TC Sounds to build their own complete Subs

[Matt34]

American built cabinet, new high-powered plate amp with built in DSP and a LMS-R 15" TC sounds subwoofer.

I'm calling it at no less than $4,000.

 

[theJman]

Most DIYers have used & modded these drivers in every imaginable configuration so NO suprises of what they'll be capable of....the only question...will be cost and who will they be catering too? For my money I'd sooner have Nathan @ FA build my cabinet...using the same driver with better craftmanship and lower cost likely....

It's hard to imagine they're target is anyone but the discerning few, those looking for exquisite and have the disposable income to accommodate such purchases. But who knows, they may surprise us. For sure they can get the drivers at a good price.

I've never seen anything Funk Audio makes, so I can't really comment on that. He can get the drivers, no doubt, and probably would build a better cabinet, but I don't suspect he would be able to duplicate that amp though; the features, power and abilities sound completely over the top. That may turn out to be the most expensive part for TC Sounds.

 

[lsiberian]

It's hard to imagine they're target is anyone but the discerning few, those looking for exquisite and have the disposable income to accommodate such purchases. But who knows, they may surprise us. For sure they can get the drivers at a good price.

I've never seen anything Funk Audio makes, so I can't really comment on that. He can get the drivers, no doubt, and probably would build a better cabinet, but I don't suspect he would be able to duplicate that amp though; the features, power and abilities sound completely over the top. That may turn out to be the most expensive part for TC Sounds.

TC Sounds will be selling to the same folks that can afford their drivers.

Funk Audio might be a fantastic solder monkey, but why build the amp in when you can use an external one.

 

[billy p]

It's hard to imagine they're target is anyone but the discerning few, those looking for exquisite and have the disposable income to accommodate such purchases. But who knows, they may surprise us. For sure they can get the drivers at a good price.

I've never seen anything Funk Audio makes, so I can't really comment on that. He can get the drivers, no doubt, and probably would build a better cabinet, but I don't suspect he would be able to duplicate that amp though; the features, power and abilities sound completely over the top. That may turn out to be the most expensive part for TC Sounds.

Amplifiers

Nate already has designed the amp....but I agree those suckers have ultra low inductances levels, power hungry & will benefit from mucho power...

 

[theJman]

Funk Audio might be a fantastic solder monkey, but why build the amp in when you can use an external one.

I suspect it's because the vast majority of people prefer it that way. Passive subwoofers are few and far between now, mostly because only a very small percentage actually want external amps. In Nathan's world -- where things are custom built -- he might see a higher concentration of folks who want to go that route, but very few others seem interested in following that same path.

 

[theJman]

Nate already has designed the amp....but I agree those suckers have ultra low inductances levels, power hungry & will benefit from mucho power...

That is indeed a very impressive amp, but I'm not certain he designed it. Aren't they from SpeakerPower? I believe that's what JTR and Seaton use as well, so there's little doubt of the pedigree, but I'm not sure they're unique.

 

[jinjuku]

You really are trying too hard to troll. LOL at an SVS driver being on par with a TC driver.

I think he is just taking a guess as to multiple sub performance vs a single higher cost. Doesn't make him wrong.

 

[funky waves]

That is indeed a very impressive amp, but I'm not certain he designed it. Aren't they from SpeakerPower? I believe that's what JTR and Seaton use as well, so there's little doubt of the pedigree, but I'm not sure they're unique.

We are building the 2.4kW amplifier in house, along with the TSAD18 driver, they are not from speakerpower. And feature easy to use DSP that is user configurable(settings must be approved to avoid voiding Warranty)

 

[jinjuku]

We are building the 2.4kW amplifier in house, along with the TSAD18 driver, they are not from speakerpower. And feature easy to use DSP that is user configurable(settings must be approved to avoid voiding Warranty)

That's a smart move for Warranty reasons. If I did a custom setup local I would get the room response setup, set house curve if desired, and then password protect the DSP. A lot of commercial / pro-audio amps with DSP will allow for locking out the DSP after it's been set.

 

[pbc]

We are building the 2.4kW amplifier in house, along with the TSAD18 driver, they are not from speakerpower. And feature easy to use DSP that is user configurable(settings must be approved to avoid voiding Warranty)

Yeah, I could easily see how someone could take the DSP and do something "dumb", unknowingly, and damage their driver. E.g., max boost (12db?) at 10hz , 12hz, and 15hz with a ported sub tuned to 20hz hoping to "bring up that darn huge drop from 20hz down". Then go and play Tron at reference or something along those lines. The last thing I'd want as a manufacturer is to be liable for that warranty-wise!!

Will be interesting to see how TC handles it.

Hmmm .... that reminds me, how low can one EQ using the DSP software you have? 20hz?

Looking forward to that amp btw ...

 

[gtpsuper24]

LOL at an SVS driver being on par with a TC driver.

Whats wrong with SVS drivers? Especially the Ultra and Plus drivers. Probably one of the most reliable durable drivers out there. Its also not fair to judge a driver used only in commerical products versus a driver thats used in mostly DIY designs. Lets see what people could come up with if SVS sold the Ultra and Plus drivers for DIYers with all the parameters listed.

 

[KEW]

Whats wrong with SVS drivers? Especially the Ultra and Plus drivers. Probably one of the most reliable durable drivers out there. Its also not fair to judge a driver used only in commerical products versus a driver thats used in mostly DIY designs. Lets see what people could come up with if SVS sold the Ultra and Plus drivers for DIYers with all the parameters listed.

Nothing is wrong with SVS drivers, but if you told SVS you wanted a better driver, and were willing to pay for it, they would spec something very similar to the TC Sounds drivers!
I think SVS designs as good of a sub as the DIY community could for their drivers. It is the impressive specs of the TC Sound drivers that set them apart from the more mainstream offerings.

 

[pbc]

Nothing is wrong with SVS drivers, but if you told SVS you wanted a better driver, and were willing to pay for it, they would spec something very similar to the TC Sounds drivers!
I think SVS designs as good of a sub as the DIY community could for their drivers. It is the impressive specs of the TC Sound drivers that set them apart from the more mainstream offerings.

The original Ultra driver was designed by Stephen Ponte if I recall, who I think was the engineer at TC Sounds. It would be an interesting comparison to put the Ultra against say the TC LMS-r line I woud guess.

Mind you, given the SVS drivers T/S parameters are unavailable and the driver is only offered in a finished box, I guess the point is somewhat moot!

 

[Adam]

Mind you, given the SVS drivers T/S parameters are unavailable and the driver is only offered in a finished box, I guess the point is somewhat moot!

Hasn't someone measured those parameters?

 

[pbc]

Hasn't someone measured those parameters?

Not that I've read. Though now that I think about it even if someone has, I'm not sure that one would be able to simply look at parameters and say that one driver is better than another. Somewhat depends on the application as well. Sealed? Ported? Small box? Huge Box? Desired efficiency? Etc.

But until SVS starts making their drivers available for the DIY crowd, or starts offering the ability to insert a TC Sounds (or other) driver in their box, neither of which is likely to happen(!), I guess it really doesn't matter!

 

[DS-21]

I don't know about ya all, but I'm pretty excited - for what I gather TC makes one of the finest sub drivers around and they to start building full subs - this is very exciting !

Let's see if they can get over their build quality issues first (shoddy machining on LMS-5400 bolt holes, etc.), and learn how to better package their parts for shipping. One rarely if ever hears of a JBL W15GTi or Jello 13W7 or Aura NS18 arriving in poor shape when shipped new in the factory packaging, but TC drivers...

If nothing else, TC making their own subs makes it more likely that they'll select the best drivers for their boxed units, and the build quality of their hobbyist drivers may get (even) worse. I've bought my last TC driver. Admittedly, I'm done buying subwoofer drivers for good: when one's "not current in use" stack includes 5 Peerless XLS12's with 4 or 5 matching PR's, 2 JBL Pro for Revel Ultima SUB 1500's, an Aurasound NS18-992-4A, a JBL W15GTi, a TC Sounds for Oaudio TC2+ 15, and would include a Mk. I Maelstrom-X had one not sold it a month or so ago to someone who wants 4 of them for a dipole pair of speakers, one just needs to effing stop.

You really are trying too hard to troll. LOL at an SVS driver being on par with a TC driver.

Why not?

The cheaper SVS subs use a Peerless XXLS12. That driver is at least equal to TC's less expensive drivers.

The current (13") SVS Ultra is an underhung driver, right?

I don't suspect he would be able to duplicate that amp though; the features, power and abilities sound completely over the top.

Why not? Nathan can surely go to the same Chinese factories and buy the same parts Thilo can. And unlike Thilo, Nathan doesn't have a track record of insolvencies to concern parts suppliers asked to provide goods on credit.

The original Ultra driver was designed by Stephen Ponte if I recall, who I think was the engineer at TC Sounds.

I don't know who designed the original Ultra driver, but it was in fact a TC unit. To be more specific, an underhung 12 originally sold under the Audiomass name.

 

[lsiberian]

Why not?
The cheaper SVS subs use a Peerless XXLS12. That driver is at least equal to TC's less expensive drivers.
The current (13") SVS Ultra is an underhung driver, right?

I suspect they would be pretty close and either sub has more than enough ability for any home theater. If I were buying a complete sub I'd go with an SVS because they have excellent customer service, excellent finish quality, and excellent performance.

But TC entering the consumer market should help with innovation and competition. I don't think the top level TC subs can be matched by SVS in terms of overall performance. Thilo is an excellent engineer, and I really hope they can stick around.

That said if I started a sub manufacturer I'd probably use peerless drivers.

 

[Sheep]

Is there any information on the range of drivers that will have enclosures? One of the lower end lines with a proper box could make for an excellent value.

SheepStar