I cant read this, or find any measured response curves. Can you link the source? All the numbers I quoted to you on sensitivity are supported by the manufacturer's measured responses on their spec sheets, which I provided.
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efficient cabs for low power tube amps
- Thread starter zorf
- Start date
I cant read this, or find any measured response curves. Can you link the source? All the numbers I quoted to you on sensitivity are supported by the manufacturer's measured responses on their spec sheets, which I provided.
Thanks for all the info so far.
Looks there some efficient driver options both modern AND vintage, so given the low watt amp context here, what kind of cab designs would you guys reccommend.
looking for solid response down low.
open to single or multiple driver designs.
i would love a small light box but understand that is unlikely given that the priorities are loud and sound good.
thx
Looks there some efficient driver options both modern AND vintage, so given the low watt amp context here, what kind of cab designs would you guys reccommend.
looking for solid response down low.
open to single or multiple driver designs.
i would love a small light box but understand that is unlikely given that the priorities are loud and sound good.
thx
Honestly, the Dually is the bee's knees in terms of buying a cab. If you are thinking of building your own, BFM may have some plans that would work, but I prefer the smoother response I get with my dually, than the some times more peaked response some horn loading designs produce. You could also take a look at TL-606 plans, modify them for 1/2", add bracing, and adjust the shelf port length for what ever driver you decide to go with.
I have been pretty happy with the Greenboy Bassic 15, loaded with the Faital. I'm going more for the tone, at this point, but it can get loud, especially at 4 ohms, with a lower powered amp. Two of them would be a great , modular rig, that would cover most gigs.
like the idea of modular setup with 2 identical cabs that can be stacked.
on the other hand, the dually is not all that big.
good suggestions so far.
does the dually have separate chambers or are the 2 drivers sharing the same chamber?
looks like just a reflex box with a couple ports?
on the other hand, the dually is not all that big.
good suggestions so far.
does the dually have separate chambers or are the 2 drivers sharing the same chamber?
looks like just a reflex box with a couple ports?
This is my 15PR400 loaded DuallyT (custom cosmetics, they dont have to look like this). I was running it with my guitarists MusicMan HD130.
Link Removed
So it is a 130 watt amp, a little more powerful than what you are using. It can get brutally loud though. Well in to the range that most people would be using PA support for, before break up even.
Link Removed
So it is a 130 watt amp, a little more powerful than what you are using. It can get brutally loud though. Well in to the range that most people would be using PA support for, before break up even.
They are in the same chamber. You could go with two Bassics, which would have the same response as a Dually.
This cab will handle all your 50-100 watt amps can dish out and do it with a tone that is very B-15ish. You can't get much more vintage than that, and you will save yourself a ton of money vs. some of the suggestions that have been offered. Still need more volume? Get a second cab and still be ahead money wise. I have no affiliation with either company.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/ampl...eries-pf-115lf-1x15-400w-bass-speaker-cabinet
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/ampl...eries-pf-115lf-1x15-400w-bass-speaker-cabinet
- Nov 24, 2008
- 4,343
- 7,163
- Disclosures
- Owner & designer, AudioKinesis; Auth. mfg, Big E (Home Audio only)
For a stand-alone 115 or 215 (no mids or tweets) for electric bass, if weight is not an issue, I like the Eminence Delta Pro 15A, in about three cubic feet per woofer, tuned to the lower 40's. A pair of round ports, 3" in diameter by 3.5" long, ought to do it; use four such ports in a six cubic foot 2x15. This tuning is by no means "ideal", it's just a point along a continuum.
Measured with an optimistic yardstick, the Delta Pro 15A is a 106 dB woofer (on-axis peak at 2.5 kHz). Measured with a conservative yardstick, it's a 97 dB woofer (calculated pistonic efficiency, based on T/S parameters). Eminence claims 101 dB, and I think that's reasonable.
oh, and thanks stealth for the ampeg suggestion.
sure can't beat the price.
sure can't beat the price.
- Nov 24, 2008
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- Disclosures
- Owner & designer, AudioKinesis; Auth. mfg, Big E (Home Audio only)
I didn't realize you were planning a two-way. I happen to like the little 3" Faitals quite a bit, and recently launched a compact 115 cab that combines two of them with a single Faital 15PR400.
You have lots of options in woofers, as you won't be relying on the woofer for the top end. The relatively extended (for a fifteen) top end of the Delta Pro is one of its main selling points for a woofer-only cab, along with its high efficiency. Obviously I chose a neo woofer, weight being a driving factor in my product... the 3015 (non-LF) would also have worked well, but it's only available in 8 ohms, and going with the Faital lets me offer my cab in either 4 or 8 ohms.
I don't go into specifics as far as crossover design recommendations because that really has to be done thoroughly in order to be done right, and doing so is beyond the scope of what I can reasonably put into a post (it requires about a day's worth of work, often more). So I'll just toss out this opinion: If that's four little 3" Faitals per 15" woofer, using them down to 500 Hz is probably okay. If only two per woofer, then I suggest 1 kHz or above.
I assume you plan to put the little 3" Faitals in their own separate sub-enclosure so that the woofer doesn't pump them. If you don't mind a bit more complicated build, you are more than welcome to use the open-format mid-chamber that I use, or adapt it as you see fit. Basically it's a very shallow mid-chamber that runs the full width of the cabinet and has large openings on the top and sides, allowing backwave energy to escape in those directions. No damping material. The net result is a bit more open sound, a bit wider dispersion particularly in the vertical (which can help you hear the overtones on a tight stage), and a bit better cooling. Anyone else is free to use it as well (DIY or commercial).
In a situation where you're not trying to keep the cab as compact as possible, you might stack the little mids vertically, like you see here (this model has been discontinued, and these are actually 4" Faitals, but you get the idea). Notice the two openings on the side, below the plastic corner protector:
Best of luck with your project.
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I didn't realize you were planning a two-way. I happen to like the little 3" Faitals quite a bit, and recently launched a compact 115 cab that combines two of them with a single Faital 15PR400.
You have lots of options in woofers, as you won't be relying on the woofer for the top end. The relatively extended (for a fifteen) top end of the Delta Pro is one of its main selling points for a woofer-only cab, along with its high efficiency. Obviously I chose a neo woofer, weight being a driving factor in my product... the 3015 (non-LF) would also have worked well, but it's only available in 8 ohms, and going with the Faital lets me offer my cab in either 4 or 8 ohms.
I don't go into specifics as far as crossover design recommendations because that really has to be done thoroughly in order to be done right, and doing so is beyond the scope of what I can reasonably put into a post (it requires about a day's worth of work, often more). So I'll just toss out this opinion: If that's four little 3" Faitals per 15" woofer, using them down to 500 Hz is probably okay. If only two per woofer, then I suggest 1 kHz or above.
I assume you plan to put the little 3" Faitals in their own separate sub-enclosure so that the woofer doesn't pump them. If you don't mind a bit more complicated build, you are more than welcome to use the open-format mid-chamber that I use, or adapt it as you see fit. Basically it's a very shallow mid-chamber that runs the full width of the cabinet and has large openings on the top and sides, allowing backwave energy to escape in those directions. No damping material. The net result is a bit more open sound, a bit wider dispersion particularly in the vertical (which can help you hear the overtones on a tight stage), and a bit better cooling. Anyone else is free to use it as well (DIY or commercial).
In a situation where you're not trying to keep the cab as compact as possible, you might stack the little mids vertically, like you see here (this model has been discontinued, and these are actually 4" Faitals, but you get the idea). Notice the two openings on the side, below the plastic corner protector:
Best of luck with your project.
Not to derail but, what's the new cab called, and where can we see it. I love that Faital 15 !
thanks duke,
big fan of your work.
i like the sound of a woofer (s) by itself for bass, especially if it can go up to 4 k or so.
but would like the option for additional highs.
might put them in a separate box with the crossover for when i need them.
Again, only have a few tube watts to work with.
Although i don't play super loud.
If i had to choose between tone or volume, it would be tone.
big fan of your work.
i like the sound of a woofer (s) by itself for bass, especially if it can go up to 4 k or so.
but would like the option for additional highs.
might put them in a separate box with the crossover for when i need them.
Again, only have a few tube watts to work with.
Although i don't play super loud.
If i had to choose between tone or volume, it would be tone.
- Nov 24, 2008
- 4,343
- 7,163
- Disclosures
- Owner & designer, AudioKinesis; Auth. mfg, Big E (Home Audio only)
It's called the Hathor 1533E, the "E" designation being because it's a rather compact box that doesn't go low enough to fully support a low-B (though it's not especially fartout-prone so it could be used for low-B with judicious EQ). Photo at this link:
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/audiokinesis-cabs-part-vi.988858/page-80#post-16397487
so thanks again for all the help here.
at this point, kind of kicking around a couple ideas:
a vertical 2X12 with maybe beyma 12g40's.
or a single 15 with faitel pr400.
again looking to maximize my low watt tube watts.
i have the beyma 10g40 right now which i love and it looks like the 12 inch version has even more of what i'm looking for.
and the faitel looks great also.
I'm considering the green boy boxes or BFM Simplex boxes right now.
the BFM 2X12 box is about 5.5 cubes net and the 1X15 is about 4.5 net.
Not sure the cubes on the green boy's. EDIT: found it. sorry.
Also looks like the fearless are not diy? EDIT: found this info, also.
Sorry to go on so much but…
Looks like the BFM simplex and green boy are both direct radiator designs. One has corner ports, the other a square port with shelf.
wondering if there is really that much difference if the size of the box were similar. (assuming there is no mid driver)
at this point, kind of kicking around a couple ideas:
a vertical 2X12 with maybe beyma 12g40's.
or a single 15 with faitel pr400.
again looking to maximize my low watt tube watts.
i have the beyma 10g40 right now which i love and it looks like the 12 inch version has even more of what i'm looking for.
and the faitel looks great also.
I'm considering the green boy boxes or BFM Simplex boxes right now.
the BFM 2X12 box is about 5.5 cubes net and the 1X15 is about 4.5 net.
Not sure the cubes on the green boy's. EDIT: found it. sorry.
Also looks like the fearless are not diy? EDIT: found this info, also.
Sorry to go on so much but…
Looks like the BFM simplex and green boy are both direct radiator designs. One has corner ports, the other a square port with shelf.
wondering if there is really that much difference if the size of the box were similar. (assuming there is no mid driver)
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Zorf,
You got me thinking................My Crate Vintage Club 50, a Peavey 2-15D loaded with Black Widows, and a Peavey Foundation. I will test this tonight!
You got me thinking................My Crate Vintage Club 50, a Peavey 2-15D loaded with Black Widows, and a Peavey Foundation. I will test this tonight!
If the ports are tuned the same way, then there would be no difference as port location doesn't matter. However, that's a pretty big "if." Not sure if they're tuned the same or not, and I would tend to think not.
I'm considering the green boy boxes or BFM Simplex boxes right now. the BFM 2X12 box is about 5.5 cubes net and the 1X15 is about 4.5 net. Not sure the cubes on the green boy's. EDIT: found it. sorry. Also looks like the fearless are not diy? EDIT: found this info said:
