OK, thoughts on a PA project.
Most of my 35 years involved in Pro Sound I have been with mid sized systems. From 2500 seat theaters on down. For some time I have been looking to make my own compacted PA for myself. Years ago I saw and heard a flamingo group playing at a outdoor mall in SoCal with a EAW JFX260. Great tone , lots of volume and fairly small. I looked into EAW and found the JF80z (2 x 6.5-inch woofer) then the LS832 (8 woofers, 3 tweeters) and started me thinking.
Back before anything I owned a pair of 4680 columns. Great for brutal volume but weighted a TON. The one thing I noticed was the coupling of drivers to the air. Tried the same thing a few times with (4) 2225a and 90x40 2441 and a pair of 2405 (LE's) (clears, many though they were lights) . It would fill the room and no phasing issue except for dead center, that's where the 90X40 crossed and couple up, but that was fine after a few beers.
Now I want to do the same concept again but smaller.
(got to fit into a Subaru Outback)
First product that came to mind was the 4680 until I remembered the weight and size plus how many have you seen lately?
Second was the 4612. There was a band that would show up with (4) 4612 and (4) dual D130 bass bins. Sounded real bad. No coupling, Phasing issues every where but enough volume for the room. Thinking back now, if the 4612s were stacked on their sides to form a column, things would have been better.
SO...with all the technology in power and front end gear I think it's time to fire up my project and give the 4612 another shot. They can produce plenty of volume and could be small and light. I just bought a pair of 4612 so they will be the project base.I'll try and post as much as I can as I go along. I'll use LEAP to design with and LMS to test with and AutoCAD to draw with.
- Reconfigure the 4612 driver lay out.
- Dual 8" column with the 2404 in between and ported in back, center.
- Time alien the 2404 with the 8" if necessary.
- Redesign the crossover if necessary.
- Couple cabs together to form taller columns.
- Add subs when necessary.
- I know where a bunch of 2225a and h are and the guy owns me a favor!
- 3.5 cu ft or 5.0 cu ft for more puff.
- I'm still not too nuts about the power plates so I'll pick up a Crown 300 II (Cheap to buy now and mixer has a sub send on board)
Tally Ho
OB Jim