New DR250s.

[jcmbowman]

So, I finished up a pair of DR250s this last Saturday.

Saturday afternoon - initial testing...
I pulled out my amp rack and did some basic low-level testing of the DRs just to make sure there weren't any phase issues and that all the components were working together properly. I had the DRs set up in my backyard on sticks and no subs were hooked up. I started out with the Lou Donaldson version of "It's your thing" - a very nice full-range jazz version of the old standard, and I was blown away. Even in the most complex passages i could still pick out every single note from every single instrument. I then switched over to some Zeppelin, then some Floyd, and then some Dubstep courtesy of Scuba & L-Wiz. The DRs kept up beautifully with all my selections, and aside from the lack of sub-bass, were nothing short of astounding.

Sunday afternoon - the cookout...
We have an annual get-together the Sunday before memorial day, and this year we had around 50 people show up in our little backyard. I had the system set up with a pair of T36s, and the new pair of DR250s. (DRs were set to HPF at 95hz with a 48dB L/R, and the lows were set to LPF AT 90hz and HPF at 30hz, both with 48dB L/R). Listening levels were kept on the moderate side - it wasn't a concert or a DJ competition, it was a social gathering, after all, but even at reasonable levels I could walk out to the street and hear all the music with perfect clarity. It was the first time I'd heard a full system that covered form 30hz to 20khz that sounded so clean and present. (The only other time I had ever heard a DR was at one of DJ Engineer's basement gigs, and he was heavily constrained by the venue, the patrons, and the god-awful in-house PA system that he was required to offer a feed to...) The fact that all the sound was coming out of boxes that I had made was icing on the cake.

Sunday Night - the afterhours show...
And then the true test at war volume. After the cookout we loaded up everything from my backyard and headed over to my friend's outdoor venue for an afterhours party. I had all four of my T36s set up in a groundstack with a v-plate, and the two DR250s on sticks on either side. This was my first time configuring the T36s that way outdoors, and they did not fail to impress, even though the amp pushing them could only get to 53 Volts before clipping. We had around 300 people in attendance, and once I let loose of the reins on the DRs they really started to sing. I played a few of the most punishing electronic music tracks I know, and they kept up at full tilt and barely broke a sweat. The whole evening was nothing but clear, in-your-face, distortion-free music (at least as far as distortion that wasn't already part of the tracks being played). I got compliment after compliment all night long. I got angry/jealous stares from the other sound guys who were there. I was told by a few promoters that I had just raised the bar for every event they do from this point forward.


So needless to say, I'm happy as could be with the outcome. Yes, the DRs are a challenging build, but they are worth every bit of the challenge. Thank you Bill, I plan to set the local electronic scene on its ear over the next couple of years thanks to you.

Pictures to come once I get them off the camera.

[SeisTres]

Bravo!

I'll wait for the pics (and maybe get home) before I start asking question

Once I'm done building up my initial system, they will be be very next thing

[Dave Non-Zero]

Sweeeeeeet! Glad you riding with the big DR boys now. I cant wait to play an outdoor shoe this year soni can get my full system out. (not had more than 4t48 and 4dr280 outdoors yet.) Ah, the expected sound of 8 dr280 and 8 t48 is calling me!

You will find people continue to appreciate the extra clean sound of the BFD system but you will have to educate every single person because they don't know what they have been missing.

[Radian]

Nice work John. Great choice. The more the merrier...when you get the go for two more, you'll be on cloud nine.

Quite a difference how strong tops raise the performance to the next level.

[Scott Brochu]

your making me inpatient for mine to be completed.
indeed. Pull those pics up off that camera.

[jcmbowman]

Pictures:

The BBQ setup

DR250 #1

DR250 #2 + Tubas + son :)

DR250 #2 + Tubas + Monomer ;)

[tdogg]

sharp lookin cabs!

[jcmbowman]

sharp lookin cabs!

Thanks - but I can't wait until they're black.

[tdogg]

paint or duratex?

[jcmbowman]

paint or duratex?

both - in that order.

[Radian]

Sweet! Up on the adjustable top hat, they kinda remind me of the all-seeing-eye of Sauron. All red, with the black array down the middle...kinda' sinister.

..just my imagination talking.

[Monomer]

they turned out great!


Thanks again for having me out. good to hear everything went well later in the day.


BFM has got a few local crews either thinking, or crying.

[LelandCrooks]

Wait til you get 2 per side. It literally does take it to another level. 44 tweeters in a continuous array give some of the sweetest high end you've heard. It flattens out that important 2k region where the woofer crosses.

Nicely done.

[jcmbowman]

Wait til you get 2 per side. It literally does take it to another level. 44 tweeters in a continuous array give some of the sweetest high end you've heard. It flattens out that important 2k region where the woofer crosses.

Nicely done.

Expect another order from me in the very near future...

I've already got the wood, and most of it is already cut. Only thing I need to do first is build a slew of cables.

[Hallwalk3r]

"I got angry/jealous stares from the other sound guys who were there. I was told by a few promoters that I had just raised the bar for every event they do from this point forward".

I like that nice review , very nice looking DR's