Business Finally Picked Up Titan 48 and Omnitop 12

[brodave2]

finally got some gigs and got to give the new rig a decent go. One OT 12 on each side with a pair of T48's over to one side makes a really decent rig. I'm running my OT's on a PLX 1602 in stereo mode. 500 watts per channel 4ohm stereo. Running the T48's on either side of a PLX3402. 700 watts per channel at 8 ohms stereo. With one OT12 on each side, the subs can march on, run off and leave the tops. With two OT12's on each side, it reverses things. I don't have the voltages measured, but calculations with ratings put the titans getting about 560 watts each. I quit babying them and went ahead and spanked them a little. They seemed to like it. I was getting a pretty healthy thump even with a pair of OT12's on each side speaking up. I had the limiter lights blinking occasionally, but just barely. I eq'd the kick for thump, hi passed the channel strip at 40hz, left the low shelving at 125hz and backed it off about 2db, then used the low mid parametric to boost 90hz about 3db. It rawked. Now I can't wait to get the V-plate going. I think the two OT's on each side will match up pretty well with the V-plated pair of T48's. I do SO love the OT's. Night and day over my old rig. The sound is the same EVERYWHERE in the room. No edgy spots, no flat spots, the sound is the same everywhere. I'm sure I'll have to with my big rig on occasion, but I NEVER want subs on either side again. Had a gig Friday night where I was able to put the subs behind a thin curtain! Hah, I guess everyone thought all that bass was coming from the tiny OT's (one on each side that night). If the tuba's are any fatter than the titans, I don't even want to hear them.

[LelandCrooks]

I love your reviews. Because you are a working sound man with an open mind. Even though at first you were less than thrilled with the subs, you hung in there.

I find the precision of the posts enlightening.

[brodave2]

After all the work I'd done and all the money I'd spent, I didn't want to give up before I gave them every chance. I had a plan for a smaller system that would cover 90% of the jobs that I do much better than the overkill system I had been using because it was all that I had. My smaller trailer is also finished now, but I'm having trouble getting everything into it. One problem, I built it 5' wide, and everything I have is 2' wide or just under, so I have a wasted foot in the middle. I can get all the sound system into it, but then there's no room for the stage lighting. I'm working on a plan to hang the stage lighting from the ceiling of the trailer.

[Tim A]

I'd still take all 4 OTops. The almost 1 meter long array will give you at least some nearfield advantage down to 900Hz or so and would've narrowed vertical dispersion quite a bit. In a room such as you described on the other forum, that would've probably helped with the 'cave' issues. Just cut the gain back on the highs until the volume works with the pair of Titans.

[Mark Coward]

I don't have the voltages measured, but calculations with ratings put the titans getting about 560 watts each. I quit babying them and went ahead and spanked them a little. They seemed to like it.

Great review, but I'd be careful with pushing that much power to the 3015LF's. The neo magnets can be permanently damaged by overheating, a few folks have blown them. I'd suggest putting both subs on one side of that amp for a little less power, about 880w/5ohm or 440w per cab - should still be plenty. Then build another pair of T48's for the other side of the amp

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

I don't have the voltages measured, but calculations with ratings put the titans getting about 560 watts each.

Without actually measuring the voltage out of the amp there is no way to calculate the power output, no matter how the gains are set nor what the amp is rated for. The only safe method of running to the maximum capability of the speaker is via hard limiting of the amp output voltage. I've never heard of an instance where someone blew a driver with a properly set and calibrated limiter; more to the point, every driver that has been blown didn't.

[James R]

Thanks for the review, 2 of the 4 of my T48's are finished. What OT12's did you build the 2 per cab or singles? I am thinking towards those also now.

Jim

[brodave2]

the OT's are single 12's, I had 2 of them on each side. Building 2 more titans is out of the question because that would defeat the purpose in building them. I was looking for less weight, less bulk, and less power draw. I have a big system when I need it, this system is intended for smaller events. I'm still determining just how big an event it will handle. I'm looking for the maximum I can get out of a pair of titans. I'll have the V-plate done in time for the next outing and report back. That should be the equivalent of a third titan, and that should put the bass keeping up nicely with the OT's.

Time is a scarce commodity in my world. I really do need to measure the voltage at the amp and set my limiter and then see what the titans will do.

[Mark Coward]

I've found that EQ is critical in getting the most out of the horn subs. I prefer running aux fed sub and EQ'ng that separately. Also the overall system response is different, compared to typical reflex cabs. If you're used to mixing on those, there is a good bit of upper octave harmonic distortion that is not present in the titans, so you might think "something" is missing. This type of distortion is not like a break-up sound, it is more like mid-bass tones. Say there is an 80hz tone coming from the amp, the speaker will output some 160hz, 320hz etc as the drivers are pushed harder. The titan & tuba have very little distortion, right up to it's limit. I think this is why several folks have blown drivers, as did many of the early users of LAB subs. Not used to hearing "real" clean bass, they push them too hard.

[brodave2]

another thing I've noticed about the BF rig, and it's been too consistent to be coincidence, the bass guitar is MUCH clearer and cleaner. I usually have trouble with bass guitar being muddy, lots of boom, but the notes all run together. With the BF rig, the bass guitar is clean and clear.

[chad]

I have a freind with 25 years exp in pro sound and he came out and ran my system-2 t-36 4 dr250 and was amazed but said "sometings missing" in the subs. And even though he said that he wants a pair. BAD!

[chad]

I have noticed that with horn subs you feel the bass way more than hear it too. Correct me if I am just hallucinating.

[AntonZ]

amazed but said "sometings missing" in the subs

Uneducated guess: direct radiator distortion?

[Chris_Allen]

Uneducated guess: direct radiator distortion?

I certainly noticed it disappear and thought something was wrong with my Titans (that and the fact I didn't break in the drivers). Once I got used to it though, mixing changes etc I just can't stand direct radiating subs! The distortion of the ones I owe is awful.

Sometimes you just feel that you need to educate the world

Chris.

[gzc_stageTech]

. . . With the BF rig, the bass guitar is clean and clear.

Amen brother. Sub thump that punches your chest. It's not the "perception of loud" you get with direct radiators. . but the real low frequency energy in moving air.

Just step back and it gets LOUDER. Try that with a direct radiator.

I crawled inside my V-plated T48's (thanks Leland) and the LFE wasn't damaging loud. Present, yes. But not loud. But as I stepped 5 to 10 feet back, then to 20 feet back the LFE just kept getting more and more solid. Direct radiators are most intense (noisy) 3 to 6 feet directly in front of the cones.

Chris

And I "idle" the T48s on one side of a CE2000. (Room for 2 more on the other side... )