Italian Speaker Fans... FBT ProMaxx Gets Facelift

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Jim Davis

Professional "Craigslist DJ"
Check out Page 14 of this "new products" brochure to see the new look of the FBT ProMaxx series...

http://www.fbt.it/documents/31106/884607/FBT - NEW PRODUCTS 2016.pdf/eba72fc3-7572-4e59-9e42-ff6d0ccc69e3

I've been eyeing the 14a's for a couple of years now but haven't been able to justify the price. I was also turned off by their aesthetics, but it seems that issue is being addressed in the next generation. Conversely, I'd put up with the fugly look if the last generation goes on sale ahead of these new ones...

I should also mention... the new ones have an actual MIXER SECTION :)
 
Much better looking .. I gave up on speakers with open horns many years ago. Strange, the 12 looks to be the exact same size as the 14 and both are fairly large. That 12 is about 2" taller, 2" wider and 1/2" deeper than my JBL PRX. The 14 is sized appropriately and has a larger HF throat.
 
Strange, the 12 looks to be the exact same size as the 14 and both are fairly large.

The current 12a and 14a are in the same boat... same cabinet size on both, but a 14" woofer crammed into the 14a. Still the only guys on the market with a 14" that I'm aware of...
 
The current 12a and 14a are in the same boat... same cabinet size on both, but a 14" woofer crammed into the 14a. Still the only guys on the market with a 14" that I'm aware of...
The 14 seems to be the better box, size wise, bass wise and HF wise. I was looking for something a little smaller .. I'll have to see what the 10" goes for. They're all on the larger size.
 
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I still think they're kind of ugly... That groove down the front just doesn't appeal to me. I actually looked at these when I first started considering tearing up my QSC rig... and I couldn't get over it.
 
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The 14" is going for $968 (at kpodj.com) .. can't find the 10".
 
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Actually, according to FBT, the 110A is 28# (not 23) so isn't far off my JBL PRX612m which are 34.5# and are also Neo drivers.

FBT Elettronica
 
I still think they're kind of ugly... That groove down the front just doesn't appeal to me. I actually looked at these when I first started considering tearing up my QSC rig... and I couldn't get over it.

I agree that groove is not very elegant looking, but I would bet it makes the grill a little more rigid.

The DSP features are nice. I like the flexibility of users having some additional "limited" control on the limiter settings. I've seen this becoming available on more and more powered speakers. I was a little surprised I didn't see any specs about FIR filter being used especially on this higher end line. When the new RCF ART 745-A MK4 was announced with FIR filter, I started to think about them as possibly being nice replacements for my ZXA5s.
 
I was a little surprised I didn't see any specs about FIR filter being used especially on this higher end line. When the new RCF ART 745-A MK4 was announced with FIR filter, I started to think about them as possibly being nice replacements for my ZXA5s.
The FIR filter????????????????
That caught me a little off guard, so, for the unwashed amongst us, including me -
http://www.soundlightup.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/FiRPHASE-white-paper-1.pdf

I think there is an assumption being made here that the signal going into a powered speaker with a FIR filter is phase coherent. Maybe.
If you have altered the sound sound with any EQ or FX, it most assuredly is not phase coherent vs the original signal. Me? I just can't keep my hands off my controller!!
 
The FIR filter????????????????
That caught me a little off guard, so, for the unwashed amongst us, including me -
http://www.soundlightup.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/FiRPHASE-white-paper-1.pdf

I think there is an assumption being made here that the signal going into a powered speaker with a FIR filter is phase coherent. Maybe.
If you have altered the sound sound with any EQ or FX, it most assuredly is not phase coherent vs the original signal. Me? I just can't keep my hands off my controller!!

It's more phase coherent between the relation of the HF and LF drivers of the speaker. The frequency response is smoother at the crossover point. Below is a graphical representation from Yamaha.

30B31572F3DF4BD6BA967CE05CEE1292_12083.jpg
 
I think they are implying more than just a smoother response at the crossover point, but for purposes of this discussion, lets assume that.
First graph, at the 2K crossover, total phase shift is 360 degrees between woofer and tweeter (180 degrees to -180 degrees). A 360 degree phase shift means they are back at zero degrees - in phase - with a time delay between them. This has traditionally been dealt with by simply physically offsetting the drivers. The necessary offset at 2K is about 6", easily satisfied by many compression drivers sitting on horns with deep throats.

Also, shouldn't a high performance Italian loudspeakers be painted red?
 
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Actually, according to FBT, the 110A is 28# (not 23) so isn't far off my JBL PRX612m which are 34.5# and are also Neo drivers.

FBT Elettronica
Looks like there is a discrepancy between the data sheet and the site specs.
28lbs is more believable and still quite good compared to other 10 inch actives.
 
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The original 12" FBT Evo Maxx 4a weighs in at 28.1 lbs, I have a pair. They are much lighter than my original non Evo Maxx 4a's which are 35 lbs. The 10 inch in the 1st gen Evo series was 21 lbs so I am positive that the correct weight on the new ProMaxx 10a is 22.7 lbs as stated in the manual. FBT doesn't mess around, they simply try to produce a superior product.
 
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Well then, I guess the only solution is for someone to buy a pair and properly weigh them!
And while you're at it, don't forget to give us a complete review.;)
 
Well then, I guess the only solution is for someone to buy a pair and properly weigh them!
And while you're at it, don't forget to give us a complete review.;)

While I'd LOVE to, I've already got '8' FBT MaxX & EvoMaxX speakers and the Canadian dollars SUCKS currently so it's a no-go from me. :crybaby:
 
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Alto TS210 weigh 22.0 lbs and are MAP at $249. Lightest 10 inch speakers on the market.

If you ask me, at 3x to 4x the price, FBT should be able to produce a light weight speaker at least as light weight as Alto...especially now that we are approaching 2018.

I carried my Alto TS212 28.5 lb speakers (3 of them) up and down 2 flights of stairs last night along with everything else.

...My body is still strained from that by the way, BUT I love that I can carry 2 12s up and down stairs when I want to load in/out quickly.
 
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