V18-1200 Test Results.

The much anticipated, much awaited V18-1200 test results.

These are not laboratory, scientific test results measured under scientific conditions.

They are however, a compilation of observations of different drivers in cabs using the same amp/pa setup with the same songs played through each driver/cab combination.

 

In essence, a group of approx 8-10 dub loving bass heads, gathered in a speaker builder’s premises in South London, from approx 10.30pm to approx 03:00 am to hear most of the top 18” drivers used in scoops today. Especially the V18-1200.

The amp used should have been higher power, but had enough juice to make “all” the drivers shake the “high” roof, tremble the ground, walls and flap trousers, even twenty feet from the cab. Therefore the amp/pre-amp/eq setup sufficed for the night, and various tracks were selected and played.

It wasn’t really a competition, as the general attitude was, “how does each driver compare to the 1850 ?”. Therefore a track would be played, and the bass output applied to in turn, to the various bass cabs to hear how each driver/cab sounded.

Each person gave their input/suggestions whenever desired in a very open forum way. Drivers were swapped between cabs to identify which driver sounded best in which cab.

Drivers present: PD1850, RMJ Turbomax, Void V18-1200, Void V18-1000A, V18-10000B, Bline 800

Cabs present:ASS RX18, Shortman full scoop, Shortman mini scoops (2x), Tekasis Olde Chipboard.

A Mr Ultimate mini scoop was present but not used.

 

Round 1:Full line up

 

Left to right

Shortman full scoop+V18-1200
Best sub definition/warmest sound, sub as deep as 1850

RX18+V18-10000
Very deep and loud, very defined not as much SPL as v18-1200/1850

Shortman mini + 1850
Brutal Sub SPL, not as defined as V18-1200, very very deep

Shortman mini + Turbomax
Sounded very nice all round, but not in league of above due to being not completely sealed and baffle cutout not specific to driver.

Round 2:The best from the above

The group decided, the combinationations required for comparison, where as follows (left to right)

ASS RX18+V18-1000
Same as above

Shortman Mini + 1850
same as above,  Loudest/Most Brutal SPL again, but one note'ish

Shortman Mini + V18-1200,
Lethally defined sub, notes could clearly be heard and felt from 63-31hz
from a single scoop !!!!!!!

Was agreed in this round, the Shortman Mini was the best all round cab present.


Round 3:The Final
Somehow the Bline 800 got straight to this level in the Mini Scoop.



From left to right:

ASS RX18+PD1850
PD1850 absolutely brutal in this cab.Most Sub SPL and improved control.
Sub definition improved slightly. Definetly down to 35hz with 1 scoop


Shortman Mini+Bline 800
Suprisingly good. Sub not quite as deep as PD1850 or V18-1200. Very warm and defined, but not as defined as V18-1200.

Shortman Full scoop+V18-1200
Warmest, Fullest most defined sounding sub, but SPL "just" short of pummeling given by PD1850. Probably just as deep as PD1850 in RX18, but whole group perceived more sub content with PD1850.

Final:



ASS RX18+PD1850
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If you want the most brutal, controlled sub, here it is. It drops ridiculously deep, but lacks definition, warmth. The PD1850 will drop deeper in the Shortman cab, but will handle less power all due to RX18 smaller chamber.

Shortman Full scoop + V18-1200
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The warmest, fullest sub I have heard from a scoop. This combo is pretty much the same as above, but much better sounding with slighty less brutality.


Two matches made in heaven.
------------------------------------------
These two combinations will provide sub downto 35hz with 1 scoop. There I said it.  I heard it, and felt it.


Other observations:
---------------------------
The V18-1200 (large Vas) did not like ASS RX18's small chamber.

PD1850 (approx 250 Vas "med") will tolerate large chamber, but loses control quickly, therefore loved RX18 mid size chamber)

Teks Olde chipboard cab was savage with V18-1000, and would blow away many 1850 loaded lesser scoops.

1x V18-1200 loaded Shortman mini will destroy a house party, and shake "every" room, roof, wall and window.

2x Will Suffice for Sub and throw, in Hall with upto 150 people.

Final words:

Due to driver performance, For some strange reason, it was as if RX18 was designed for PD1850, and the V18-1200 was designed for Shortman Full size scoop.

Rog, is Stone Love scoop similiar design to Shortmans ?

Tony, were RX18 and PD1850  under cover lovers ?

Apologies for long post, opinions all personal, no flaming,


Regards.



Edited by levyte357 - 16 June 2007 at 10:37am

Excellent post..................

so does the turbomax take a back seat now then? or turbolax?

good question smithers! does that mean it wont work in a Hog? the rear chamber is small

Edited by mykey - 16 June 2007 at 12:10pm

second pic down by teks leg there is a Mini without driver and paint (beedy eye's) the rear baffle is short and far back, I'm guessing that pattern is the same as his scoop?

levyte357 wrote: A Mr Ultimate mini scoop was present but not used.