folded horn subs

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rickryan.com

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Dec 9, 2009
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Almost all of my gigs are weddings. My main rig is a pair of 12" cabs paired with 2 18" subs. I've been looking at some folded-horn cabs and wondering whether there's anything to be gained by switching over. Specifically, I usually have the subs fairly close to me, which is usually next to the dance floor, and it sounds great about 50ft out. Is there any reason to think about switching? I'm half-tempted to go to a single folded horn, under the DJ table.
 
I have 4 CV's and for a wedding unless they're requested they'd be some serious overkill. JTR has some very interesting products that are quite small but pack a hell of a punch one of these with the proper amp would probably do the job, I would buy 2 of them and enjoy ;).
 
I have a pair of JTR Growlers. Depending on the room and audience 1 is plenty for most weddings but I bring 2 for redundancy. I did a wedding at a hall this summer and only brought one in due to the odd sized setup space. The family crowd thinned early leaving the bridal party & friends who wanted to dance to Gaga remixes and other pop house tunes. The single sub rocked the place and no one wanted more bass. I thought about pulling the sub from the truck into the room but they were all happy and there was absolutely no need for it.
 
Folded horns are efficient and this is their appeal. With two folded horns you can get as much output as four equivalent direct radiating cabinets. JTR (mentioned above) make some fine folded horns both small and large. Cerwin Vega, Peavey, B-52 also make horns. My last big gig (950 bodies) was done with only 4 folded horns and only one amp was driving all 4 of them. Not once that night did my bass amp clip or was it running hot. Rick also they should be used in pairs or better one will work but you get deeper and louder when coupled, much more than regular boxes, they work even better if walls and corners are used.
 
Don't put them under a table or block the air waves out. They need that open space for the waves to travel out. There are different types of horns, and some have short, medium and long throw. It will depend on your application as to how many is needed. I have used a single one before in a small bar but then again mine is 16ohms each. They require more power.
 
There designed to be used in multiples....2-4-6-8

I wouldnt think 1 horn is going to make you very giggly.... I'm thinking Rick needs to do some research on how folded horns operate before making a decision.
If it was me...i wouldnt do it.. I prefer the front load boxes i have. But being a bass player like you are, You may really like that nice Clean sound that horns produce...
 
2 corrections:

Not all horns are designed to be paired. For size reasons, some are purposefully designed with a small throat, such as BFM, and they pick up both efficency and lower frequency output when paired. However, others such as JTR and Danley are designed as fully tuned boxes and they have full efficiency and range when run singly.

Also, the sound from a horn loaded sub (typically) has very little distortion. What many people attribute as the sound of a front loaded sub is actually harmonic distortion. The distortion drops off quickly with distance and only the clean bass travels, that is what many people term short throw. With much less distortion, the sound coming from a horn is perceived the same at a longer distance hence the incorrect term of a horn loaded sub throwing further. It is actually just cleaner.
 
Scott I agree with you on the JTR's and Danley. Off all the subs I have heard the JTR's are the cleanest subs I have ever heard. The Growlers are overachievers for their size and the Orbit Shifter are just unreal. My dream is to run 8 to twelve of these (Shifters) at a gig with 3 or 4 tripple twelves per side as tops.
 
The Horn I have is actually a scoop with a front loaded woofer so sound radiates from the top and then also backwards to travel out of the scoop in the form of a bass reflex. That is why it not only has a punch but a deepness to it. I agree with Brian that you should have two but like I stated I have used one before. Their efficiency is what makes them so different from other subs.
 
How much throw does one really need? I have played plenty of long rooms, like the one pictured, with just two RCF ART705-AS subs coupled and had plenty of bass across the entire dance floor.
 

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How much throw does one really need? I have played plenty of long rooms, like the one pictured, with just two RCF ART705-AS subs coupled and had plenty of bass across the entire dance floor.
It all has to do with the radiating pattern. For Bass you want a concentrated sound as far back as you can in a solid volume. For mids and highs you want spread. Think of it this way, you can yell towards a bunch of people in the back of a room and they may hear you but cup your hands over your mouth and yell again and they will hear you louder. That is what a horn does for bass. The opposite is tru for mids and highs.
Until you use a properly powered Folded Horn or Scoop, you don't know what you are missing when it comes to serious SPL.
 
well now Canute have you heard these RCF subs? DR Zinc give your opinion on the Dynacords and the depth of the Bass at the Trini Wedding. Maestro and I tested a ton of Subs a couple yrs back and some had the bass travel at optimal about the distance of a typical dancefloor. In that test the EV non folded had the deepest punch for the distance. KV, QSC and several others were tested. I have witnessed Steves RCF setup in a very long room and made a believer when experiencing the travel and awesome tone, That was the selling points I found when deciding on the Dynacord.
The JBL Scoops dont compare in tone to the Earthquakes even when run through multiple processing. Not knocking what works for you but just saying.
 
well now Canute have you heard these RCF subs? DR Zinc give your opinion on the Dynacords and the depth of the Bass at the Trini Wedding. Maestro and I tested a ton of Subs a couple yrs back and some had the bass travel at optimal about the distance of a typical dancefloor. In that test the EV non folded had the deepest punch for the distance. KV, QSC and several others were tested. I have witnessed Steves RCF setup in a very long room and made a believer when experiencing the travel and awesome tone, That was the selling points I found when deciding on the Dynacord.
The JBL Scoops dont compare in tone to the Earthquakes even when run through multiple processing. Not knocking what works for you but just saying.

I watched the video, TRIM Captain!!! TRIM Captain!!!! ;)
 
I prefer the sound of folded horn subs .. you get a more musical, smoother bass than front fired subs with the tradeoff of losing 10 Hz on the bottom and a little chest thump. A worthwhile trade for me. I use Yorkville UCS1B subs (powered in stereo from a QSC PLX3602 to minimize current drain) and they work great separate (I place a U15 above) or even better with the mouths coupled (lying sideways with the ports together) and the U15s on sticks if I have the room in front. I've used the Unity pair to cover 500 people at a town green with no problems.

I'm planning to use them with the 12" powered mains I'm in the process of evaluating until I can afford a smaller powered sub (TH-Mini maybe).
 
Steve you obviously havent heard the Dynacord Sub as that was one thing top of my list when choosing my subs. Some folded or scoop speakers are one note wonders including the Yorkville LS 800 series. The RCF has great tone as well.
 
well now Canute have you heard these RCF subs? DR Zinc give your opinion on the Dynacords and the depth of the Bass at the Trini Wedding. Maestro and I tested a ton of Subs a couple yrs back and some had the bass travel at optimal about the distance of a typical dancefloor. In that test the EV non folded had the deepest punch for the distance. KV, QSC and several others were tested. I have witnessed Steves RCF setup in a very long room and made a believer when experiencing the travel and awesome tone, That was the selling points I found when deciding on the Dynacord.
The JBL Scoops dont compare in tone to the Earthquakes even when run through multiple processing. Not knocking what works for you but just saying.
What makes you think I was doing comparisons? What makes you think I was knocking down any other brands or models?
 
Steve you obviously havent heard the Dynacord Sub as that was one thing top of my list when choosing my subs. Some folded or scoop speakers are one note wonders including the Yorkville LS 800 series. The RCF has great tone as well.

I haven't heard the Dynacords as yet, but have no doubt they're fine speakers. I still believe that "true" horn loaded subs are more "musical". BTW, The LS800 series are not a true horn subs .. it's a rear loaded horn design, basically using the horn as a tapered port.