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TL-606 (Beating a Dead Horse again).

Brad T. Bass

Brad T. Bass

Supporting Member
Oct 27, 2009
69
51
#1
Short & Sweet. I have read all the TL-606 links on here that I could find. Beauty is in the Ear of the Beholder. Sound is Arbitrary, and Yes, Greenboy would have been the best way to go, etc, etc.

Hoping to tap into the “Hands on” Experience Base (OK, BASS) out there & merely hoping to circumvent the AB’ing process. I want Drop In / Plug & Play.

I have (4) TL-606 cabs that I built (old school) YEARS ago (EG: Already built) & I plan on loading all (4).

I have (2) EVM-15L’s freshly re-coned. (EG: to be Rehearsal Room cabs). Question: Which config will sound better, CENTER PORT COVER ON OR OFF?

In the near future I plan on picking up (2) Kappalite 3015’s (Non-LF) for the other (2) Cabs (EG: to be Gigging Cabs) I don’t want to make any mods to the Cabinets (yes, less than optimal). Question: Which config will sound better, CENTER PORT COVER ON OR OFF?

Thanks !!!!

Brad
 
#2
I built a 2x15 based on the TL-606 plan. Only change I made was to increase the height of the port by 1" - with no real science behind it. Loaded with Kappalite 3015's.

Port cover OFF sounds much better to my ears. Putting the covers ON sounded like putting a blanket on the cabinet.

I would think you'd be able to drop in 3015's with out modifying your cabinets and they would still sound great.
 
#3
here ya go... The stack on the right is a "true" EV TL606 BUT I adjusted the ports to work with the Faitals I used. The stack on the left have been my field testing cabs for the past 5 years and have gone through many changes. To get the right Freq curve I want, the center port is blocked (sometimes) BUT if I feel the need to have it tuned higher, I open all the ports.
20180902_185107_1535939627322_001.jpg
 
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#5
Jim C said:
I built one from plans years ago.
I like it with the center cover removed.
Here's a good builder tip: don't build a cabinet from 3/4" oak plywood even if you have extra sheets laying around.
Don't ask me how I know
Click to expand...
Heavy? Got any pics (and no, I won't call out "if there are no pics, you haven't done it" rule)?;)

I'll be going 11 or 13 ply Baltic Birch, if I can still get anything from outside the US by the time I'm ready to build (damn you, CITES).
 
#6
The port cover will limit excursion below 55 Hz, to a useable lower limit of 40Hz, at the cost of a hit more low end rolloff, versus pretty flat to 55 and dropping like a stone. In PA use, I have done both, but with the EV Step Down equalizer to use with the port cover, and with that proper EQ, there is very little difference in sound, other than with the cover on, the response goes lower. For what it's worth, EV recommends cover on for bass use . . . oh, and built my first pair with 3/4" MDF . . . solid as a rock, with similar weight . . . Oak ply would be a lot lighter, I just didn't have the bucks back in 1985 or so for the good stuff . . .
 
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#8
EV 15Ls and 15Bs both sound great in a TL-606, as well as Kappa 3015s (non-lf).

I never liked the sound of the port covers and have always gone without (running up to 4x15s at once), but I was going for a "middle-finger-fuzz" sound, so I don't know that I was ever really listening for nuance.
 
#9
fu22ba55 said:
EV 15Ls and 15Bs both sound great in a TL-606, as well as Kappa 3015s (non-lf).

I never liked the sound of the port covers and have always gone without (running up to 4x15s at once), but I was going for a "middle-finger-fuzz" sound, so I don't know that I was ever really listening for nuance.
Click to expand...

Did you ever run the numbers on the 3015 to see how well the driver worked in the box, or was close enough good enough?
 
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#12
Enjoying all the feedback on my post. I’d use a computer program to calculate the right parameters, but the ONLY program that I haven’t found for my Mac is a program that does so (no PeeCee discussion needed, we might as well talk Politics, lol). If anyone knows of one (Mac program), I’m interested. (but I suspect even then, OUR EARS & Pant-legs would still have the final say).

My main issue these days is one that eventually, in time, gets us all: The weight of our Rig & the cost of achieving that. I love the idea of Greenboy Cabs, enough said. Trying to make do with what I have {I’d need to buy a Wood-shop or pay the big bucks to have someone build me (4) }.

As far as what I have, the 20 Y.O that used to inhabit my body, originally built (8) of the TL-606 cabs for a P.A. project of which I only ended up needing (4) loaded with Altec 421-8HII’s (Trial & error, I preferred the port covers on for those drivers). Without the cover on, you could easily, audibly (& visibly) drive those speakers to the point of what I refer to as “splattering” (covers on, minimized that, lending to longevity). I have no hands on experience with EVM-15’s or 3015’s, hence my original post.

Attached is a pic of the 421 TL Stack from when I was using them for Bass. (Did Mention that I LOVE 15’s?).

The Rig 4X15".jpg


The 421’s Kick for Bass in this config, but I just am not up to moving them anymore after a 2 A.M. Gig. (hence me now wanting to cut down in weight {down by ~12 lbs. per cab} with the 3015’s), and at that, only (2). So the 421’s are now relegated to my home Jam Room PA.

Just for reference, I built these to Spec out of 3/4 BC plywood & pine cleats. Probably could have chosen more wisely. They are what they are, but they are Beasts.

Thanks to everyone, keep them coming.
 
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#13
Jim C said:
I wonder if one could tell the difference in a double blind listening test, or is it that subtle, especially in a normal club format?
Click to expand...
Generally, can be pretty obvious in AB testing, especially at higher volumes.
 
#14
Brad T. Bass said:
Enjoying all the feedback on my post. I’d use a computer program to calculate the right parameters, but the ONLY program that I haven’t found for my Mac is a program that does so (no PeeCee discussion needed, we might as well talk Politics, lol). If anyone knows of one (Mac program), I’m interested. (but I suspect even then, OUR EARS & Pant-legs would still have the final say).

My main issue these days is one that eventually, in time, gets us all: The weight of our Rig & the cost of achieving that. I love the idea of Greenboy Cabs, enough said. Trying to make due with what I have {I’d need to buy a Wood-shop or pay the big bucks to have someone build me (4) }.

As far as what I have, the 20 Y.O that used to inhabit my body, originally built (8) of the TL-606 cabs for a P.A. project of which I only ended up needing (4) loaded with Altec 421-8HII’s (Trial & error, I preferred the port covers on for those drivers). Without the cover on, you could easily, audibly (& visibly) drive those speakers to the point of what I refer to as “splattering” (covers on, minimized that, lending to longevity). I have no hands on experience with EVM-15’s or 3015’s, hence my original post.

Attached is a pic of the 421 TL Stack from when I was using them for Bass. (Did Mention that I LOVE 15’s?).

View attachment 3142322

The 421’s Kick for Bass in this config, but I just am not up to moving them anymore after a 2 A.M. Gig. (hence me now wanting to cut down in weight {down by ~12 lbs. per cab} with the 3015’s), and at that, only (2). So the 421’s are now relegated to my home Jam Room PA.

Just for reference, I built these to Spec out of 3/4 BC plywood & pine cleats. Probably could have chosen more wisely. They are what they are, but they are Beasts.

Thanks to everyone, keep them coming.
Click to expand...
In a rare act of un-laziness, I looked this up myself rather than just posting "use @fdeck 's on-line program."

Invalid Link Removed
 
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#15
Out of curiosity, what are the box volume, port tuning, and driver choice?

In my view, there's nothing magical about the old Electro-Voice plans. They are basic sealed boxes. What made them special, in the day, was the dire shortage of widely available information on speaker design and construction. Thus, when somebody credible published well thought out plans using drivers that mere mortals could buy, it was a big deal.

But my critique of those plans today is that they don't take advantage of lighter weight materials, notably 1/2 inch plywood. For this reason, it might be better to consider one of the newer published designs, which are also basic sealed boxes, but with plans that work for contemporary lightweight sensibilities.
 
#16
fdeck said:
Out of curiosity, what are the box volume, port tuning, and driver choice?

In my view, there's nothing magical about the old Electro-Voice plans. They are basic sealed boxes. What made them special, in the day, was the dire shortage of widely available information on speaker design and construction. Thus, when somebody credible published well thought out plans using drivers that mere mortals could buy, it was a big deal.

But my critique of those plans today is that they don't take advantage of lighter weight materials, notably 1/2 inch plywood. For this reason, it might be better to consider one of the newer published designs, which are also basic sealed boxes, but with plans that work for contemporary lightweight sensibilities.
Click to expand...
It wouldn't be too difficult to rework the design using 1/2" Baltic, all you have to do is maintain the same inside volume, and the port opening area size. I would add some interior cross bracing and corner gussets in lieu of the cleats that they put in the corners.
 
#17
I couldn’t agree more, but the Target remains. The Cabinets ARE old school, they exist AS IS, and I don’t have the gumption to build any more, make heavy mods or have the finances to buy any more.

I used the EV TL-606 Builders Plans to Spec back then & my intent is to use EVM-15L’s (because I own them) for the rehearsal location #2, and Kappalite 3015’s. (because they are ~12 lbs. lighter) for Gigging. (and are MUCH more manageable than my ACC 106 ).

I’m just soliciting personal opinions on which way, arbitrarily, by personal experience (for each Driver), sounds better - Port Cover on or Port Cover off. Wish I had your program & plans back in the day. Thanks !!! I’ll have to settle for plugging in my values to see which config would have sound best, on paper. ;-)

As for my Driver choice, I’ve read in several forums that the 3015’s are “close” in overall performance to the EVM-15’s. I realize the best I can hope for with what I'm doing is "Close". I've been through the 10" Driver route & even the worst 15" Driver/ Cab combo I've tried, leaves the 10's in the dust.
 
#18
Cover on
Step down mode

Volume and tuning spot on for 3015

3015 has more power handling
Only concern be port velocity with cover on.
Port size is little small if really pushing power to speaker.

Overall port area with cover off is pretty decent. So just adjust length of the port shelf to get step down tuning. But have more port area
 
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#20
Brad T. Bass said:
I couldn’t agree more, but the Target remains. The Cabinets ARE old school, they exist AS IS, and I don’t have the gumption to build any more, make heavy mods or have the finances to buy any more.
Click to expand...
That's cool. Gear that's bought and paid for, that works, always has a certain appeal. ;)
 
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