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fundamental frequncy cabinet design

Cirk

Cirk

Jan 16, 2011
688
107
Panama City, Florida
#1
Yup, I know I'm probably get beaten over the head for this, but please indulge my curiousity. I'm looking to build a cab (or biamped cab set) that will respond down to a fundamental drop A (about 25hz IIRC) without dropoff. Light enough and small enough for reasonable transport and able to fit through an average sized door. Loud enough for a medium sized gig. Watts are pretty cheap these days, so efficiency is somewhat negotiable.

I know the usual argument about the first harmonic will be used, but bear with me. It's just an experiment. All ideas are relevant here.

Thanks in advance for your input. I can make some pretty good beer, but designing cabs is not something I know a ton about. If you want to drop by for a brew, ask Zooberwerx for directions.
 
#3
It would have to be a true subwoofer, biamped system.

Even prosound subs are highpassed, usually around ~40hz or so.

It could be done. It would be either...

A. Not very loud.

B. Won't fit through the door.

C. Both A & B.
 
#4
Offhand, the only cab I can think of that will produce those sort pf frequencies at anything approaching gig levels, and not cost an absolute fortune, is the self build Tuba 60 from Bill Fitzmaurice. According to the charts it should give about 95db/watt at 1 metre....but it is huge, as will be any cab that you want to go that low and loud.

Smaller subs may do those frequencies for home theatre and the like, but they rely on the 'cabin gain' from smaller rooms

Other reflex cabs with 18 and even 21 inch drivers may also get there but they'll likely be megabucks.

You're really in the realms of BIG PA subs here rather than bass cabs
 
#10
+1 to the Tuba.

Not a lot can reach that low, at least not affordably or loud enough. Maybe BagEnd's ELF system or something really highend like from Danley Labs or something like that.

The Tuba60 is about your best chance of getting there without taking out a second mortgage.
 
#11
MMM...beer. :cool:

PM Skip from Knuckle/CircleK/Kalium (knucklehead on TB). He's been working on more rational, cost effective amplification solutions pretty hard lately. From playing through some of his basses in a club environment I would say that good room treatment is likely to be quite important, and probably not cheap. Smaller venues may actually work to your advantage in this case.

Have fun!
 
#16
will33 said:
Pretty cool.

I didn't see the power level used for their 2 meter measurement (it's an all-in-one, powered, DSP adjusted unit), and I'd wonder about how it handles live bass playing though. Surely there's some limiting/damage control programmed in the DSP?

Interesting find.
Click to expand...

I have an older cylinder sub, I have taken to a couple gigs as a sub for the PA. They sound really sweet but the sub frequencies from bass and kick drove people out of the room. After turning it WAY down it sounded glorious. The drivers are not available on the open market and have massive throw. Excellent value and dangerous to wall hangings if not used properly
 
#17
B-string said:
I have an older cylinder sub, I have taken to a couple gigs as a sub for the PA. They sound really sweet but the sub frequencies from bass and kick drove people out of the room. After turning it WAY down it sounded glorious. The drivers are not available on the open market and have massive throw. Excellent value and dangerous to wall hangings if not used properly
Click to expand...

Neat. I'll have to put that one on my "don't forget to remember this" list.
 
#18
The old "even big PAs are high passet at 40 Hz anyway" parroting gets more and more wrong every day.
Even mainstream pop like Justine Bieber has lots of 30-ish Hz energy today. So do installed dance club rigs, PAs on live electronic/dance oriented festivals, big DJ events and also some live pop/rock acts with "regular" bass players.
Tiesto who is a big name in the DJ scene has a technical rider including rigs that are really powerful at 30Hz and takes full use of them. His Music often runs below 20Hz at high levels.

The top brands in PA have plenty of loud and deep sub bass bins, although VERY expensive and cumbersome. But they kick out 130dB+ (some much more) in the 30Hz range and below. Speakers for big movie theatres is also a valid option.

Check out Bassmaxx, Danley sound labs, JBL, Meyer, Ciare - what the heck, even Peavey make some pretty decent sub woofer drivers nowadays...
 
#20
Cirk said:
I couldn't imagine Col. Claypool being cut off at 40hz. Just wouldn't work.

BTW, check out the Frog Brigade playing "the Spirit of Radio" sometime.
Click to expand...

I should qualify it by adding "mine" is highpassed, as is every other I've seen, and every one I've read advised operation or "how-to" manuals on. It's for protection of subwoofers and making use of power where it matters.

Then again, I couldn't care less about what Justin Bieber or some techno DJ boom-boom dance club is doing and I don't run arenas. :D
 

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