3012HO Test.

[Connif Boudoin]

Hey Everyone, I received my 3012HO's for my DR 290's. First impressions are really good. I have a question though. When we hooked them up we used an SPL meter to really see if we will get the gains at the same power as claimed from Eminence. We did but I have a question concerning this. With only one cabinet playing and comparing to my DR's with the 2512 I am seeing a 2-3db increase according to my SPL meter. Now the question, why would I see a 4-5db increase when I add a second cab and compare. So one compared to one 2-3db and two compared to two a 4-5db increase. This doesn't sound right. Bill maybe you can answer. If this is right then I will see an 8db increase a side with all 4 per side playing. This is a HUGE increase! Can anyone enlighten me. Thanks

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Now the question, why would I see a 4-5db increase when I add a second cab and compare. So one compared to one 2-3db and two compared to two a 4-5db increase.

I'd have to see RTAs to make an assessment. A broadband SPL reading is insufficient.

[Connif Boudoin]

Bill this is not a big deal. It is what it is I guess. I can probably try to get you something if you feel that it would help me understand what is going on. I have TrueRTA on my laptop. Maybe a small procedure of what you want me to try to do would be helpful. Even an explanation of what you think could be going on may be sufficient. Just trying to understand a bit.

I have not written a whole lot of what we are seeing with cabs recently because I feel we haven't had enough time with the cabs to give an honest review. The BMS drivers have been excellent to this point. Now we are changing to the 3012HO and we may have to start tuning all over again. First impressions are really good though. I have a dance school on Thursday and Friday then a band on Saturday. Both jobs will use 2 cabs per side. We had our original cabs sounding really, really good and we have been making changes since we changed the drivers, so I don't want to make a bunch of comments until I feel we can repeat all of our findings at several events. These are by far the nicest sounding and loudest cabs that I have ever delt with. Not easy to build but worth the effort for sure. I'll keep everyone posted on the 3012HO's as we do more testing.
Thanks

[gdougherty]

Connif, good to hear. I've been thinking 3012HO DR290's would be a nice way to go so I could carry a single pair of tops without subs for small venues. Maybe build a little 3012LF/T39 for some, but not "have" to tow subs along when all I really need is a pair of OT12's for output. I still like the light weight of the OT12's though... My old SP2's were ~80lbs and I don't want to go back to those days.

[Connif Boudoin]

Well we changed all the mids to the new 3012HO. We set up four stacked vertically in the back yard and set some starting points on the cabs in the processor. We also reset the limiters to the new power ratings on the cabs for the mids and the highs. We never changed the limiters on the new BMS drivers because we didn't need to. The old mids wouldn't let us use the volume that the HF drivers were capable of so no need to change them then. But NOW. Oh yea. I know these cabs would get really loud but at the cost of drivers if we played to loud to long. Now with the new mids (3012HO) you can really hear the potential of these cabs. They get unbelievably loud without the risk of taking out the drivers (so far). We are still limiting but the limiter values have gone up and we've gained sensativity on top of that. The first venue we played couldn't give us a good test. It was dance revue in a 2000 seat theater and we never could get any decent volume. The people who have played this venue in the past were bringing out a single 15 and horn with an 18" front loaded bottom. We brought out 2 DR290s and 2 subs per side and barely hit double LEDs on the amps. It sounded really good but no test for SPL.

Now the next night, A loud young kids hangout with about 1200 in attendance. Building is probably 90 by 130. Again 2 stacks a side. We setup ran the RTA with the new setting we had in the processor. After we set FOH EQ we ran some test music through the PA. We turned the volume up until we were just tapping the limiters. Wow this was a pretty big increase. If the band was going to be able to get this loud then it would be unreal. You could feel it in your bones. In front of the stacks 75 feet out we would see about 110db C to 112db. When I would move to the center we would see about 114 to about 117. Believe me this was incredibly loud. Like I said you could feel the percussion in your bones. We shut it down and waited for the band to show up. They setup and did a few line checks. They have played with us several times so I guess they felt we didn't really need to do a sound check so we waited until start time at 10:00. Well the band kicked off and we tweaked until we got monitors and FOH right. We had a good sound and the first set went good. After the break the club really started to fill up. The State Fair was in town and the music portion of that was shutting down at 11:00pm. We heard that the last act was telling everyone to come over to the club where we were. So at about 12:00 midnight the crowd started pouring in. This was going to be a great test for 2 stacks with this big of a crowd. The second set we let go the raynes and WOW. The system opened up and started breathing. We never hit limiters all night except on some of the big dynamics like at the end of the song or at a big hit of the snare but only a blip on the limiter. The band that played the State Fair was a pretty big act and they came in and did about 6 songs at request by the band that was playing that night. They Kicked it in the A$$! After their 6 song set all the band and even there sound guy came by and said the system was awsome. They asked questions about the cabs and they were pretty impressed. I was too. The system was really performing with 1200 loud kids in attendance. I don't what else to say. The setup keeps impressing me. I feel like eventually we'll run out of things to make it better but so far that hasn't happened. I don't have any big venues planned as of now in the near future but I can't wait to get this beast with 4 aside again and open it up.
Thanks

[Turntablist]

That was great reading Connif!

Congratulations to the system!

[Grey Owl]

Hey Connif
a great review.
I felt like I was there with you.
Next time video it and put on Youtube.
Cheers
David