & 15/6 bass enclosure designs were developed by TalkBasser greenboy for do-it-yourself construction by other members of the TalkBass community. They are not for commercial use.
earfuls of fEarfuls
Here's a comparative image of various fEarful models shown next to a couple of 6-foot-tall rock stars (thanks, davio!):
fEarful enclosures utilize the Eminence 3012LF or the Eminence 3015LF high-excursion neodymium woofers, and either 18 Sound 6ND410 neo or Eminence Alpha6-A midrange drivers. They may be constructed as 2-way systems with a woofer and 6.5" midrange cone, or as 3-way using an added tweeter. The fEaRB variant uses the 3015LF in a larger enclosure to further extend low frequency response for Extended Range Basses tuning to F#0 or E0 or lower.
Some of the main advantages of the fEarful designs are:
- Extreme power handling - higher SPL per pound provided you have enough power to drive it to its potential
- Marked ability to reproduce lower frequencies smoothly and without over-excursion thanks to woofers specializing in just that
- Superior off-axis response, due to a dedicated small-format midrange driver and its ability to disperse higher frequencies on a wider plane before beaming limits kick in. This is aided by a taller, more slender form factor which allows even a small enclosure to produce more detail and articulation at ear level even when one is closer to the cabinet.
- This, and arrangement of components on the baffle, means the fEarful enclosures are less suceptible than most to local acoustic environment problems.
- Optional high-accuracy constant directivity waveguides for the highest frequencies also can be used to contribute to superior Even Power response - without the shrillness cheap horns exhibit - especially when there is a response gap between them and the lower frequency components.
TalkBass fEarful discussion megathreads:
A FEW NOTES ABOUT JOINERY
hardware
The following are links to posts or pages in which greenboy discusses and provides links to various parts and components of interest to fEarful DIY'ers. It is, by no means, an exhaustive list.
recommended Waveguides for optional 3-way use
Erse Audio - great site for crossover components and various enclosure hardware
handles
Handles
grille material
Grilles
Pet Screen
connector cups
Connector Cup
Cup & DIY Crossover Board
Neutrik Speakon Connector
wheels & casters
Inset Wheels
some suitable amps
Various Lighweight Power Amps
Carvin BX1200 Head
Peavey IPR Power Amp with DSP
crossover designs
Not nearly as good, but will do in a pinch. Why build? Compare the Em crossover with its de-rated parts and inferior performance to what a simple crossover tailored for the specific drivers looks like. Which do you think handles a megawatt better?
15/6 L-pad details for Em 500 Hz crossover highpass for use with 18 Sound 6ND410 mid driver. If you've already got this crossover and are using it for fEarful 15/6 you need this.
builds in progress or completed
completed examples
MX21's fEarful 12/6:
- Eminence 3012LF
- Eminence Alpha6A
- Eminence PXB2:800 crossover
- 1/2" Birch ply
- 39 pounds
Passinwind's fEarful™12/6
Eminence Kappalite 3012LF - 18Sound 4ND410 - Custom crossover - 3/4" Europly w/alder and birch plies, maple veneer and trim - approx. 50 pounds.
xbassmanx's fEarful™15/6/1
Eminence 3015LF - 18Sound 4ND410 - Eminence ASD1001S w/Dayton H07E waveguide - Peavey ECS-3X 3-way Crossover - 1/2" Birch ply - Duratex roller grade finish - approx. 52 pounds
himppe's fEarful™12/6
Eminence Kappalite 3012LF - Eminence Alpha-6A - Custom crossover - 15mm Finnish Birch plywood - black carpet - approx. 55 pounds
greenboy's fEarful Headcase
Headcase sitting on fEarful 15sub enclosure equivalent:
More about the greenboy Headcase
TalkBass builders
Depending on timing, these TalkBass members may be amenable to building either fEarful Cutkits, or fEarful enclosures in various states of finish. To initiate contact simply PM them for details and availability of what you are interested in. TalkBass is not resposible for negotiations and/or transactions.
- dog1 Indiana
- Hookus Austin, TX
- singlemalt White Salmon, WA
- Swift713 Housatonic, MA
- vlad335 Latrobe, PA
links
- download Google Sketchup to view 3D models
special thanks
I would like to express my gratitude and thanks to all who have participated in fEarful discussions, and especially to those who have shared their expertise and work with other DIYers and enthusiasts, present and future.
<-- greenboy ---<<<<
