zooboz

I think your numbers are so optimistic as to be out of this universe. They are complely unrealistic. You are also neglecting the fact that the SP1 low frequency extension was terrible. It's most efficient around 50-70Hz. ___________________________ speaker facts: http://archives.telex.com/archives/EV/Speakers/EDS/EVM-15B%20Pro-line%20EDS.pdf I did overstate the speaker its 126.5 db @ 4' 400watts not 135db. range 50-5000 hz according to EV (the amplified sound from the horn was cut and pasted from an article on the web based on sound physics). where did you figure the efficiency range of (40-70 hz?) who the heck would buy a speaker with an efficiency range spread of 20hz ?? that would be insane.:poke:

Sure most apeakers today are direct radiating... that's what ported speakers are. They are not "acoustic suspension" or "infinite baffle" if that's what you ment. Yes you are right, the direct radiating speakers of all uses, high to sub have the majority of the market, probably 95%+ the fine art of making the cabinet enhance the speakers output has dimished greatly. Bose being probably the one of the last holdouts to use the fold in its mainstream designs.

Such as? ______________________________________ Cerwin-Vega AB-36C Afterburner 18" Folded Horn Subwoofer Speaker Cerwin-Vega TS-42 21" Folded Horn Subwoofer Cerwin-Vega EL-36C 18" Folded Horn Subwoofer Mackie SWA1501 Active High Output 15-Inch Subwoofer System (uses the floor as a virtual reflective horn) EAW LA400 Bent Bass Horn Subwoofer Viking Audio B36X 18" folded bass horn subwoofer PEAVEY PVDJ DJS-SUB 18-Inch Subwoofer - Folded Horn Redacted from an online article "A horn loaded speaker can have a sensitivity as high as 110 dB at 2.83 volts (1 watt at 8 ohms) at 1 meter. This is a hundredfold increase in output compared to a speaker rated at 90 dB sensitivity, and is invaluable in applications where high sound levels are required or amplifier power is limited." Hence my initial comment about the Peavey SP1 Bottom speaker which we had installed the Electro Voice EVM15's bare speaker, that had a maximum db level of 135db at 300 watts could technically put out 150db out of the horn. Running a "clean" dedicated 400 watts frequency spectrum defined and dedicated power to the low end 200 -2000hz (not sub sonic) (again I said I ran an active x-over tri-amp system) per folded horn was very efficient, very clean and very loud.

Then your idea of what quality sound in a smaller club should be, is quite different from mine. Horn loaded boxes are rotten in places where the back wall is less than 50' away from the stage. The bass always sounded muddy, it didn't go very low - the 15" Horn loaded segment of the SP1/FH1 was HORRIBLE (so in effect, what you had was a modified version of the Project II - which we had as well at one point) and it was definitely was NOT a "Sub". Sure it would pound, but it just wasn't a pleasant sound. Now, maybe because you replaced the speakers with EV's you had better luck with it, but I was using the stock Black Widow's that came in them, and it simply was not a pleasing sound at all to me. In fact, that rig completely turned me against horn loaded cabinets - I thought it was so bad that I would never even consider horn-loaded cabinets again. Give me a front-loaded rig every time! right sound man, right use for the gear, (sp1 was never intended or meant to be a sub woofer) = the right outcome. currently have 4 Yamaha S115v's with 2 mackie 1400 watt power amps, no sub woofer, the 4 speakers do not come close to what the Peavey's did. Not go horn loaded again? since you mention the "sub sounds" most of the high end and professional gear today use the folded horn or port design, rarely are they direct radiating. hmmm...

I'm sure those SP-1 frankensteins sounded great... But if they did sound so great how come nobody's using them and how come Peavey doesn't make them any more. Ahhh, the good old days weren't as good as you may remember. Today's modern speakers (including Peavey's own) are lightyears ahead of the SP-1. The Mark IV board was Peavey's best attempt but had all kinds of problems due to the style of construction and they were pretty clunky too. Way better than the Mark III which was an embarrassment to the audio world. The Mark VIII was a pretty good board, but not viable at the price point and reputation Peavey earned at that time. _________________________________________________________ they were way too heavy even back then, with the girley men nowadays, it would surely take at least 2 to move one just cabinet now. if you can find the spec's on the stock cabinet with the additional MB2 mid range I'd be surprised to compare the spectrum stats and db output etc.. not much has changed as far as speaker technology in 30 years.

I too had a set of SP1's with the added 12' horn driver cabinet back in the 80's. it was more than fantastic and even better when all the speakers were replaced with Electro Voice EVM's. tri-amped xover mono with 1 CS800 low end and 2 cs400's mid and high. had the Mark 4 board as well. the prior comment about it being no good in small clubs is not correct, we used them everywhere " bi-amp them straight up stock and you will be amazed too, the x-over on a full range system screws up the sound pretty bad.