Omnitop 12 (second revision) - test build review

[lazyman]

First test in garden.

I have tried to equalize box using bink audio CD and reference box Tapco (Mackie) Thump 15A.
Placed both boxes side by side, and played separate test frequencies on both boxes, using Mackie as reference, and later added little more eq to taste.

Conclusion: Omnitop 12 are indeed louder, its hard to tell how much, but its really noticable.
I can buy only cheap chinese CPC lookalike piezos. (availability issues). It is possible to eq piezos to sound better, it is usable, but I'm not quite satisfied. Mackie simply sound more "vibrant", warmer, which is noticable on vocals. Piezos sound colder, and using my measurement mic, i have found that piezo response are too peaky, and its not possible to equalize this. I will try with ASD driver. One thing i do like with piezos are that seems high frequencies are more defined off axis and on distance.

I have used Kappa 12 driver, and this is working fine. Tomorrow is a first field-test, I will bring Omnitop-12 in a bar where Mackies are not enough, (bar seems to absorb high frequecies, and on distance hi freqs are lacking). if Omnitop-12 can "throw" better, then this are the winning boxes !

[bzb]

Do you use a higher quality soundcard during your shows? Most (all) laptop internal sound cards are crap, and will be that much more evident with a box like the OT12 and those piezo arrays.

Even a cheapo $100 USD device sounds WAY better than any internal chip. Maya 44 USB, NI Audio 2 DJ, Edirol UA-1EX are a few that I've used in the past that have sounded good. You could step it up if you wanted to something like a MOTU Ultralite, and you WILL notice the difference in sound quality, but the $100 cards sound pretty good to me.

I currently run Traktor S4 and I'm not 100% happy with the SQ on it. I honestly think the NIA2DJ sounds better. Maybe it's drivers, and I need to update to Traktor 2 to see if that fixes it.

[lazyman]

Do you use a higher quality soundcard during your shows? Most (all) laptop internal sound cards are crap, and will be that much more evident with a box like the OT12 and those piezo arrays.

Even a cheapo $100 USD device sounds WAY better than any internal chip. Maya 44 USB, NI Audio 2 DJ, Edirol UA-1EX are a few that I've used in the past that have sounded good. You could step it up if you wanted to something like a MOTU Ultralite, and you WILL notice the difference in sound quality, but the $100 cards sound pretty good to me.

I currently run Traktor S4 and I'm not 100% happy with the SQ on it. I honestly think the NIA2DJ sounds better. Maybe it's drivers, and I need to update to Traktor 2 to see if that fixes it.

I actually don't use laptop on shows. Setup is currently 2 CDJ-800MKII and A&H XONE22.

[lazyman]

Results from first field text. Much better then expected! This things ROCKS!

Yesterday we have DJ-nigh, house, tech, progressive, deep was on play.
Me and my friends are not "redlining, gain busting" dj-s, we appreciate quality of sound.

Music was played in a bar, dance floor area about 16*30. DJ-pult on one side of room, bar on another. When I was previously used Tapco Thump's, i have high frequencies volume dropping across the room, and in bar area high frequencies have serious drop. But, Omnitop 12 put sound where should be. "Throw" is much better, there are all frequencies present in whole room, and is possible to have conversion without problems although music is club-level loud. Interestingly, high frequencies are defined outside of club also, and i have no problem mixing without monitors and enjoy music also, and dj pult was in-line with speakers.

One thing also, i have used about 150w (and less) per cabinet, and it was more then enough.

Thanks again Bill for great design, which can be done on cheap! I will definitely buy whole CD now!

First field test passed successfully - pictures to follow!

[LEVLHED]

very cool, I'm glad you've found they were worth your time and effort despite being "test cabinets" built with sub-standard materials.
Now just imagine what they'd be like with the proper drivers/piezos!

[GekoMusic94]

I can see the MTH-30 ...

[lazyman]

Some images:



Me in front of Omnitop12 (on stick) and MTH-30 in corner.



One more.



View from enter to dj pult.



Second Omnitop12 on the left. Not raised because of space problems (for tripod legs)



Local DJ checking out what's happening in here.

[LEVLHED]

I miss the good old days of smoking tobacco in bars...

[lazyman]

I miss the good old days of smoking tobacco in bars...

Now we have situation that large bars must have smokers and non-smokers area, smaller bars must decide to be rather smokers or non-smokers only.
Don't miss anything actually, I'm non-smoker.