OT 12 Review - DJ Use

[BCBoom]

So here is my long over due review of the Omni Top 12's. I built one set last spring (2010) with the recommended Deltalite 2512 drivers and cross-fire piezo array. These are the version before the phase plug design. I built a 2nd set in October 2010 with a flat piezo array for stacking on top of the cross-fire array boxes for larger shows.

I choose to build the Omni's after being frustrated with not being able to find exactly what I was looking for in the commercial market at a reasonable price for my needs. Previously I had been using a set of JBL JRX 12" and horn cabs for my smaller shows and a set of Yorkville Elite 2 x 15" with horns for bigger shows, always with subs with either set up. Wasn't happy overall with the sound quality of either of those cabs, plus considering almost all of my work is solo the Yorkvilles were just way to big to handle as a one man set up.

I liked the design of the OT12's in that I could build them as single cabs and stack them in multiples for bigger shows and with the size and weight of the single cabs they are extremely easy to handle as a one man set up. I had hoped that the OT12 design would also improve on sound quality over the other cabs I had previously been using, and on that front they blew me away. The sound quality of the OT12's compared to what I had used before is night and day, so much cleaner and precise, plus way more efficient (WAY MORE).

The efficiency of these is amazing compared to the other cabs. With the JBLs I was running a Crown XLS602 and was running it close to the limit to get the volumes I needed in medium sized halls with 100 or so people. If I was in a bigger room (hall for 200 plus, or high school gym) then I had to run the Yorkvilles and they needed my Crown XTI 4000 pushing them hard. This caused problems in venues that didn't have great power supplies as I was always worried about blowing breakers with the Yorkville's. With the OT12's I can run one pair in large halls with 200 plus guests well running about 1/3 the power into them that the JBL's took in a room half the size with half the people. In fact most of my venues that I would have to take the Yorkvilles to before can be covered easily with one set of OT12's. Plus with the linear coverage of the cross-fire array in the OT12's the sound around the room so much better, gone are the harsh hot spots that I had before.

So far I have only had to break out the 2nd set of OT12's for things like high school dances in a gym. Previously the Yorkvilles handled the Gym with 250 to 300 kids fairly well, again wasn't overly happy with the sound quality but I'm really picky - no one else was complaining. With all 4 of my OT12's the sound quality was much better, plus I was using an amp half the size on the OT12's while running my board a much lower levels to achieve the desired sound levels for the dance. The OT12's coast along through events like, while the smaller amp I run on them (XTI2000 vs. XTI4000 on the Yorks) just idles along.

Overall I really can't say enough about the OT12s they really have amazed me. Considering how easy they were to build, and how cost effective they are, I couldn't be happier.

The best part is comments I have had over the past year from so many guests at my events regarding how great my sound is. One that really sticks out is a comment I had from band that played at one of my gigs and opted to patch into my system instead of transport their system for a 4 song set at the event. They were nervous about using my sound but didn't want to bother with a large set up for 4 songs, and considering most of the guests were friends and family they decided to go with my set up as it was easier for them. After there gig the band came over raving about how amazing the sound was and family members that had heard them play countless times on their own system came over saying it was the best they had ever heard them.

So thank you Bill for such a great design. Based on my success and how impressed I've been with the OT12's the building bug bit and I have since completed some T39's, T48's and a TAT, with more still to come.

[doncolga]

Hey,

What does your EQ look like on the tops. I had trouble with mine by ear on a 15 band and will be hooking up a DEQ 2496 tomorrow.

[BCBoom]

For EQ set up I have a Drive Rack PA and use the auto RTA feature. For most rooms using the auto RTA sets the system up well enough, some times I may have to adjust a little to my liking. Come to think of it, I had been mostly taking a little off the top end after running the RTA wizard, but since I updated my piezo array with the 5/8 dowel diffuser I haven't felt the need to adjust. The diffuser really seems to have worked at smoothing out the highs.

[doncolga]

For EQ set up I have a Drive Rack PA and use the auto RTA feature. For most rooms using the auto RTA sets the system up well enough, some times I may have to adjust a little to my liking. Come to think of it, I had been mostly taking a little off the top end after running the RTA wizard, but since I updated my piezo array with the 5/8 dowel diffuser I haven't felt the need to adjust. The diffuser really seems to have worked at smoothing out the highs.

Thanks for the report man. I'll be running the AutoEQ on the DEQ hopefully tomorrow in my yard. I've gigged with them, but not tuned them to my taste yet, so I hope this will point me closer to the right direction. I've got the melded array with the diffuser also.

[BCBoom]

You might find as well that once you EQ them out side you may have to run the auto EQ again in different halls and set ups. I have had them dialed in at a hall one weekend and then set up in a different hall, but similar size and set up, the next week and wasn't happy with the sound until I did re-ran the RTA on my Drive Rack. Out door set up is a great place to start though.

[Bruce Weldy]

You might find as well that once you EQ them out side you may have to run the auto EQ again in different halls and set ups. I have had them dialed in at a hall one weekend and then set up in a different hall, but similar size and set up, the next week and wasn't happy with the sound until I did re-ran the RTA on my Drive Rack. Out door set up is a great place to start though.

+1

I run the RTA at each new venue and save the settings. I've got the settings saved for every place we've played.

[osse]

How good is the auto adjustment? How good is the included mic? I've dialed by ear but this makes me interested in the feature..!

Also.. do you guys use time alignment? I use it, and hear a significant difference when delaying tops, but I would like to be able to dial higher than 10 ms, right now im using 10 ms and would be cool to be able to experiment with more!

[Bruce Weldy]

How good is the auto adjustment? How good is the included mic? I've dialed by ear but this makes me interested in the feature..!

Also.. do you guys use time alignment? I use it, and hear a significant difference when delaying tops, but I would like to be able to dial higher than 10 ms, right now im using 10 ms and would be cool to be able to experiment with more!

The dbx mic is fine - doing what it is designed to do. The auto-eq can get some crazy cuts and boosts. I always smooth 'em out some, then listen closely to the vocals - that's the key for what I do.

[BoostFab]

Can you export the adjustment points from the open space RTA result? I'm interested in seeing the correction points, so I can replicate it on my para-eq.

[jahcure]

Hi id like to know on most of your gigs what subs do you run your Otops with T39?

Thanks

[Bruce Weldy]

Hi id like to know on most of your gigs what subs do you run your Otops with T39?

Thanks

Not sure who you are asking, but I run 4 OTops with 2 T39s. I wouldn't mind having another 2 subs for outside.

[jahcure]

Thanks another question why did u choose the t39 over say a tuba 24 or tuba 30? Is it because music style ease of transport?


Also if anyone else has any of these cabs please feel free to comment? I'm in a tormenting state of mind where I can't decide between t24 or t39

[jswingchun]

Also if anyone else has any of these cabs please feel free to comment? I'm in a tormenting state of mind where I can't decide between t24 or t39

Posting your question at the tail end of an old thread might not have been the best approach, but what kind of music do you play?

[Tom Smit]

Also if anyone else has any of these cabs please feel free to comment? I'm in a tormenting state of mind where I can't decide between t24 or t39

Posting your question at the tail end of an old thread might not have been the best approach, but what kind of music do you play?

Answered in another thread.
This thread http://billfitzmaurice.info/forum/viewt ... =1&t=18862