• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Eminence Kappa Lite 3015 vs. Faital Pro 15PR400

#23
The 15PR400 has a pretty even full range response with nice treble extension so it's probably best not to add anything to it. If you wanted to try a 2-way, the 3015 is a bit darker (not as much treble extension) with a +3.5dB double hump centered around 1600 Hz, and might sound good with a quality HF component and well designed crossover by smoothing that upper mid hump a bit and filling in that treble extension. A switching arrangement to let you run full range or 2-way would give the cab two different voices.
 
#26
iualum said:
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?

Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...

I would probably pick the Kappalite 3015 for a two-way crossed over at 2 kHz. Here's why:

1) A 15" woofer will be beaming somewhat between 1 kHz and 2 kHz, and if it has a rising response in that region, this can be used to partially offset the effects of beaming on the power response. The 3015's curve looks to me like a better starting point in this respect.

2) The 15PR400 has a fairly broad, roughly 3 dB dip at 1 kHz, which probably contributes to its subjective smoothness, but if the goal is "flat", then that dip is a problem. Passive EQ in the crossover can bring down a peak, but it can't bring up a dip. On the other hand, the 3015 doesn't have any significant dips.

3) The 3015 starts rolling off naturally not too far above 2 kHz, while the 15PR400 holds up for another octave or so. This means that a more aggressive (higher parts count, more expensive) crossover will have to be used to roll off the top end of the 15PR400 if the goal is a good transition in the crossover region.

I certainly don't mean to say that the 15PR400 would be a bad choice for a two-way, but imo in this application (2 kHz crossover) the 3015 has a bit more potential.

iualum said:
See that the Vas on the 3015 is about 1/2 that of the 15PR400. That's one item in Eminence's favor (markedly smaller box), huh?
Click to expand...

The box requirements are virtually identical; Fs, Qes, and Qms also come into play.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ian Trusheim, MarkA, Type-55 and 2 others
#27
5StringPocket said:
The 15PR400 has a pretty even full range response with nice treble extension so it's probably best not to add anything to it. If you wanted to try a 2-way, the 3015 is a bit darker (not as much treble extension) with a +3.5dB double hump centered around 1600 Hz, and might sound good with a quality HF component and well designed crossover by smoothing that upper mid hump a bit and filling in that treble extension. A switching arrangement to let you run full range or 2-way would give the cab two different voices.
Click to expand...
I like this idea quite a lot.
 
#28
DukeLeJeune said:
I would probably pick the Kappalite 3015 for a two-way crossed over at 2 kHz. Here's why:

1) A 15" woofer will be beaming somewhat between 1 kHz and 2 kHz, and if it has a rising response in that region, this can be used to partially offset the effects of beaming on the power response. The 3015's curve looks to me like a better starting point in this respect.

2) The 15PR400 has a fairly broad, roughly 3 dB dip at 1 kHz, which probably contributes to its subjective smoothness, but if the goal is "flat", then that dip is a problem. Passive EQ in the crossover can bring down a peak, but it can't bring up a dip. On the other hand, the 3015 doesn't have any significant dips.

3) The 3015 starts rolling off naturally not too far above 2 kHz, while the 15PR400 holds up for another octave or so. This means that a more aggressive (higher parts count, more expensive) crossover will have to be used to roll off the top end of the 15PR400 if the goal is a good transition in the crossover region.

I certainly don't mean to say that the 15PR400 would be a bad choice for a two-way, but imo in this application (2 kHz crossover) the 3015 has a bit more potential.



The box requirements are virtually identical; Fs, Qes, and Qms also come into play.
Click to expand...

Thank you very much, Duke. Really appreciate it. While recognizing that the 15PR400s are tremendous, I have to agree with your conclusion that the 3015s/D220Ti seem a better match w/more upside.

5StringPocket suggested a switch to allow the 3015s to be run full-range by themselves when engaged or to maintain the 2kHz x-over to the D220Ti when disengaged (default setting). Allows for 2 voices from the same box. I'm on board with this, sounds like an excellent option to implement.
 
#29
Better late than never, I suppose...

I've been half-azzed thinking about looking for a replacement for the 3015 in my Flite 1x15 cabinet for a month or so. After reading through this thread early this morning, I went out and picked up the Faital 15PR400-4ohm and just finished replacing the 3015 about a half hour ago.

After checking it out, all I can say is WOW. I immediately noticed that the Faital definitely has what the the 3015 was lacking for my application. In this cab I find the Faital is noticeably more open sounding than the 3015. Many thanks to those who posted and especially to johnk_10 for posting his clips which were very instrumental in my decision.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Deepwoods
#38
Reviving an old thread (again...).

I recently bought an EV B215-M cab which according to the seller was not working properly. So I planned to put in a pair of 15PR400's since they are more or less a drop-in replacement for this cab. As it turned out, the cab is still working fine so I'm not going to swap the 15L's in the cab.

However, I got a cheap Peavey 115BX cab, which I would like to use as a more compact cab for gigs. Now my problem: I'm not sure wheter I should get the Kappalite or the Faital.
The cab's volume is about 3.7ft^3, and has a port length of about 5.3" and a port diameter of 5.9". According to winISD the tuning would be around 45Hz (according to Peavey it's 40Hz).
The Faital should work without further modification; the Kappalite would need the port shortened to about 2.7" (tuning = 55Hz) to have the best response.
So if my lousy winISD and woodworking skills are not fooling me, I guess both speakers should work well in the cab.

Now my main question: which one might I like better?
I listened to johnk_10's samples and liked the clarity of the Faital but I also liked the stronger mids on the Kappalite. At the moment, I'm playing a Jazz Bass with LaBella flats through an old solid-state head (Dynacord) through either the abovementioned EV cab or a Peavey 215 (the shallow one with 1502 Black Widow speakers). I'm playing with quite some overdrive and like the aggressive sounds I get from the the two cabs (the EV is a bit rounder; the Peavey has a bit more clank to it).
So what do you guys think would be the better option for me? Kappalite or Faital (or something else)?

Thanks and sorry for the long post...
 
#39
Sorry in advance--- I haven't read through the thread. I have a lot of experience with both. My problem with Faital woofers is that they are---shall we say---optimistic with their specs. To do an apples to apples comparison you have to figure that a9mm Xmas with an Eminence is more like a 12mm with theFaital. That doesn't really bug me that much. What does is that the FS's are way off. In measuring the fs in the Faital, they have consistently come in MUCH higher. I've measured tons of them and they're always quite high. And the Eminence woofers are always nearly right on the money. I do like the sound of some of the Faital, but I've found that if your cabs can go low, I much prefer the Eminence. I really don't like the 12pr or the 15pr's. But for my cabs I'm not a fan of the 3015lf's either.I've heard them sound good in other people's cabs, though . Also, while the Faital have robust looking frames I've found that there are some stupid engineering choices. The frames are a bit thin in some crucial spots. I've had to carefully tighten woofers. If I tighten one side too much and then tighten the opposite side (a decidedly dumb thing to do ) I've snapped some frames. I never have with the Eminence. One thing I like about the Faital is that they are very composed as they are pushed to their limits. They're pretty clean and then they hit the max. The Eminence's get a bit fuzzy before they hit their limit.
 
  • Like
Reactions: razboinikoff and Jeff Bonny

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back