Dharman In-Room Results (long) (1 Viewer)

[Kerry Hackney]

Last evening, I had a chance to sit down and take some measurements of my Dharman sub. I was curious to see how it would compare with my DIY Tempest. Below are the numbers. I took these using a tone generator program output from my laptop. The SPL meter was tripod mounted 2 meters from the sub and about 1 meter up. It was actually slightly lower than the Dharman as it is stacked on top of my DIY sub.

Frq SPL

20 Hz. - 87.50

21 Hz. - 87.92

22 Hz. - 88.38

23 Hz. - 86.88

24 Hz. - 85.42

25 Hz. - 85.00

26 Hz. - 86.62

27 Hz. - 87.27

28 Hz. - 87.95

29 Hz. - 87.65

30 Hz. - 86.38

31 Hz. - 86.62

31.5 Hz. - 86.00

32 Hz. - 85.97

33 Hz. - 85.91

34 Hz. - 85.84

35 Hz. - 85.78

36 Hz. - 85.22

37 Hz. - 85.17

38 Hz. - 85.11

39 Hz. - 85.55

40 Hz. - 85.50

41 Hz. - 84.76

42 Hz. - 84.18

43 Hz. - 84.09

44 Hz. - 83.49

45 Hz. - 82.90

46 Hz. - 82.81

47 Hz. - 81.73

48 Hz. - 81.66

49 Hz. - 81.58

50 Hz. - 81.50

51 Hz. - 81.50

52 Hz. - 81.50

53 Hz. - 81.50

54 Hz. - 81.50

55 Hz. - 81.50

56 Hz. - 81.50

57 Hz. - 81.50

58 Hz. - 81.50

59 Hz. - 81.50

60 Hz. - 81.50

61 Hz. - 81.50

62 Hz. - 81.50

63 Hz. - 81.50

63 Hz. - 80.50

64 Hz. - 80.50

65 Hz. - 80.50

66 Hz. - 80.50

67 Hz. - 80.50

68 Hz. - 80.50

69 Hz. - 80.50

70 Hz. - 80.50

71 Hz. - 80.50

72 Hz. - 80.50

73 Hz. - 80.50

74 Hz. - 80.50

75 Hz. - 80.50

76 Hz. - 80.50

77 Hz. - 80.50

78 Hz. - 80.50

79 Hz. - 79.50

80 Hz. - 78.50

These are all corrected numbers. You're probably dubious as this is pretty flat. Yes, but I have these in a room that is roughly 8000>ft3. This is very simular to the curve that my tempest generated. I also took some staggered reading at the listening position

Frq SPL

20 Hz. - 81.50

21 Hz. - 81.92

22 Hz. - 81.38

23 Hz. - 81.88

24 Hz. - 83.42

25 Hz. - 83.00

30 Hz. - 78.38

35 Hz. - 74.78

40 Hz. - 77.50

45 Hz. - 75.90

50 Hz. - 77.50

55 Hz. - 79.50

60 Hz. - 81.50

65 Hz. - 81.50

70 Hz. - 79.50

75 Hz. - 75.50

80 Hz. - 76.50

85 Hz. - 79.61

90 Hz. - 76.73

I will eventually employee a BFD to get things a little better. I am amazed at how well the Dharman holds as compared to the Tempest.

These measurements were taken at relatively low levels partly because this is closer to my listening preferences. I rarely listen to things really loud. However, I had a good friend of mine over this past Sunday who is a dedicated horn builder. We had my system cranked up and shaking the room. He was impressed enough to say my system is "not bad, not bad at all". Coming from this guy, that is extremely high praise. His rig will "ring your ears" if he wants.

I intend to do more music listening of the Dharman by itself. The way my system is configured it is very easy for me to turn on or off the individual subs as I wish. I am going to get some plugs for the ports and try a psudo-sealed version for music. I'll let you know how that goes. As it is, with both subs running they sound terrific in my opinion. The Tempest has more output capability as you would expect, but I can't say that it will be a night and day difference as far as extension. The Dharman can deffinately get to 20 in my corner with NO trouble and no roll off. I have them balanced for dual operation and find that the headroom the two of them provide makes for effortless dynamics and a blanket of bass in my listening area.

I have watched more than a few movies with the Dharman solo. The TPM intro and pod race scenes have all of the expected roomshake and dynamics that will make your guests jaws drop. The DTS demo disk is also a great test, and the Dharman passes. I have not had any signs of bottoming in my experiments so far. And yes I have cranked it up to see. My ceiling tiles, AC vents, fireplace door all rattle but the sub doesn't. I even shook shampoo bottles off the shower ledge up-stairs. If your taste dictates a "box" sub, this is absolutely one you should consider.

 

[Kyle Richardson]

Kerry, those look like some very nice numbers! I'm glad you are happy with your Dharman.

 

[Greg Hamilton]

8000 cu.ft.. Wow.. That's a small gym.. hehe -gh

 

[Manuel Delaflor]

Kerry,

Can you post the results of the Tempest side by side to the Dharman's?

 

[Kerry Hackney]

Back when I measured the Tempest I did it just slightly different. I measured the drive voltage at 60hz to be 3.02 volts. This was taken with the SPL meter on the floor one meter (aprx) from the cone. Mains on / 80hz sub xover.

FrqSPL

18Hz.-104.29

19Hz.-105.35

20Hz.-104.50

21Hz.-102.92

22Hz.-102.38

23Hz.-102.88

24Hz.-102.42

25Hz.-103.00

26Hz.-104.62

27Hz.-104.27

28Hz.-102.95

29Hz.-101.65

30Hz.-101.38

31Hz.-101.12

31.5Hz.-101.00

32Hz.-100.97

33Hz.-100.91

34Hz.-101.84

35Hz.-101.78

36Hz.-102.72

37Hz.-102.67

38Hz.-102.11

39Hz.-101.55

40Hz.-101.50

41Hz.-102.26

42Hz.-103.18

43Hz.-103.09

44Hz.-102.99

45Hz.-103.90

46Hz.-103.81

47Hz.-103.73

48Hz.-103.66

49Hz.-103.58

50Hz.-103.50

51Hz.-103.50

52Hz.-104.00

53Hz.-104.50

54Hz.-104.00

55Hz.-104.50

56Hz.-104.50

57Hz.-104.00

58Hz.-104.00

59Hz.-104.00

60Hz.-104.00

61Hz.-104.00

62Hz.-103.50

63Hz.-103.50

63Hz.-103.50

64Hz.-103.00

65Hz.-102.50

66Hz.-102.50

67Hz.-101.50

68Hz.-101.50

69Hz.-101.00

70Hz.-100.50

71Hz.-100.50

72Hz.-100.50

73Hz.-100.00

74Hz.-100.00

75Hz.-100.00

76Hz.-100.00

77Hz.-99.50

78Hz.-99.00

79Hz.-98.50

80Hz.-98.50

81Hz.-98.52

82Hz.-98.54

83Hz.-98.57

84Hz.-98.59

85Hz.-98.61

86Hz.-99.14

87Hz.-99.66

88Hz.-99.68

89Hz.-99.71

90Hz.-99.73

91Hz.-100.26

92Hz.-100.78

93Hz.-100.81

94Hz.-100.33

95Hz.-100.36

96Hz.-99.89

97Hz.-99.92

98Hz.-99.94

99Hz.-99.97

100Hz.-99.50

Here is the Tempest at the same listening position as Dharman. Here the drive level was arbitrary in order to center the meter at the beginning. Also, the mains are on in this test as I wanted to see the integration through the crossover region. The test of Dharman at the listeing positon also had the mains on. With the 2meter readings for Dharman the mains are off.

FrqTpst/SPL

18Hz.-83.29

19Hz.-84.35

20Hz.-84.50

21Hz.-85.92

22Hz.-84.88

23Hz.-83.88

24Hz.-84.42

25Hz.-85.00

26Hz.-85.62

27Hz.-85.27

28Hz.-85.45

29Hz.-84.65

30Hz.-83.38

31Hz.-82.12

31.5Hz.-82.00

32Hz.-80.97

33Hz.-78.91

34Hz.-77.84

35Hz.-78.78

36Hz.-79.72

37Hz.-80.67

38Hz.-79.61

39Hz.-79.55

40Hz.-78.50

41Hz.-78.26

42Hz.-79.18

43Hz.-79.09

44Hz.-79.99

45Hz.-80.90

46Hz.-82.31

47Hz.-82.73

48Hz.-82.66

49Hz.-83.08

50Hz.-83.00

51Hz.-83.50

52Hz.-83.50

53Hz.-84.00

54Hz.-85.00

55Hz.-85.50

56Hz.-85.50

57Hz.-86.00

58Hz.-86.50

59Hz.-86.50

60Hz.-87.50

61Hz.-86.50

62Hz.-86.50

63Hz.-87.50

63Hz.-87.50

64Hz.-87.50

65Hz.-87.50

66Hz.-87.50

67Hz.-87.50

68Hz.-87.50

69Hz.-87.50

70Hz.-86.50

71Hz.-85.50

72Hz.-84.50

73Hz.-83.50

74Hz.-82.50

75Hz.-81.50

76Hz.-81.00

77Hz.-80.50

78Hz.-80.00

79Hz.-79.50

80Hz.-78.50

81Hz.-78.52

82Hz.-77.54

83Hz.-77.57

84Hz.-77.59

85Hz.-77.61

86Hz.-77.64

87Hz.-77.66

88Hz.-77.68

89Hz.-78.71

90Hz.-79.73

91Hz.-80.76

92Hz.-81.78

93Hz.-81.81

94Hz.-81.83

95Hz.-81.86

96Hz.-80.89

97Hz.-79.92

98Hz.-78.94

99Hz.-76.97

100Hz.-74.50

This is very close to the same sample volume as when I measured the Dharman. There is some slight variation to the curve shape. This could be due to any room variations I had. When I tested the Dharman the door at the top of the stairway was closed. With the Tempest I think it was open. Also, the Dharman driver is 4' above the Tempest. In the same corner but higher.

Here are the listening position measures side by side.

FrqDrmnTmpst

20Hz.-81.50 -84.50

21Hz.-81.92 -85.92

22Hz.-81.38 -84.88

23Hz.-81.88 -83.88

24Hz.-83.42 -84.42

25Hz.-83.00 -85.00

30Hz.-78.38 -83.38

35Hz.-74.78 -78.78

40Hz.-77.50 -78.50

45Hz.-75.90 -80.90

50Hz.-77.50 -83.00

55Hz.-79.50 -85.50

60Hz.-81.50 -87.50

65Hz.-81.50 -87.50

70Hz.-79.50 -86.50

75Hz.-75.50 -81.50

80Hz.-76.50 -78.50

85Hz.-79.61 -77.61

90Hz.-76.73 -79.73

Keep in mind that these are accurate to about 1/2db. I just guessed at the in-between units and then added my correction factors. That is why you see numbers to .xx I sure am not "that" exact. Still this is about as close as I can get. You can burn some hours doing this stuff but it is a great exercise to understand areas for improvement. I'll try to add a pic of the two subs as they are setup.

 

[Manuel Delaflor]

It seems that the Dharman is side by side with the big Tempest... I wonder, now more than ever, what would be the results of a side to side review of a good DIY Tempest and a SVS...

 

[Kerry Hackney]

At this level of play it really gets to be about Max SPL potential more than extension. I didn't push much below 20 in my testing of the Dharman. In my room it will obviously go down lower but at some point the port will unload and the cone excursion will shoot up. I have no doubt that my Tempest has more SPL potential. As for SVS -vs- Dharman I am betting from what I've read about them that it could well be a draw. I know that SVS ships some of their systems with outboard amps that are considerably more powerful than the onboard Dharman's. If you are after every last db of volume that will deffinately make a difference. What would be interesting is if Dan offered a seperately amped version of Dharman and a QSC... That would make for a very very close race...

 

[DanWiggins]

Glad you like it, Kerry! I've gone ahead and "prettified" your data into the following image (I used our free ResGraph software to create the graph, then used Microsoft Paint to create the GIF):

The red line is the 2 meter corrected values; the blue is at your listening position.
If you want to measure below 20 Hz, you can use a program like Cooledit to create tones as low as you like, and get good measurements down to the 10 Hz range.
Anyway, looks like you have no problem getting down deep in your large room. I'd expect the Tempest to have a similar frequency response, but simply plays louder, and sounds a little less strained at high volumes.
Thanks again, and enjoy your bass!
Dan Wiggins
Adire Audio

 

[Jack Gilvey]

It seems that the Dharman is side by side with the big Tempest... I wonder, now more than ever, what would be the results of a side to side review of a good DIY Tempest and a SVS...

Tough to really draw FR conclusions on drivers in different alignments. The advantage of the Tempest would be seen in the increased SPL with the greater displacement. You'd need to take THD into account to get realistic numbers in that case, like Tom Nousaine does. I'd put a Tempest against any 12", though, in general. And, as you can see, the Dharman is quite a buy in its class, Dan knows what he's doing.