Best 15” speaker

[StereoPlayer]

What others have said.

Oh. Funny. I have a sweet sweet rig. I’m good. I just thought I’d try a little project. I didn’t know you experts would be so peeved at my audacity. Never mind. What an unbelievably helpful forum! You go to people who know what they’re talking about and they tell you that you don’t know what you’re talking about! Brilliant.

listen to @agedhorse …he’s done the research. A very respected person here. You can’t ask a question like your without more facts.

 

[agedhorse]

Oh. Funny. I have a sweet sweet rig. I’m good. I just thought I’d try a little project. I didn’t know you experts would be so peeved at my audacity. Never mind. What an unbelievably helpful forum! You go to people who know what they’re talking about and they tell you that you don’t know what you’re talking about! Brilliant.

Because this it the true, honest, accurate answer. You don’t know what you are talking about, but with some studying, a little math and research, you could learn and become more knowledgeable.

While there are lots of random answers, there is no good answer to your question without knowing a LOT more. For example, what amp are you using? Power handing of a speaker affects other parameters which often rule out speaker candidates from consideration.

 

[StereoPlayer]

You’re right. I asked for the best. I was hoping 10 people would say: this is the best. And then I could try them. Instead…

Their is no “best” anything.

 

[abarson]

I thought asking people on forums was research. My mistake

No need to get offended and sulk. We're trying to provide answers that you may not want to hear.

Unlike guitar amplification, the design of a cabinet is integral to the selection of the speaker, with some knowledge of what your end goals are. @agedhorse is trying to convey this as well.
Building your own often doesn't mean that you're saving money, if that's part of the consideration.

You could download the plans for a TL606 and use an Eminence 3015, which would give you that "old school sound", but you will end up investing nearly the same amount of cash as a new box with a less flexible outcome.

 

[function]

I just built a single 15” ported cabinet using an Eminence Kappa 15A. Not pro, not Kappalite. I designed it around Eminence’s recommendations on internal volume and port size for this particular speaker. It sounds great

 

[geeveebee]

I just built a single 15” ported cabinet using an Eminence Kappa 15A. Not pro, not Kappalite. I designed it around Eminence’s recommendations on internal volume and port size for this particular speaker. It sounds great

Thank you!

 

[jallenbass]

I have a friend who is a lot of casings that can put the thing together for me.

When you say "casings" do you mean speaker boxes?

 

[Passinwind]

You’re right. I asked for the best. I was hoping 10 people would say: this is the best. And then I could try them. Instead…

The problem with that is that you may very well need to build ten cabinets to properly try those ten drivers, or at the very least a few different boxes. If you would please answer my simple basic questions either I or someone else might be able to name a few names. There are a whole lot of accomplished DIY'ers on TalkBass, but dammit Jim, we're not mind readers.

 

[mexicanyella]

This has been one of those “better to burn out than to fade away” threads.

The OP said multiple things that seemed like deliberate vagueness to me: “I like that 70s tone” and “I play through an Ampeg cab” were standouts. Surely this was not a serious inquiry, but a deliberate wind-up. Other sentence construction aspects hint at someone who would know this was way too unfocused a question to allow any useful recommendations.

 

[geeveebee]

This has been one of those “better to burn out than to fade away” threads.

The OP said multiple things that seemed like deliberate vagueness to me: “I like that 70s tone” and “I play through an Ampeg cab” were standouts. Surely this was not a serious inquiry, but a deliberate wind-up. Other sentence construction aspects hint at someone who would know this was way too unfocused a question to allow any useful recommendations.[/QUOT

This has been one of those “better to burn out than to fade away” threads.

The OP said multiple things that seemed like deliberate vagueness to me: “I like that 70s tone” and “I play through an Ampeg cab” were standouts. Surely this was not a serious inquiry, but a deliberate wind-up. Other sentence construction aspects hint at someone who would know this was way too unfocused a question to allow any useful recommendations.

yeah. I got nothing better to do than to wind up bass experts. You got me. People: we’re not saving babies here. We’re playing bass. I am dreadfully sorry for wasting your time with such an offensive question. Please, I’m begging, let it burn out. I look forward to reading all of the amazing help you bestow upon other curious types. Rest assured: I now know how much you know and how little I know. Does that make you happy? Goodbye, fellow musicians.

 

[Tim Rinkerman]

You would be hard pressed to find a more accurate and efficient speaker than a JBL D,E,or K 140. If you are looking for lightweight, look for speakers wit neodymium magnets...

 

[groovaholic]

I’m not looking for the best. I’m not looking for random. I just want some recommendations so I can do my own research. Why is this so hard?

Your question is like asking “what’s the best spark plug” or “what’s the best length for a 2x4” - or just saying the word “Why?” and expecting the response to solve whatever issue you were thinking about.

There are TONS of great 15” speakers. Those speakers will sound like (poop) in the wrong application.

Until you start to nail down the variables, your question will not be answerable.

 

[GreyBeard]

I’m looking to build a 15” cabinet. I’d like some opinions on the best speaker out there for this project. Much obliged.
Gregg

I bought a set of plans for a Bill Fitzmaurice Simplexx 1x15. With these plans he gives you a list of 15" speakers that work well in this cabinet. I ended up buying a Eminence neo 3015. It is rated at 400 watts and weighs under 10LBS. The cabinet with speaker weighs around 35LBS. I'm very happy with the sound of this speaker. Is it the best? That is hard to say but, I believe it is the best speaker for this cabinet.

 

[geeveebee]

I bought a set of plans for a Bill Fitzmaurice Simplexx 1x15. With these plans he gives you a list of 15" speakers that work well in this cabinet. I ended up buying a Eminence neo 3015. It is rated at 400 watts and weighs under 10LBS. The cabinet with speaker weighs around 35LBS. I'm very happy with the sound of this speaker. Is it the best? That is hard to say but, I believe it is the best speaker for this cabinet.
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Appreciate this. Thank you.

 

[Glennbassmann]

 

[HelpImaRock]

 

[agedhorse]

You would be hard pressed to find a more accurate and efficient speaker than a JBL D,E,or K 140.

Except that it would be a terrible choice for any amp delivering more than say 100-200 watts (depending on the model) into the speaker. Maybe 150 watts if the cabinet tuning is not ideal.

 

[Philonius]

OK everyone; breathe. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out.......

Feel better? Good. Now, let's start over.

If I understand correctly, your friend has a selection of boxes (speaker cabinets) you want to install a new driver in- correct? The issue is that just deciding "THIS IS BEST" and bolting it in may not work. It could, but the chances are <50/50. The way bass cabinets work is that the box and the driver need to match up in specific ways. It involves math, and physics, and stuff like that. You have an amazing wealth of knowledge at your disposal here, and people willing to help, but without useful information, they cant do much for you.

So tell us more about your project; your friend has empty cabinets; what the heck are they? What's your budget for a driver? That would be a good starting point.

 

[agedhorse]

View attachment 4535413

This specific model is limited to about 100-125 watts RMS for bass applications under ideal conditions with an HPF. therefore, it may be a terrible recommendation depending on the amp being used, the low frequency extension desired and the required maximum SPL (volume).

 

[dbase]

View attachment 4535413

There it is ... That's the one ...