I never thought of mine (very same cab) as dark. It’s fairly neutral if I had to label it. I also have the TC 112 (non-AF) like Charlie’s and they are similarly voiced, I’d say, though the 15 is def “bigger” in girth. I hope all your components are working. I’d bet Duke would be happy to help you if you need to troubleshoot it.
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AudioKinesis Cabs Part VI...
- Thread starter Thor
- Start date
My TC112AF makes a TON of bass. I wouldn’t describe it as dark but I nearly always cut bass at the amp EQ to find a sound I can work with. Had a gig last night in a loft above a restaurant with a lot of inherent boom. Cutting a significant amount of lows cleaned it up just fine.
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,066
- 46,000
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
I've never heard the 115 version, so I will happily come up there sometime soon as needed.
I have 12” and 15” AK cabinets, and the 15” models put out a huge amount of low end. My 12” Hathors are more balanced, but the 15” models will sound nice and articulate with some low end rolloff.
I'm pretty sure everything is working fine. A beyond reputable seller. My guess is more that my expectations were different... Maybe a case of hearing with my eyes? Seeing the big horn and expecting it to be more prevalent ?
I'm going to run some program material through it. That should be informative for me. And I'll try a comparo with Charlie's TC112AF.
I think AK cabs are nicely balanced, but they can sound dark compared to (for instance) Bergantino cabs, which have really extended highs.
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,066
- 46,000
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
I remember that the first time you tried my cab at an open mic you asked me to put on the tweeter attenuator, and then very quickly changed your mind...
I've found using the port plugs (usually two of the four) on my TC115 v1 non-AF help control the big bottom. And I like running it "sealed" with all four plugs at lower volumes when appropriate.
Would love to try a TC118 sometime. They seem pretty rare unfortunately
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,066
- 46,000
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
Yeah, I made sure mine went to someone I could get it back from if the need ever arises. His audition lasted less than a minute, followed by "let's do it."
Well, I did some testing and eveything is working fine. Flattened my Aux EQ and ran some Steely Dan through it. Horn is definitely working and the difference with the switch is quite distinct. So not as bright a cab as I had assumed - which is OK as I play bass, not treble ;-)
I am running with two plugs out. GK MB- Fusion. Schecter Banshee with a Fralin. Sounds pretty nice. Going to try it with a BB 800 and maybe B15-S head.
I am running with two plugs out. GK MB- Fusion. Schecter Banshee with a Fralin. Sounds pretty nice. Going to try it with a BB 800 and maybe B15-S head.
I remember that the first time you tried my cab at an open mic you asked me to put on the tweeter attenuator, and then very quickly changed your mind...
My relationship with tweeters is on again/off again all the time... maybe less so when I have an hpf/lpf in my chain...
On those port plugs, I usually run open except when in boomy rooms, in which case I'm using 2 or all to tame things. That applies to both an old Thunderchild 115 v.1, and a Hathor 1533.
The TC115 wide Duke made for me back in 2012ish really benefitted from an amp with aggressive upper mids. I briefly had a Jule Monique rackmount and thought it was a bad match eq-wise. I couldn't get the top end and clarity I needed, no matter what I tried. It sounded killer with a GK 1001RB-II. My primary electric at the time was an '82 G&L L-1000.
Agreed! Most of my playing recently through AK cabs has been using various GK’s, all of which feature strong mids. If I think back far enough (10 years) I too was surprised at first by the smoothness of the horn and its (crossover) match to the woofer - not like a tweeter control at all. …and I do love it!
Plugging up the rear ports makes a hugh difference on the bottom end with my TC112 and TC115 cabs.
Also, try running your signal through a BBE Sonic Maximizer pedal.
I never leave home without mine!
A lot of people listened with their eyes when they saw the big horn, expecting them to be harsh and shouty, but the Thunderchild series was Duke's first attempt at a truly hi-fi, extended range bass cab.
Not hi-fi in the music industry marketing sense of exaggerated, crunchy highs, but a smooth, extended response out toward 15K. Wide dispersion was also a key goal. The crossover in these is extremely complex- believe it or not, it contributes a huge chunk of the weight of the cab. People have performed with them as improvised PA cabs, to amplify violin, etc.
Duke subsequently designed the Hathor range when people asked for extended range and wide dispersion, but with a paper-cone driver up top instead of a horn. A more conventional-sounding cab for people who use distortion, essentially.
I use a pair of TC112v3af's as a little practice PA in my music room, I asked Duke to put pole-mounts on the bottom. They sound fantastic.
I believe Duke commented somewhere in this thread that continued loud use as full-range speakers or with higher freq instruments may be hard on the horn, and that he'd use a different model if that was the intended purpose.
But for my use at lower volumes they're absolutely great.
I believe Duke commented somewhere in this thread that continued loud use as full-range speakers or with higher freq instruments may be hard on the horn, and that he'd use a different model if that was the intended purpose.
But for my use at lower volumes they're absolutely great.
