Sensitivity

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DJ Big Ronn
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Joined: Sun May 28, 2006 2:43 pm
Location: Carencro, La.

Sensitivity

#1 Post by DJ Big Ronn »

I'm not sure if this would be of any use to anyone, but i'm gonna throw it out there anyway. I always knew that BFM cabs were way more efficient than store bought speakers, but that never gave me any real world info. Last week I was the Dj for four high school project graduation events. Starts at 10pm, ends at 6am mon. thru thurs. In the main room, i put up 4-Dr250's and two T-48's. The problem was that last year, no one could hear announcements in the other room. So this year i got some 100ft cables and ran two more T-48's and my backup Peavey's.
With all tops on one amp, the sound in the main room was LOUD. Sound in the second room almost inaudible. About the only thing that you could hear was the CD horn, not enough power to even get the mids going. I guess I'll need to build two more DR-250's for next year :wink: .
Like i said, i dont know if this is useful to anyone, but I thought it was a lil real world info for anyone that was wondering just how efficient the BFM cabs are.

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Tom Smit
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Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2008 1:24 pm
Location: Sarnia, Ont. Canada

Re: Sensitivity

#2 Post by Tom Smit »

Would there be any difference if the amp was in the same room as the Peaveys, and running the 100 foot cables to the DRs? IOW, backwards from what you had. I'm asking because methinks there is some power loss through the cables. :(
TomS

Sydney

Re: Sensitivity

#3 Post by Sydney »

there is some power loss through the cables.
That can be determined.
Voltage drop is the amount of voltage loss over the length of a piece of wire. Voltage drop changes as a function of the resistance of the wire and should be less than 2% if possible.

Syd

Turntablist
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Joined: Thu May 18, 2006 5:02 am
Location: Sweden

Re: Sensitivity

#4 Post by Turntablist »

Sydney wrote:
there is some power loss through the cables.
That can be determined.
Voltage drop is the amount of voltage loss over the length of a piece of wire. Voltage drop changes as a function of the resistance of the wire and should be less than 2% if possible.

Syd
Also, it is the high end that is rolled of first if there is any loss in the cables and the highs were there according to Big Ronn but not the mids.
I'd say Big Ronn's conclusions are accurate.
-2 T48 3015LF
-2 DR250 2510 crossfired

Sydney

Re: Sensitivity

#5 Post by Sydney »

Also, it is the high end that is rolled of first if there is any loss in the cables and the highs
That is indicative of added inductance not merely adding resistance; which will create a voltage drop, and reduce gain universally.
Resistance and inductance and capacitance are separate issues.

Note: This was a response to Tom's inquiry about determining power loss in the cable specifically. It was not an attempt to explain what Ronn had posted

Syd

DJ Big Ronn
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Re: Sensitivity

#6 Post by DJ Big Ronn »

Yeah, i thought of that, and im sure there was some measure of power loss. The dr's were on 50ft and the Peaveys 100ft. I had noticed the volume loss long ago when I only had 2 DR's and ran the Peaveys along side them. The diff. was more noticable however because the spks were in different rooms this time. I unplugged the DR's momentarily and was able to get the Peaveys to extreme levels, but with MUCH more power. I posted this in case anyone that was on the fence about building, it may sway them towards DR's. This is the kind of stuff that i wanted to know when i was deciding.
On a second note, the T-48'ws were on 100ft cables also and far outran the Peavey tops.

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Tom Smit
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Location: Sarnia, Ont. Canada

Re: Sensitivity

#7 Post by Tom Smit »

Thanks for clearing that up DJ Big Ronn. :)
TomS

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SoundInMotionDJ
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Location: DFW, Texas
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Re: Sensitivity

#8 Post by SoundInMotionDJ »

Sydney wrote:Voltage drop changes as a function of the resistance of the wire and should be less than 2% if possible.
The rule of thumb that I have used is to keep the wire impedance (or resistance) to less than 5% of the cabinet loads. But 2% is still less than 5%. :noob:
10 T39S + 10 DR200 + 1 T48

Gregory East
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Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 9:56 pm

Re: Sensitivity

#9 Post by Gregory East »

TimpBizkit wrote:Someone should do a balance test from a distance between a DR and a home stereo speaker, and different makes of PA speakers and post it on youtube, they are probably more sensitive than all but the EAW KF touring component range.
What's sensitivity of a KF top, and driver count, box size?

I reckon most would think a vid was rigged before believing their favourite speaker could be monstered by a DIY job. I substituted a little bookshelf speaker for a DR250 once. Thinking the wiring was mucked up it was so nearly inaudible with BAT still going.
BAT10, Bad Auto Tuba. Reverse folded TAT to fit JBL 1014D, 350W driver, voltage limit unknown.

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Bill Fitzmaurice
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Re: Sensitivity

#10 Post by Bill Fitzmaurice »

TimpBizkit wrote:Someone should do a balance test from a distance between a DR and a home stereo speaker, and different makes of PA speakers and post it on youtube, they are probably more sensitive than all but the EAW KF touring component range.
Good idea, why don't you go out and buy a dozen or so cabs and do it? When you do you'll find that DRs are more sensitive than EAW KFs.

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Harley
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Joined: Mon May 08, 2006 2:45 pm
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand - Authorised BFM Cab Builder

Re: Sensitivity

#11 Post by Harley »

TimpBizkit wrote:As for DJ Big Ronn, why not put two DR250s in one room and two in the other room?
Good grief, his post is over two years old...move on will you :bash:
ImageSemi-retired: Former Australia and New Zealand Authorised BFM cab builder.

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Bill Fitzmaurice
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Re: Sensitivity

#12 Post by Bill Fitzmaurice »

Harley wrote:
TimpBizkit wrote:As for DJ Big Ronn, why not put two DR250s in one room and two in the other room?
Good grief, his post is over two years old...move on will you :bash:
He resurrected this one from five years ago:
http://billfitzmaurice.info/forum/viewt ... =13&t=4205
:noob:

Bruce Weldy
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Location: New Braunfels, TX

Re: Sensitivity

#13 Post by Bruce Weldy »

Bill Fitzmaurice wrote:
Harley wrote:
TimpBizkit wrote:As for DJ Big Ronn, why not put two DR250s in one room and two in the other room?
Good grief, his post is over two years old...move on will you :bash:
He resurrected this one from five years ago:
http://billfitzmaurice.info/forum/viewt ... =13&t=4205
:noob:
There really should be a prize for raising the dead.....you know, kinda' like whoever drove the farthest to get to the reunion.

Maybe the appropriate prize would be a calendar?

6 - T39 3012LF
4 - OT12 2512
1 - T24
1 - SLA Pro
2 - XF210


"A system with a few knobs set up by someone who knows what they are doing is always better than one with a lot of knobs set up by someone who doesn't."

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AntonZ
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Re: Sensitivity

#14 Post by AntonZ »

I'd say cut the man a little slack. We've all been new to forums once. As well as young and enthusiast at some point.

Bruce Weldy
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Location: New Braunfels, TX

Re: Sensitivity

#15 Post by Bruce Weldy »

AntonZ wrote:I'd say cut the man a little slack. We've all been new to forums once. As well as young and enthusiast at some point.
Yeah, you're probably right.....but there have been so many dead posts popping up that I thought I was in a Zombie movie. :shock: :shock:

6 - T39 3012LF
4 - OT12 2512
1 - T24
1 - SLA Pro
2 - XF210


"A system with a few knobs set up by someone who knows what they are doing is always better than one with a lot of knobs set up by someone who doesn't."

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