Bill Fitzmaurice

[quote name='glefty' timestamp='1337009823' post='1653916'] I also posted this question on TB but as it is largely American, I figured most wouldn't really concern themselves with or even be aware of these issues as much as UK, EU, AU, NZ, SA & others outside North America. [/quote]And there's your answer. Manufacturers who do little distribution outside N. America aren't going to increase their build cost by using dual primary power transformers.

Read this: http://barefacedbass.com/technical-information/Volume-displacement.htm The Midget's 330cc displacement is equivalent to three average tens.

[quote name='Bass_man219' timestamp='1335987392' post='1639243'] Does valve preamp distortion wreck speakers? [/quote]If the distortion is severe enough tweeters can be at risk. Woofers, no.

[quote name='MarshallBTB' timestamp='1335962592' post='1638646'] I've seen the reviews, both good and bad. For that price with the thomman return policy its worth a go. [/quote]I agree the price is good, just be aware that these aren't holding up well over time, and that you may have issues after the warranty/return period has expired.

[quote name='MarshallBTB' timestamp='1335951600' post='1638405'] cant be bad for that kind of money! [/quote]They've been replaced, that's why the price cut on old stock. The originals garnered quite a bit of criticism for their lack of bracing, no damping, and a propensity for the hardware to come loose. It remains to be seen if the new version has addressed these issues, or if all that's changed is the grille.

[quote name='chrismuzz' timestamp='1335769055' post='1635531'] is this true? So would this mean that the famous 4x10 cabinet is not as great as it could be? [/quote]It's the poster child for how not to build a speaker.

[quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1335290067' post='1628773'] How about a guitar cab? A sealed 1x12 from Orange or Matamp for example. [/quote]+1. Bass cabs are made to run clean, guitar cabs are made to run dirty.

[quote name='AndThenSome1' timestamp='1335270032' post='1628321'] is this pairing not potentially able to damage the cab, given that the amp puts out 500w? [/quote]Did you get one with no volume comtrols? BTW, thermal wattage ratings of drivers are meaningless. What counts is the displacement, and that of the Kappa 15 used in the OBC is only 340cc, which translates to about 100w actual capacity before reaching maximum output. For some perspective you should compare that to the listed displacement figures at Barefaced Bass, keeping in mind that doubling displacement quadruples the usable power handling.

[quote name='Jazz Bass 65' timestamp='1335203213' post='1627229'] Why oh why won't Ashdown make available a power amp version of their Little Giant? [/quote]Probably because Alto (who makes the modules) won't agree to it. Buy an Alto instead.

[quote name='essexbasscat' timestamp='1334852509' post='1622411'] I guess to clarify my question, how does the one speaker mechanically produce [i]n [/i]different sounds ? [/quote]It doesn't. The waveforms of all of the various sources combine into one waveform.

[quote name='gapiro' timestamp='1334789568' post='1621493'] I think a compact maybe the way forward. [/quote]If you want to do so using only it you'd need a new amp too, as you don't have enough power to drive the Compact to full output. The point of adding the second cab is to get the added sensitivity and power that results from two cabs. And if you add a second cab you want them displacement matched, otherwise should you ever go to a big amp you won't be able to go any louder than what the cab with the smaller displacement will allow.

[quote name='gapiro' timestamp='1334664595' post='1619315'] Currently I have a Hartke HA2500 running into a Barefaced Midget T. I love this setup, I love the sound and the cleanliness of it. However I am simply not getting enough volume at gigs from it. [/quote]Add another Midget T. You'll get a 6dB bump in output, the equaivalent of quadupling your amp size, with no changes in tone. And with the second cab atop the first it will be closer to your eaars, making it seem louder still.

It's not new technology, Carver had it 25 years ago. There are two power rails, one for low voltage/current draw one for high voltage/current draw. The result is higher efficiency than typical Class AB, not so high as Class D. Class A is so inefficient you can get double duty using it to heat your house.

You model the Karson as a series tuned 6th order bandpass, WinISD doesn't have that capability. Those odd looking tubes are another bit of Karlson kit that defies explanation.

Yes, you can use car audio gear to make a bass rig, [i]so long as you're playing inside a car[/i]. Otherwise, forget about it.

[quote name='StraightSix' timestamp='1333808532' post='1606793'] Thanks for the clarification Bill - that's very poor in terms of performance. [/quote]Awaiting the caterwallering replies from the "I don't care what the numbers say I love mine" set.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1333803366' post='1606712'] get an Orange 410 [/quote]SP410 displacement 300cc. Barefaced Compact displacement 566cc. The advantage of 566cc versus 300cc is just as significant as it would be If these were motorcycle engines. [quote]The regular Orange 4X10 will give a Volume displacement of 600cc[/quote]The Beta 10s used in the OBC 410 have only 102cc displacement each, for a total of only 408cc.

[quote name='jackhammer' timestamp='1333748229' post='1606161'] It's a bit..... Like something's missing.. [/quote]You're not missing a thing. Get past the advertising nonsense that wants to make you think otherwise. The problem with mixing cabs is that the result is totally unpredictable. The best course is to buy the cab that you like the sound of best. If one isn't loud enough use two.

[quote name='jackhammer' timestamp='1333745432' post='1606118'] the 4x10 is 51Hz to 18Hz and the 2x10 is 53Hz to 18Hz, whats the difference :s [/quote]2Hz.

[quote name='CJPJ' timestamp='1333734029' post='1605922'] I haven't always felt the power through the SP210 when turning up the dial and have recently experienced the cab farting at higher volumes with gain. I thought this was a bit strange since the amp is on 500w against the cab's 600w. [/quote]The cab's 600w rating is moot, it only says how much power it will take before the coils melt. How much power it can use before farting out is a matter of the driver displacement. The displacement of the drivers used is 150cc. With a normal 210 that would come to 300cc total, but the SP210 isobaric configuration only exposes one cone to the air, so the effective displacement is that of one driver, 150cc. That's the price paid for the small cab size. IMO that price is far too dear. To see how it measures up to what's IMO a far better option have a look at the displacement figures shown here: http://barefacedbass.com/technical-information/Volume-displacement.htm Doubling driver displacement offers the same increase in volume as quadrupling your power output.

[quote name='Moos3h' timestamp='1333621364' post='1604305'] Thanks - I'm thinking I'll do what Stevie says and find a piezo tweeter, wire it up outside the cab and see if I like it. [/quote]It's not that simple. First off you need at least two piezos series wired to withstand the voltage swing, a single unit won't do it. And while piezos are advertised as not needing a crossover that's not actually the case, for professional use they most definitely require filtering, and there are no 'off the shelf' filters for piezos, you must construct one yourself. True many manufacturers do just toss in a single unfiltered piezo, but only because that's the cheapest way, not because it's the right way. The right way to get better high frequency response without tearing into your cabs is the fEarful headcase. http://greenboy.us/fEARful/

As the old saying goes, if you have to ask... In any event midrange drivers work far better than tweeters, which don't start working until an octave higher than you want, and continue to operate an octave higher than you need. Either way the installation is simple if you know what you're doing, but might as well be rocket science if you don't.

RMS is what engineers use when desiging gear. All else is what marketeers use when advertising it.

[quote name='Salt on your Bass?' timestamp='1332920603' post='1594753'] As I've never played outdoors before, I wasnt sure what affect this has on a bass rig. . [/quote]You lose space loading, which costs you 6dB of net axial low frequency output. To compensate for that you need twice the speaker count as indoors to reach the same levels, both on stage and in the audience, unless you happen to have 6dB of low frequency headroom that you can afford to lose.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1332875792' post='1594383'] It does make a huge difference. I had an Eden 410 that was 103. Amp volume on 3. I then had a Hartke 410 at 99. Amp had to be on 4 or 5 to get the same volume. I now have a Schroeder 21012 at 104. Amp can go to 3, but it be darn loud. 2 and a bit is better. [/quote]Speaker voicing also makes a huge difference. Both Eden and Schroeder have high tuning, which accenuates sensitivity in the midbass. That boosts midbass sensitivity, but just as important, midbass is more audible than bass. The Hartke probably had higher sensitivity in the lows, so subjectively it wouldn't seem as loud, even though it might have been actually considerbly louder in the lows. In any event never trust manufacturer SPL specs. They're only as good as the measured SPL chart that accompanies them, and [i]there aren't any[/i].