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[jboogie]

Hello all, I have a number of questions that I am sure you can easily answer, so before throwing good money after bad…here goes.

I built the simple infinity kappa perfect 12 build and it is awesome. So awesome in fact that I am now hooked and I want more!

My Kappa is powered by a Bash 300 plate amp. It does a pretty good job but I have to max out the volume on my receiver in order to get the sub even started. (My receiver is a Pioneer 5.1 (can’t remember the exact model right now.) 120WRMS. I turn it to about 4 on the dial and my mains can’t handle anymore volume. Meanwhile, my sub is just getting started.) My mains are the “Dayton III ‘s” They sound great but they are not quite able to make the volume that I would like to have out of my mains, but that is a seperate issue.

1. Would a Bash 500 plate amp relieve the need to max out the volume on the receiver in order to get more performance from the sub?

2. Would a 15” sub at the same volume have that much more impact?

3. If you had two subs would you use two plate amps or a Behringer or Dayton 1000w sub amp?

4. Does a downfiring sub have any less impact on the listener than the forward firing?

5. For movie listening, the volume is quite acceptable (from the mains) but I can’t turn up the receiver enough to get maximum effect from the sub. Are there any other options that I can look into rather than those suggested above?

6. Could the simple Kappa build be used as a down firing application?

Thank you for your consideration.

 

[mike c]

1. Would a Bash 500 plate amp relieve the need to max out the volume on the receiver in order to get more performance from the sub?

probably but you should go for the Behringer EP2500

2. Would a 15” sub at the same volume have that much more impact?

probably, but i doubt with two kappas you'd need it

3. If you had two subs would you use two plate amps or a Behringer or Dayton 1000w sub amp?

Behringer EP2500

4. Does a downfiring sub have any less impact on the listener than the forward firing?

no, it's a room location thing and not a down firing or front firing thing

5. For movie listening, the volume is quite acceptable (from the mains) but I can’t turn up the receiver enough to get maximum effect from the sub. Are there any other options that I can look into rather than those suggested above?



6. Could the simple Kappa build be used as a down firing application?

yes, just make sure there's enough clearance

 

[WmAx]

The Dayton '1000 Watt' amps produce about half their rated power. Seriously.

The 300 watt amp you are using is insufficient.

The only plate amp I would consider is the O Audio 500 BASH amp from the O Audio site. It has a parametric band and a subsonic filter(you should always use subsonic filter on high power ported systems). It produces a measured 430 watts or so into 4 Ohms.

Ideally, a Behringer Ep2500. Combined with a DCX2496.

As for 15s bettering the Kappa Perfects? They really need to be superb drivers to do this and remain at very low distortion - remember - the Kappa Perfects have unusually linear motors and suspensions that provide that incredible sound quality at all SPL levels. Few drivers can match these in this regard. If you really want even more output, and keep the sound quality, you need to move on to something like TC Sounds manufacturd 15s for example. www.soundsplinter.com still has some TC Sounds 15s ; SoundSplinter drivers are just re-badged TC drivers, btw. Or you can go to 12s that can produce at least 2x the output of the Kappa Perfects and retain the sound quality. Refer to JL Audio 12W7. However, you will need to feed each one a minimum of 1000 watts in a ported system to have them preform anywhere near potential. Of course, a 12W7 at the lowest price discount retailer will cost at least $450 plus shipping.

-Chris

 

[adwilk]

Just to clarify and out my own curiosity.....

How high is the sub out on the receiver set?

Where is the gain set on the sub amp?

 

[jboogie]

I am not sure what the gain is set at on the receiver sub out...for that matter I see no way to change it. (It is a 1997 Pioneer reciever)

The gain, not an option, but the volume is maxed out on the amp (Bash 300) The crossover is set to 150.