T30 Review

[Jim Van Streader]

I just completed and installed 4 T30’s 30 inches wide each with a single 12” 4012HO driver. They are V-coupled (yes it works) but no top plate yet.

It just never ceases to amaze me how great these designs actually are. In the sub department I’ve built 4 T3630’s each with dual 4012’s and they spanked my big old Bassmaxx subs. Then I built 4 T24’s with HL10C’s and once again was astonished at the output level and pure tonal quality of the tuba design. You just stare at the cabinet while it’s pounding you and say, “this isn’t possible”.

Performance wise the T30’s are somewhere in the middle (duh) but not too much different than the T36’s. Goes lower than you’d ever want to go and makes painful SPL levels. When I tested them individually in my shop I couldn’t tell which was louder. The actual bass coming from the sub or the noise being made by all the stuff rattling and buzzing in the room. It turned the doors to my shop into passive radiators and they were vibrating away quite violently in their frames. That was one cab at very low test levels, just barely “on”.

For power I drive them with a 2400 watt bridged mono amp for each pair of drivers (paralleled) and the amps are run maxed out. The 4012’s really can take a pounding and sound great in these boxes.

For now, the T30 is my new favorite sub. With a dolly they weren’t that bad to move around and I didn’t even build them with any handles. I could easily load and unload one in the back of my FJ Cruiser with space to spare.

Satisfaction quotient: 10

[Sydney]

Several questions please:
I assume that your new T30's have no casters as well as no handles.
What does one of the T30's weigh?
Since you are one of the few individuals who have built T24, T30, & T36's:
Could you compare and contrast the difference between the T24 with HL10's to your new T30?
Thanks

[Jim Van Streader]

Correct, no casters, just a bare cube finished in Duratex. That’s for permanent or long term installs.

I have not weighed them and I’m afraid my guess would be too inaccurate. Bill might know this one. All ½” Baltic Birch.

In comparing the three models I would say the one that “dropped my jaw” the most was the T24. I had already built the T36’s and knew their incredible capability. Then I built the T24’s and I felt like I was building speakers for a doll house compared to the T36’s. I kept saying, “look how tiny”. It’s like a baby Tuba compared to a 30inch wide T36. I deliverd 2 of the 4 to the club where they now live and the manager and I were actually speechless for about 10 or 15 seconds when we fired up some deep thumpy music (it’s a strip club). It’s a small room and I got lucky with the placement. Square footage is at a premium in some clubs so I was given about a 25 or so inch square in a corner. I had only one direction to go to add cabs and that was up. I built what I jokingly call “The Bassolyth”. Loaded on a wall, the floor and the ceiling. Huge.

When it came time to test and use the T30’s I was more expecting to get the big sound I got. When I tested the first one I just went “there it is again” that unmistakable sound and feel of tuba authority. Very satisfying.

[pgolde]

OK Jim, whats the name of the strip club, I'm going to have to investigate this personally.

[David Robinson]

OK Jim, whats the name of the strip club, I'm going to have to investigate this personally.

+1. And what size top hat did you use for the pole? Does Leland sell them? I'm assuming the cabs were Duratex-ed as opposed to carpeted?

as Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar on Me" plays in the background...