Funk Audio

Last I talked to Josh, sounded like he would be game for my idea, if only this covid thing would go away already.... maybe one day hopefully. I suggested to fly him and his gear up here, we have a suitable area to test, and for the cost of sending him a couple things we could do, well everything we can manage to have prepped 🤪.

You can see how the early version of this did for seeing what kind of excursion the GUJ platform is capable of here; https://data-bass.com/#/systems/5c2682df1cefb00004803ab5?_k=4sikz2 You can see it can out travel the dual IPAL21 tested, and this version has over twice the normalized motor strength.

If the 18.0 is run on 240V you gain on average exactly .5db for the burst output, that brings it closer to the peak average. If you look at the "short term averages" chart yes the S1 would still have 0.7db higher burst average 10-125hz, I feel that's "close overall". Yes the S1 has more burst output, and quite a bit at some frequencies, but a little less at others. There are more aspects to consider than just burst output too, for example long term output average 10-125hz for the 18.0 on 120V would be almost identical to the S1, and on 240V about 1db higher. The S1, and S2 as this thread is for are great subs and the tests show it.

Sorry just looking at the wrong graph if your referencing where I said "the S1 and 18.0 look near equal 30hz down for long term output with the 18.0 having a clear advantage over 30hz, as it compares directly to the S2 40hz up" That is burst output your showing, in reference to which I said "Burst output is very close across the board to the S1(take 5db off across the board for the S1 as per your comments on the S2 vs S1), each having a little more than the other in some areas"

Well if you look at the 21.0 tests, and add three db across the board, you get an idea how the 18.2 would look as they share the same motor structure and amplification(per driver) and proportionally more airspace. So it should be nearly matched for long term output under ~30hz, with similar distortion at max output, lower distortion at just below max as already the 21.0 is very close in distortion given the same output level(115db sweep for 21.0 compared to 105db sweep for S2) under 30hz when both are down a couple sweeps below max. Then it walks away for output over 30hz and distortion over 50hz. Not really a fair comparison though considering the cost. The S2, and proportionally the S1 shows awesome performance for the money under 40hz, the 18.2 shows what it takes to match that performance under 40hz at nearly half the size. Massively more power and cost, is what it takes to push the laws of physics hard up to the wall. Comparing to the 18.0 is a little more fair as they are closer in box size and power per driver, although the 18.0 still costs more. Considering the S1 is said to be basically half the S2, so -5-6db across the board. Factoring that in the S1 and 18.0 look near equal 30hz down for long term output with the 18.0 having a clear advantage over 30hz, as it compares directly to the S2 40hz up. Burst output is very close across the board to the S1, each having a little more than the other in some areas, as well as distortion is comparable 30hz down. The advantage the 18.0 has is over 50hz where distortion and power compression are much lower, lower even than the S2 compared directly at similar outputs in that range.

Hi Dave, Don't you think things like impulse response, group delay, power compression, distortion, and inductance related affects change the way things sound even with a matched FR? The RF is significantly better in "all" these "factors" I feel Josh downplayed it but he did say "it does seem like these changes resulted in a much better upper bass range through the crossover region. It definitely seems like there is a better sense of attack and punch on kick drums and sharp upper bass transients when the system is cranked up." I have done enough work with drivers similar to the XXX(and the XXX itself), and with drivers like the RF to concur albeit much more strongly with the differences Josh has noticed, I will agree with the sheer number of drivers and amount of power on hand the differences at normal listening levels would be diminished, but even at that differences are noticeable. On a 1 to 1 basis when driven to limits the difference are Huge, "massive"... and some other descriptive words you may not like...

That's the whole point the "result" is not even close to the same, the same FR is not the end all be all and does not mean they will sound the same, especially when driven hard, there are many factors that will change the resultant "sound". The RF's are a massive step up in every possible way.