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How did the db 500 perform

1653 Views 27 Replies 9 Participants Last post by seagul, Jun 12, 2007

seagul

Discussion Starter · May 20, 2007

I have heard alot of people mention buying a db 500 but few telling their results. Im really tempted to sell my 15" tc2000 and buy 3 db 500's with some rhythmic plate amps. Anywho I think alot of people are wondering what results have come from these drivers.

1 - 20 of 28 Posts

poormanq45

· #2 · May 22, 2007

I've got two 12" db500s in my car.

They move a good bit of air.

They need a very large box to hit the lower frequencies though.

My reference is a Titanic 15" in 8^3 tuned to 19hz. I'd say two of the db500s would equal the titanic

armystud0911

· #3 · May 22, 2007

I can field this fairly well, I haven't done gp testing but the four I have are absurd in my room. I have four of them right now in ported enclosures tuned to 12Hz, in my room, they dished out over 110db from 11Hz on up with little distortion. I blocked the ports and used them outside with a higher tuning for our movie night, they provided very respectable amounts of bass in our parking lot 30-50' away. If I were you, I would keep the TC2k though and build another in the future, not do some DB500 builds unless you need to go to smaller enclosures for WAF reasons. The power from a pair of TC2k's is incredible.

seagul

Discussion Starter · #4 · May 23, 2007

Thanks ive been leaning that direction in the past couple of days, if they have sale on the tc2 I would pick another one up. I really like the new surround on them. I think ill have to upgrade my amp however to a behringer 2500 or buttkicker, the 1500 just isn't doing it for me. I really think building a box is half of the fun of the subwoofer so I might build a new enclosure as well. Im getting tired of a 10 cubic foot coffin ill reduce that to 5^3. Im convince part of my upgradeitis is just getting used to what I have so I think building a new enclosure should hold me over for awhile.

steve nn

· #5 · May 23, 2007

Quote:
Im convince part of my upgradeitis is just getting used to what I have so I think building a new enclosure should hold me over for awhile.

Ah.. I see your getting to know yourself

Isn't it the truth though!

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seagul

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jun 8, 2007

Ok im doing it im going to sell my 15" tc 2000 and ep1500 and go with three db 500's in a 4^3 enclosure tuned to 18 hz. Im looking at the 350w basic rythmic plate amp does anyone have any experience with this amp combined with the db 500. By the way if anyone is looking for a tc2000 used lightly for about four months with a tiny dimple on the cone that is only visible in certain light I might know where you can get one.

djarchow

· #7 · Jun 9, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by seagul /forum/post/0

Ok im doing it im going to sell my 15" tc 2000 and ep1500 and go with three db 500's in a 4^3 enclosure tuned to 18 hz. Im looking at the 350w basic rythmic plate amp does anyone have any experience with this amp combined with the db 500. By the way if anyone is looking for a tc2000 used lightly for about four months with a tiny dimple on the cone that is only visible in certain light I might know where you can get one.

I just finished a db500 sub for my Brother In Law which used the Rythmik 350 amp. I put it in a 100 liter enclosure tuned to 20 Hz. I had the Rythmik high pass set to 20 Hz and output was good right down to the tuning point. My Rythmik Servo DS15 obviously played lower but at higher frequencies output was very close between the two.

Overall I was very happy with the DB 500 and Rythmik combo. The price was right and the output and sound quality were very good. The only drawback was the somewhat large cabinet volume required.

Regards,

Dennis

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Wildcard26

· #8 · Jun 9, 2007

Very useful thread as I maybe considering this driver as the upgrade to a project I have currently underway. I would like to hear about more experiences with these too. Thanks seagul.

seagul

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jun 9, 2007

Just curious how does the db 500 compare to the svs subwoofers.

seagul

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jun 9, 2007

By the way thanks dennis that actually helps me out alot as well.

TheEAR

· #11 · Jun 9, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by seagul /forum/post/0

Just curious how does the db 500 compare to the svs subwoofers.

The Plus series used for a long time the dB12 ...the dB 500 is a variant and I can make a quick guess they sound very..very alike. In other words great.

Geoff L

· #12 · Jun 10, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by TheEAR /forum/post/0

The Plus series used for a long time the dB12 ...the dB 500 is a variant and I can make a quick guess they sound very..very alike. In other words great.

Yes it would appear the Db500 is a "tweaked" variant of the SVS plus driver. Having both drivers here, (Plus & Db500) and listening to them carefully, it would seem they sound basically alike with the 500 handling a bit more power before sounding strained.

Having some serious driver measurement equipment would help clear it up, but I don't have access to that type gear.

One would have to speak with Kyle, Deon or someone clearly in the know at TC to get the absolute scoop between the Plus & Db drivers. And even then about all they are going to tell you is, yup there alot alike due to confidentiality stuff with SVS.

Anyway:

**********

I have 4-Db's, three are in use and one is still in it's shipping box. From 16-17Hz in my 2200-ft³ leaky room they are more than enough. I might even sell the one still in it's shipping box. Considering the Db-12's dollar to displacement & sq (even at their price apiece shipped now), I don't think there is a better driver available currently..

Don't jump on me for this statement as for a "specific use & encloser design" there may well be a better suited driver at or near the Db-12's price point..

3 of them vented will make for some very decent extension & spl.

Cheers

---------

Geoff

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seagul

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jun 10, 2007

Thats exactly what I wanted to hear. If you do decide to sell that one send me a pm and ill buy it from you guaranteed. By and by what size enclosures did you stick yours in, im really liking a 4 or 5 cubic foot enclosure tuned to 17 hz, but im also playing around with two 4" ports tuned to 25 hz so I can plug one and have it then at 17 or 16 hz, this way I can use the 16 hz for movies and the 25 for music.

Geoff L

· #14 · Jun 10, 2007

If I decied to sell it I'll PM you ASAP. \\

I just can't seem to make up my mind as to sell it or not.

In a thread somewhere is all the finished details on the vented encloser. I "belive" the size ended up being 4.65-ft³ finished interior volume with a single 4" PP-flared port tuning to 17.5-Hz. I had some finished enclosers laying around and just re-used them, so it's hard to remember exactally as I built them a few years ago.

I'll find the "exact" ft³ tuning if you really want it. What I gave above is very very close tho as best as I remember..

Oh yah, a Rythmik Plate Amp is used on each of all three subs..

You have to remember where the SS-filters are on the Rythmik Amp (28Hz 20Hz & 16Hz) with their slopes & Q when modeling. I use them in high damping Q also, no boost.

Your dual 4" porting with a plug for a dual tune idea should work fine, if you model the sub carefully. Wild ran alot of sims with this exact driver and amp for many people. Alot of people forget about this amps differances (how one plans to run it) compared to other fixed plate amps. Using it Sealed is not such a big deal as compared to using it vented.

Cheers

--------

Geoff

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seagul

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jun 10, 2007

How so and what things should I keep in mind when modeling my box.

Geoff L

· #16 · Jun 10, 2007

I'm unable to use Unibox BassBox or Win-Pro with this pile of crap. Ugg.... But when I get over to my brothers or my dads I'll run some simulation with your purpose dual tune.

Just a best guess right now, but a cab volume of 5.5 to 6.ft³ might be better. I'm sure Wild & or some others may stop by also, so your bound to get some ideas/info on your purposed possible dual tune plan.

My sonos are lined with 2" of pink fiber glass batting along with rapping the port which would add a touch more internal volume to my 4.65ft³ raw finished encloser volume.

The dual tune idea I like tho..!

Regards

--------

Geoff

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seagul

Discussion Starter · #17 · Jun 10, 2007

Thanks for the help ill be waiting.

seagul

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jun 11, 2007

Just curious and someone can chime in here how would be behringer 1500 work when compared to say a 1000w plate amp. What would be better for two db 500's in a 7 cubic foot box?

Willd

· #19 · Jun 11, 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by seagul /forum/post/0

Just curious and someone can chime in here how would be behringer 1500 work when compared to say a 1000w plate amp. What would be better for two db 500's in a 7 cubic foot box?

The Ep1500 would be better, because looking at Chuck's recent tests, it can output ~800W @ 8ohms bridged. That 1000W plate amp probably does somewhere between 500-600W @ 8ohms.

Of course 200W isn't a big deal, but...you get the idea.

seagul

Discussion Starter · #20 · Jun 11, 2007

would I lose anything, I know the plate amps have frequency tuning and all sorts of knobs of that sort. Also if I stay with the behringer will I need to have a filter of some sort or something to give me boost. Sorry if these questions are noobish but hey I kind of am on the DIY scene.

1 - 20 of 28 Posts

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