Boutique 3-way 115 and 215 on a budget

[Supertanker]

Looks like Carvin had the same idea...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140123913074&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1

 

[greenboy]

Looks like Carvin had the same idea...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140123913074&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1

That got its own thread a couple days ago. It's a way old PA cab, but it probably would be suitable for retrofit that'd bring it right up to present day power trends if it's not too heavy for the person who would consider it. For a lot of years Carvin have been using some pretty good ligher plywoods, but the current stuff is also thinner, for more weight shaving yet.

Notice the product description doesn't match what's in the cab? That's fastidious eBay technique ; }

 

[Freddels]

When is someone going to actually buy one of these Carvin cabs, do the upgrade, and report back here?

I was thinking of doing it but here's my dilemma:

I already have a Carvin RL210 that I could put the new speakers in. It would be a 4 ohm cab. The BR115 is a 4 ohm cab but the suggested replacement speaker (Kappalite 3015LF is an 8 ohm speaker). Couldn't really run them together which is what I'd want to do.

Now, I have recently purchased a QSC plx 1804 amp that will do 600 watts at 8 ohms and 900 at 4. I could run these cabs on separate channels but that would be 900 watts going into them and I think that might be too much. Still waiting for the preamp to be delivered (Sanamp RBI) and I haven't checked to see if I can run two channels off that

Also, I really am looking for the more old school sound not sure if these suggested speakers would get that sound or would be more hi-fi (which I already have cabs for that).

 

[greenboy]

Just snagged the LS1503. I'll run it with the stock woofer for a week or two while getting exact internal dimensions and tuning, look at the crossover and transducer components, doing some tests and generally putting it through the wringer.

 

[vicenzajay]

The other day I was looking for a set of replacement mains for a friend's band and stumbled across a couple of winners from Carvin. 3-way, with superior internal volume and crossover, light and built with the same methods and materials the expensive lightweight cabs have - but so much cheaper it's ridiculous. Great midrange cone driver, superior neodymium tweeter/horn... Even after replacing the decent lead-sled woofers with lighter and higher-spec Em Kappalite 3015LF these babies would come in cheaper and have top-notch bass guitar performance.

Here's the 115. It seemed suspicious that it was only 24" tall. I checked with Carvin and it turned out that it's 28.75" tall, 15.5" deep, 18.75" wide.

http://www.carvin.com/products/single.php?ItemNumber=LS1503&CID=LS

Thanks for this - I'm looking to replace my own mains (they're fine, but I want something biampable that has good quality sound and doesn't completely break the bank)...this looks like my ticket.

Jay

 

[SteveC]

Just snagged the LS1503. I'll run it with the stock woofer for a week or two while getting exact internal dimensions and tuning, look at the crossover and transducer components, doing some tests and generally putting it through the wringer.

I better subscribe to this thread and see what your reviews are. I am currently using a PodXT for my preamp and a Roland 115X powered 2-way cab. A nice 3-way - powered or not - could be a great match for my Pod. I've been curious about the AccuGroove, Acme and others, but at $350 the Carvin is very tempting. And for a powered cab, $550 is pretty amazing - if it sounds good.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[CElton]

Also subscribed...I too am using the PodXT as a pre into a two cab, but would like to go 3 way. On a budget too...

 

[SteveC]

I was thinking about going with an Acme Low B2 for a more affordable 3-way option, but something about them makes me hesitant to buy. Maybe it's the creased cone stories, maybe it's the inefficiency, I don't know. No matter how many poeple say to get one, I just can't seem to pull the trigger.

 

[Anthbass]

Coolio. Count me in as waitin' on the man from Montana.

 

[SteveC]

greenboy, any initial thoughts?

 

[Michael Vee]

This Carvin cabinet really is near the optimal small size (externally at least) for a Kappalite 3015LF.

 

[::::BASSIST::::]

*subscribes*

 

[Dave]

Im anxious to hear how this goes...a pair of these seems like itd be awesome for a cheap, loud rig that should sound pretty good.

 

[Michael Vee]

Hopefully, Carvin keeps the $350 sale price going all month!

 

[greenboy]

This Carvin cabinet really is near the optimal small size (externally at least) for a Kappalite 3015LF.

Yep, it's big enough for a Kapplite 3015LF - and actually a great fit for a non-LF Kapplite too. One reason I found it intriquing. So many of the 115 and 215 bass cabs are drivers being squished into boxes that are too small, which throws away one of the advantages of a good 15" driver. And to top that off they don't have midrange drivers, which puts them at a disadvantage compared to 210 cabs that are also similarly small.

This one doesn't - it actually allows a low B or A player to have a matching amount of octave overtone, versus a hump up where the next few overtones fall. That translates into a less boomy and yet deeper sound. I like it like that.

A lot of PA mains using fifteens are similarly constrained, because the assumption is that either the customer won't realize that it's not going to perform very low, or that they will be using it with subwoofers anyway. It might even sell some subwoofers if the naive customer finds that they didn't get quite what they thought and wants to recify the situation.

But these cabs retrofitted with 3015LF because of being moderately larger could actually function with bass and kick going into them - no subs needed for a lot of smaller club gigs. Same reason they should make fine extended-range bass cabs.

 

[greenboy]

Also a self-powered tri-amp version of the LS1503 is currently available via eBay, LS1503A "Blem". It's some of the cheapest wattage I've seen. I think it adds 10 pounds to bring the stock box to 68 pounds. I would have gone that route if not for eventually using a QSC DSP-4 to get a biamped tailored/optimized response the way it's going with the Bergantino IP series.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Carvin-LS1503A-...1QQihZ006QQcategoryZ47094QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[greenboy]

Preliminary tests up to RMS and beyond indicate the LS1503 is gonna be a rulin' cab : }

Very close tonal profile to my Ampeg 1832 Extreme; unified image and polar response throughout the crossover points. Low end indicated by WinISD was right on the money with just a tad less going on below 60-70 Hz than I'm used to (my 1832's low section is a full-blown subwoofer after all). The Carvin woofer holds together nicely enough under pounding and I haven't been able to make it fart yet with bass-heavy percussive playing - even when using big phat V-Bass synths layered with my bass.

Placing the Kapplite 3015LF curve for the same tuning and box volume next to the Carvin woofer response in WinISD, it looks like I'll be improving the low end and getting very close to the 1832 Extreme vibe which is pretty much my ideal anyway: extension with no nulls in the mids and treble.

Love the form factor and the weight too. Tommorrow I'll take some drivers out and see what is what internally, maybe poke about in the crossover too.

 

[Supertanker]

Great work!

How's the mids and top?
Easy to control?

What are you using for a power amp and a pre?

Thanks

 

[Michael Vee]

Hey Greenboy, are these cabs trapezoidal, or regular boxes? Carvin's website's description doesn't say, and you can't tell from the one frontal picture.

 

[Dave]

Very cool to hear...keep us posted.