Newbie with newbie questions...

[Donnie Frank]

Hello Gentlemen,

A little about me:

I've been a professional drummer for 30+ years. Out of frustration at the bevy of local engineers ruining every band I heard, I started my sound company (soundaddy.com) 3 years ago. My present system dons all JBL SRX stuff, QSC PLX3602 amps, and recently SAC (Software Audio Console) replacing all my analog consoles (Mackie + A&H).

That said....

I really like my SRX stuff. It's light-weight, extremely powerful and extremely clear. However, because the cabinets are so power hungry (I feed them 1800 watts per), my club/small ballroom system is a 10,800 watt power-hungry monster. For this system to run nicely it requires at least 2, 20 amp dedicated circuits...3 is better. I am finding more and more that finding this kind of power in clubs, ballrooms and other non-performance-type venues is getting tougher and tougher. The really frustrating part is I have built a full compliment of power distribution equipment that I rarely get to use because nobody has a way to tie in to building power. Enter Bill Fitsmaurice....

I have been following Bill's speaker builders/users in the SAC forum and on YouTube and have seen some pretty impressive stuff and heard some impressive stories. I never thought I would see a 300 watt speaker cabinet as a candidate to replace my SRX712m's and SRX718s's, but the more I read, the more I see that this may actually be possible.

My objective here is to get something for nothing. I would like to build a 4 cabinet, 1200 watt system (2 tops and 2 subs) to replace my present 10,800 watt (2 JBL top + 4 JBL sub) system. I never thought this would be possible...but I'm open-minded enough to entertain the idea that it is. I know the caveat is that the BF system will weigh more (My SRX mains = 33 lbs. SRX subs = 75 lbs.), and take up more space, but that's okay. I'm a fairly good wood worker with nice Delta and Porter Cable equipment and like working with wood. So building my own cabinets is right up my alley.

My question:

Which BF cabinets will achieve my objective?

I've seen all the frequency response charts and can easily see that Bill's cabinets are more efficient than the SRX stuff. However when I mix a rock band in a club, I need horse-power. Some bands I mix are 100+dB right off the stage. That is what I have to compete with.

I've always liked 12" speakers over 15" speakers for mains, so I've been looking at the OT12's. And as far as subs go, I've been looking at the Titan 48's. Because of their size, I would probably have to get the job done with 2, which, I know, is an unfair comparison to 4, SRX cabinets. If I have to build 4 I will, but would like to be able to use 2.

Before I purchase or cut a single piece of wood, I would like to know if anyone on this list has used BF cabinets in a high SPL situation, like a rock band in an enclosed club situation. I've seen BF cabinets in worship and P.A. situations and in an outdoor festival-type situation. Though those examples showed off how nice the BF cabinets sound, it didn't really answer my questions concerning SPL.

At any rate, I look forward to hearing from you guys! Thanx a ton for your time!

Regards,

Donnie Frank

[doncolga]

Hello Gentlemen,

A little about me:

I've been a professional drummer for 30+ years. Out of frustration at the bevy of local engineers ruining every band I heard, I started my sound company (soundaddy.com) 3 years ago. My present system dons all JBL SRX stuff, QSC PLX3602 amps, and recently SAC (Software Audio Console) replacing all my analog consoles (Mackie + A&H).

That said....

I really like my SRX stuff. It's light-weight, extremely powerful and extremely clear. However, because the cabinets are so power hungry (I feed them 1800 watts per), my club/small ballroom system is a 10,800 watt power-hungry monster. For this system to run nicely it requires at least 2, 20 amp dedicated circuits...3 is better. I am finding more and more that finding this kind of power in clubs, ballrooms and other non-performance-type venues is getting tougher and tougher. The really frustrating part is I have built a full compliment of power distribution equipment that I rarely get to use because nobody has a way to tie in to building power. Enter Bill Fitsmaurice....

I have been following Bill's speaker builders/users in the SAC forum and on YouTube and have seen some pretty impressive stuff and heard some impressive stories. I never thought I would see a 300 watt speaker cabinet as a candidate to replace my SRX712m's and SRX718s's, but the more I read, the more I see that this may actually be possible.

My objective here is to get something for nothing. I would like to build a 4 cabinet, 1200 watt system (2 tops and 2 subs) to replace my present 10,800 watt (2 JBL top + 4 JBL sub) system. I never thought this would be possible...but I'm open-minded enough to entertain the idea that it is. I know the caveat is that the BF system will weigh more (My SRX mains = 33 lbs. SRX subs = 75 lbs.), and take up more space, but that's okay. I'm a fairly good wood worker with nice Delta and Porter Cable equipment and like working with wood. So building my own cabinets is right up my alley.

My question:

Which BF cabinets will achieve my objective?

I've seen all the frequency response charts and can easily see that Bill's cabinets are more efficient than the SRX stuff. However when I mix a rock band in a club, I need horse-power. Some bands I mix are 100+dB right off the stage. That is what I have to compete with.

I've always liked 12" speakers over 15" speakers for mains, so I've been looking at the OT12's. And as far as subs go, I've been looking at the Titan 48's. Because of their size, I would probably have to get the job done with 2, which, I know, is an unfair comparison to 4, SRX cabinets. If I have to build 4 I will, but would like to be able to use 2.

Before I purchase or cut a single piece of wood, I would like to know if anyone on this list has used BF cabinets in a high SPL situation, like a rock band in an enclosed club situation. I've seen BF cabinets in worship and P.A. situations and in an outdoor festival-type situation. Though those examples showed off how nice the BF cabinets sound, it didn't really answer my questions concerning SPL.

At any rate, I look forward to hearing from you guys! Thanx a ton for your time!

Regards,

Donnie Frank

What's up Donnie...I'm Donny too. Nice to meet you. I'm still kind of new here...just got on this Summer. I've just built two 18" wide Tuba 30's and love them. The police were called on my first outdoors wedding reception because they threw so damn far and this was no boundary loading at all...just v plated. The volume was just right within normal proximity of the speakers (you could talk comfortably). Keep in mind these each have one 12" woofer rated at about 300 watts....it's freakin' insane. I have my first real indoors gig with them tonight in a ballroom so I should be able to take advantage of boundary loading. I would not be surprised at all if two Titans 48's compared very well or better to 4 SRX's. I'd wager four T48's would smoke them with way less power. I've never heard them before, but I just have alot of faith in Bill's designs since building and hearing my set.

Now....as far as a recommendation, I "settled" on each model at least once. I went with the T30 because I wanted the extension as I play keyboards and use my own backing tracks with electronic and acoustic sounds, plus I DJ too. I've only gigged once with the T30's and I've never heard the T48's, but, I like the height on the T48's and T39's...that makes them easy to grab onto or tilt and roll if you have the pack space for the height. Now my T30's only weigh about 50lbs each, so that's pretty good too, and I don't even have handles on them yet. The T39 and T48 with the BB or arauco with the recommended driver would not be way more. Be sure to not make them too wide. I did a practice with a 30" wide T48 and it was huge. My 18" Tubas are PERFECT and side by side I've got 36". Very easy to move when slimmer. If I was sure I would not need the really deep lows, I'd lean to the 39's or 48's since they more sensitive at 40-50, but you won't go wrong with any of them.

Three big things:

1. Read the sticky about subwoofer placement. That helped me immensely before I ever built anything.
2. Buy the plans from Bill and follow them exactly and ask if you have questions.
3. Be sure to limit and low pass accordingly for your subs.

Donny

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Duplicate post. Closed.