4 - T48's newly built vs 2-Dual 12" T-36's

[guitarfreak]

Just wanted to offer a short review of my newly finished T-48's with the 3015LF driver. In a previous post I had raved about my 2 T-36's each with Dual 4012HO drivers in them. These T-36's were some cool beasts, producing some nice low tones for my DJ work as well as with the band that I play in. However, my DJ work has dried up mostly, and I am still playing heavily in the band, and decided I needed some T-48's. I am not much for charts, graphs, DB meters and the like, but I can offer some personal experience using the one thing that I understand entirely - my ears.

I have 4 of these T-48's and used them recently at a gig along with my 4 DR250's. I powered the T-48's with an XTI 4000, and the DR250's with a Microtech 2400. I use an ashly GQX 31 band eq and an ashley compressor/limiter on my system. I run through a yamaha 24 channel board, and do NOT aux feed the subs, as all channels have a 80Hz cut switch, and that seems to work for me on getting a nice clean bass sound (kick and bass guitar only). Though my skills with sound systems are meager, I do manage to get a nice sound from this system, and one piece of advice I can also offer to young weekend warriors like myself - make the switch from 1/4" jacks to speakon. I recently did this on all of my speakers, and I can tell you that it seems to make a huge difference for me relative to issues that arise with my PA as I set it up every other weekend and use it...they pay for themselves. It seems that I can get more volume out of my system after making this switch, though I may just be imagining it. Anyway, I digress.

What I can tell you is that the T-36's are great for recorded music (as Bill has said), and they really do go very low and produce a nice warm bass. One thing I always thought these seemed to lack was a good punch with the live kick-drum, when used with my DR250's. So I built the T-48's, and I can say that they do not produce as much volume in the lower tones (60hz or less as a guess) as the Dual T-36 (at least from what I can hear, not measure), but they DEFINITELY produce more of a nice hit-you-in-the-chest feeling with the kick. I know Bill has said that The T-48 is designed to give more responce in those frequencies where the kick is, and my ears agree, based on this last gig. I can safely say now that where live band is concerned, the T-48 serves my purpose better than the T-36 (Dual 12) version that I have. Of course, I have more horn mouth area now with the 4 T-48, vs the 2 T-36's, so I imagine that is a big help. People at the last gig commented about the nice clean sound, and the incredible amount of bass heard (and felt) even in the back of the room, about 150' back from the stage.

My plans now are to build 2 more DR250's and 2 more T-48's for the outdoor fairs and festivals we are likely to do next year. My WH10's rock too...I plan to build 2 more of those as well. Ok, sorry...not short. I tend to be a little long-winded. Thanks, Leland for the materials. Thanks Bill for the nice plans.

[Zack Brock]

Congrats on your build and thanks for the review!

Any chance we can see some pics of your build?

A question about the WH10's - are you pushing the whole mix through them? Or just vocals, just instruments, etc?

[Gregory East]

I can't read that story. My brain cannot compute a solid single paragraph.

I tried the window size reduction trick somebody suggested last time this happened but it didn't work.

[novasak]

In a very brief summary. ....

- I Don't DJ any longer, but I play in a band now.
- The T48 is great for the 'hit you in the chest thump'.
- the T36 lack "punch", above 60hz, but does provide good bass down low for recorded music.
- For live music, T48 is better.
- W10s rock.
- everyone should switch from 1/4" jacks to Speakon.

[jcmbowman]

the T36 lack "punch", above 60hz, but does provide good bass down low for recorded music.

I beg to differ on the whole "lack punch" bit. But then again, mine are loaded with the 3015LF, not the 4012HO, and the 3015LF pushes more air than 2 4012s. I do find that I have to EQ a little differently when I mix for bands (run the HPF a little higher and add a slight boost at 60hz and a cut at 100hz), but there's no lack of punch.

[ben.in.salzburg]

Definitely with jcmbowman on this one.
T36 dual loaded is fine for live sound, giving some slight eq-ing.
I tend to highpass higher too, compared with house / club dj events
Live electonic bands, get the low lows and a slight boost for their regular drum kit

[brodave2]

Just wanted to offer a short review of my newly finished T-48's with the 3015LF driver. In a previous post I had raved about my 2 T-36's each with Dual 4012HO drivers in them. These T-36's were some cool beasts, producing some nice low tones for my DJ work as well as with the band that I play in. However, my DJ work has dried up mostly, and I am still playing heavily in the band, and decided I needed some T-48's. I am not much for charts, graphs, DB meters and the like, but I can offer some personal experience using the one thing that I understand entirely - my ears. I have 4 of these T-48's and used them recently at a gig along with my 4 DR250's. I powered the T-48's with an XTI 4000, and the DR250's with a Microtech 2400. I use an ashly GQX 31 band eq and an ashley compressor/limiter on my system. I run through a yamaha 24 channel board, and do NOT aux feed the subs, as all channels have a 80Hz cut switch, and that seems to work for me on getting a nice clean bass sound (kick and bass guitar only). Though my skills with sound systems are meager, I do manage to get a nice sound from this system, and one piece of advice I can also offer to young weekend warriors like myself - make the switch from 1/4" jacks to speakon. I recently did this on all of my speakers, and I can tell you that it seems to make a huge difference for me relative to issues that arise with my PA as I set it up every other weekend and use it...they pay for themselves. It seems that I can get more volume out of my system after making this switch, though I may just be imagining it. Anyway, I digress. What I can tell you is that the T-36's are great for recorded music (as Bill has said), and they really do go very low and produce a nice warm bass. One thing I always thought these seemed to lack was a good punch with the live kick-drum, when used with my DR250's. So I built the T-48's, and I can say that they do not produce as much volume in the lower tones (60hz or less as a guess) as the Dual T-36 (at least from what I can hear, not measure), but they DEFINITELY produce more of a nice hit-you-in-the-chest feeling with the kick. I know Bill has said that The T-48 is designed to give more responce in those frequencies where the kick is, and my ears agree, based on this last gig. I can safely say now that where live band is concerned, the T-48 serves my purpose better than the T-36 (Dual 12) version that I have. Of course, I have more horn mouth area now with the 4 T-48, vs the 2 T-36's, so I imagine that is a big help. People at the last gig commented about the nice clean sound, and the incredible amount of bass heard (and felt) even in the back of the room, about 150' back from the stage. My plans now are to build 2 more DR250's and 2 more T-48's for the outdoor fairs and festivals we are likely to do next year. My WH10's rock too...I plan to build 2 more of those as well. Ok, sorry...not short. I tend to be a little long-winded. Thanks, Leland for the materials. Thanks Bill for the nice plans.

What was your placement on the 4- t48s. did you have 2 on each side, 4 clustered on one side, or center cluster?

[guitarfreak]

Hey, sorry guys. I get on here about once a week to read stuff, and catch any good valuable pieces of advice relative to music mixing, setup, and all the other things you can find in these forums.

Sorry about the run-on nature of my initial post. Sometimes when I type, I can get pretty excited, and all the thoughts run through my head are kinda like how I typed em up there...few breaks. Ha ha. I will do better in the future, promise. It is easy to get very excited about these speakers.

I just bought a new camera, and will take some pics at some of the next setups. We are starting to do some fairs and festivals in Missouri, and I will take pics.

I did not mean that the T-36's lacked punch. Believe me, I think the Dual 12 T-36's are some crazy animals, and they DEFINITELY are not for the weak of heart at higher volumes. What I was trying to say was that I did indeed notice a difference in the punch around the levels of the kickdrum frequencies, I would guess about 80Hz-100Hz, and it seemed more significant in the T48's than in the T-36's that I have. I still use my T-36's though, as I am doing a wedding next weekend, and will use them for that.

The two WH-10's that I use vary in what I put through them. The drummer has one, and he likes the Kick, snare, bass, lead vocals, and guitar in his mix. I still don't get how they need MORE kick and snare, but I guess it is their ears that are going deaf. The other one, I put towards the front of the stage as a sort-of side-fill to catch the gaps that the two junk peavey monitors (set in front of mics) don't cover when the singer and guitar player move around. I have made the switch to in-ears, and love em. I cannot seem to talk the rest of the band into them; they feel like they are too isolating sound-wise.

I try to cluster my subs to one side, set two 250's on them, and then stack the other 250's on the other side on an old speaker or something handy. Have not built stands yet. Very easy setup. The band made fun of me the first time (Subs should go on BOTH sides), but after the first gig with this setup, they never questioned my setup desires again. I have not really tried corner loading or wall loading yet, but intend to in the future.

Saving up to make 2 more T-48's, 2-more 250's, and 2 of the W8's. Then buy another XTI4000.