BillFitzmaurice.info

shane2943 wrote: ↑Sat May 24, 2025 9:49 am One more coat of Duratex and then I can assemble everything..

It's a great feeling when you get to this stage, l'm keen to hear your review of this cab loaded with the 3012HO, pretty sure you'll be standing there like this...

FIN!

I want to dial them in a bit more with EQ, but my initial thoughts were that these have way more bottom end (when EQ'd) than any other pro cab of this size (or even bigger) that I've heard! I can see why these can run without subs for small PA! They're pretty hot in the mid bass region (250-800 or so) though. Not sure if that's normal or if I fudged something with the crossover. The highs need attenuating as well, but EQ definitely brings these alive.

shane2943 wrote: ↑Sun May 25, 2025 5:19 pmFIN!

Wicked!

shane2943 wrote: ↑Sun May 25, 2025 5:19 pm ...my initial thoughts were that these have way more bottom end (when EQ'd) than any other pro cab of this size (or even bigger) that I've heard!

Yep!

shane2943 wrote: ↑Sun May 25, 2025 5:19 pm They're pretty hot in the mid bass region (250-800 or so) though. Not sure if that's normal or if I fudged something with the crossover.

All is well, that's what you can expect, however you did fit insulation, yes..?

shane2943 wrote: ↑Sun May 25, 2025 5:19 pm ..The highs need attenuating as well..

I've found 2-5khz needs taming with the melded array.

Keryn O'Shea wrote: ↑Sun May 25, 2025 9:43 pm All is well, that's what you can expect, however you did fit insulation, yes..?

um....I didn't because I didn't see that in the plans. I figured no insulation since the plans didn't mention it, or I missed it somehow. If I just missed it then:

Upon additional listening, I think my ears just needed time to adjust because now they sound great! Still a tiny bit hot in the midbass region, but maybe I'm used to it now as it doesn't bother me and I'm not EQ-ing it out anymore.

I tried a short war volume test in the garage....



Sweet mother of jeebus! That's WAY more sound than a couple of 12s has any right to make. Mother of God. I hope the neighbors weren't too pissed with me.

To test the detail, I played what seems to be one of the most difficult tracks for a sound system to get right: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe-33sjkXy8 It's so easy for this track to sound distorted or like mud, but when it's played through really good headphones or a really good sound system, then one can tell that it's not distortion at all, but rather some very layered and complicated sounds. I use this to test many different systems and headphones, and only the top get it right. These Jacks reproduce this track really well! I am very happy about this.

Overall, these things are lightweight BEASTS and I'm excited to get to use them!!!

Once again, thanks @Bill and all who chimed in!!!

shane2943 wrote: ↑Mon May 26, 2025 5:43 pm

Keryn O'Shea wrote: ↑Sun May 25, 2025 9:43 pm All is well, that's what you can expect, however you did fit insulation, yes..?

um....I didn't because I didn't see that in the plans. I figured no insulation since the plans didn't mention it, or I missed it somehow. If I just missed it then:

The damping is critical to smooth out the midrange. It's in the plans and in the sketchup.

I definitely missed it then. I'll get that added. Not a big deal to take off the rear panels and put that in.

Edit: just checked the Sketchup and sure enough, there it is.

Thanks Bill and Keryn

Ok, got the insulation installed in both cabs. To the surprise of no one, that fixed that mid-range hump! They sound even better now!

shane2943 wrote: ↑Mon May 26, 2025 5:57 pmI tried a short war volume test in the garage....



Sweet mother of jeebus! That's WAY more sound than a couple of 12s has any right to make. Mother of God. I hope the neighbors weren't too pissed with me.

I can relate to that. Many years ago I owned a single DR250. It had just one measly little 10" driver. I thought it would be a good idea to drive it hard with one channel of a simple home amp. Boy, was I wrong. I did not get to running it full tilt. Way before I reached that level, things all over were rattling and shaking. The sound coming from that contraption started inducing some kind of deep primal fear in my body. Every single hair stood proud. One single 10" driver, on a decades old home amp, 60w. Yeah, me too I got to know that sweet mother of jeebus you speak of

Congrats on your results and thank you for sharing, Shane.

AntonZ wrote: ↑Thu Jun 05, 2025 3:41 pm I can relate to that. Many years ago I owned a single DR250. It had just one measly little 10" driver. I thought it would be a good idea to drive it hard with one channel of a simple home amp. Boy, was I wrong. I did not get to running it full tilt. Way before I reached that level, things all over were rattling and shaking. The sound coming from that contraption started inducing some kind of deep primal fear in my body. Every single hair stood proud. One single 10" driver, on a decades old home amp, 60w. Yeah, me too I got to know that sweet mother of jeebus you speak of

Congrats on your results and thank you for sharing, Shane.

Hey thanks Anton!

Tomorrow they make their "debut" at the local Pride parade here in KC. They'll ride on the bed cover of my truck playing music for those walking and the crowds on either side. They'll be powered by a car amp (already tested and works fine and get's PLENTY loud). I'll post pitchers after tomorrow of the event.

The Jacks did awesome at the parade!! Ran them quietly before the parade for ambience. Then once we started walking, I cranked to just about war volume. They sounded great! And the crowd on either side of the parade route and the walkers definitely enjoyed them.

I powered them with a car amp which worked fine.

I also tested the water resistance (lol) of the Jacks as it started POURING during the parade. Like, complete downpour. They got pretty wet, but my hope is that they'll dry and be fine.

Excellent!
Which tunes were you playing? How was the bottom end? Did anyone ask you about the cabs?

shane2943 wrote: ↑Sat Jun 07, 2025 1:11 pm I also tested the water resistance (lol) of the Jacks as it started POURING during the parade..

Unless water ran into the port, they'll be fine as you used Duratex.
Are your filters mounted to the sides? No harm in popping the backs off to check the unpainted surfaces..

We played a lot of the cliche songs (YMCA, I'm coming out, etc) and we also played a lot of modern upbeat stuff like Pink's Raise Your Glass, Ru Paul, Chappell Roane, etc.

I had several people ask about them actually! My wife also told a lot of people about them and that I built them (I did make sure to tell people that I didn't design them though )

The bottom end was great! At least from what I could hear driving the truck. Kinda wish I could have been out walking so I could have heard them at near war volume. But they sounded clear to me!

I don't think any water got in the port. The crossover is mounted about mid way up on the rear cover so not worried about that.