Jack vs DR250

[The Big M]

Well, I'm a bassist looking for better cabinets and I'm willing to build them ESPECIALLY if they will sound better. 3 Questions, please:

I have some skill as a wood worker but not good shop. I suspect I'll only need one cab that will never be used for PA. I'm wondering DR 250 vs Jack 12. I play smaller clubs of FOH so I don't suspect I'll need to jacks, though it is tempting.

I can imagine there will be a time when at an outdoor gig without good subs, I'll want to have a T39, but I can build this later. I'm wondering does it marry as well with either of these as it does the omni 10.5.

I know it's been discontinued, but I was thinking of building 2 omni 10.5. can i still get old plans or does the jack sound as good.

Thanks for your time. Mike

[Doug Hart]

Here's the Omni 10.5 and the Jack 10, both with the same driver.
There's a reason the Omni10 was discontinued. The Jack is better.



and here's the Jack 12 vs the DR250



The Jack 12 sounds amazing as a bass cab, and it's much easier to build.
The DR250 beats it between 80 and 240, but the Jack goes lower.

If you were going to use a T39 under it, I would say DR250.
But as a standalone cab, I think you'll be happier with the Jack12.

[The Big M]

Thanks alot. That was easy. I think I'll build the Jack 12 with a switch for the HF. I'll probably have a few more questions regarding the HF options once I lok at the plans. thanks again, Mike

[The Big M]

After reading and posting. It's clear, I'll building a jack 12 for use as a stand alone bass cab for rehearsal space. I have a few questions regarding gigging, when I need more sound, I can use 2 jacks. But I may have options, I would value you input.

I really like crisp low sub frequencies, I suspect if the Jack 12 will cut through and sing in the midarnge, but not that low. maybe if i used 2. but with the sensitivity in the midrange, I may not need 2. Rather a nice sub (or quasi-Sub). I have an eden 800 that bi amps well and I can adjust the frequency and relative power to each cab. I already have the Delta pro LF driver in a ported cab.

Options: Build a second Jack, LF driver no horn, Biamp. Not as much sensitivity or as low as a tuba or t39, but the amp has the power and i already own the driver. (if i don't like it i can get a 3012 and melded array and convert it J12).

I could build a tuba or T39, again biamped under the j12. this has more expense, bigger cab, likely I'll need it's full capacity a few time a year for outside gigs. and of course, my eden doesn't time delay anything, which makes me lean toward option 1 above.

I'd love to hear from the bassist who use jack's and any other thoughts. thanks for your time. Mike

[Benj Ross]

Hey Mike,

I have 2 Jack 12s and 4 T39s. I will tell you that the T39 is a pretty big cab to pack around for a bass cab. There is no replacing it for sound though. The Jack/T39 combo is more flexible too. I know a band that just runs everyone into the board and out into a jack 10 and T39. It is way loud for most bars and indoor venues they play.

One caution: The Delta Pro LF is not a recommended driver for the Jack. The delta pro 12 is. Also, I would suggest going with the 3012 right out of the gate. My Jack had the Delta pro in it at the beginning and it was a heavy $%!@ and the magnet is wide enough you need to space the back bracing further than suggested in the plan (wish I had noticed that a little earlier ). The 2512 is in there now and it is really light. I thought I had been sent the 10 inch speaker by accident until I opened the box. The 2512 and delta pro are limited to 150-200 watts power handling while the 3012 will take 300W. It would be nice to have that little bit extra for those gigs where you can get away with one cab, but it is pushing it.

My suggestion. If you don't mind the pack, go Jack 12/ matching width T39. Every time I hear the bottom out of that T39 for bass it makes me smile. Also, you can use it just for a subwoofer later if you choose to. The 9ms delay from the T39 is pretty much undetectable. I have used this combo and several other bands too and it was never noticed at all. Also, build the Jack with melded array, even if you go with two of them. You can always turn it off, it looks sweet (IMO), and they are great for bumping music in your house or at a BBq or whatever.

Benj Ross

[Frankie G]

Hey Mike....Just got done building a pair of Jack 1x12's loaded with DLII 2512's. So far I'm very impressed with the bottom end on these. When I first fired them up I thought the mid range was just way too much but found cutting some mids made the bottom end shine through more without boosting any lows. I have 3 gigs this weekend, two outdoors and plan on using them so I'll have a pretty good review by Monday. One of the bands, (two of the shows) is a pretty loud, 6 piece, classic rock band. This will be the true test for me. One of the guitarists, and band leader, of that band uses two Vox AC30's and cranks them and I have not had any luck hearing myself next to him since I got with these guys. I'm hoping these things are the answer. He has both bass knobs on full on both of his amps so I'm hoping that I can just come up under him frequency wise. BTW, I thought the jacks were a pretty fun/easy build. Haven't built the DR250 but from the build pics it seems the jacks are a much faster build, if that matters to your situation.

[The Big M]

Thanks Benj and Frank! I'll be interested to hear the gig review. I'm fairly confident the T39 jack combo would kick. debating pack space build time is all.

First Jack i'll debate 2512 vs 3012, but this sounds like a fine point.
I was thinking LF 12 in a quasi-sub as it can take and I have the power to push it. The box volume may be all wrong.

I wonder about Otop15, no array under a Jack 12? thanks again.

[Frankie G]

No tweeters in either of the jacks I just built. After hearing them, don't think I'm gonna need them. I like tweeters only for the high click part of my tone when slapping certain songs and these jacks are doing just fine for that. I also built an Otop 15 Delta pro loaded and two Jack 12's beat it in the low end department for sure. Two Jack 12's are also lighter than two Otop 15's which was one of my deciding factors in going this route rather than building a second Otop 15. I have titans and omni's also. I lugged a titan and an omni into the house to try and play through it and before I even set everything up I already decided I'm not lugging that kind of gear in and out, up and down stairs, in all of the places that I play.

[The Big M]

Thanks again, Mike