AudioKinesis Cabs Part VI...

[Turn Em Loose]

I made the Hathor 15's 18" wide, instead of the minimalist 17", just so you could do that.

Thanks, man!!

Just realized that while I A/Bed the two Hathors, I didn't use them together! DOH!!

 

[TrentB]

View attachment 1006148

I bet that rig rocks!!

 

[DukeLeJeune]

Just realized that while I A/Bed the two Hathors, I didn't use them together! DOH!!

It's okay. There's still time.

Duke, would you post the weight and dimensions for the 6" and 8" Birdhaus cabs, along with any frequency response, efficiency and power handling numbers you have handy and think relevant? Apologies if I missed this elsewhere.

Birdhaus 46: 8 ohms, 400 watts, 94 dB, 23 pounds, 18" tall x 14" wide x 10" deep, -1 dB at 82 Hz and -6 dB at 62 Hz (so its low B is kinda weak) in vented mode, 6 kHz top end extension. One pluggable port, no switches. Mild bumpage (about 3 dB in the middle) from about 100 Hz to about 300 Hz in vented mode. Uses the Invalid Link Removed.

Birdhaus 48: 4 ohms, 800 watts, 95 dB, 35 pounds, 19" tall by 14" wide by 14" deep, flat at 82 Hz and -3 dB at 62 Hz, 4.5 kHz top end, maybe 1 dB or so of gentle bumpage in the 100-300 Hz region. Two pluggable ports, no switches. Uses the 16 ohm version of the Invalid Link Removed. Also available in 8 ohms.

Out in front, the Birdhaus configuration transitions from the outputs of all of the drivers being in-phase at long wavelengths to the side-firing drivers adding in approximately semi-random phase at short wavelengths (assuming a semi-reverberant space). This gives a bit lower on-axis efficiency, because the midrange and high frequency energy is spread out more. The claimed efficiency figures are about 1.5 dB lower than the efficiency calculated from the T/S parameters, but then we get back that 1.5 dB at low frequencies (where the outputs of all the woofers are in-phase). Of course the midrange and high frequency energy isn't "lost" - it improves the dispersion and contributes to the reverberant field in an indoor venue. By way of analogy, consider an adjustable nozzle on a garden hose: The same amount of water comes out whether it's a wide pattern or a narrow pattern, but the pressure is greater where the narrow pattern hits, and "SPL" is a measurement of pressure.

My ego resisted putting into production bass cabs that are just woofers, wood and wire, with no crossoverage for me to hang my hat on. But I decided the Birdhaus cabs need to be out there because I have come to believe they can fill a niche for some bass players.

 

[MarkA]

Hello Duke! Just signing on for my yearly 'Happy Holiday's to my Talkbass friends. Looks like you are continuing to push the envelope. Very cool. All the best!

K

Celebrity cameo! Hope life is fulfilling and GAS-free out beyond the interwebs.

...Birdhaus 46: 8 ohms, 400 watts, 94 dB, 23 pounds, 18" tall x 14" wide x 10" deep, -1 dB at 82 Hz and -6 dB at 62 Hz (so its low B is kinda weak) in vented mode, 6 kHz top end extension. One pluggable port, no switches. Mild bumpage (about 3 dB in the middle) from about 100 Hz to about 300 Hz in vented mode. Uses the Invalid Link Removed.

Birdhaus 48: 4 ohms, 800 watts, 95 dB, 35 pounds, 19" tall by 14" wide by 14" deep, flat at 82 Hz and -3 dB at 62 Hz, maybe 1 dB or so of gentle bumpage in the 100-300 Hz region. Two pluggable ports, no switches. Uses the 16 ohm version of the Invalid Link Removed. Also available in 8 ohms.

Hmm. Hathor 1203 is listed as 18" tall by 14" wide by 13.5" deep; 25 pounds; 95 dB; -3 dB at 63 Hz.

Just looking at frequency response specs and dimensions, seems like a 1203 atop the 8" Birdhaus could do well (mid vents wouldn't be blocked that way -- though I guess you could try it stacked the other way)... similar frequency response and efficiency, though the 1203 (~500 Watts power handling?) would be the limiting factor, volume-wise. Maybe a little flatter and stronger in the low end than the 1203 with the 6" Birdhaus cab (stacked on top), though the 6" cab also looks to match up well. Other factors (phase relationships and such) that might lead to the 8" cab playing more or less well with the 1203 I know nothing about.

Wondering how a low B would come across with a 1203+ 6" Birdhaus vs. a 1203 + 8" Birdhaus vs. two 1203s vs. a 1203 + toaster oven (maybe not the last). Also wondering how the perceived top end of the Birdhaus cabs comes across for things like Jaco harmonics, slap playing, etc. The 10" depth of the 6" driver cab makes it an appealingly small package, but the 8" cab seems like it might be a more capable stand-alone (if you need the extension and the extra volume capability). Cool that you offer both, in any case.

Out in front, the Birdhaus configuration transitions from the outputs of all of the drivers being in-phase at long wavelengths to the side-firing drivers adding in approximately semi-random phase at short wavelengths (assuming a semi-reverberant space). This gives a bit lower on-axis efficiency, because the midrange and high frequency energy is spread out more. The claimed efficiency figures are about 1.5 dB lower than the efficiency calculated from the T/S parameters, but then we get back that 1.5 dB at low frequencies (where the outputs of all the woofers are in-phase). Of course the midrange and high frequency energy isn't "lost" - it improves the dispersion and contributes to the reverberant field in an indoor venue. By way of analogy, consider an adjustable nozzle on a garden hose: The same amount of water comes out whether it's a wide pattern or a narrow pattern, but the pressure is greater where the narrow pattern hits, and "SPL" is a measurement of pressure.

I wondered about that a bit, actually.

My ego resisted putting into production bass cabs that are just woofers, wood and wire, with no crossoverage for me to hang my hat on. But I decided the Birdhaus cabs need to be out there because I have come to believe they can fill a niche for some bass players.

I'm picturing a Birdhaus with a 3" mid/high driver above each woofer (or maybe just in front?), but you would know better than I how that would/wouldn't work, and how much additional cost, complexity, and weight would be involved. Not suggesting that, necessarily -- just riffing off your comment.

Thanks for your indulgence.
-Mark

 

[steubig]

Birdhaus 48: 4 ohms, 800 watts, 95 dB, 35 pounds, 19" tall by 14" wide by 14" deep, flat at 82 Hz and -3 dB at 62 Hz, maybe 1 dB or so of gentle bumpage in the 100-300 Hz region. Two pluggable ports, no switches. Uses the 16 ohm version of the Invalid Link Removed. Also available in 8 ohms.

top end extension on the 48?

 

[DukeLeJeune]

I'm picturing a Birdhaus with a 3" mid/high driver above each woofer (or maybe just in front?), but you would know better than I how that would/wouldn't work, and how much additional cost, complexity, and weight would be involved. Not suggesting that, necessarily -- just riffing off your comment.

Your wheels turn fast! Something like that is on the drawing board. I haven't figured out all of the details (like how to do the recessed handle, given that I no longer have access to the precision routing of a cabinet shop with a CNC machine), and it's not the next thing in line, but it will happen.

top end extension on the 48?

Good catch! Taking beaming into account, I think 4.5 kHz is a valid claim. I edited my post above to include that.

 

[HaphAsSard]

Birdhaus 46: 8 ohms, 400 watts, 94 dB, 23 pounds, 18" tall x 14" wide x 10" deep, -1 dB at 82 Hz and -6 dB at 62 Hz (so its low B is kinda weak) in vented mode, 6 kHz top end extension. One pluggable port, no switches. Mild bumpage (about 3 dB in the middle) from about 100 Hz to about 300 Hz in vented mode. Uses the Invalid Link Removed.

Birdhaus 48: 4 ohms, 800 watts, 95 dB, 35 pounds, 19" tall by 14" wide by 14" deep, flat at 82 Hz and -3 dB at 62 Hz, maybe 1 dB or so of gentle bumpage in the 100-300 Hz region. Two pluggable ports, no switches. Uses the 16 ohm version of the Invalid Link Removed. Also available in 8 ohms.

Combien de...beignets, si je puis?
(I'll wait for an update on the Audiocircle thread, in case I may not.)

 

[nostatic]

View attachment 1006148

ok, color me interested (or perhaps yellow/gold)

 

[DukeLeJeune]

Combien de...beignets, si je puis?
(I'll wait for an update on the Audiocircle thread, in case I may not.)

Le quarante-six, c'est pa mal. Mais le quarante-huite... ooh la la, trop de beignets.

 

[steubig]

Good catch! Taking beaming into account, I think 4.5 kHz is a valid claim. I edited my post above to include that.

i'm on a mission.

 

[steubig]

ok, color me interested (or perhaps yellow/gold)

i thought of you when i saw that.

 

[MarkA]

Le quarante-six, c'est pa mal. Mais le quarante-huite... ooh la la, trop de beignets.

Le franglais, c'est hilarious.

 

[DukeLeJeune]

Le franglais, c'est hilarious.

N'est freakin' pas!

 

[nutdog]

Specifically i'm curious what folks sonic impressions are when going from thier Brand X cab to the Hathor?

First and foremost is clarity and voicing. Clear, rich tone with upfront high mids but not ganky, peaky or boxy. Solid lows but not too much. I never feel like I'm fighting the cab with EQ to be heard in a room. Volume that belies the size.

There are many other nice cabs that are clear and sound good but I don't know of any that do it in such a small package at such a good price.

Hello Duke! Just signing on for my yearly 'Happy Holiday's to my Talkbass friends. Looks like you are continuing to push the envelope. Very cool. All the best!

K

Not the same around here without you.

 

[maisbass]

First and foremost is clarity and voicing. Clear, rich tone with upfront high mids but not ganky, peaky or boxy. Solid lows but not too much. I never feel like I'm fighting the cab with EQ to be heard in a room. Volume that belies the size.

There are many other nice cabs that are clear and sound good but I don't know of any that do it in such a small package at such a good price.

Not the same around here without you.

And agree on all counts. Happy holidays @KJung! You're insight is truly missed here.

 

[HaphAsSard]

Le quarante-six, c'est pa mal. Mais le quarante-huite... ooh la la, trop de beignets.

Parfait! Ouai, the -six, it's très invitant, and not solely for the...leaner content in calories, I swear...
(Boy, do you pay for what you get with them 8PRs. Then again you get what you pay for, I guess. À la boutique comme à la boutique...)

 

[DukeLeJeune]

There are many other nice cabs that are clear and sound good but I don't know of any that do it in such a small package at such a good price.

Thank you!

Parfait! Ouai, the -six, it's très invitant, and not solely for the...leaner content in calories, I swear...
(Boy, do you pay for what you get with them 8PRs. Then again you get what you pay for, I guess. À la boutique comme à la boutique...)

Oui, those 8PR's are tres cher. I don't expect to sell many cabs that use four of them!

The bass cab section of my website is almost up to date, hopefully by tonight the Birdhaus cabs will be there, y compris les prix.

My keyboard ne fait pas those French accent marks. Not that I really know which ones to use when...

 

[John D Harris]

Thank you!



Oui, those 8PR's are tres cher. I don't expect to sell many cabs that use four of them!

The bass cab section of my website is almost up to date, hopefully by tonight the Birdhaus cabs will be there, y compris les prix.

My keyboard ne fait pas those French accent marks. Not that I really know which ones to use when...

I noticed that the ThunderChild 212 has a bit larger exterior than the Hathor 212, but they appear to have the same -1dB LF point.
Is the difference based on the cu.in of the TC HF driver+horn vs the Hathor chamber for the 2x3's or does the TC have a bit more internal volume?

 

[MarkA]

Thank you!



Oui, those 8PR's are tres cher. I don't expect to sell many cabs that use four of them!

The bass cab section of my website is almost up to date, hopefully by tonight the Birdhaus cabs will be there, y compris les prix.

My keyboard ne fait pas those French accent marks. Not that I really know which ones to use when...

On a Mac, you can hold down the key and get options. On a PC, there are a bunch of codes I used to know in another job... accent marks on pc - Google Search

 

[DukeLeJeune]

I noticed that the ThunderChild 212 has a bit larger exterior than the Hathor 212, but they appear to have the same -1dB LF point.
Is the difference based on the cu.in of the TC HF driver+horn vs the Hathor chamber for the 2x3's or does the TC have a bit more internal volume?

Good eyes!

I have two sets of pre-cut boards left for the 1/2" larger (in each dimension) Thunderchild 212 cabs, and then when I cut more boards, it will go down to the same size as the Hathor 212.

When I originally designed the Thunderchild 212 cab, I was trying to get as much internal volume as I could cram into a shipping box with internal dimensions of 36" x 16" x 16", allowing for some protective foam padding. By the time I did the Hathor 212 cab, the little Hathor 1203 had shown me that I needn't be so concerned with maxing out the internal volume. Since then I have prototyped a Kappalite 112 cab with even smaller internal volume than the Hathor 1203.

The Hathor 212 and the slightly larger Thunderchild 212 model within a small fraction of a dB of one another on the low end. If we keep the ports the same (which we do in this case), as the box volume goes up a little, so does the tuning frequency, so the -3 dB point shifts very little. And we have plenty of excursion so a small shift in the tuning frequency is inconsequential.