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Acme 2x12 prototype test
- Thread starter Bluesy Soul
- Start date
acmebass
Commercial User
Thanks for the post, Bluesy Soul, and for the responses, all.
FYI, that 50 lb. cab is made of the ubiquitous foam/luan laminate that has found popularity among many builders. It's very labor intensive, and mass producing them requires a very special edge-banding machine. I'm still working on it with my CNC shop. They seem to think they can handle it. In the meantime, I've been meaning to call Mike Arnopol to get his thoughts on the matter, and haven't gotten it done. I know he has a lot of experience with these composites, and I've never been too proud to pick the brains of others.
Regardless, the plywood version will weigh 11 lbs. more. Whether the 11 lb. difference will be enough to make it worth the added expense remains to be seen. 61 lbs. still ain't too bad.I would like to know what y'all think about that question.
As far as an intro date, the CNC programming is done, and I hope to get down there this week to supervise as the first several sheets are milled. Our existing assembly jigs can be used to assemble the boxes, and I think my production manager, Ray Anderson, can build a few with minimal help from me. I'd like to get it done soon. Bass Player Magazine, who changed my life in 1996 when they reviewed the B2 and B4 models, has expressed an interest in reviewing it. I know paper magazines aren't the force they used to be, but still, it's a nice sentiment, and certainly appreciated, as it was when Tom Bowlus and Bass Gear recently reviewed the other 12" models.
I've got four prototype boxes, three composite, and one plywood. The box you see in the photo is in LA at this time making the rounds among reggae bands, of all things. They seem to like the thump. The box is unbelievably loud, but it's also atrociously power hungry. We put a 2000 watt QSC on it in a local club last year, and it really liked all that power. I think they're usually using about 1200 on it.
The drummer in Denver went out of his way to tell me how much he liked how well he could hear the rear woofer. I didn't bother to tell him that that wasn't the reason it was there. It's all about stability, and it really works.
BTW, if anybody in LA wants that cab it's for sale. I might leave it there until NAMM in January, but I've been thinking about other stuff, and getting it back here would require shipping the packing materials to California just to pack it up and ship it back. It gets silly in a hurry...
I posted another pic on the Acme FB page: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...76960.307833609283118&type=1&relevant_count=1
(Don't forget to "like" it!)
Anyway, they should be available in a couple of months. I don't know how much they'll cost. I really believe this cab is a ground-breaker, and in terms of thunderous, low-distortion bottom, portability, and overall volume, it will be in a class by itself, with all due modesty. (If I've violated the TOS, please let me know!)
Thanks again, everybody. If you have any other questions, please post them here, or email me privately.
Andy
FYI, that 50 lb. cab is made of the ubiquitous foam/luan laminate that has found popularity among many builders. It's very labor intensive, and mass producing them requires a very special edge-banding machine. I'm still working on it with my CNC shop. They seem to think they can handle it. In the meantime, I've been meaning to call Mike Arnopol to get his thoughts on the matter, and haven't gotten it done. I know he has a lot of experience with these composites, and I've never been too proud to pick the brains of others.
Regardless, the plywood version will weigh 11 lbs. more. Whether the 11 lb. difference will be enough to make it worth the added expense remains to be seen. 61 lbs. still ain't too bad.I would like to know what y'all think about that question.
As far as an intro date, the CNC programming is done, and I hope to get down there this week to supervise as the first several sheets are milled. Our existing assembly jigs can be used to assemble the boxes, and I think my production manager, Ray Anderson, can build a few with minimal help from me. I'd like to get it done soon. Bass Player Magazine, who changed my life in 1996 when they reviewed the B2 and B4 models, has expressed an interest in reviewing it. I know paper magazines aren't the force they used to be, but still, it's a nice sentiment, and certainly appreciated, as it was when Tom Bowlus and Bass Gear recently reviewed the other 12" models.
I've got four prototype boxes, three composite, and one plywood. The box you see in the photo is in LA at this time making the rounds among reggae bands, of all things. They seem to like the thump. The box is unbelievably loud, but it's also atrociously power hungry. We put a 2000 watt QSC on it in a local club last year, and it really liked all that power. I think they're usually using about 1200 on it.
The drummer in Denver went out of his way to tell me how much he liked how well he could hear the rear woofer. I didn't bother to tell him that that wasn't the reason it was there. It's all about stability, and it really works.
BTW, if anybody in LA wants that cab it's for sale. I might leave it there until NAMM in January, but I've been thinking about other stuff, and getting it back here would require shipping the packing materials to California just to pack it up and ship it back. It gets silly in a hurry...
I posted another pic on the Acme FB page: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...76960.307833609283118&type=1&relevant_count=1
(Don't forget to "like" it!)
Anyway, they should be available in a couple of months. I don't know how much they'll cost. I really believe this cab is a ground-breaker, and in terms of thunderous, low-distortion bottom, portability, and overall volume, it will be in a class by itself, with all due modesty. (If I've violated the TOS, please let me know!)
Thanks again, everybody. If you have any other questions, please post them here, or email me privately.
Andy
acmebass
Commercial User
The only ports are the ones you see. The driver placement has no effect on the actual filter (in the Thiele/Small sense). The opposing drivers make the structure absolutely stable though, and and thereby lowers the distortion, by not "shaking" the cabinet around.
And no, I didn't think of it myself. Just another idea I stole, and am attempting to execute with great precision. Just like everything I do!
I'd recommend 1000 watts, for starters. After we get a few of them in the field, I'll be able to give better advice on powering them.
Thanks,
Andy
acmebass
Commercial User
Don't tell me, let me guess, you're using an Apple.
Don't get me started- I hope to have it resolved soon, but in the meantime, suffice to say, I'm livid.
If you have specific questions, use TB or email me at [email protected].
Thanks,
Andy
This concept is called "impuls-compensated".
It can lower the vibrations of the cabinet by a factor of 10.
I made serveral home-cinema subwoofers that way. The result is very accurate and detailed bass resproduction.
I also build a impuls-compensated sealed 2x15cab for my bass some 15 years ago
acmebass
Commercial User
This concept is called "impuls-compensated".
It can lower the vibrations of the cabinet by a factor of 10.
I made serveral home-cinema subwoofers that way. The result is very accurate and detailed bass resproduction.
I also build a impuls-compensated sealed 2x15cab for my bass some 15 years ago
Thanks for chiming in. I had no idea there was a name for it. I first heard of it in Audio magazine in about 1975.
This concept is even more important in the case of lightweight enclosures and speaker cones with relatively heavy moving-masses.
Andy
Definitely, that's also the case with these modern homecinema subs, it's not the first time that one of those has been wanderin' around the room......
- Nov 24, 2008
- 4,343
- 7,163
- Disclosures
- Owner & designer, AudioKinesis; Auth. mfg, Big E (Home Audio only)
I can think of acoustic/psychoacoustic advantages, in addition to this cab being drummer-friendly and physically rock steady. You've no doubt thought of them too, even if they aren't this cab's raison d'etre.
I believe every word of that. Notice my decisive use of the bold function.
Not a question... a request: Please leave a few slices of the pie for the rest of us boutique builders to fight over!
Andy, I think you're building a monster here. People who buy this cab because of its power-to-weight/thunder-for-size ratios are going to be blown away by how right it sounds. I put my speaker designer hat on and stand and applaud. I put my competitor hat on, and call for my brown trousers.
Is this a 4 or 8 ohm enclosure?
I've got a spare DriveCore XLS2500 so bring it on! You've got my address. Best wishes on the new project!
Riis Unterzuber
Virginia Beach
I've got a spare DriveCore XLS2500 so bring it on! You've got my address. Best wishes on the new project!
Riis Unterzuber
Virginia Beach
acmebass
Commercial User
acmebass
Commercial User
At this time it's only 8 ohm. That's not a big disadvantage, because in the big picture, because the darn thing's so power hungry that most people will need to bridge an amp anyway.
I expect the 4 ohm version to be available later.
Good to hear from you, Riis.
Thanks,
Andy
Your site works fine on my Apple, both Safari and Firefox. And your cab design is fascinating!
=wr=
acmebass
Commercial User
I talked to a guy today who said it's an Iphone problem, not Apple in general.
Incidentally, I was using an Apple IIGS when I designed the first Low B-2 system in the early '90's. When Apple converted to the Mac OS, they didn't provide a way to take any of my spreadsheets, which were extensive, from the Apple II's Appleworks to the Mac.
In other words, I was faced with having to rewrite all my speaker design spreadsheets, thanks to Steve Jobs. I've been using PC's ever since, and all my stuff is now in Excel, because I don't want to be left by the side of the road again...
Now, because Steve Jobs had a problem with Adobe Flash, some of the current Apple stuff is incompatible with Flash, and it's causing a lot of trouble for a lot of people.
Round and round we go, eh?
Andy
Jazzdogg
Less barking, more wagging!
Awesome! I'm glad I got this thread bubbling again. Andy, I have to say that the first time I heard your Low B2s, they were being used as PA tops (!) Not only do I remember thinking "this is the best my bass has ever sounded from the FOH.. EVER!".. but we had several people (it was a charity Casino Night with lots of "who's who" from the community) come up to us with compliments on the sound.
I keep bugging you via email every 6 months or so about the status of these cabs because I'm so anxious to hear them. I've tried soooooooooo many cabs out there (lots of high end ones) and I can honestly say that NOTHING I've heard to this day outside of Studio Reference Monitors sound as accurate and uncolored as your Low B Cabs.
I hope you'll keep us posted!
I keep bugging you via email every 6 months or so about the status of these cabs because I'm so anxious to hear them. I've tried soooooooooo many cabs out there (lots of high end ones) and I can honestly say that NOTHING I've heard to this day outside of Studio Reference Monitors sound as accurate and uncolored as your Low B Cabs.
I hope you'll keep us posted!
