+1 on the 2x 15/6 stack.
One of them is enough to surprise just about anyone with the volume, but two is glorious!
One of them is enough to surprise just about anyone with the volume, but two is glorious!
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fEARful Part Eleven (11)
- Thread starter Kelly Lee
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I tried to find this in the thread, but had no luck. What are the tonal differences between the 18 Sound mid and the Eminence in a 15/6/1 ? I have heard clips with the 18 Sound, but wondered if anyone had actually A/B'd them ? I imagine the Eminence is a tad tamer than the 18Sound, or am I way off ?
I've used a few different Eminence mids in other cabs, and now have the 18Sound in my fEARful 15/6.
Just like the 3015LF is not your normal 15" speaker, the 18Sound is not just another 6" mid.
Tonally, in comparison, I'd have to say the Eminence Alpha 6 sounds dull, or thin, like their just isn't any strength behind it, no matter how you EQ it. The 18Sound on the other hand is...hmmm, brutally honest with your playing technique. You can hear everything no matter how subtle. Strong mid. Seems deeper and brighter at the same time, where you may not even want a horn for the highs and fits in with the woofer very well in the low end of it's spectrum.
I'm sure others will chime in as well.
Thanks. From the clips I have heard, it seems like the 18Sound mid seems to jump out at you, rather than a smooth transition from woofer to mid. Is that fair ?
Not at all. Their is a very smooth transition from the woofer to the mid as the crossover takes care of that. It's just that you need a very high output mid to match the output of the 3015LF and the 18Sound does that.
Another thing to consider is that for all the love of the low end with the 3015LF, it's the mids that really define bass. Most people (myself included) are just not used to hearing bass that well defined in the mids. Mostly due to distortion from other full range woofer cabs (and other mid drivers in two or three way systems).
It takes some getting used to. At first, I was like most in that I wanted to tame that 18Sound back because it is so revealing. But once you accept your playing through it for a while, you begin to understand why it's so prevalent and necessary. What sounds good to most players standing right in front of their rig often times can sound like crap out front, and isn't heard much at all for other players onstage. Too many people are taking these fEARful cabs and justifying their opinions from a living room test (or a sound clip). It really needs to be heard on a gig. That's the whole point of the design.
Again, most player's experience with mids is limited to distortion from full range woofers. Because the mids with the 18Sound are so clear it is kind of surprising at first. It's not like you can't add distortion back in if that's what you really desire in your tone, but the fEARful is ALL about clarity. And that is something few players have ever really experienced on this level, especially on gigs.
I think the transition can be smooth but like sundoge said it will show flaws in playing technique. I'm still trying to get a handle on mine with a 12/6. But my technique sucks and I did forget to add the spacer in my mid cavity and haven't played it since adding it. Mine is definately powerful. My preamp (sansamp RBI) only has a 3 band EQ which might make it a little harder for me to adjust all the added high end I'm not quite used too as well.
Not germane to the quoted post, but I just wanted to thank you.
Your replies to my ask about good amp pairings for another line of cabs motivated me to take one more look at greenboy's stuff before pulling the trigger on a new set of cabs.
I wound up downloading the cut lists and detail views of the 15/6 and 15 sub to figure wood needs and will be buying that tomorrow. With any luck, including a local source for the right glue, I should have the bare boxes done pretty quick and hoping to have the cab specific hardware and electrical components chosen, sourced, and ordered by the time I get the boxes done.
I quoted this comment from the tb153 vs fEarful thread:
Comments?
Essentially he is saying the tb153 has no punch. I asked if he boosted the 150-200hz and he said yes.
Comments?
I get plenty of punch from my 15/6 and I love that punchy sound myself. That something I always strive for in my tone.
While there is a lot coming from the 3015LF in the upper bass/lo-mids that most perceive as punch, what gives punch it's character is it's "attack" or "bite" along with those lows. And that comes from the 18Sound mid. Without the attack, that seemingly "all low end" punch is nothing but mud.
Try filtering out everything above say 500Hz and see if these so-called "punchy" cabs still sound punchy. I bet they sound rather dull. Have him dial in something around 800Hz along with the 150Hz and see if it makes a difference.
Try running just the 3015LF and nothing else...I did while I was waiting for parts. Sure you get lows you haven't heard before, but that's it.
The really fun part about DIY is messing around with this stuff to see what it does.
Remember that the 18 sound mid is so hot, we're building a loss pad to bring it down a bit.
Most guys report the 18 sound will keep up with two 3015 LFs, say a 15/6/1 and a 15 sub, even with the Lpad.
The alpha works with the 3012LF in the 12/6 configurations, which makes that a good choice for the budget build. The alpha 6 being much less expensive than the 18 sound and a L pad.
You would be pennywise and pound foolish to put the alpha in a 15/6. Chase down a 18 sound mid, you won't be sorry.
The really fun part about DIY is messing around with this stuff to see what it does.
Remember that the 18 sound mid is so hot, we're building a loss pad to bring it down a bit.
Most guys report the 18 sound will keep up with two 3015 LFs, say a 15/6/1 and a 15 sub, even with the Lpad.
The alpha works with the 3012LF in the 12/6 configurations, which makes that a good choice for the budget build. The alpha 6 being much less expensive than the 18 sound and a L pad.
You would be pennywise and pound foolish to put the alpha in a 15/6. Chase down a 18 sound mid, you won't be sorry.
I don't think boosting at 200hz is enough to get punch on its own -- there's a bit of distortion that needs to go along with it (or drive if you will). That can come from a lot of places.
Also, some folks think of punch as up a little higher even.
That said, I have no problem getting punch with a combination of 200hz and distortion.
Also, some folks think of punch as up a little higher even.
That said, I have no problem getting punch with a combination of 200hz and distortion.
I have no problem getting punch from my 15/6, in fact it's extremely punchy with my active bass and even a flat EQ (although I do usually EQ a bit).
+1 ... I get punch out of my Acmes with the above settings, and they are not exactly punchy by nature.
Yes. Only one Kappalite 3015LF. But there is a Kappalite 3015 (which is the non LF). The LF stand for Low Frequency. The non LF is more a full range woofer and NOT suitable as a driver in a fEARful.
Here's the Eminence neo line: Neodymium Series | Eminence Speaker
For fEarful cabs we're looking at the LF models.
To look at the high frequency stuff go here: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
The Dayton HO7 waveguide from parts express is a favorite pick, costs about $7.
To further confuse the issue, there is a non-neo alpha 6 mid: American Standard Series | Eminence Speaker
All the pfd info is in each link.
Easiest path to correct crossover parts ordering is to follow the links in the fEarful wiki.
Part express is good for all the hardware stuff.
Everybody is on the hunt for the best prices on the Eminence neo drivers since the price hike happened last month.
For fEarful cabs we're looking at the LF models.
To look at the high frequency stuff go here: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
The Dayton HO7 waveguide from parts express is a favorite pick, costs about $7.
To further confuse the issue, there is a non-neo alpha 6 mid: American Standard Series | Eminence Speaker
All the pfd info is in each link.
Easiest path to correct crossover parts ordering is to follow the links in the fEarful wiki.
Part express is good for all the hardware stuff.
Everybody is on the hunt for the best prices on the Eminence neo drivers since the price hike happened last month.
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