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Old dog needs to learn new trick!
- Thread starter Deacon Blues
- Start date
Might be a good research lesson for him to go out and do your speaker research for you! LOL.Yup! We're in similar boats...but you'll excuse me if I sometimes tend to sail in circles. Not ready to head for the sunset yet!! Once I get my immediate problem solved, I'm going to continue the search for lightweight gear. It looks like my oldest son might be interested in the 300 lbs. of Trace Elliot (he's a better player than I am, dammit! LOL). He's going to end up, eventually, with all of it, so I figure I'm doing well to squeeze a few bucks out of him now!In addition to the gear you mentioned, I've also heard some good things about MarkBass. I'm going to do my best to test drive stuff before buying anything, though. I just one day, though, I have discovered what an incredible resource this group/site is! My task just got much simpler, thank you!
I would bet the Eminence Neos would work well for you. Or your son!
I hope I don't get hung out to dry, but please search TB For problems with Markbass. They were wonderful when they were made in Italy. Then they moved to China, and I've seen enough complaints about QC that I'm steering clear of them. Now it's time to go hide from the Markbass fans! Gulp!
Hi all! As will always happen with me, I 'disappeared' shortly after my last post/response. My job will do that from time to time! As time has allowed, I have begun digging into the vast repository of knowledge and info contained on this site, and have had a couple of really nice private exchanges with other members. It's looking like (based on all of the great advice I've received here) I'll be adding fdeck's HPF to my rig, and replacing my 10s....make to be determined, but Eminence and Faital seem to be getting the most votes. I also downloaded WinISD and am getting comfortable with that (BTW, if you download it and are using Windows 10, don't expect to be able to use any of the 'Help' or 'getting started'-type files....at least not until Microsoft develops a patch). I just didn't want anyone to think that I was a 'hit & run' artist....having gotten the info I wanted, simply disappeared into oblivion! As I have mentioned to several folks already, I'm pleasantly blown away by the greetings, help, and advice I've received, am quite grateful for both info and cordial manner that I was greeted with, and plan to stick around! Hopefully to return the favor in any way I can. 
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,045
- 45,909
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
I also downloaded WinISD and am getting comfortable with that (BTW, if you download it and are using Windows 10, don't expect to be able to use any of the 'Help' or 'getting started'-type files....at least not until Microsoft develops a patch). .
Sound like you downloaded the wrong version, which is very easy to do. v 0.7.0.900 has all those features available in fully functional form.
Hi! I down loaded the latest beta version as of last week. I just now checked and I have the latest (V 0.44). I can't find any nomenclature that matches 0.7.0.900 anywhere, even in their version history!! Are we talking about the same program?? Getting my info (and the download) from Linear Team: Invalid Link Removed. Did I find the wrong source somehow? Thanks.
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,045
- 45,909
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
That version is well over a decade old. Go here: Invalid Link Removed and it's right at the top now. For many years you had to go to their Facebook page to find it, for some reason.
WHOA!!! What a difference! Thank you so much!! The weirdest part is that I e-mailed them, got a reply from the author, himself! He asked for the version, which I e-mailed back....and never heard another peep! It wouldn't be the first time that a software company (especially a small one) bailed out, so I figured, "OK....I'm on my own...but not for the first time!", and set about trying to figure out the program which, even the older version, wasn't that difficult. It just appeared that their data files were way out-of-date....but it's Scandanavia, and what do I know about Scandanavia?? LOL
This shiny new version, even at first glance, looks like it will make my little project way easier!! Your help much appreciated!
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,045
- 45,909
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
WHOA!!! What a difference! Thank you so much!! The weirdest part is that I e-mailed them, got a reply from the author, himself! He asked for the version, which I e-mailed back....and never heard another peep! It wouldn't be the first time that a software company (especially a small one) bailed out, so I figured, "OK....I'm on my own...but not for the first time!", and set about trying to figure out the program which, even the older version, wasn't that difficult. It just appeared that their data files were way out-of-date....but it's Scandanavia, and what do I know about Scandanavia?? LOL
This shiny new version, even at first glance, looks like it will make my little project way easier!! Your help much appreciated!
Glad to help a little. The Linearteam forum was hacked several years ago and I'd bet that had something to do with all this. They have asked for help compiling new driver files, maybe TB'ers could work together on helping to make that happen.
I just stumbled across an opportunity to purchase Faital NEO 10PR300 speakers (NEW!) at $75.00 each! Any opinions? I've heard good things about Faital, but have no experience with them.
OK...after doing as much research as possible in one day (i.e. annoying my poor wife by staying glued to the computer), and reading damned near every comment offered on the Faital (Neo) Pro 10PR300 speakers, on this site...all of the vast majority of which were glowing reviews...I decided to take advantage of Avatar's 'clearance' sale on these, and ordered (4) of them. $300.00 for what would have cost over $800.00 elsewhere was too good to pass up! And yes, I am aware that these were built specifically for Avatar & Genz-Benz...and that the specs may vary a bit. Many of the reviews and comments found on TB, for these, acknowledged that fact. Those folks that are using these (modded for Avatar, etc.) are raving about them, and describing them as having the characteristics I'm looking for. Reviews being purely subjective, I am now hoping that these, coupled with the HPF (once I learn to use it properly) will yield the result I was looking for.
FWIW, I will let everyone know how it all works out.....and/or come up with more questions! In keeping with my grandfather's always sound (no pun intended) advice: "Learn something new every day, no matter how trivial it may appear."
Now, the big trick is going to be patience! LOL Suffering wife now has to contend with 'Kid anticipating Christmas' syndrome!!
FWIW, I will let everyone know how it all works out.....and/or come up with more questions! In keeping with my grandfather's always sound (no pun intended) advice: "Learn something new every day, no matter how trivial it may appear."
Now, the big trick is going to be patience! LOL Suffering wife now has to contend with 'Kid anticipating Christmas' syndrome!!
Hi folks!! Well....I said that I would report back after 'the smoke cleared,' and so it has!! I am happy to report that the process (thanks to all of your contributions of advice, information, and experience....not to mention an impressive amount of genuine engineering expertise!) has resulted in huge smiles all around!
First, I contacted fdeck, and subsequently ordered a Series 3 HPF. Francis produces a very nice, high quality, solidly-built product that, now that I understand the theory of operation, does exactly what it's intended to...and quite transparently! I am still 'tweaking' the settings, gradually, to get the best result but, even roughly adjusted, the difference is quite noticeable....and that's a good thing!
Next, I not only ordered (4) replacement 10" speakers from Avatar (the Faital 10PR300s made for Genz-Benz) at an almost ridiculously low price ($75 ea. as opposed to $210-220 ea.), but also decided to do the 'once and for all' thing and picked up the 15" speaker from the same line (15PR400). The 15" swap was electronically a no-brainer, although the opening in my Trace Elliot 1518 1X15" needed to be modified to accept the larger, finned, cast basket. Woodworking doesn't scare me, and I had all the necessary tools...no problem. The 1048H 4X10" cabinet, however, was another matter altogether! The cabinet has a phenolic horn, a matching network, and horn volume control....along with (4) 32-ohm Celestion speakers!! The Faital/Genz speakers are 16 ohm. In disassembling to do the swap, I noticed that two high-wattage resistors in the matching network were severely discolored along with the board they were mounted on, and one of the resistors used to configure that horn volume control (it's a step-detent control, not a pot) had suffered a similar fate! I usually ran the horn at as low a setting as possible and, for me, 'OFF' would have been even better! Considering the obvious damage to the electronics, I decided to bypass the horn altogether. At some point, I may go back in and rebuild the whole thing...but probably only if I ever decide to sell it. I wired the cabinet in parallel (4 ohms). Along with the 8 ohm 15", I get a total impedance of about 3 ohms....a little risky, but I usually never run the whole rig past 50%. Nonetheless, after thinking about that for 5 minutes, I'm going to go back and series-parallel wire for 16 ohms, which will give me a total Z of about 5.33 ohms....a little gentler on the head's (G-K 700RBii) final section.
The overall result, however, is the smile generator! My poor bass rig had been reduced to 'farting goose' status over the last couple of band rehearsals prior to 'surgery,' and was both frustrating and embarrassing. Last night, I fired this thing up and everybody turned toward me with looks that said, "***??" Night and day doesn't begin to describe the difference! Plenty of volume, and a classic, punchy, yet thunderous tone....exactly what I had hoped for!! The only thing left to do (besides rewiring the 4X10") is finish 'dialing in' the HPF...since the 5th string, below E, still seems a little weak by comparison. Carefully dropping the HP frequency (it's currently set about halfway...or about 90Hz, in the interest of approaching it all on the conservative side), I am confident that I can find that 'balance point' I'm looking for.
Prior to installing the new speakers and HPF, I had even considered the possibility that my head might not have been 'cutting it.' After last night, however, I find that the old head is providing as much punch as I need, and with plenty of headroom....which makes my somewhat-limited budget very happy!
Afterthought: Now I have to wonder just how much of the original problem was caused by faulty electronics in the 4X10" cabinet! The speakers appeared to be in good physical condition, as I inspected them while pulling them out! They'll now go on the repair bench for closer examination and testing....and perhaps will prompt a trip to Home Depot to buy some nice birch plywood. My oldest son also plays bass, although a bit more casually, and might benefit from my learning experience!!
Once again, I can't thank you all enough for you shared wisdom and experience. My curiosity is not going to allow me to let the electronics just sit as ballast in that cabinet, so you have also launched me on a badly-needed knowledge safari in that area as well. I hope you all are doing well, and I look forward to any comments or reactions, as your time permits. I am so happy that I ended up here!!
Be well,
Norm
First, I contacted fdeck, and subsequently ordered a Series 3 HPF. Francis produces a very nice, high quality, solidly-built product that, now that I understand the theory of operation, does exactly what it's intended to...and quite transparently! I am still 'tweaking' the settings, gradually, to get the best result but, even roughly adjusted, the difference is quite noticeable....and that's a good thing!
Next, I not only ordered (4) replacement 10" speakers from Avatar (the Faital 10PR300s made for Genz-Benz) at an almost ridiculously low price ($75 ea. as opposed to $210-220 ea.), but also decided to do the 'once and for all' thing and picked up the 15" speaker from the same line (15PR400). The 15" swap was electronically a no-brainer, although the opening in my Trace Elliot 1518 1X15" needed to be modified to accept the larger, finned, cast basket. Woodworking doesn't scare me, and I had all the necessary tools...no problem. The 1048H 4X10" cabinet, however, was another matter altogether! The cabinet has a phenolic horn, a matching network, and horn volume control....along with (4) 32-ohm Celestion speakers!! The Faital/Genz speakers are 16 ohm. In disassembling to do the swap, I noticed that two high-wattage resistors in the matching network were severely discolored along with the board they were mounted on, and one of the resistors used to configure that horn volume control (it's a step-detent control, not a pot) had suffered a similar fate! I usually ran the horn at as low a setting as possible and, for me, 'OFF' would have been even better! Considering the obvious damage to the electronics, I decided to bypass the horn altogether. At some point, I may go back in and rebuild the whole thing...but probably only if I ever decide to sell it. I wired the cabinet in parallel (4 ohms). Along with the 8 ohm 15", I get a total impedance of about 3 ohms....a little risky, but I usually never run the whole rig past 50%. Nonetheless, after thinking about that for 5 minutes, I'm going to go back and series-parallel wire for 16 ohms, which will give me a total Z of about 5.33 ohms....a little gentler on the head's (G-K 700RBii) final section.
The overall result, however, is the smile generator! My poor bass rig had been reduced to 'farting goose' status over the last couple of band rehearsals prior to 'surgery,' and was both frustrating and embarrassing. Last night, I fired this thing up and everybody turned toward me with looks that said, "***??" Night and day doesn't begin to describe the difference! Plenty of volume, and a classic, punchy, yet thunderous tone....exactly what I had hoped for!! The only thing left to do (besides rewiring the 4X10") is finish 'dialing in' the HPF...since the 5th string, below E, still seems a little weak by comparison. Carefully dropping the HP frequency (it's currently set about halfway...or about 90Hz, in the interest of approaching it all on the conservative side), I am confident that I can find that 'balance point' I'm looking for.
Prior to installing the new speakers and HPF, I had even considered the possibility that my head might not have been 'cutting it.' After last night, however, I find that the old head is providing as much punch as I need, and with plenty of headroom....which makes my somewhat-limited budget very happy!
Afterthought: Now I have to wonder just how much of the original problem was caused by faulty electronics in the 4X10" cabinet! The speakers appeared to be in good physical condition, as I inspected them while pulling them out! They'll now go on the repair bench for closer examination and testing....and perhaps will prompt a trip to Home Depot to buy some nice birch plywood. My oldest son also plays bass, although a bit more casually, and might benefit from my learning experience!!
Once again, I can't thank you all enough for you shared wisdom and experience. My curiosity is not going to allow me to let the electronics just sit as ballast in that cabinet, so you have also launched me on a badly-needed knowledge safari in that area as well. I hope you all are doing well, and I look forward to any comments or reactions, as your time permits. I am so happy that I ended up here!!
Be well,
Norm
BTW, in posting, I noticed an 'automatic edit' to something I wrote (an abbreviation for a phrase containing profanity...though just an abbreviation). My apologies to the admin(s) if that breached the rules of etiquette somehow. Not looking to offend anyone....just make a point. Sorry if I went about it wrong.
if the Celestions turn out ok I would put them back in the Trace and build a couple of 210 for the Faitals. You would probably keep those for yourself!Hi folks!! Well....I said that I would report back after 'the smoke cleared,' and so it has!! I am happy to report that the process (thanks to all of your contributions of advice, information, and experience....not to mention an impressive amount of genuine engineering expertise!) has resulted in huge smiles all around!
First, I contacted fdeck, and subsequently ordered a Series 3 HPF. Francis produces a very nice, high quality, solidly-built product that, now that I understand the theory of operation, does exactly what it's intended to...and quite transparently! I am still 'tweaking' the settings, gradually, to get the best result but, even roughly adjusted, the difference is quite noticeable....and that's a good thing!
Next, I not only ordered (4) replacement 10" speakers from Avatar (the Faital 10PR300s made for Genz-Benz) at an almost ridiculously low price ($75 ea. as opposed to $210-220 ea.), but also decided to do the 'once and for all' thing and picked up the 15" speaker from the same line (15PR400). The 15" swap was electronically a no-brainer, although the opening in my Trace Elliot 1518 1X15" needed to be modified to accept the larger, finned, cast basket. Woodworking doesn't scare me, and I had all the necessary tools...no problem. The 1048H 4X10" cabinet, however, was another matter altogether! The cabinet has a phenolic horn, a matching network, and horn volume control....along with (4) 32-ohm Celestion speakers!! The Faital/Genz speakers are 16 ohm. In disassembling to do the swap, I noticed that two high-wattage resistors in the matching network were severely discolored along with the board they were mounted on, and one of the resistors used to configure that horn volume control (it's a step-detent control, not a pot) had suffered a similar fate! I usually ran the horn at as low a setting as possible and, for me, 'OFF' would have been even better! Considering the obvious damage to the electronics, I decided to bypass the horn altogether. At some point, I may go back in and rebuild the whole thing...but probably only if I ever decide to sell it. I wired the cabinet in parallel (4 ohms). Along with the 8 ohm 15", I get a total impedance of about 3 ohms....a little risky, but I usually never run the whole rig past 50%. Nonetheless, after thinking about that for 5 minutes, I'm going to go back and series-parallel wire for 16 ohms, which will give me a total Z of about 5.33 ohms....a little gentler on the head's (G-K 700RBii) final section.
The overall result, however, is the smile generator! My poor bass rig had been reduced to 'farting goose' status over the last couple of band rehearsals prior to 'surgery,' and was both frustrating and embarrassing. Last night, I fired this thing up and everybody turned toward me with looks that said, "***??" Night and day doesn't begin to describe the difference! Plenty of volume, and a classic, punchy, yet thunderous tone....exactly what I had hoped for!! The only thing left to do (besides rewiring the 4X10") is finish 'dialing in' the HPF...since the 5th string, below E, still seems a little weak by comparison. Carefully dropping the HP frequency (it's currently set about halfway...or about 90Hz, in the interest of approaching it all on the conservative side), I am confident that I can find that 'balance point' I'm looking for.
Prior to installing the new speakers and HPF, I had even considered the possibility that my head might not have been 'cutting it.' After last night, however, I find that the old head is providing as much punch as I need, and with plenty of headroom....which makes my somewhat-limited budget very happy!
Afterthought: Now I have to wonder just how much of the original problem was caused by faulty electronics in the 4X10" cabinet! The speakers appeared to be in good physical condition, as I inspected them while pulling them out! They'll now go on the repair bench for closer examination and testing....and perhaps will prompt a trip to Home Depot to buy some nice birch plywood. My oldest son also plays bass, although a bit more casually, and might benefit from my learning experience!!
Once again, I can't thank you all enough for you shared wisdom and experience. My curiosity is not going to allow me to let the electronics just sit as ballast in that cabinet, so you have also launched me on a badly-needed knowledge safari in that area as well. I hope you all are doing well, and I look forward to any comments or reactions, as your time permits. I am so happy that I ended up here!!
Be well,
Norm
Meanwhile I would leave the 1518 unplugged until 4 you rewire the 410. 4 ohm plus 8 ohm is halfway to 2 ohm.
Last edited:
I like your idea of the two 2X10" cabs!! Never thought of that (DUH!), and it would be both more flexible and easier to carry!! Not sure, though about which to put where. Although it's a heavy beast, I really love (and have gotten awfully attached to using) the Trace cabinet...so I may leave the Faitals in that one...rewired at 16 ohms. The Celestions, on the other hand, are 32-ohm speakers, so it all becomes a mathematical dilemma, more than anything else. I hate using dummy loads (non-inductive load resistors) to balance a cab, but if I can find one beefier than 100 watts, I'd have to think about it.
I have a good friend that's a design engineer for Polycom, and spent his early years as a musical electronics guru. In addition to the great info I've been getting from this forum, I think I'll bounce that one off of him, too.
As for the impedance snafu, that was another slightly rushed 'DUH!' moment on my part! It's a pretty simple 1/2-hour job to tear apart, rewire, and reassemble at 16 ohms....and that'll get done ASAP. The current total Z is 3.0969 ohms (by formula...theoretically). The head doesn't breathe hard at 4 ohms, and running at about 50% it won't damage anything in the short term, but the rewire will bump the total Z up to 5.3333-(ad infinitum) ohms, which is a bit more comfortable (I'm good with basic electronics....advanced engineering, not so much!). Point taken, though. Never do things in a hurry!
Now, I just have to resist the temptation to run downstairs and hammer on the sweet sound I was getting last night.....Rewire the cabinet first, Rewire the cabinet first, Rewire the cabinet first, Rewire the cab.............
It can be done, simply for the sake of impedance matching, as long as it's a non-inductive load (high-power ceramic tube resistor, etc. An inductive load would cause the impedance to change because of the inductive reactance that would have to figure into the impedance calculation....which would change with frequency). The jury is still out, over here though, on whether it significantly colors sound, and on it's longevity. If I try it, I would probably mount the dummy load on the outside of the cabinet, to make it easier to remove quickly.....until I was satisfied that it would work well, and consistently, over time. It's about a $40 USD experiment, at worst. Fortunately, the amp's final section doesn't know what you're doing, as long as it sees sufficient, consistent impedance, so it wouldn't complain. Subject is still open to debate, though, and I am very open to hearing people's experiences with trying something like this. Have you actually tried it? If so, it sounds like you weren't thrilled with the result. What happened??
Thanks for the reply!
Norm
P.S. Where in Oz are you? I have a friend near Sydney....but he's a keyboard player...I just don't hold it against him!
