That was me. I wanted to get a rundown of your current offerings - specs & how they compare in volume and sound. I pulled the post because most of the info I'm sure has been covered already although it's spread over many pages. but since you asked... it might be nice to have it all in one place.
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AudioKinesis Cabs Part VI...
- Thread starter Thor
- Start date
That was me. I wanted to get a rundown of your current offerings - specs & how they compare in volume and sound. I pulled the post because most of the info I'm sure has been covered already although it's spread over many pages. but since you asked... it might be nice to have it all in one place.
Y'know, I've spent the past few days trying to think of how to describe my experience with the TC118 and 300 Pro. If I put a 3 band parametric EQ in front, it's bass nirvana regardless of room. I don't even need the port plugs because I can cut the problem areas before they're a problem. Heck, I don't need a lot of volume to be present now. I think there's some irony in that. 
- Nov 24, 2008
- 4,343
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- Disclosures
- Owner & designer, AudioKinesis; Auth. mfg, Big E (Home Audio only)
Thank you for coming back, Basss, I'll try to give a decent reply for you and LeonD. I'll be leaving out pricing information of course, but can follow up with that in a PM.
A couple of quick notes... On the low-end extension specs, I posted how far down the cab is at the first overtone of the lowest note the cab is designed for, which in most cases is low-B. On the power handling, my claims should be good both thermally and mechanically. On the efficiency spec, I go by the Thiele/Small paramater calculations, as this is most representative of the efficiency in the bass region. I don't yet have the weights on the "new" cabs, as I haven't yet built production versions in lightweight plywood, but the boards are on order.
The Thunderchild v2 series (generally "hi fi"/studio-like cabs, PA-style compression driver + horn for the top end), the v2 denoting the switch to a horn that has wider dispersion in the vertical plane than the originals:
Thunderchild 112v2, 4 ohms: Dimensions 22" tall x 14" wide x 14" deep; 30 pounds; 95 dB; 500 watts; -2 dB at 62 Hz with normal tuning; pluggable ports give two ported and one sealed option; top end switchable between 3.5 kHz and 17 kHz (-3 dB points). Woofer is custom 4-ohm Kappalite 3012LF variant.
Thunderchild 112v2, 8 ohms: Dimensions 22" tall x 14" wide x 14" deep; 30 pounds; 94 dB; 500 watts; -1 dB at 62 Hz with normal tuning; pluggable ports give two ported and one sealed option; top end switchable between 3.5 kHz and 18 kHz (-3 dB points). Another switch toggles between smooth mids and a bit of grind in the mids. Woofer is stock Kappalite 3012LF.
Thunderchild 115v2, 8 ohms: Dimensions 25" tall x 17" wide x 14.5" deep; 36 pounds; 98 dB; 500 watts; -4 dB at 62 Hz with normal tuning; pluggable ports give two ported and one sealed option; top end switchable between 3.5 kHz and 18 kHz (-3 dB points). Another switch toggles betwen smooth mids and a bit of grind in the mids. Woofer is stock Kappalite 3015(non-LF).
Thunderchild 212v2: 4 ohms; dimensions 34.5" tall x 14.5" wide x 14.5" deep; 47 pounds; 97 dB; 900 watts; -1 dB at 62 Hz with normal tuning; pluggable ports give two ported and one sealed option; top end switchable between 3.5 kHz and 18 kHz (-3 dB points). Another switch toggles betwen smooth mids and a bit of grind in the mids. Woofers are stock Kappalite 3012LF.
Thunderchild 118 (new, also with a wider-in-the-vertical horn): 8 ohms; dimensions 30" tall x 20" wide x 14.5" deep; estimated 47-50 pounds [EDIT 2-16-2014: New estimate = 44 pounds]; 97 dB; 600 watts; -1 dB at 62 Hz with normal tuning; pluggable ports give two ported and one sealed option; top end switchable between 3.5 kHz and 18 kHz (-3 dB points). Woofer is stock Faital 18FH500.
The "Acoustic Friendly" option: Reduced-level rear-firing tweeter that adds a bit of top-end energy to the reverberant field and therefore comes a little bit closer to mimicing an actual acoustic instrument, and also lets anyone behind the cab (drummer perhaps) hear the overtones a bit better. More useful for upright bass than for electric bass. Adds about 1.5 pounds to the cab.
The Hathor series (cone midrange drivers for the top end, in a mid-chamber that is partially open on the top & back):
Hathor 1203 (new): 8 ohms; dimensions 18" tall x 14" wide x 14" deep; estimated 28 pounds [EDIT 2-16-2014: Weight = 24 pounds]; 94 dB; 500 watts; -3 dB at 62 Hz; pluggable single port; top end switchable between 3.5 kHz and 12 kHz (-3 dB points). Another switch toggles betwen smooth mids and a bit of grind in the mids. Woofer is stock Kappalite 3012LF, mid is 3" Faital.
Hathor 1544: 4 or 8 ohms; dimensions 25" tall x 18" wide x 14" deep; 34 pounds; 98 dB; 400 watts; -4 dB at 62 Hz; top end switchable between 3.5 kHz and 10 kHz (-3 dB points). Woofer is Faital 15PR400, either 4 or 8 ohm version, mids are 4" Faital. Kappalite 3015(non-LF) will also be available soon.
Hathor 1805 [EDIT 2-16-2014: ABANDONED!! The single 5" mid failed to "keep up" with the high-output 18]
Hathor 1855 (new): 4 or 8 ohms; dimensions dimensions 30" tall x 20" wide x 14.5" deep; estimated 55-60 pounds [Edit 2-16-2014: Weight = 50 pounds]; 95 dB; 1200 watts; -4 dB at 46 Hz (the first overtone of low F#); pluggable ports offer two ported and one sealed option; top end -3 dB at 6 kHz. No switches. Woofer is Faital 18HP1060, either 4 or 8 ohm version, mids are 5" Faital.
While I haven't given out much information about them yet, also in the current new wave of cabs is the "Twister" series which will be quasi-old-school midless/tweetless cabs with a pattern-widening "twist" of sorts (sorry, I can't bring myself to just do woofers-in-a-box):
Twister 212: 4 ohms; dimensions 28" tall x 18" wide x 16" deep; weights and performance specs will vary according to the specific woofers used but suitable woofers include the Beta 12A; the Deltalite 2512 II; and the Kappalite 3012LF. The Beta 12A version will be kinda weak on low-B, that being the trade-off for its higher efficiency.
Twister 215: 4 ohms; dimensions 34" tall x 22" wide x 16" deep; weights and performance specs will vary according to the specific woofers used but suitable woofers include the Legend CB158; the Basslite 2515; and the Kappalite 3015 (non-LF).
* * * *
Why all the new designs? I want to compete in categories where I haven't had anything to offer yet.
- Nov 24, 2008
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- Disclosures
- Owner & designer, AudioKinesis; Auth. mfg, Big E (Home Audio only)
Thanks!
Since the two 112-8's would have more cubic volume per woofer, they'll have a little bit more bottom end. Maximum volume is identical, and tone is very similar. The 212 uses a more expensive compression driver (four times the price) that I've had good results with in custom studio monitors, but the one in the 112-8 is surprisingly good for its cost and weight.
Does that mean I can cancel my order for the AK Prisma pair and just order a pair of TC112-8's?
Maybe my kid can go to college this semester!
Sorry no, I've already spent your deposit on lottery tickets. College is over-rated anyway.
Seriously, the Prisma uses the same woofer as the TC112-8, along with a rear-firing tweeter (where'd that idea come from??) and the horn + compression driver that I use in custom studio monitors. I'd want to put the guts of the 112-8 in a bigger box for home audio (or maybe even "budget studio"), but that's about it.
Jazzdogg
Less barking, more wagging!
Y'know, I've spent the past few days trying to think of how to describe my experience with the TC118 and 300 Pro. If I put a 3 band parametric EQ in front, it's bass nirvana regardless of room. I don't even need the port plugs because I can cut the problem areas before they're a problem. Heck, I don't need a lot of volume to be present now. I think there's some irony in that.
I'd like to hear more about your TC118, not because I think it's likely to me the cab for me, but because I find it so intriguing; I also find the Ampeg flip top 1x18 intriguing, but I've never owned one.
What is the 300 Pro?
Thanks for that concise summary - quite helpful. Wide enough variety to choose from to satisfy any taste.
I'd like to hear more about your TC118, not because I think it's likely to me the cab for me, but because I find it so intriguing; I also find the Ampeg flip top 1x18 intriguing, but I've never owned one.
I've had deals on clean B-18X's twice for $1000. Too bad they required a drive to the east coast when I had no time to spare.
What can I describe? The problem with using most descriptors I know is that they describe voiced boxes. I mean, I plug in flat, cut my sub lows (20-60 Hz range), boost a little at 220, and it's really all there. I don't have a better term. I have punch, articulation, definition, control, evenness across strings, and most of all-headroom! It just sounds right. Never thought I'd be at a loss for words but the TC has so many attributes that I like that it's hard to pick the correct lingo.
It's a Fender Bassman 300 Pro (Sunn 300T).
Jazzdogg
Less barking, more wagging!
I've had deals on clean B-18X's twice for $1000. Too bad they required a drive to the east coast when I had no time to spare.
What can I describe? The problem with using most descriptors I know is that they describe voiced boxes. I mean, I plug in flat, cut my sub lows (20-60 Hz range), boost a little at 220, and it's really all there. I don't have a better term. I have punch, articulation, definition, control, evenness across strings, and most of all-headroom! It just sounds right. Never thought I'd be at a loss for words but the TC has so many attributes that I like that it's hard to pick the correct lingo.
It's a Fender Bassman 300 Pro (Sunn 300T).
Thanks!
- Nov 24, 2008
- 4,343
- 7,163
- Disclosures
- Owner & designer, AudioKinesis; Auth. mfg, Big E (Home Audio only)
Okay, this is just my opinion of course, but one area where I think the more traditional woofers-only bass cab has room for improvement is in dispersion. You may have all the mids you need on-axis, but off-axis they usually fall off rapidly. In fact one of the main (if not THE main) selling points of a woofer+mid cab is the wider dispersion in the midrange region. Of course a dedicated midrange driver will almost always have more top-end extension than a woofer all by itself, so that's another advantage IF you want the extra octave or so the mid adds. Not everyone does, whether their primary consideration is tone or cost.
The advantage of wider dispersion up top (another way to put it would be, more uniform dispersion, because it's already wide down low) would be, more uniform tone throughout the venue. This would let everyone throughout the venue hear pretty much the same tone, which I think is a nice thing to do.
So if I was ever going to do a woofers-only bass cab, I'd want to somehow give it wider, more uniform dispersion than you'd normally get. It has taken me a while to figure out how.
One way to get wider, more uniform dispersion from a woofers-only cab is to use a splayed array. That is, woofers either angled out, or angled in (cross-fired), which results in better dispersion up at the top end of the woofers' range. If the angle is chosed carefully, you can end up with roughly twice the pattern width that you normally would have had at the top end of the woofers' range. So in other words, two splayed 15's can approximate the pattern width (though not the top-end extension) of a single 8" driver.
The disadvantage of splayed drivers is, the resulting cab is quite wide. Well that may not always be a disadvantage, but I'm under the impression that a small footprint is generally more desirable because it's practical on a small stage.
So what I did was, come up with a way to get the pattern width advantages of a splayed array, but in a cab whose width is still live-with-able. My latest round of measurements (after a bit of fine-tuning) indicates that the Twister 215 will not only approximate the pattern width of an 8" cone up high (say between 2 and 3 kHz), but also have a generally more uniform pattern than an 8" cone. Likewise, the Twister 212 approximates the pattern width of a 6" cone up at its top end (3-4 kHz ballpark).
So the Twister line is my attempt to build a modern radiation pattern into an otherwise more old-school cab. I'll incorporate some switchology where I think there's an opportunity to offer two useful voicings. We'll also have pluggable ports, so the very low end can be scaled back if the venue is boomy.
If I recall correctly, you've built some very nice cabs with some of the woofers I'll be using, so it's very encouraging for me to hear you say that. Hey if there was a way for me to not use the exact same woofers you're using I would, but you already chose the best ones, so sorry to copy you!
How does one go about procuring one of those TC118's... Is there a time table for an official release?
- Nov 24, 2008
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- Disclosures
- Owner & designer, AudioKinesis; Auth. mfg, Big E (Home Audio only)
I don't have an exact date for when the first producton versions will be built, but probably before the end of January. I guess that once I have photos of the production version, it's official. In my mind it was launched when Mike Arnopol, who built christw's cab, called me up and said, Duke you gotta do these.
Duke, if this cab uses the stock Kappalite 3012LF, wouldn't it be an 8 ohm load?
- Nov 24, 2008
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- Disclosures
- Owner & designer, AudioKinesis; Auth. mfg, Big E (Home Audio only)
Good catch! You are absolutely right; bad typo on my part. I corrected it, and I thank you very much!
- Nov 24, 2008
- 4,343
- 7,163
- Disclosures
- Owner & designer, AudioKinesis; Auth. mfg, Big E (Home Audio only)
Thank you, Mark! Happy Holidays to you too, and the rest of the TalkBass community. Ya'll been very good to me.
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