OT: design ideas for bass horns for PA

[Aman2]

Hey all. I recently got a deal on a bunch of 15inch seismic audio drivers. I was thinking of building some bass cabinets in the style and philosophy of the older altec and jbl bins. I would like to use them for my dj/sound reinforcement gigs. Currently im running with all vintage amps and processing (altec, crown, shure, some tube and solid state). My speakers are newer though, and I haven't been impressed with their bass response at long range. I have heard that bass horn designs are good at throwing sound over longer distances, so im definitely game to try building some. There would be a size and weight limit, as I would prefer to be able to move them without a crane. So yeah, if anyone is willing to enlighten a noob on bass horns I would appreciate it. Some designs Ive been looking at specifically were the old peavey sp2s and 3s, as well as the Altec a7. Sorry for the rambling post, Im just kinda thinking aloud. Oh btw, I already tried posting about this on Audiokarma, but you all know how things go down over there....in speaker land, if you arent hacking up organ tone cabinets or identifying some random crap speakers from the 80s or discussing some new 105,000 gold rimmed speakers with nuclear powered field coils your shunned.

[Old Guy]

Definitely off topic here.

I suggest: Speakerplans.com they have a forum, also a place called dancetech.

[cradeldorf]

How about one of these?
Push-Pull Double 15 Subwoofer Pic - Les Hudson - High Efficiency Speaker Asylum

[bowtie427ss]

Oh btw, I already tried posting about this on Audiokarma, but you all know how things go down over there....in speaker land, if you arent hacking up organ tone cabinets or identifying some random crap speakers from the 80s or discussing some new 105,000 gold rimmed speakers with nuclear powered field coils your shunned.

You're right, i do know how things go down over there. But, i don't think you have a clue.

I find it hard to believe you were shunned at AK, it's a well moderated site especially where "attitude" is concerned. That said, it's usually considered bad etiquette to bitch about one forum on another.

I recently got a deal on a bunch of 15inch seismic audio drivers.

Actually, the seller got the deal. You got a deal on an opportunity to learn something valuable, if you choose to embrace this objectively.

If you were offended because somebody revealed that the drivers you want to load in well engineered horn systems designed for well engineered drivers are actually cheap crap, then you either need to pull out the spec sheets and analysis data for the woofers and prove them wrong, or you need to take a closer look at the woofers themselves and consider a plan B.

I wasted the time to bother looking for Theile/Small parameters for Seismic Audio woofers on their cheesy website.

Guess what i found?

Under "technical specifications" they simply list the physical dimensions of the drivers. There are a few reasons a company doesn't post actual specs of their speakers. The 3 biggest are a) lack of quality control and consistent manufacturing methods which prevents parameters from being held to any respectable tolerance. b) the actual parameters/performance is so poor that posting is negative advertising. c) a "white van" company that sells cheap crap in fancy packaging to willing stooges where actual technical specifications and performance are not relevant to generating profit.

I have heard that bass horn designs are good at throwing sound over longer distances, so im definitely game to try building some

There is some truth here, horns control directivity which can result in getting more sound where you want it, not just bass. But, you need to have an understanding of how woofers/drivers react to their environment and further understand that there are woofers which perform their best in a horn, as well as woofers that have no business in a horn at all. This is one of the reasons that it is CRITICAL to know a woofer's parameters before you can have any idea what kind of alignment it will work best in.

My advice to the OP is to "ask the questions", there's no such thing as a stupid one. There are a lot of folks both here and at AK with a lot of knowledge to share. All you have to do is show them an open mind.

My other bit of advice to the OP is to remember that the inflection of tone in the written word is near impossible to interpret. If a response seems snotty, snobby, or disrespectful, be careful about taking it personally as often times it isn't meant that way at all.

Patience grasshopper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tomt]

you might get one of these -


Dayton Audio DATS Dayton Audio Test System 390-806



`````````````````````````````````````````



seismic audio is billed as musical instrument stuff.

i was thinking about getting the cast frame 10",

just to see what they are like.

[Aman2]

no the seller did not bill them to me as high quality. I found the specs and Ive done some tests myself; they are not co
pletly terrible but are not anything special. They are quake-15s. I only mentioned a deal because it was overstock and I got 4 for the price of one. I really do apologize for the bad mouthing, AK is a good site, just gets annoying at times.

[Old Guy]

you might get one of these -


Dayton Audio DATS Dayton Audio Test System 390-806



`````````````````````````````````````````



seismic audio is billed as musical instrument stuff.

i was thinking about getting the cast frame 10",

just to see what they are like.

Do yourself a favor Tom, get these instead.

MCM Audio Select 10'' Die Cast Woofer with Paper Cone and Cloth Surround - 100W RMS 8ohm | 55-2961 (552961) | MCM Audio Select


Sensitivity: 96dB (W/M)
Impedance: 8ohm
Re: 7.2ohm
Le: 0.989mH
Frequency response: 52Hz~4KHz
Fs: 52Hz
Qts: 0.29
Qes: 0.324
Qms: 2.6
Vas: 55.8 liters
Xmax: 3.5mm
better yet
MCM Audio Select 10'' Die Cast Professional Woofer - 250W RMS | 55-2981 (552981) | MCM Audio Select

Rigid die cast frame
Treated paper cone
Treated cloth accordion surround
2" high temperature voice coil
40oz. vented magnet Specifications:
Sensitivity: 93dB (W/M)
Impedance: 8ohm
Re: 6.3ohm
Frequency response:
35Hz~3.5KHz
Fs: 41.8Hz
Qts: 0.54
Qes: 0.655
Qms: 3.08
Vas: 58.08 liters
Xmax: 6.5mm