Trip to Elemental Designs Factory

avaserfi

avaserfi

Audioholic Ninja
Hey guys I am going to Elemental Designs factory this Friday to check them out. I was wondering if anyone had specific questions about their stuff that they wanted me to ask. I plan on bringing my camera along of course as they are going to be in the process of painting this beast. I figure its only an hour drive and should be a blast.

If anyone is curious about what they have to say about certain products just let me know and I will be sure to pick their minds.
 
GlocksRock

GlocksRock

Audioholic Spartan
Yeah, see if there are any plans for a new 15A, I've got the old flatcone in my car and it's awesome, but the new 12A is just ridiculous, and if they made a 15" version, that would be insane!
 
annunaki

annunaki

Moderator
Cool!

I hope you have fun.

Find out if they are rounding internal edges on all the slot vented enclosures and what tuning frequencies they use. Also, see if their amplifiers have any ciruits built in to aid in frequency response to boost low end or smooth any peaks.
 
Thaedium

Thaedium

Audioholic
Just took a look at all the threads related to the X-800 proj... wtf... The has to be a crown jewel among DIY projects for a sub, lol.

1st question should be... Will you do it again, but bigger? :) :cool:
 
mike c

mike c

Audioholic Warlord
I just want you to listen to the A7-900 and give us your comments.

TIA
 
avaserfi

avaserfi

Audioholic Ninja
Yeah, see if there are any plans for a new 15A, I've got the old flatcone in my car and it's awesome, but the new 12A is just ridiculous, and if they made a 15" version, that would be insane!
I will be sure to. I am actually interested in some of their drivers for my current build (whenever I get around to the sub).

Cool!

I hope you have fun.

Find out if they are rounding internal edges on all the slot vented enclosures and what tuning frequencies they use. Also, see if their amplifiers have any ciruits built in to aid in frequency response to boost low end or smooth any peaks.
Good one I hadn't thought of. This is going to be one good learning experience.

Just took a look at all the threads related to the X-800 proj... wtf... The has to be a crown jewel among DIY projects for a sub, lol.

1st question should be... Will you do it again, but bigger? :) :cool:
They will be painting it while I am there, bet you wish you could see that :cool:.

I just want you to listen to the A7-900 and give us your comments.

TIA
I am not quiet sure what speakers/subs they will have for auditioning while I am there, but I will be sure to give impressions of everything I see and hear.
 
mike c

mike c

Audioholic Warlord
oh oh, ask them if they have intentions of building a single driver version of the A7-900 ... something like an A7-450

shipping cost for the coffin is a @^&**(
 
GlocksRock

GlocksRock

Audioholic Spartan
Just took a look at all the threads related to the X-800 proj... wtf... The has to be a crown jewel among DIY projects for a sub, lol.

1st question should be... Will you do it again, but bigger? :) :cool:
I saw that thread this morning... that thing is going to create so much pressure! I wonder how he is going to get it into his house, for one it's huge, and it's also going to be very heavy. I would love to hear it though.
 
avaserfi

avaserfi

Audioholic Ninja
Well I just got back from the trip so lets start out answering questions!

Yeah, see if there are any plans for a new 15A, I've got the old flatcone in my car and it's awesome, but the new 12A is just ridiculous, and if they made a 15" version, that would be insane!
The 15A has been discontinued and replaced with the 13AV2 which is in design stages. I saw a concept and got to see it in action hooked up to their test center and it has some serious excursion. I actually saw a newer model than the one linked that works a bit better these things are monsters. There is a picture of the top portion of one in the slide shows, but they wouldn't let me take a pic of the lower portion as it is still in development. It was massive.

Find out if they are rounding internal edges on all the slot vented enclosures and what tuning frequencies they use. Also, see if their amplifiers have any ciruits built in to aid in frequency response to boost low end or smooth any peaks.
All the edges are rounded I was both told this and saw this. As far as the amplifiers they do not have any circuitry built in, but they have an EQ that will be released soon for about $100 bucks there are some pics in the slides.

I just want you to listen to the A7-900 and give us your comments.

TIA
oh oh, ask them if they have intentions of building a single driver version of the A7-900 ... something like an A7-450

shipping cost for the coffin is a @^&**(
Didn't get to hear one, but I saw one in production and took some pics. That thing looks like a monster. Ohh they also told me they had just received an order from the Philippines when I asked about a single driver model for a friend who lived over seas...did you do something naught? :eek:

As far as the factory goes it was pretty nice sized and I was surprised to hear that only 6 full-timers are on staff. All the guys are pretty young and seem to work their butts off for the company they love. From what we (both Jim Robbins and I) were told everything used by eD is specifically made for them through contracts from the drivers to the amps everything is custom with some drivers actually being put together in house. Another interesting bit of info is that eD will build pretty much anything for anyone as long as you can dream it up they are willing to give it a shot.

I did get to hear their tower speakers and their A5 350.

Lets start with the sub the A5 350 has a very interesting rubberized coating which is scratch proof and well pretty much anything proof we tried to scratch them and well it just wasn't happening. The sub is constructed using some cross bracing and 1" MDF making it is pretty solid piece of equipment. So build quality is really nice although you can tell that eD has their roots in car audio from the look as you won't find any veneer laying around.

As far as listening goes this sub surprised both Jim and I when we got to hear it after the tour. The sub had some serious output and easily pressurized the smaller/mid size room we were in with plenty more to offer. The sub was nice and musical along side its powerful impact as well. Nice quick and powerful when needed, but also the ability to be subdued. While I have heard more musical subs, I have never heard one in the price range and will not hesitate to recommend this sub to anyone who can live without a wood veneer.

The floor standing speakers were also pretty impressive for the price at $500 a pair. The speakers were reasonably detailed in the midrange and lower end with some slight detail lacking, but no more so than any speaker in the same price range. For an entry to mid level system these are a good bet. Imaging was solid on these speakers especially because they seemed fairly forgiving towards placement as the room was not symmetrical and they were placed fairly close to the wall considering their rear port.

The long awaited pictures.
 
mike c

mike c

Audioholic Warlord
Well I just got back from the trip so lets start out answering questions!
you were mentioned in their blog! you're famous!

Didn't get to hear one, but I saw one in production and took some pics. That thing looks like a monster. Ohh they also told me they had just received an order from the Philippines when I asked about a single driver model for a friend who lived over seas...did you do something naught? :eek:
i haven't ironed that out yet :) shhh. i'm asking them to quote me a single driver version because I'm afraid I won't be able to move that thing myself :)

good pics btw!
 
J

Jim Robbins

Audioholic
i haven't ironed that out yet :) shhh. i'm asking them to quote me a single driver version because I'm afraid I won't be able to move that thing myself :)
Yeah dude, you won't be able to. It's huge! It actually looks like you need 2 or 3 buddies to help you move it! With the performance of the single 15" driver that we heard, I think the 18" will be plenty. I have a dual 12" svs sub and that single 18" has more surface area. You'll like the beast, I think!

Jim
 
mike c

mike c

Audioholic Warlord
Yeah dude, you won't be able to. It's huge! It actually looks like you need 2 or 3 buddies to help you move it! With the performance of the single 15" driver that we heard, I think the 18" will be plenty. I have a dual 12" svs sub and that single 18" has more surface area. You'll like the beast, I think!

Jim
well, even if they quoted me a single driver version ... I'd still order two :)

but I think Chris didn't come to work yesterday, i'm going crazy waiting for the result ... maybe I should just order the 900. :eek:
 
GlocksRock

GlocksRock

Audioholic Spartan
Well I just got back from the trip so lets start out answering questions!

The 15A has been discontinued and replaced with the 13AV2 which is in design stages. I saw a concept and got to see it in action hooked up to their test center and it has some serious excursion. I actually saw a newer model than the one linked that works a bit better these things are monsters. There is a picture of the top portion of one in the slide shows, but they wouldn't let me take a pic of the lower portion as it is still in development. It was massive.
The long awaited pictures.
Yes, I knew the 15A has been discontinued, and the 13AV2 was in the works, I didn't know if they had plans for a 15" version of the AV2... a 16AV2.

Here is a link to a crazy excursion video of the old 15A for anyone who cares.

http://www.realmofexcursion.com/videos/Elemental Designs/15a.2.wmv

It gets good near the end.

This is what I have in my car, but I've never seen it move as much as this one... probably because it's in a sealed box, doesn't have as much power on it, and I'm not playing tones that low. But it's still one mean sub, and it's also a beast.
 
avaserfi

avaserfi

Audioholic Ninja
Yes, I knew the 15A has been discontinued, and the 13AV2 was in the works, I didn't know if they had plans for a 15" version of the AV2... a 16AV2.
From what they told me there is no plan for a 15" version. Honestly, after seeing the 12AV2 in action I highly doubt there would be any need for a 15" version. Also, the 13AV2 is actually a 13" driver not a 12" so if there was a 15 it would be the 15AV2 :).
 
Davemcc

Davemcc

Audioholic Spartan
Did you get to hear a Dodeca Sub? It sure is an interesting design.
 
avaserfi

avaserfi

Audioholic Ninja
Did you get to hear a Dodeca Sub? It sure is an interesting design.
No there wasn't quiet time when we went, but we did get to hear about them and they have two modes mono-pole and bi-pole. In mono-pole we were told the sub is just like a regular sub and omni-directional, but it bi-pole mode they said the sub is directional and has two sweet spots. Not sure how they do it, but I told them I would be back to check it out :). I will be sure to give a full report when I do.
 

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