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Title: subwoofer advice - sorry another one!
Post by: George Doumani on June 19, 2011, 04:36:40 AM
As the owner a single RCF Art 905-AS subwoofer for over 2 years now I have very mixed feelings about this box. It's been reliable (unlike my RCF Art710A's which have died 4 times mid gig).

Playing in all types of environments (from hit and run illegal parties in abandoned warehouses to private apartments and than onto open spaces in the wilderness). I am yet to be overly pleased with this sub. It does go loud but it simply sounds to "loose". It's hard to describe in words but it wobbles rather than punches. If you solo this box it just seems to rumble rather than bang.

I am running it (sometimes) through a DBX Driverack PX in conjunction with KV2 EX12's and also (sometimes) RCF Art710A tops. I have tried various adjustments with the subharmonic filter and EQ but no huge improvement.

Can anyone suggest a 15' sub that is active, portable, won't break the bank and sounds good for the bass heavy tunes of modern electronic music?

Only European brands please. I know you North Americans are crazy about Yorkville and Danley etc etc but those labels are unheard of over here in Northern Europe. Labels such as Dynacord, QSC, Turbosound, FBT, KV2 and KX audio (not RCF please).

thanks in advance for any help

George
Title: Re: subwoofer advice - sorry another one!
Post by: Paul G. OBrien on June 22, 2011, 02:53:14 PM

It does go loud but it simply sounds to "loose". It's hard to describe in words but it wobbles rather than punches. If you solo this box it just seems to rumble rather than bang.

Bass punch is in the higher frequencies(60-80hz) and interestingly there seems to be a fairly agressive rolloff in response at the upper end with this RCF box(is it a bandpass perhaps?). I also suspect you're simply expecting too much from a single 15 so maybe have a look at some 18s like the QSC KW181 and try crossing it a little higer to the mains.. maybe 100hz or so.   
Title: Re: subwoofer advice - sorry another one!
Post by: Fernando Lopez on June 23, 2011, 09:52:45 AM
I have 4 art905s and really like them, they are very punchy subs.

I have the art310s and when I use 2 subs the 310s are a little bit more powerful than the subs


Now when I use the 310s with 4 subs, the subs outrun the tops by a lot

What I`m saying is that maybe you need a pair of subs or upgrade to Dynacord or KV2 or QSC

But I think you need at least a pair of subs for the 710s

now for the KXs you will also need a pair but of bigger subs
Title: Re: subwoofer advice - sorry another one!
Post by: Brad Weber on July 05, 2011, 10:12:28 AM
Can anyone suggest a 15' sub that is active, portable, won't break the bank and sounds good for the bass heavy tunes of modern electronic music?

Only European brands please. I know you North Americans are crazy about Yorkville and Danley etc etc but those labels are unheard of over here in Northern Europe. Labels such as Dynacord, QSC, Turbosound, FBT, KV2 and KX audio (not RCF please).
You are definitely limiting the potential options by restricting it to just one reasonably priced single 15" powered sub.  Are multiple subs, multiple driver subs or larger subs something you would consider if that helped to cost effectively support what you are apparently trying to do?
 
The location and arrangement of any subs, the crossover settings, the phase relative to the mains, the EQ, etc. are going to have an impact on the resulting sound.  Are you using external processing?  How are you addressing the sub/main crossover?
Title: Re: subwoofer advice - sorry another one!
Post by: chuck clark on August 29, 2011, 01:52:41 PM
+1 Mr Lopez. A single 15 simply will not move enough air for large spaces. It will modulate a significant percentage of the air only in small enclosed spaces like a car or small studio mixing suite. In larger spaces or outside your going to need at least 2 18's or four 15's minimum just to get close.  Double that would actually be better. I've been doing sound for 30 years and trust me, you'll save yourself a lot of pain if you quit fooling around with "weinie" rigs. Sorry, but it's the truth. The laws of physics haven't changed for a long time in spite of all the "better sound thru marketing" (BS!) that we are continually hit with. Feel lucky.  (I'm foregoing my usual $1000 consulting fee!) Have a great day
Chuck
Title: Re: subwoofer advice - sorry another one!
Post by: Chris Carpenter on August 29, 2011, 03:25:02 PM
An aggressively low-passed sub with a single 15? Doesn't sound like a good recipe.
Title: Re: subwoofer advice - sorry another one!
Post by: Stu McDoniel on September 16, 2011, 11:30:48 AM
As the owner a single RCF Art 905-AS subwoofer for over 2 years now I have very mixed feelings about this box. It's been reliable (unlike my RCF Art710A's which have died 4 times mid gig).

Playing in all types of environments (from hit and run illegal parties in abandoned warehouses to private apartments and than onto open spaces in the wilderness). I am yet to be overly pleased with this sub. It does go loud but it simply sounds to "loose". It's hard to describe in words but it wobbles rather than punches. If you solo this box it just seems to rumble rather than bang.

I am running it (sometimes) through a DBX Driverack PX in conjunction with KV2 EX12's and also (sometimes) RCF Art710A tops. I have tried various adjustments with the subharmonic filter and EQ but no huge improvement.

Can anyone suggest a 15' sub that is active, portable, won't break the bank and sounds good for the bass heavy tunes of modern electronic music?

Only European brands please. I know you North Americans are crazy about Yorkville and Danley etc etc but those labels are unheard of over here in Northern Europe. Labels such as Dynacord, QSC, Turbosound, FBT, KV2 and KX audio (not RCF please).

thanks in advance for any help

George
Keep the sub you have and pick up a TurboSound Milan M18
Small gigs you can use the RCF, and bigger gigs use the M18, and even bigger
gigs use both subs. Stack the RCF on top of the Milan M18 in one spot in the room when using both. 

Unless you have a really HUGE system to cover a 500 to a 1000 people the above will work just fine for a DJ if engineered right.   
Title: Re: subwoofer advice - sorry another one!
Post by: Brad Weber on September 16, 2011, 12:22:50 PM
Keep the sub you have and pick up a TurboSound Milan M18
Small gigs you can use the RCF, and bigger gigs use the M18, and even bigger
gigs use both subs. Stack the RCF on top of the Milan M18 in one spot in the room when using both.
I have not worked with either of these subs but per the specifications both speakers have a 1,000W Class D amp and both have a maximum SPL of 131dB (I assume that is at 1m as neither product data identifies a distance).  The -3dB LF response is specified as 36Hz versus 40Hz.  Given that mixing different subs often has some drawbacks, there doesn't seem to be any apparent advantage over just getting a second identical sub.