1850 and 186 horns - First 186 build was fun, how to proceed?

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First 186 build was fun, how to proceed?

Printed From: Speakerplans.com
Category: Plans
Forum Name: 1850 and 186 horns
Forum Description: Discussion / Questions about the 1850 and 186 horns
URL: https://forum.speakerplans.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=108786
Printed Date: 26 March 2026 at 6:55pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.08 - https://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: First 186 build was fun, how to proceed?

Posted By: musheck
Subject: First 186 build was fun, how to proceed?
Date Posted: 07 November 2024 at 9:13pm

Hi Speakerplans,

I just build my first 186 horn with an L18P300. Its being powered by a vortex 6 rn. I have 2 of these amps and 1 more P300 driver. I have been testing all day but the sound isn't quite right, have ends set to 50-130hz, its not bad, just feels a little quiet. Read on other posts that vortex 6's aren't good for subs, but that there are also better drivers than P300 for these cabs.

My question: what's the best way to proceed from here? I have budget to get a different driver or amp, and can sell my current ones after.

Goal is to build 6-8 of these eventually, first build was not bad, learned a lot and had a good time. I'm kinda new to this so all tips and advice are welcome :)

Replies:

Posted By: njw
Date Posted: 07 November 2024 at 9:51pm

What do you mean when you say the sound isn't quite right? A single horn loaded cab on it's own is usually a bit underwhelming I find, they don't really come alive until you've piled a few of them up.

Posted By: musheck
Date Posted: 07 November 2024 at 11:12pm

True, i am aware tho. Its either my x-over and poor knowledge. I've tested the amp in parallel mode and threshold from 26->32db and it became more alive. Idk if this is gonna overheat the coil eventually but it sounded pretty good, seems like a different amp might be the answer eventually (first check how 4 sound). If my math is right 4 may work on 1 amp, 2 on each channel, if not I will sell them and get better ones. Processor is a cheap digital x-over, will be looking to upgrade this in the future too, any recommendations?

Posted By: Contour
Date Posted: 08 November 2024 at 7:45am

Difference between 1 and 4 is huge, so would build some more first.

Posted By: Teadub
Date Posted: 08 November 2024 at 11:30am

Limiters. Calculate/find a realistic max power for your drivers in your bins, then measure the output of your amp at 50hz with a multimeter and set your limits accordingly. Really wish I had spent more time on this when I was starting out plus then you will know fur sure how much your subs have to give.

Also agree with the above. More bins will make a big difference

Posted By: musheck
Date Posted: 11 November 2024 at 11:24am

I will def measure and limit the power when I get to it! Thanks for the advice guys! Only thing im wondering is my vortex 6's gain, I can set it to 26db or 32db. 32 obviously sounds better and louder, just wondering if this might damage the driver over time if running for a long period.

Here's what it looks like right now. Very happy how it turned out, just need to add the last braces and its complete!

https://imgur.com/a/ts50i9A

Posted By: Pinheiro
Date Posted: 12 November 2024 at 10:06am

Hi all
Regarding the topic of 26 or 32 db of amplifier gain, there are several schools at Meyersound they use 26 db at L acoustic they use 32db both are correct, in the turbosound system I had it was at 26db, regardless of the one chosen it uses the same gain in all the system amplifiers
and like all bass horn make more and at list 4 per side you start to fill de magic
yours Vitor

Posted By: Jan-2T
Date Posted: 12 November 2024 at 10:52am

musheck wrote:

I will def measure and limit the power when I get to it! Thanks for the advice guys! Only thing im wondering is my vortex 6's gain, I can set it to 26db or 32db. 32 obviously sounds better and louder, just wondering if this might damage the driver over time if running for a long period.

Here's what it looks like right now. Very happy how it turned out, just need to add the last braces and its complete!

https://imgur.com/a/ts50i9A

Maybe round the corners too, prevents chipping when hauling and bumping.

file or sand them, or find a router.

Posted By: BrainlessTekno
Date Posted: 12 November 2024 at 12:04pm

Its a fact that you need more than 1x 186 horn to make the air shake but the single 186 is by no means quiet... actualy when i finished my first one also loaded with p300 i did not expect such blasting so there may be something wrong or mby your expectations were unreasonably hight idk... now i have 4 and they are loud AF

buy yourself a DSP, its just not worth it to run expensive speakers of a junk

-------------
BarSick / barsik soundsystem
Dont want to toot my own horn but toot toot

Posted By: musheck
Date Posted: 13 November 2024 at 5:24pm

Jan-2T wrote:

Maybe round the corners too, prevents chipping when hauling and bumping.

file or sand them, or find a router.

I will def round them off using a router, gonna borrow one from a friend when I get to building the second horn (hopefully within 1-2 weeks)

BrainlessTekno wrote:

Its a fact that you need more than 1x 186 horn to make the air shake but the single 186 is by no means quiet... actualy when i finished my first one also loaded with p300 i did not expect such blasting so there may be something wrong or mby your expectations were unreasonably hight idk... now i have 4 and they are loud AF

buy yourself a DSP, its just not worth it to run expensive speakers of a junk

Its not that is isn't loud, it in fact is. Just sounds a little more quiet on 26db (gain on the amp). It will be used outside eventually, just tested in inside for now, I think 4 of these might be too loud for the place I will use them for now (can fit about 300-400 people). 2 Will prob be fine here, when (or if) I get 8 of them eventually they'll be used either outside or in big venues.

I have it hooked up to a DAP DCP-26 MKII x-over (goes with the pa system I had before I started building the horn). Will upgrade to something better in the future, figured it does the job with testing the first horn (and second one soon) for now.
I'm not sure about building tops yet, tho I will prob get to this at some point, just using fullrange pa speakers from my old pa systems as tops right now.

Posted By: smitske96
Date Posted: 13 November 2024 at 7:19pm

Are you planning to add the bracing in the mouth?

Posted By: musheck
Date Posted: 16 November 2024 at 5:51pm

smitske96 wrote:

Are you planning to add the bracing in the mouth?

Yes I do need to add the bracing. I just wasn't sure yet if I wanted to make the 2 panels parallel or perpendicular from each other.

Posted By: catalin
Date Posted: 17 November 2024 at 11:38am

I have built four 186 horns with PD 1851 Mk1 nearly 10 years ago.

Still have them,nice punchy Hifi sound on VZ 5000.