Hi, @BostonJazz72 . From the top photo, it's obvious that the drivers are aligned differently. Do you notice any difference in sound? I've a MAS 18 like the one on the left (but with a tweeter) - the newer alignment, it seems.
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NCD - MAS (Michael Arnopol Soundworks) 1,8
- Thread starter BostonJazz72
- Start date
Hi, @BostonJazz72 . From the top photo, it's obvious that the drivers are aligned differently. Do you notice any difference in sound? I've a MAS 18 like the one on the left (but with a tweeter) - the newer alignment, it seems.
One thing I need to mention to MAS18 owners.We speaker designers choose our compromises. With the 18 it was efficiency. To get the low end extension and ultimate volume level--- we engineered the custom drivers with lower efficiency to achieve those goals. About 93db.
The reason I did this was that there are so many small ss class d heads that deliver at least 200 watts into 8 ohms. This will drive the 18 to top volume. They can handle a lot of power. I use a 1200 watt amp on everything. Even the 16.I'm just careful. I've never blown one of these drivers---even when I was being stupid.
Here's the issue. Guys are afraid of putting too much power into the 18's. So some tend to run the master lower and the gain higher. I get guys calling me saying that the cab is distorting. 9 times out of 10 it's gain structure. Especially with piezos--crazy dynamic range. But magnetic, too.Guys will say---"the lights look ok". Many of the gain structure lights don't pick up the peaks. A friend looked at electric bass signals on the oscilloscope. The initial peaks were at least 6db higher than the meat of the note. This requires 4x as much power. If the gain is set too high---nasty distortion.
What I suggest----
Set your master up all the way. Carefully inch up the gain. Whack the B or E string and bring up the gain until the notes start to distort. If you have tons of power---go slowly. Now you'll have a feel for what the notes sound like clean. You probably should do this with the master volume a little lower on high power amps.
The whole thing here is---you have to set your gain to find the overload point. Once you know that---use the master to control volume. Never the gain.
When you have a speaker that's lower efficiency don't worry about the fact that you are using a lot of power. If you have at least 200 watts into 8 you should be fine.
When you add a second 8 the efficiency goes up a lot.
The reason I did this was that there are so many small ss class d heads that deliver at least 200 watts into 8 ohms. This will drive the 18 to top volume. They can handle a lot of power. I use a 1200 watt amp on everything. Even the 16.I'm just careful. I've never blown one of these drivers---even when I was being stupid.
Here's the issue. Guys are afraid of putting too much power into the 18's. So some tend to run the master lower and the gain higher. I get guys calling me saying that the cab is distorting. 9 times out of 10 it's gain structure. Especially with piezos--crazy dynamic range. But magnetic, too.Guys will say---"the lights look ok". Many of the gain structure lights don't pick up the peaks. A friend looked at electric bass signals on the oscilloscope. The initial peaks were at least 6db higher than the meat of the note. This requires 4x as much power. If the gain is set too high---nasty distortion.
What I suggest----
Set your master up all the way. Carefully inch up the gain. Whack the B or E string and bring up the gain until the notes start to distort. If you have tons of power---go slowly. Now you'll have a feel for what the notes sound like clean. You probably should do this with the master volume a little lower on high power amps.
The whole thing here is---you have to set your gain to find the overload point. Once you know that---use the master to control volume. Never the gain.
When you have a speaker that's lower efficiency don't worry about the fact that you are using a lot of power. If you have at least 200 watts into 8 you should be fine.
When you add a second 8 the efficiency goes up a lot.
An excellent technique - you get to set the onset of distortion and flavor to your liking. Then, the master is your limiter. This is all as it should be.
I was looking for a presence boost switch before realizing it's a jack. What freq range does it affect?
I never noticed any difference in sound between the two. They both sound equally great to me!
Mike - any thoughts on why the speakers are aligned differently?
Stephen Regier
Commercial User
- Apr 11, 2014
- 78
- 131
- Disclosures
- Co-Inventer and Co-Owner of Big E Loudspeakers Technology
The changes in driver alignment and cabinet size are to accommodate internal refinements in the waveguide. From a sonic perspective the mid/tweet location change in relation to the woofer should be sonically identical.
Thanks for the quick response! Both cabs sounded great to me and are working out great on my gigs!
