The Cyclops, a tweeterless 115

[Arjank]

Sounds fun! Are you going to have your 2x10 there as well?

Yes, it'll join the fun

 

[Kirk Bryant]

Hey Arjank, I'm sure everyone would love to hear clips of both of these unique designs. If you have the gear and the time to do it I'm sure it would be greatly appreciated by all. Thanks in advance (hopefully) Capt. Kirk

 

[Arjank]

Hey Arjank, I'm sure everyone would love to hear clips of both of these unique designs. If you have the gear and the time to do it I'm sure it would be greatly appreciated by all. Thanks in advance (hopefully) Capt. Kirk

Aye aye captain
I already have that in the pipeline, I'm thinking about using my condenser mike and cubase to record some samples Of course it's always tricky to really capture the low-end but you defintely get an impression of the cab's character.

 

[Kirk Bryant]

Funny man you're always up when I'm posting just before bed. My nephew, also a bass player from Leeds, just finished up his degree in Architecture in Amsterdam this year. I would love to visit your fine city someday. Have a great day and g-nite!

 

[Arjank]

You know what, I'd give it a shot.

I just did a quick simulation for the Deltalite 2512.
Red curve = 70liters (71liters in total) tuned to 47hz (which IMO yields the most balanced response)
Black curve = 55liters (82liters in total) horn-reflex tuned to 53hz.

Below 63hz the normal ported cab has more output but isn't very beneficial for a 4-string, with 250 watts that point lowers to 55hz which means the horn-reflex has an advantage at higher volumes Also, the horn-reflex has approx 2dB more output in the 75hz - 240hz range, this is where this system does it's job (the same as with the Cyclops).

 

[Arjank]

Ordered the wheels and trolley-handle, right now I'm preparing the cab for the paint/warnex job

 

[Arjank]

Paintjob almost done

 

[Arjank]

I hope to do some better pics in the weekend during daylight.
In the weekend I'll also install the trolley handle and wheels

 

[beans-on-toast]

Looks good with the Warnex. Any problems applying the finish?

Any issues with th cab vibrating or buzzing?

Are you planning on using locking casters? What size do you think will work well?

 

[Arjank]

Looks good with the Warnex. Any problems applying the finish?

I use this to apply the Warnex

Any issues with th cab vibrating or buzzing?

Not on the SPL level that I tried at home, let's see what happens friday.
I used this polyurethane expansion glue so the joints shouldn't buzz or rattle.

Are you planning on using locking casters? What size do you think will work well?

No, just two wheels on the bottom/back and two rubber studs on the bottom/front.

 

[Arjank]

This evening the big test:
- cab ready for testing? check
- rehearsal space rented? check
- power-amp available? check
- sine-wave tool installed on phone? check
- cables 'n stuff? check
- new strings installed on bass? check

Forgot anything?

 

[beans-on-toast]

Forgot anything?

Have fun playing!

 

[Arjank]

Thnx! It's gonna be fun, fun, fun

 

[Arjank]

 

[Arjank]

My rig is probably gonna look something like this in the future if I need to play on a large stage. I haven't tested this setup yet, my friend couldn't take the poweramp with him but we'll try again in a few weeks.

So how did the Cyclops perform? First of all let me say that the approx 250 watts that the Bugera BVP5500 can deliver at 8 ohms is far from enough to get the cab to it's knees, it can take way more. So next time we really need the poweramp to see how loud it goes (I expect it to go really loud).
Soundwise the cab performed very well, lows sounded full with a lot of meat in the low mids, IMO an ideal tone for blues and rock. For a nice slap-n-pop sound I needed to scoop the mids a bit (900hz and 2khz on the grafic eq) and bump the highs (5khz) when playing along with the drummer. I didn't have to turn the amp all way up to keep up with the (loud) drummer, so in most cases it'll work fine with a 200-300watt amp.
The 210 with the coaxial mid/high driver is a totally different beast, very accurate lows and incredible tight punchy mids and highs that cut through anything. The drummer who heard the cab before two years ago was still amazed, he plays with so many bassist but none of these guys (and some of them are considered the best in the Dutch music scene) has such a sound, LOL.

Which cab is better? IMO you just can't compare them, it's comparing apples to oranges. It's low mid growl vs ultimate neutrality and transparency. The Cyclops is lighter and much cheaper then the 210 and has an extremely good price/performance ratio.

Btw. the tuning of the Cyclops seems to be a bit lower then predicted by the simulation software, I'll have to do another test today to exactly pinpoint the tuning frequency. That said, the low B sounded more massive in the rehearsal space then at home

Better pic of the rig

 

[fast slapper]

Love that 2x10....I'm guessing the Cyclops will stomp it in output with power behind it though. Will be interesting to hear how it does.

I just read through your 2x10 build again and can attest to drivers sounding good or not when pushed. I've been playing around with one of my 18 Sound 12MB700's and it sounds way cleaner than one would expect given it's xmax rating. Measures better than their graph as well. I like it a little more than my Kappalite 15's.

Right now I'm running the 18 Sound with a DE250 on a Seos 12. No crossover on the 12 and an electrical 2nd order HP on the horn at 8k or so. Sounds so good I haven't had any motivation to try a proper crossover.

Still debating if I want to try this design or go for a 2x12. Sounds like the 2x12 will be punchier in the mid bass?

 

[abarson]

Now I'm definitely interested in a Cyclops Jr. with a DL2512. It doesn't look like it would be difficult to cut out and assemble.

 

[walterw]

if nothing else i like the look of the cyclops (as do you i suppose, making it your avatar pic and all );

it looks sort of "weaponized", like it's something the US military might have used in panama to drive noriega out of his compound.

 

[Arjank]

if nothing else i like the look of the cyclops (as do you i suppose, making it your avatar pic and all );

it looks sort of "weaponized", like it's something the US military might have used in panama to drive noriega out of his compound.

Thnx

 

[Arjank]

Love that 2x10....I'm guessing the Cyclops will stomp it in output with power behind it though. Will be interesting to hear how it does.

When fed with enough clean power the Cyclops will burry the 210 basswise, the mid/highs on that 210 though are a power to be reckoned with, it's cuts through anything.

I just read through your 2x10 build again and can attest to drivers sounding good or not when pushed. I've been playing around with one of my 18 Sound 12MB700's and it sounds way cleaner than one would expect given it's xmax rating. Measures better than their graph as well. I like it a little more than my Kappalite 15's.

My personal preference are indeed drivers that keep distortion low when pushed, if I want grind I use a pedal or pre-amp to get that. I never liked the "natural" distortion that comes from speakers, it sounds like farting (hence the description "farting-out")

Right now I'm running the 18 Sound with a DE250 on a Seos 12. No crossover on the 12 and an electrical 2nd order HP on the horn at 8k or so. Sounds so good I haven't had any motivation to try a proper crossover.

Sometimes a simple design will do the trick.
The DE250 is that B&C compression driver?

Still debating if I want to try this design or go for a 2x12. Sounds like the 2x12 will be punchier in the mid bass?

What do you mean with "this design", a horn-reflex like the Cyclops?