What is the magic of fEARful?

[darwin-bass]

Is it in the box design (the way it handles the lowest octave), the midrange, the crossover?

Avatar, for instance uses the same speakers yet we're not singing their praises like Greenboy / fEARful.

I'm guessing the magic is largely in the crossover but that is mostly a guess.

 

[jallenbass]

All of the above. I don't know the technicalities so that's the best I can do.

 

[Raf Seibert]

It’s the whole system. The specific speakers selected, the crossover design, and finally the design of the cabinets, themselves. It all works together.

 

[acubass]

Where online can they be purchased?

 

[mmbongo]

Where online can they be purchased?

You build them yourself using their plans, or pay an authorized builder to do it.

If you want that performance ready built, look at Barefaced, AudioKineseis, Or Mesa Boogie Subway.

 

[bholder]

No magic, just good design. Go to the greenboy site and there's a list of approved builders - at least one is a member on here.
greenboy.us speaker enclosures

 

[ashtray]

It’s the whole package, built to a quality, NOT to a price point.

Many commercial cabs are built to a price point. When you have those restrictions, you can’t use the best drivers and crossovers. Also you might not be able to efficiently make a complex cabinet design compared to a simple box. The simple box takes a lot less time to manufacture.

When you’re moving quantity, you need a production line approach to your design - something that can be assembled easily and quickly.

With the fEarless designs, they’re engineered not so much caring how quickly the cab can be built or how affordable the components ar, but rather with an approach of “what will sound best?”.

So that’s the big difference. As for Avatar, their whole business plan is how cheaply can they made a somewhat decent cab. I think they have their cabs made overseas, and then add decent drivers and call it a day.

 

[bholder]

I still like Avatar for their low-end "bang for the buck", but yeah, fEarful/fEarless are a different ballgame entirely.

 

[darwin-bass]

I still like Avatar for their low-end "bang for the buck", but yeah, fEarful/fEarless are a different ballgame entirely.

But that is the point. Avatar uses the same speakers as fEARful (IIRC) yet the sound isn't quite there. I conclude the difference must be in the cab construction and (most importantly) in the crossover design.

 

[Jim C]

Design, materials, and construction techniques make the Fearful what it is
Obviously there are other botique builders that can do the same.
Fearful is for the for the do it yourself guy, or someone who appreciates the design and wants to have one of the authorized builders do it for them

 

[Foz]

fEAFful???

There is no such thing as a stellar performing xover for a non-trivially sub-par box/driver combination. You have to render the whole package of design compromises well to get great results in cab design. It is not a question of what element is most important but rather what are the weak links in the design. A great xover can't save putting your drivers in the wrong box.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

I built two, a 15/6 and a 12/6. They are my main cabs.

You can build your own fEARful by buying and cutting your own wood and buying your own components per the plans. You can also buy a 'flatpack' with everything you need and assemble it yourself.

You can order a fEARful, FEARLESS or DUALLY from an authorized builder.

Here's the main website:
greenboy.us speaker enclosures
In the middle of the page is a section called Related Sites. There is where you will find the link to their forums, and the plans are on the fEARful enclosures button there also.

Even if you do a DIY build, it is a fair bit of coin as the drivers spec'd are all top flight models, ones that most mass produced cab companies do not use as they will not be able to sell their cabs competitively in the marketplace. And all that stuff adds up, corners, handles, jackplates, covering, grilles, x-over compoents, damping material, glue, wood, etc. IOW, don't do it because you want to be cheap and save a buck. Do it to get a superior cab.

 

[40Hz]

But that is the point. Avatar uses the same speakers as fEARful (IIRC) yet the sound isn't quite there. I conclude the difference must be in the cab construction and (most importantly) in the crossover design.

You’re dealing with a total system with a speaker cab. Each component (drivers, electronics, box materials, bracing and dimensions) all contribute to the final sound it produces. Even “minor” changes in the box’s geometry can have an audible effect on the sound. In some respects a well-designed cab has more in common with a violin, cello or similar acoustic string instrument than it does an electronic gadget like many people tend to see it as.

You can use formulas to get you in the ballpark. The physics behind sound reproduction are already well understood. But to really take it all the way in a real world setting you’d need to experiment further and try things out since the real world is not an ideal environment like formulas (of necessity) have to assume. And I’m guessing the guy(s) behind the Greenboy designs did a lot of experimentation.

Since all acoustic design is a series of greater or lesser compromises, the art of cab design is finding the combination of components and acoustic engineering that contains the fewest compromises.

Having heard a few Greenboys, I think they pretty successfully pulled that off.

 

[darwin-bass]

fEAFful???

Ok, ok I can’t type. Or sepll. I eevn hve trobuel wiht makign coeffe somtiems.

Title has been updated. perhaps even fixed?

 

[Stu_Bass]

Google Barry Audio Design or Scabbey Road for East Coast builds

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Shameless self-promotion- I'm considering parting with my 12/6. Message me for details.

 

[hs123]

Here's my 15/6/1's in progress...

 

[hintz]

Here's my 15/6/1's in progress...
View attachment 2964313

Down the road I too am gonna build myself a 15/6/1 for easier portability. I'm still lovin my 12/12/6/1 for the simple reason that this is as close as I can get to hearing what the sound guy will hear and it's more than enough cab, but ive realized it is overkill for most situations...

 

[Jared Lash]

As noted, it's great design/engineering that was made for performance and not to a price point.

It's the 3012LF or 3015LF speaker put into the right volume box with good bracing and correct porting so that it can pump out the lows and low mids along with a 6" midrange speaker to handle everything above what the LF does well with a properly designed crossover. And an optional tweeter for the high highs if needed. All designed with great off axis response.

Are they the right cab for everyone? No, they have an inherent sound like everything else, but there's no doubt that they are very well designed and are great performing cabs. I loved mine when I had it. As the music I played changed, my cab needs changed. But it was a key part of one of my favorite setups.

 

[DonaldR]

Can a fEARful 12/6/1 sounds better/equal using a digital crossover, like the one in a Crown XLS1500 amp?