Imagine how hot that dust cap and cone will be…
-
WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!
Harbottle Audio Subwoofers?
- Thread starter sarumbear
- Start date
OP
- Thread Starter
- #42
I can’t as the figure is baloney!
nerdoldnerdith
Senior Member
That's peak power. It can only be sustained for a few milliseconds. RMS power is in the neighborhood of 9,000 watts, or 4500 watts per driver. Basically one beefed up Pascal module per voice coil and four voice coils total. That can only be sustained for a few seconds. These numbers are representative of the transient power that is required for movies and music. Nobody is running long-term sine waves with this much power. Given that the standard 120V 20A outlet only allows for 2400W to be drawn that wouldn't be possible anyway.Wow! Just wow…
Elite - System
Funk Audio - We create beautiful Custom Speakers and Subwoofers with a great Line of Products!www.funkaudio.ca
The drivers can handle that level of power though. Josh Ricci powered the Ridge Audio drivers that were the early prototypes of modern Harbottle drivers with a bridged Powersoft K20 and they took the 320v (10,000+ watts) being pumped into them like a champ and underwent no significant thermal compression. That was in the CEA testing that uses very short bursts. This shows you how linear they are. Even at such extreme drive levels they are still linear.
Attachments
No, the amp can really do that power. If the woofer can take it, is another question. It answered in the rest of the data just fine though.
OP
- Thread Starter
- #45
This is what is written on the page: RMS power. The sub had a single driver. Even if it’s only 9kW, we are still talking about the driver consuming 8.5kW heat. Where will that heat go? Your oven is around 2.5kW. Make a comparison…
| Manufacturer | Funk Audio |
| Enclouser Type | Sealed |
| Driver | Proprietary to system |
| Dimensions (width, height, depth) | 22 in, 20.5 in, 22 in, |
| Total Volume | 5.74 ft3 |
| Tuning Frequency | N/A |
| Amplifier | Powersoft - Digam K10 |
| Power (RMS) | 12000 W |
| Cost | $2046 |
| Custom Design | Yes |
Why not?
@sarumbear, I'll echo @nerdoldnerdith and @ryanosaur:
Look at the data-bass measurements for the Ridge drivers, which are early Harbottle drivers, and the Funk 18.x and 21.x. Particularly the Distortion and Compression at a given output level, and compare those to pro audio drivers (Eminence NSW / B&C 21SW or ipal) or JTR products (though JTR reportedly have improved their drivers in recent years).
Cody from Harbottle has a bunch of posts explaining their methodology over at avsforums and is more than happy to talk on the phone for longer than you might expect (without trying to convince you to buy something) - I've spent over 5 hours talking to him last week alone!
Look at the data-bass measurements for the Ridge drivers, which are early Harbottle drivers, and the Funk 18.x and 21.x. Particularly the Distortion and Compression at a given output level, and compare those to pro audio drivers (Eminence NSW / B&C 21SW or ipal) or JTR products (though JTR reportedly have improved their drivers in recent years).
Cody from Harbottle has a bunch of posts explaining their methodology over at avsforums and is more than happy to talk on the phone for longer than you might expect (without trying to convince you to buy something) - I've spent over 5 hours talking to him last week alone!
OP
- Thread Starter
- #48
Is that an amplifier or a sub review?
They just spec what amp they used, what’s the problem with that?
OP
- Thread Starter
- #50
Can you post links please. The page on Harbottle website is as loose as it gets and nowhere near the figures mentioned anywhere else.
OP
- Thread Starter
- #51
Really? Using the power specs of an external amplifier for a subwoofer is normal?
OP
- Thread Starter
- #52
Because I don’t need it. My speakers are full range.
Over there it is… You’ll get used to it… what does it matter where you put the amp, anyway?
OP
- Thread Starter
- #54
I don’t think so. It’s not easy to fool me, nor I’m willing to be fooled.
How did the location of the amplifier entered this conversation? We are talking about the power consumption of the driver.
Since you highlighted it…
It’s really simple: these guys have some fun testing stupid large sub drivers. The post pics, measurements and use whatever suitable amp they have available for the tests. That what they spec.
You can just look at the date and see how much power they actually tested with… it’s all there. Nobody is trying to fool anyone…
@sarumbear here is one example talking about compression: https://www.avsforum.com/threads/harbottle-audio.3086194/post-61878533.
There's a ton of discussion in this thread as well as others over there, but don't have all the links handy. just google "harbottle site:avsforums.com" and go thru the first few threads about harbottle group buys and owners threads.
Distortion is easier to tease out from the data-bass graphs so long as you look at a particular output level.
Here's more from harbottle's website: https://www.harbottleaudio.com/how-to-compare
There's a ton of discussion in this thread as well as others over there, but don't have all the links handy. just google "harbottle site:avsforums.com" and go thru the first few threads about harbottle group buys and owners threads.
Distortion is easier to tease out from the data-bass graphs so long as you look at a particular output level.
Here's more from harbottle's website: https://www.harbottleaudio.com/how-to-compare
OP
- Thread Starter
- #57
How nice of you to think my consideration of even a larger driver sub is stupid.
OP
- Thread Starter
- #58
Thank you. I will investigate.
I have already read everything the manufacturer said, hence my interest. I was looking for user experience, which I got one already. Hopefully with your help above I will find more.
Hey, I think they did a 24” driver once, that is stupid large in my book… You’re more than welcome to get one! Your 18” model is rather mundane in comparison.
Killingbeans
Major Contributor
BTW, I'm starting to see why you guys were insinuating that I hadn't done my homework before I commented in this thread. You weren't wrong 
Those Harbottle subs are indeed... interesting.
Those Harbottle subs are indeed... interesting.
