cpizey Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 Hi folks I'm looking to buy a compact active sub, under £400, and currently have this shortlist. dB Technologies Sub 612 - 600W 46-123hz 129dbTurbosound IP12B - 600+200+200W (Klark Teknic amps) 45-150hz, 120db Turbosound IP15B - 600+200+200W (Klark Teknic amps) 45-150hz, 120db (allegedly same spec as the 12?!) Its for (very) small gigs for a rock band, mainly to add to the kick.I like the versatility of the extra amps for tops that comes with the Turbos - but this is not essential. Thoughts/recommendations please?Has anyone tried any of these?Many thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbo Guy Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 Hi.... I've not compared so cannot comment but just flagging that Turbo Sound now come with a 10 year warranty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyMitchell Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 Also not compared, but if your specs are correct like for like comparisons, surely the box that plays a massive 9dB louder wins hands down? FWIW, I'm not sure what "Klark Teknik amps" actually means.Back in the day, KT were of course an industry standard in signal processing, with the DN-360 and DN-410 being iconic products that you'd see everywhere, but they never made amplifiers.I've nothing against the Music Group, but in this context, wonder if "KT amps" is no more than applying a brand name to a box, where there is no heritage (no pun intended). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cedd Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 Thomann’s Achat boxes punch well above their weight in my opinion. I don’t own and haven’t heard their subs, but have a number of their tops and their build quality and sound are superb for the money. Worth a look if nothing else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbo Guy Posted July 13, 2019 Share Posted July 13, 2019 Tony KT which is part of the MusicTribe have now produced amp's since back in the day..... they also now produce a whole lot of other new products since back in the day. Along with their proprietary Processing, DSP and Outboard products. Also not compared, but if your specs are correct like for like comparisons, surely the box that plays a massive 9dB louder wins hands down? FWIW, I'm not sure what "Klark Teknik amps" actually means.Back in the day, KT were of course an industry standard in signal processing, with the DN-360 and DN-410 being iconic products that you'd see everywhere, but they never made amplifiers.I've nothing against the Music Group, but in this context, wonder if "KT amps" is no more than applying a brand name to a box, where there is no heritage (no pun intended). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alec Posted July 14, 2019 Share Posted July 14, 2019 As with the others, I haven't heard any of the options you've mentioned, nor have I heard any Achat subs, but I've used other cabs in their range and they certainly punch above their price. While, in theory, the dB Technologies sub has stacks more output than the Turbosounds, I'd be a little suspicious of a 129 dB 12" sub at that price level. In the end you're not going to get anything stunning - but you'd probably find the 15" Turbosound a little more satisfying. You haven't mentioned what tops you're using. Or if the extra bulk/weight of a 15" sub would be an issue. Why not buy a couple from Thomann, and use their excellent service to keep just the one you prefer? A far better result than asking people on a forum, where no-one yet has tried any of the models you are looking at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csg Posted July 14, 2019 Share Posted July 14, 2019 Tony KT which is part of the MusicTribe have now produced amp's since back in the day..... they also now produce a whole lot of other new products since back in the day. Along with their proprietary Processing, DSP and Outboard products. Also not compared, but if your specs are correct like for like comparisons, surely the box that plays a massive 9dB louder wins hands down? FWIW, I'm not sure what "Klark Teknik amps" actually means.Back in the day, KT were of course an industry standard in signal processing, with the DN-360 and DN-410 being iconic products that you'd see everywhere, but they never made amplifiers.I've nothing against the Music Group, but in this context, wonder if "KT amps" is no more than applying a brand name to a box, where there is no heritage (no pun intended). I'm very happy to be corrected on this one, but I have to agree with Tony - Klark Teknik never produced power amplifiers to the best of my knowledge. Midas did, back in the dim and distant past, but KT never did. As regards the 10 year warranty - that's all well and good, but I for one would rather have no need for it, when something goes down just before or mid gig the best warranty in the world is not much help! I very much doubt that the turbo specs are correct, being identical one or other has to be wrong - but 9 db is a BIG old difference.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbo Guy Posted July 15, 2019 Share Posted July 15, 2019 Read my post again.... I said 'have now'. Re the warranty..... any piece of equipment can go down mid gig..... no matter who the manufacturer. Probably best that you have a plan B Re the warranty. The specs are correct.... 120db for that sub. I wouldn't be using it as a dedicated sub as it's really designed as part of a small system with the satellites in that range.... it's pretty limited in on it's own. Tony KT which is part of the MusicTribe have now produced amp's since back in the day..... they also now produce a whole lot of other new products since back in the day. Along with their proprietary Processing, DSP and Outboard products. Also not compared, but if your specs are correct like for like comparisons, surely the box that plays a massive 9dB louder wins hands down? FWIW, I'm not sure what "Klark Teknik amps" actually means.Back in the day, KT were of course an industry standard in signal processing, with the DN-360 and DN-410 being iconic products that you'd see everywhere, but they never made amplifiers.I've nothing against the Music Group, but in this context, wonder if "KT amps" is no more than applying a brand name to a box, where there is no heritage (no pun intended). I'm very happy to be corrected on this one, but I have to agree with Tony - Klark Teknik never produced power amplifiers to the best of my knowledge. Midas did, back in the dim and distant past, but KT never did. As regards the 10 year warranty - that's all well and good, but I for one would rather have no need for it, when something goes down just before or mid gig the best warranty in the world is not much help! I very much doubt that the turbo specs are correct, being identical one or other has to be wrong - but 9 db is a BIG old difference.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyMitchell Posted July 15, 2019 Share Posted July 15, 2019 Back in the day, KT were of course an industry standard in signal processing... ...but they never made amplifiers. KT which is part of the MusicTribe have now produced amp's since back in the day..... they also now produce a whole lot of other new products since back in the day. Read my post again.... I said 'have now'. Now back in the day, when the grey matter was a little sharper, perhaps this would not be so confusssing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbo Guy Posted July 15, 2019 Share Posted July 15, 2019 Ahh you just have to read it fella Back in the day, KT were of course an industry standard in signal processing... ...but they never made amplifiers. KT which is part of the MusicTribe have now produced amp's since back in the day..... they also now produce a whole lot of other new products since back in the day. Read my post again.... I said 'have now'. Now back in the day, when the grey matter was a little sharper, perhaps this would not be so confusssing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cpizey Posted July 25, 2019 Author Share Posted July 25, 2019 Folks, thanks for the advice. In the end I bought the Turbosound IP12B. I was really tempted by the 'a lot of PA in one box' concept, given that the idea for us was to downsize. The manual it arrived with said it was 500W not 600W. I also noticed the IP15B is listed as 121.5db (1.5db louder). Anyway, it looks good and has some very good features, some EQ presets and you can select from 4 different crossover frequencies, 80, 100,120,150hz. I tried it with an EV passive mid/top (not the speakers Turbosound recommend) and the sound was very bright even with the EQ adjusted as far as it would go. I guess that's symptomatic of 500/600W bass plus 2x200W mid/tops. By the way that's 2x200W in to 4 ohms. Unfortunately its just not loud and punchy enough for us so I think it will have to go back. Probably great for a solo artist with backing tracks, but we are a 4-piece rock band. I was being too optimistic/unrealistic. Turns out there is a good reason why we lug our two 18" bass bins around! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyMitchell Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 the sound was very bright even with the EQ adjusted as far as it would go. I guess that's symptomatic of 500/600W bass plus 2x200W mid/tops. You're confusing power consumption (watts) with sound pressure levels (dB)It's all about efficiency.If you get a chance, have a listen to some C7 (a 200W mid/high cabinet that plays to 138dB/1m) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cpizey Posted July 29, 2019 Author Share Posted July 29, 2019 Thanks Tony - so what is the best measure for efficiency? db/1m? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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