Eminence Kappa Lite 3015 vs. Faital Pro 15PR400

[iualum]

Which of these super 15 full-range drivers do you like better? Both are tremendous. Not that it matters much, but seems like the 3015 is in wider use.

Eminence Kappa Lite 3015 Speakers - Eminence Kappa Lite-3015 lightweight neodymium woofer. The Eminence Kappa Lite-3015 is a 15" 8 ohm lightweight speaker with extended Xmax. The Eminence Kappa Lite-3015 15" speakers are rated at 450 watts RMS. Em

Faital Pro 15PR400 Speakers - Faital Pro 15PR400 bass guitar and PA speaker that has a lightweight neodymium magnet - Faital Pro 15PR400 800 watt high efficiency of 100dB SPL woofer for all mid-bass and bass applications. Faital Pro 15PR400 sp

jonk_10's pretty well-respected opinion (at least I've taken notice of it ), is that the Faital is the clear winner...

"the Faitals just sound ALOT more open and natural to me. they have as much highs as most two-way cabs only with no crossover point. i do still really like the 3015's, but they're a little dull and a bit cloudy by comparison. two of them sound more like a modern standard ampeg fridge (810E) and they do have a bit more mid bass punch than the Faitals, but if i had to pick between the two, the Faitals win every time.

IMO, a pair of either of them will play louder than i could ever stand in front of, and are way louder than my ampeg 810."

What other opinions do you guys have?

 

[R Baer]

We are working a 15FH5250 variant right now in a prototype and I'm liking what I'm hearing so far. The Faital's don't have that upper mid spike that is prevalent in the Eminence drivers, so they have a flatter response to them. The construction of their drivers is also quite impressive. That Eminence upper mid spike is actually really cool if you design the crossover to let a little of it through. We do that in our 12" cabs and that upper mid bump can really bring out some great articulation from your bass.

 

[husky123]

I respect his opinion but I wouldn't trade my 3015's for anything. For me they are absolutely perfect. Big, bad wooly boogers.

 

[Joe Louvar]

First - JohnK 10s opinion is VERY WELL respected!!! And I agree with him on the Faital Pro 15PR400s sounding best in his Starliner 215 - they sound awesome.

However, I personally prefer Eminence Kappa 3015s because they have plenty of bottom end for me and I don’t need/want the highs of the PR400s. But both drivers are great.

PS - 15s Rule!!!

 

[husky123]

Good point Joe! I forgot to add: 15's rule!!!

 

[johnk_10]

here's an example of what i'm trying to describe. and BTW, IMO, the 3015's are no slouch at all.

i made a couple of clips a little while ago with my SVT7 Pro that just arrived today to give you and idea of the differences between these two fine speakers. (all the controls on the amp were set at noon, '71 jazz bass with rounds, recored on a Zoom H4n 8" off of the speaker:

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[Exxcell]

here's an example of what i'm trying to describe. and BTW, IMO, the 3015's are no slouch at all.

i made a couple of clips a little while ago with my SVT7 Pro that just arrived today to give you and idea of the differences between these two fine speakers. (all the controls on the amp were set at noon, '71 jazz bass with rounds, recored on a Zoom H4n 8" off of the speaker:

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I was expecting some awesome JBL content...

 

[johnk_10]

while i absolutely love my K series JBLs, the Faitals are quicky becoming my favorite 15", and IMO, the 3015's hold their own with them too.

 

[Matt Dean]

Doesn't depend on what kind of box you're putting it in?

 

[johnk_10]

IME, the Faitals and Eminence require the same sized cab and porting.

 

[Matt Dean]

IME, the Faitals and Eminence require the same sized cab and porting.

Good to know.

 

[Primakurtz]

Looks like you could crossover the Faital a little higher than the Eminence - 1k or so?

 

[johnk_10]

you could, but i run mine full range with no mid or tweeter.

 

[nevp]

No experience with the Faital drivers but i would agree a pair of 3015's can get very close to that big 810 sound.

Very loud,great bottom and mids and the highs are enough for me.

I think whichever you went with you would be pleased with the results.

Gotta agree with Joe and Husky, 15's Rule !!!

 

[iualum]

Yes, absolutely, 15s do rule!

Let me add this to the mix...if it's a 2-way 215 w/Selenium D220Ti super tweeter crossed @ the recommended 2kHz, would this have any influence on your 3015/15PR400 choice?

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[jnewmark]

I don't see where you mentioned it, but, as the clips seem to be in two parts for each, did you favor one pickup at a time? If so, I was gonna say that the first part of the 3015 clip sounded more like a grindy P bass than a Jazz, as opposed to the first part of the Faitals. Both second parts sounded similar for each, with a slight edge to the Faitals for more of a JBL " top of the driver " tone I associate with K140's. Good stuff as always, John.

 

[johnk_10]

Yes, absolutely, 15s do rule!

Let me add this to the mix...if it's a 2-way 215 w/Selenium D220Ti super tweeter crossed @ the recommended 2kHz, would this have any influence on your 3015/15PR400 choice?

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not for me, since i really don't care for tweeters.

 

[johnk_10]

I don't see where you mentioned it, but, as the clips seem to be in two parts for each, did you favor one pickup at a time? If so, I was gonna say that the first part of the 3015 clip sounded more like a grindy P bass than a Jazz, as opposed to the first part of the Faitals. Both second parts sounded similar for each, with a slight edge to the Faitals for more of a JBL " top of the driver " tone I associate with K140's. Good stuff as always, John.

the clips were done with my '71 jazz bass. in both clips, the first part was neck pickup only, and in the second part, both pckups full on. the V/T controls were wide open.

 

[Joe Louvar]

not for me, since i really don't care for tweeters.

+1. I don’t care for tweeters or horns either.

OP - however, if I were building a 3-way cab I’d use 3015LF woofers instead of 3015s.

 

[iualum]

not for me, since i really don't care for tweeters.

But maybe in an alternative universe there's ajonk_10 who, inexplicitly, likes tweeters . Would the addition of a super tweeter in a 2-way 215 influence his decision on using 3015s or 15PR400? Or would it still just come down to which drivers he liked better on their own?