- Welcome to SoundSplinter's Home Theater Forum! -

**SoundSplinter** · **08-24-06, 04:19 PM**

Welcome to SoundSplinter's home-theater oriented, official online forum. Many thanks to the good people here at the Home Theater Shack who have provided the space for this discussion forum, especially Sonnie, who is obviously dedicated to seeing this community succeed in providing help and valuable information to the masses.

SoundSplinter has in its beginnings, tended to maintain popularity only amongst the car audio enthusiasts, but today I can happily state that this is no longer the case. Many home theater audiophiles, be them the infinitely baffled, mondo-huge vented box fanatics, or the linkwitz-transform lovin' sealed box enthusiasts, are ranking SoundSplinter drivers amongst their top choices for high performance, attractively priced do-it-yourself sub stage drivers. As such, we are thrilled to be a part of this growing community!

On the lineup; we are currently offering three different series of subwoofer drivers. These are arranged in order of economy and overall potential, though each series definitely excels in its own specific arenas. Though no one has built yet the perfect speaker, we're doing our best to build speakers tailored to a variety of applications.

For those seeking a budget system and looking to preserve their economy of space, using low to moderate levels of input power, our Ignition Series (RL-i) subwoofer drivers will offer superb sound quality in sealed enclosures with a power feed between 150 - 400 watts. Available in 8" and 10" sizes, dual and single 4 ohm, 2" diameter voicecoil configuration, these are perfect for filling small rooms or automobiles with impactful, rich, sub-bass frequencies from small sealed enclosures.

Stepping up to our median - and our most popular offering - we feature the Premium Series (RL-p) subwoofer drivers, sporting a solid 3" diameter voicecoil alongside a competitive 2" peak-to-peak linear excursion capability. Suitable for sealed enclosures, these will come alive in vented alignments producing massive output off of 1000 watts or less of input power. Displacing a good amount of air without coming close to breaking the bank, these mamas are likewise a wonderful candidate for those seeking a driver suitable for infinite baffle use.

Bringing us to our most powerful, over-engineered, robust and dauntingly impressive drivers, the Supreme Series (RL-s). Utilizing a custom-wound variable density voicecoil, this driver will maintain constant force (Bl) throughout its massive 3" of peak-to-peak linear excursion capability (4" peak to peak attainable), leaving the listener with one of the cleanest and most accurate sub-bass drivers available on the market today. Though in comparison to our other products the price may seem steep, most comparable drivers list easily at twice the price.

All of our drivers are designed with high quality cast steel parts, and soft parts engineered with finite-element software to ensure stringent linearity and durability. As extreme sound quality is our utmost intention, all of our drivers feature a custom cut copper shorting sleeve to further aid in reducing any audible distortion. But enough about the products, obviously a company will speak highly of their own offerings and you can go to our website to read more about 'em if you wish.. For now, allow me to tell you a bit about myself!

In my third decade of conscious existence on this planet, I am an abstract yet practical thinker. With no formal training in engineering, I defer to those with decades of expertise to refine the characteristics of my products based on the feedback I receive from all of my customers. I am a service-oriented person, aiming to operate an independent retail outlet with quality products backed by uncanny personal service. Knowing well that I am a thrifty man when it comes to my own purchases, and that I appreciate an honest opinion from those to whom I may tender my money, I set out to create a subwoofer company that won't moo the consumer with heaps of hype and flashy gimmicks, quasi-science and mass marketing.

This forum is hosted with the intent to provide people a place to share their experiences with our products, as well as discuss potential future products/applications, concerns, or anything that one may wish to discuss with respect to SoundSplinter. I will make a strong effort to be present on these boards, and special thanks to Darren, a SoundSplinter IB user and moderator here, who will also be helping out. If you need to get ahold of me urgently, please contact me directly through our online form.

With that said, those who check in from time to time will be served well, as I will be offering occasional specials to forum goers. There is no predestined timetable for these offers so stay sharp, quick on the draw, and you may benefit. Thanks for hearing me out and thanks for visiting our forum!

~mike

**chasw98** · **08-25-06, 08:45 AM**

Hey Mike:
This is Chuck in Florida. I see you are getting out and about these days. Good for you. I can't get enough of your drivers. BUT!!!! You need to add an 18 inch model to your line for us fanatics that want to put 4 of them in our attic for an IB install. Good to see you here.

Chuck

PS - Oh yeah, price that 18 cheap

**SoundSplinter** · **08-25-06, 01:19 PM**

Hey Chuck, good to hear from you. An 18" addition to our Premium Series lineup has in fact been in the works for a few months now and will likely be making its debut in the winter season. Though all of the raw costs are not yet realized, I am doing everything I can to keep it as reasonable as possible. The plan at this point is to price it approximately 25% higher than our RL-p15, which I feel will preserve good value given its relative displacement advantage of over 40%. It won't be the sub $200 IB driver that I've been seeing people lust for, but it'll be a fine driver nonetheless. That's the only hinting I'll be doing for now though..

As a personal aside, you know that FedEx denied your claim a second time even after they picked up the box that had repeatedly traversed the country, stating no visible damage to the box or speaker! My jaw dropped, as after receiving that notice in the mail, thirty minutes later the FedEx man shows up carrying the same driver, being returned to me in one of the most mangled boxes I've seen (which is no surprise after having been driven between California and Florida FOUR times)!

Well I finally got someone helpful on the phone and after re-sending all of the images and claim information, I am now awaiting the third response to your case. I swear, these shipping companies can be a real PITA if you don't stay on top of them! Just thought you might find that amusing.. as if a smile may be cracked through all the hassle, maybe it'll be worth it

**chasw98** · **08-25-06, 01:56 PM**

I cannot believe they have denied the claim after all that driver went through. If they still deny the claim, get a hold of me and I can take it up with my corporate rep. We do a lot of business with them and sometimes that helps. I know I had to go through a lot when they busted a computer I sent to my sister, but in the end they paid.

So, maybe looking at a $400.00 18 inch driver? People into DIY are looking for a good solid 18 incher. Just as you got the market for 15's when all the other places had no stock, you could get the 18 inch market with an 18. I'll keep lookng for it.

Chuck

**SoundSplinter** · **08-25-06, 02:27 PM**

Thanks for the support Chuck - but after connecting to a personal representative at the claims department (and keeping his contact information handy), we should be all set on this case. I just thought it was ridiculous they claimed zero damage to the packaging and contents during inspection, willfully blind?

**chasw98** · **08-25-06, 02:32 PM**

Just don't give up. Even when they finally reimburse you, it will not pay for the lost time and your time chasing them down and going through all the corporate cr*p. Not to mention the cost of the driver to begin with!

Chuck

**SteveCallas** · **08-25-06, 03:56 PM**

A possible RL-p18 driver eh? Sounds great. Anyway you could aim for parameters a little more purposefully suited to HT use with this one? Say, in comparison to the RL-p15, a lower Fs, higher Vas, lower Bl, and higher Qts? I realise most of those will naturally happen with an 18" driver as compared to a 15", but maybe nudge them a bit more

**bobgpsr** · **08-25-06, 04:29 PM**

Quote:

SteveCallas wrote:

...lower Bl, and higher Qts?...

I must really be rusty and slow today Steve.

Why not keep a high BL and a low Qts?

Could you expand on the IB or LLT technical reasons?

Thanks!

Bob

**Darren** · **08-25-06, 05:23 PM**

Great that you have your own forum now Mike, I'll do my best to help out as a moderator of your fine new forum

.

My main skillset that is related is woodworking and speaker enclosure building, veneering, and best practices for jointery that will last.

I can also help people out who may be interested in using your drivers for IB... I know my four RL-P15 IB subwoofer has won me over

**Bent** · **08-25-06, 05:25 PM**

Since this is the SS forum, and I am also a client, here's a pic of my ported 15"RL-p in it's "unfinished" form.

But, I also have a second 15" RL-p hiding under my desk here at work in it's shipping box awaiting completion of it's enclosure - which will be a dual 15" sealed unit measuring 22" X 22" X 43 inches exterior, doubled up 3/4" mdf, eq'd with a BFD, and driven by an Adire ADA 1200 plate amp.

**SteveCallas** · **08-25-06, 05:30 PM**

Well I'm being greedy, as I'd like to see parameters best suited to a LLT. In regards to the low Bl, I started examining parameters of drivers that model extremely well in a LLT and those that have a less flat FR above 20hz. Aside from Le, Bl was a big indicator - drivers with really high Bl don't model as flat above 20hz in a ported enclosure. I then came upon this article, which seemed to give that finding some credit:

http://www.aes.org/sections/uk/meetings/0403.html

As for a higher Qts, again, this is from looking at drivers that model extremely well in a LLT - Dayton Reference HiFi 12 and 15, Avalanche 18, Dayton Titanic 15, Tumult 15 and 18, etc. - they all seem to have a Qts around or above 4.00.

Now the RLp15 works in a LLT, as is proven by the many happy owners, but it's not ideally suited to a LLT, as it has a moderately high Fs, low Vas, high Bl, and low Qts - moderately. It would seem it could definitely be improved for this application. My desired parameters, aside from a low Fs, are almost the opposite of what one wants for a sealed sub. Again, it's just me being greedy I guess

The LMS 4000 does a great job of hitting all these points (almost too well in fact), but unfortunately the sensitivity is pretty poor. If that 4100 stays about the same but has better sensitivity, it would make for the ideal LLT driver.

**Bent** · **08-25-06, 05:32 PM**

Darren, what's your total impedance with the 4 RL-p's, and what are they driven with?
DO you see any over-excursion with that?

I'm asking cause IB thinkin' IB next...

**Darren** · **08-25-06, 05:35 PM**

I'm running them in dual mono pairs at 4 ohms per side using the D4 dual 4 ohm voice coils. I chose the dual 4 ohm for their more desireable Q which is closer to an ideal 5 for IB use. I'm driving them with a Behringer EP2500 and giving them a total of about 1,300 watts. They could definately handle more but that is plenty to get my 3,200 cubic foot room very excited. I cannot push the drivers to bottom out with the current power.

**Darren** · **08-25-06, 05:36 PM**

<moderator hat on>
We should probably create new conversations rather than continue to change topics in this thread, I thought of that after I posted my pictures

<moderator hat off>

I created a new thread so we can show off our SoundSplinter creations.

http://www.hometheatershack.com/foru...terpieces.html

**chasw98** · **08-26-06, 10:03 AM**

Quote:

Bent wrote:

Darren, what's your total impedance with the 4 RL-p's, and what are they driven with?
DO you see any over-excursion with that?

I'm asking cause IB thinkin' IB next...

IB thinkin' IB also, hence the question about an 18 earlier.

Chuck

**Darren** · **08-26-06, 07:54 PM**

Quote:

chasw98 wrote:

IB thinkin' IB also, hence the question about an 18 earlier.

Chuck

I'm really happy with my RL-P 15's, they actually push more air than some of the 18's people are using.

**Exocer** · **08-26-06, 11:36 PM**

An 18" rl-p? This is good news! Anxiously awaiting this driver.

**chasw98** · **09-04-06, 08:58 PM**

Hey Mike:
Someone has to post here for it to be worthwhile. Have you seen all the press you are getting everywhere except here? Check out this link and within that is another link to another board about your drivers! http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...0&page=1&pp=30
Take all the participants with a grain of salt, their just having subwoofer fun!

Chuck

**SteveCallas** · **09-05-06, 12:50 AM**

You'll need more than salt to put up with Craig

**Chrisbee** · **09-06-06, 04:59 AM**

Steve

Building 18" drivers specifically for LLT use would be a bit like making dental crowns for chickens.

**SoundSplinter** · **09-06-06, 12:35 PM**

Quote:

chasw98 wrote:

Hey Mike:
Someone has to post here for it to be worthwhile. Have you seen all the press you are getting everywhere except here? Check out this link and within that is another link to another board about your drivers! http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...0&page=1&pp=30
Take all the participants with a grain of salt, their just having subwoofer fun!

Chuck

With any luck, the new promotion involving two free RL-peezies will help drive in some more traffic. My website will also be undergoing some revision and updating in the near future, to include prominent linking to the forum. Interesting thread over there at AVS.. don't think I'll be gettin' into the thick of that one, but I will have those parallel T/S param's for ya after this weekend SteveC.

**SteveCallas** · **09-06-06, 01:57 PM**

Much appreciated.

**Exocer** · **09-06-06, 03:35 PM**

Mike, its probably way too early to ask this, but will the Rl-p 18's use the Tc-9 motor as well? What other improvements can we expect in addition to the bump in size?

**SoundSplinter** · **09-06-06, 03:48 PM**

Yes the RL-p18 will utilize the TC9 base motor, and with the prototypes tested, it is lookin' to be a great product at a very good value. The principle leadtime in production involves tooling on our cone and surround, for which no parts currently exist in line with the rest of the RL-p lineup. The first prototype used a foam surround and paper composite cone, which will be switched over to a thinner, tall "high-roll" rubber surround alongside the sexy brushed black annodized aluminum cone we use on the rest of our RL-p drivers. The anticipation at this point is for an efficient driver with sensitivity above 90dB, a Q just under 0.5, and more movement capability than the RL-p15 on account of the taller surround and larger diameter dual spider suspension. As is to be expected at this stage in the process, these are preliminary statements and are subject to change!.. but you get the idea

**09-16-06, 09:18 PM**

40% more displacement would put the 18's at almost 5 1/2 liters!! At a 25% price premium to the Rlp-15, would put us (tentatively) at $312. That's $56.80 per liter!!
All of which is understood to be subject to change..

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