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Pro Sound Folded Horn Subwoofer for PA, DJ, Bass Guitar, etc. - $325 (Encinitas)
make / manufacturer:
Subterra
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This thing kicks ass for bass!!!
Like nothing you’ve heard before…
Unlike a typical ported sub, a folded-horn design is highly efficient, so it has extremely low distortion with fantastic speed & articulation. Efficiency is about 10X a standard sub. That’s why this thing only needs a single, top-shelf JBL 12” driver. Sensitivity is 105 DB (1W/1m), max SPL > 130 DB.
Horn designs are also “long-throw”, which means that the sound pressure is proportionally higher at long distances (because of the large radiating front opening), so it’s great for large venues or outdoors.
Horn designs have another interesting benefit - when placed against a wall or corner, they get louder (like all subs) BUT - the low frequency extension actually expands down to lower frequencies because the wall(s) become part of the horn. So if you have a fixed installation, put in a corner & it will handle the deepest of pipe organ notes.
This cab was built to the “Tuba 30” specification published by renowned speaker designer Bill Fitzmaurice (billfitzmaurice DOT info). A horn of this size has low frequency extension suitable for PA, synth, DJ work, 5-string bass guitar and down-tuned metal rock.
It is large but the size is the tradeoff you pay to get a horn’s many benefits. This one is built using a slightly narrower width for greater portability - it is 27” wide rather than 30” - so you would technically call it a Tuba 27 🙂 It easily fits through the narrowest residential doorways allowed by US building code. It is 100% top-shelf baltic plywood, glued and screwed, extremely robust.
This sub has a bunch of custom features to improve portability, and indeed it has travelled extensively- I used it for PA & bass guitar sound reinforcement for years, transporting it by myself, including regular lifts and up/down stairs regularly.
There are tilt-back wheels, and a rugged baltic ply quick-release handle that make wheeling around a breeze. With the wheels & handle, a single person can easily wheel this up & down stairs - backward, one step at a time. HDPE slider rails on front AND rear make stairs and truck beds a simple sliding task. On bottom are four heavy-duty furniture slider footpads. There are four side handles for standard 2-person lifts, plus two large cutout handles on lower front.
It is a passive sub, so you need to supply an amp. But it is very efficient - only a few hundred watts will be VERY loud. It is outfitted with a JBL 2206 which is the premier driver spec’d for these horns. Electrical input is either Speakon or 1/4” jack, at 8 ohms. Recommend crossover <= 120 hz.
See Bill’s website & google for more details - his designs are highly respected.
For a few years I fancied possibly building pro sound cabs as a side business, so this was an early prototype. You will see it is branded as “Subterra”. I have several other prototype Subterra cabs posted online as well, and they have the same quality and portability.
Thanks for looking!