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Small drivers... why do I like that sound?

#41
ficelles said:
Actually given the scenario of a port potentially acting as a Helmholtz resonator that may not be the case, going to wait for someone more knowledgeable about enclosure design to respond though :)
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Guess I could have just checked earlier... the Phil Jones Piranha driver is apparently linear from 25Hz to 15 kHz. Impressive response for any driver.
 
#42
IMO, with multiple drivers operating "like" a single driver (only applies when the driver spacing is small compared with the wavelength being reproduced), the increases in diaphragm area, total displacement, total moving mass versus motor strength etc, can indeed alter the performance impacted with a single driver.
 
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#46
Chris Fitzgerald said:
Admittedly, most of my gigs are on DB, but I always seem to find the sound of small drivers more pleasing than the sound of larger ones............. Now for years I've been very happy with the 5" drivers in the Phil Jones combos.

All of this points to a preference for smaller drivers, which always seemed counterintuitive, and yet the proof is in the pudding. I was very excited to try the PJB quantum 800 with its array of 2" drivers, but it seems to have gotten indefinitely delayed. At any rate, what is it about small drivers that sounds so good to me?
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Well, there is definitely something very pleasing about smaller multiple drivers for Double Bass. I started out with a pair of Bose 802's which, in comparison to everything else avaliable at the time, sounded different, because the low end was a bit more focused, and the midrange was better defined. Unfortunately, they were heavy, power hungry, and the midrange was not exactly where you would want it. I now have a MAS 4x5 and so far it's pretty great.

Ric
 
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#52
Chris Fitzgerald said:
Admittedly, most of my gigs are on DB, but I always seem to find the sound of small drivers more pleasing than the sound of larger ones. Like many people, when I first started playing bass, I gravitated to big speakers, starting with an old Yamaha combo and later a Bag End cab, both of which had 15s. Next was a move to 12 inch drivers, then 10s, then 8s. Now for years I've been very happy with the 5" drivers in the Phil Jones combos.

All of this points to a preference for smaller drivers, which always seemed counterintuitive, and yet the proof is in the pudding. I was very excited to try the PJB quantum 800 with its array of 2" drivers, but it seems to have gotten indefinitely delayed. At any rate, what is it about small drivers that sounds so good to me?
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People can throw out any amount of numbers, scientific data, practical information, and years of experience. In the end it doesn't mean a damn thing if your ears prefer one thing over another.

The 50 cal. Machine gun, which has been in use for decades, actually should NOT function if you run all the numbers and measurements. By the data, it is a useless chunk of engineering. Somehow though, despite the bean counters and inked numbers on a piece of paper, it's been a proven highly functioning efficient weapon.
 
#53
Chris Fitzgerald said:
Admittedly, most of my gigs are on DB, but I always seem to find the sound of small drivers more pleasing than the sound of larger ones. Like many people, when I first started playing bass, I gravitated to big speakers, starting with an old Yamaha combo and later a Bag End cab, both of which had 15s. Next was a move to 12 inch drivers, then 10s, then 8s. Now for years I've been very happy with the 5" drivers in the Phil Jones combos.

All of this points to a preference for smaller drivers, which always seemed counterintuitive, and yet the proof is in the pudding. I was very excited to try the PJB quantum 800 with its array of 2" drivers, but it seems to have gotten indefinitely delayed. At any rate, what is it about small drivers that sounds so good to me?
Click to expand...

Interesting question. I think the issue is more about the size and space of the room, vs. how many drivers there are. I have no scientific basis for this argument, just pure observation. More drivers always push a bigger wall of air and sound more "immediate." So a 210 will always sound punchier than a 115.
 
#54
agedhorse said:
I think some of us here (me included) are concerned that technically accurate information is presented clearly. It is frustrating when folks pretend to know what they are talking about yet regurgitate factually incorrect information in a way that is misleading.

Folks arguing that something can not possibly be done by regurgitating factually incorrect and simplistic information IN THE FACE OF COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE and VERIFIABLE examples gets very old, and is IMO a disservice to those TB members who are trying to learn more about how equipment and approaches to amplification actually work, as well as how it is evolving.
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Could it be as simple as others having "alternative facts?"
 
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#55
Hey Chris, I can't help but wonder if you've tried any of the MAS offerings as it seems they have a number of Upright Bass oriented cab offerings using smaller speakers. I just remembered I used to use a SWR Henry Jr. Cab with 4x8" s and used to like it a lot with my Upright.
I'm still hopeing Mike Arnepol, Duke LeJeune and Leland Crooks will show up in this conversation.
And thanks to all the well behaved posters. It makes learning a more pleasurable experience.
 
#57
I find that a cab that allows you to monitor better sounds better.

A wall of sound sounds great. Bring a speaker cab closer to your ear, it's like a wall of sound and it sounds great. I sit very close to and/or elevate smaller cabs to achieve better monitoring. Stick a larger cab on the floor a distance from you and you loose something.
 
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#58
20170114_194707.jpg
This kills!! Everyone askes: crowd, soundguys, musicians......never heard bass this good before!!!!
 
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#59
Chris Fitzgerald said:
Admittedly, most of my gigs are on DB, but I always seem to find the sound of small drivers more pleasing than the sound of larger ones. Like many people, when I first started playing bass, I gravitated to big speakers, starting with an old Yamaha combo and later a Bag End cab, both of which had 15s. Next was a move to 12 inch drivers, then 10s, then 8s. Now for years I've been very happy with the 5" drivers in the Phil Jones combos.

All of this points to a preference for smaller drivers, which always seemed counterintuitive, and yet the proof is in the pudding. I was very excited to try the PJB quantum 800 with its array of 2" drivers, but it seems to have gotten indefinitely delayed. At any rate, what is it about small drivers that sounds so good to me?
Click to expand...

It is just taste as a few folks have mentioned. When I was 12 I'd go to the dump and pull speakers out of every tv, radio, and scrapped stereo I could find. I made so many cabinets out of small and mismatched (shape and diameter wise) drivers. I was so stoked by the sound of all of them. All different, all use-able for something. There's no "best" and no "perfect". What there is a wonderful smorgasbord of tones available, and everyone hears, perceives a bit different. In the end it's all about moving air. It's optimum if sensitivities and mechanical alignment are matched. From there; I've always felt it's simply what you like. It's easy to get drawn in to specs of every variety. They are only as good as their provider.
 
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