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BAD fEARless 110 - greenboy goes even smaller
- Thread starter CL400Peavey
- Start date
Kappalite 3010LF,
calculated from TS specs
Reference Efficiency: 1.25%
1-W SPL: 93dB
Kappalite 3015LF (2009),
calculated from TS specs
Reference Efficiency: 2.52%
1-W SPL: 98,4dB
The Kappalite series come with a 3" and with high moving mass and therefore a low fs.
So don't ask for impossibilities regarding to their SPL.
calculated from TS specs
Reference Efficiency: 1.25%
1-W SPL: 93dB
Kappalite 3015LF (2009),
calculated from TS specs
Reference Efficiency: 2.52%
1-W SPL: 98,4dB
The Kappalite series come with a 3" and with high moving mass and therefore a low fs.
So don't ask for impossibilities regarding to their SPL.
10's have always paled in comparison to 15's for efficiency.
That 93dB is actually pretty darned good!
And?
This cab isnt about crushing people's skulls with volume. Its about form factor, and tonal capability.
Pretty damed good?
That is likely the random average for a 10s PA speaker which is equipped with a 3" voice coil.
*shrug* as I said its not about skull crushing volume, or trying to get the most sensitive speaker in a small box. Its about tonal content, and form factor. For the size and weight of this cab, its content under 100hz is pretty fantastic. That isnt to say that for a similar price, different components couldnt be sourced for a louder, although larger cab.
For camparision some specs for a different 10s speaker equipped with 3" voice coil.
fs: 38Hz
Frequency Range: 35..3500Hz
1-W SPS 93dB
Xmax 5mm
Xmech 15mm
I don't believe that a difference of 2mm for manufaturers rated Xmax is a valid point to discuss.
May be that is debating on principles. But the estimation of Xmax is sometimes (or often) done with different methods and therefore different results.
Never the less a Xmax of 5..7mm is large enough anyway whereas Xmech is identical for both.
Refering to 3" voice coil speakers the Kappalite isnt something special, the Kappalite is of average quality with average specs.
And for the [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
fs: 38.6Hz
Frequency Range: 42-1600hz (good thing in this application its crossed over to a good mid driver)
1-W SPS 92.7dB
Xmax 8.52mm
Xmech 15.7mm
Either way how many of these premium speakers are loaded into off the shelf cabs?
That's right!
Sometimes I don't keep in mind that the average bass cabinets are very often affected by marketing rules.
I think we can all agree that the average off the shelf cab, that can be found in big name stores, use components/construction/designs that meet specific price points.
If you take out the compromise of driver, construction, and design costs, you can end up with an incredible cab. Unfortunatly we are held to some compromises concerning price, and size/form factor.
All I can say is 'wow', a real beauty.I have initial impressions on a Fearless 110 made by Joseph Hawley of jHAWK Customs. The build quality is excellent and as good or better than any cab I've owned.
I've played it for just a week but have not had a chance to play it in a band/gig context. So far I'm very impressed. Now that it's broken in, the tone is clear, rich and creamy - but distinctively tighter than my previous LDS 12/6 and 15/6 cabs. People have described low end tone on the "nEarful/fEarful" line as being somewhat bloaty. That's a negative way to put it, but there is a definite difference with the Fearless design - at least for this 110 cab. The tighter feel is more to my liking and will be perfect for jazz/pop. Perhaps the fEarful design is "better" for rock. It would be easier to EQ the Fearless to be more like a fEarful than vice versa. So far I'm finding the F110 sounds perfect without using my Fdeck HPF-Pre Series 3 (which is essential for my Crazy8 cabs).
The back of the F110 features an attenuator switch that dampens the mid-range driver. This may be the single most important feature of the F110 as it instantly provides two different voices for the cab. You may have used or read reviews of mid-forward cabs like the Bergantino AE210 or the Baer 112. I had an AE210v and loved it in a band/gig context, but not so much in my home studio where it was too aggressive and overwhelmed the room. Honestly, home is where I clock the most hours playing bass. So for me, it's critical that the cab sound equally good at home as at the gig. With the F110, I'm finding I prefer the mid driver dampened in my home studio, and bet the damper off will really drive this cab through the mix at a gig. The switch makes the F110 a chameleon, equally good in either context without having to mess around with EQ.
So far I prefer leaving the tweeter on full and controlling top end with my amp. This is a testament to the quality of the crossover, which provides a smooth, seamless presentation of all tonal frequencies.
Weight is about 31 pounds. I can't get over how compact this unit is. It will be a cinch to transport to-and-from gigs and will be ideal for the winery venues where I play jazz. The Crazy8 is more than enough cab for quiet acoustic settings, but I've always preferred having a bit more umph for electric and I'm doubling at every gig. It's not simply a matter of volume, the electric just sounds better with two or more drivers. And about volume: the F110 gets pretty loud, definitely as loud as a good 210 and maybe a super 12.
The performance is equally good with my Fender Aerodyne Jazz bass and Rob Allen Deep 4 fretless acoustic bass. I've been using an EA Micro, and ordered a TecAmp Puma 900 that should be here in about a week or so. I've read the Puma reviews and imagine it will pair well with the F110.
Overall, nothing but good things to say about this cab design. Congratulations to Dave "Greenboy" Green for another job well done, and to Joseph for manufacturing an amazing tone generator. It's the best of times for gigging bassists!
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Congrads and I hope it gives you many hours of enjoyment.
That is as beautiful piece of work right there!
+1 That for at least some of us, a bit of tightening of the low end and smoothing of the upper midrange would be a good thing versus the original fEARful design. Sounds like that was achieved nicely on this version, and the build quality looks spectacular.
I'm trying to talk a buddy of mine (amazing jazz/pop Fodera player who really digs the Anthony Jackson thing) to consider the F115. Seems like the perfect cab for someone like him.
Congrats
+1 That for at least some of us, a bit of tightening of the low end and smoothing of the upper midrange would be a good thing versus the original fEARful design. Sounds like that was achieved nicely on this version, and the build quality looks spectacular.
I'm trying to talk a buddy of mine (amazing jazz/pop Fodera player who really digs the Anthony Jackson thing) to consider the F115. Seems like the perfect cab for someone like him.
Congrats
That is as beautiful piece of work right there!
+1 That for at least some of us, a bit of tightening of the low end and smoothing of the upper midrange would be a good thing versus the original fEARful design. Sounds like that was achieved nicely on this version, and the build quality looks spectacular.
I'm trying to talk a buddy of mine (amazing jazz/pop Fodera player who really digs the Anthony Jackson thing) to consider the F115. Seems like the perfect cab for someone like him.
Congrats
The thing I think that is really nice about the 110, 112, and 115 is that you can kick them back. On a tight stage that really helps you hear what is going on, even at low volumes.
And yeah these things are fantasitc tonally too.
I just had a cover for the F110 made by:
Custom Amp Covers, Inc.
P.O. Box 70063
Rochester Hills, MI 48307
U.S.A.
(248) 650-2509
www.amplifiercovers.com
During the past several years they have made many leather covers for me. Good quality, prices, and service. This one was $50 plus shipping. It's slightly loose in fit, but the cab shape is pretty odd so I think it was a good job all things being equal. They have the dimensions stored under the cab's name: FEARLESS 110.
Invalid Link Removed
Custom Amp Covers, Inc.
P.O. Box 70063
Rochester Hills, MI 48307
U.S.A.
(248) 650-2509
www.amplifiercovers.com
During the past several years they have made many leather covers for me. Good quality, prices, and service. This one was $50 plus shipping. It's slightly loose in fit, but the cab shape is pretty odd so I think it was a good job all things being equal. They have the dimensions stored under the cab's name: FEARLESS 110.
Invalid Link Removed
Last edited:
- Nov 24, 2008
- 4,343
- 7,163
- Disclosures
- Owner & designer, AudioKinesis; Auth. mfg, Big E (Home Audio only)
Xmax is an oft-underappreciated little spec that tells a bigger story than you'd normally think.
The 8.5 mm Xmax of the Kappalite 3010LF gives it about 4.5 dB more headroom before fartout than you'd get with only 5 mm of Xmax (you get 6 dB for each doubling of displacement). That's comparable to going from 200 watts to 550 watts. (This is of course assuming the measurements were made with the same yardstick; Eminence's Xmax figures are derived more conservatively than most.)
This significant increase in fartout headroom is why Greenboy and his ilk find ways to deal with the wayward frequency response curves of the Kappalite LF drivers.
Played a jazz gig at a local winery Friday. It was 104 degrees in the shade - whew! Gear included:
The bass sounded massive -- deep, rich, and full. Nice! Here's a clip:
http://youtu.be/s1bbNB2lNJU
- Fearless 110 (tweeter on full, no attenuation on the mid-range driver)
- TecAmp Puma 900 (all settings flat)
- Rob Allen Deep 4 fretless with black nylon tapewounds (all settings flat)
The bass sounded massive -- deep, rich, and full. Nice! Here's a clip:
http://youtu.be/s1bbNB2lNJU
