Olliedem-c Posted May 24, 2006 Share Posted May 24, 2006 Hi folks, I'm tryin out 2 darq audio 215-1a on saturday nightthese thing weigh a ton, lookin forward th the gig (Drums,bass,2xElec Gtr,1 Acoustic, 3x Vox) anybody have experience with these or any Darq Gear? Just wonder what they are like... www.darq.eu Ollie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Magus Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 I've just had a look at their web site. They have a range of amplifiers which include models PA9, PA12 and PA18. Am I alone in noticing a resemblance between these and the CA9, CA12 and CA18 amps produced by another manufacturer? I've had a look at the speakers you're talking about - as you say they're seriously heavy (almost as heavy as my EAW KF850s). They don't say what these cabinets are made of - but the web site says that the cabs for their subs are made of HDF rather than ply. I wouldn't rule them out until you've heard them - but beware! Have you noticed the drawings on This Page? They show these speakers on their sides and flown in a line array - can that possibly work given the HF dispersion quoted (the horns are oriented for vertical use with a 80 x 40 HF dispersion! I would be amazed. Laws of Physics 1: Darq 0! When considering buying kit from unknown suppliers you need to think carefully whether they are a reputable company selling laboratory-designed, well engineered equipment, or a bunch of muppets selling cheaply made, poorly designed Chinese trash. I make this comment generally, and don't apply it to the good folk at Darq! I hope you're pleasantly surprised. I'm sure you'll let us know how you get on. BTW has anyone tried those PA9 / 12 / 18 amps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Lewis Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 The overall appearance and specification of the PA series amps is close enough to the well known American CA series to be a pastiche at best and blatant copying at worst. The rear panel seems different, but features such as the three way sensitivity control (CA18 only) have been carried over. However, the CA18 is capable of running at 2 Ohms and bridged into 4 Ohms, whereas the Darq does not appear capable of this. There's an extensive set of photos showing these amps being made. The back panel shows "designed in the UK" which implies manufacture is actually elsewhere. There's nothing actually wrong in that, but to apparently copy a classic very heavy "linear" power supply type amp (albeit with an occasional tendency to breath fire) and not copy its power capability (and perhaps not its audio integrity - who knows?) isn't a good move. There's a discrepancy between the porting arrangements for the PS215-1a cabinet - front mounted around the 2 x 15s in one picture and rear panel mounted on another. I'm sure that if they were clustered, apart from the serious comb filtering from the nearly adjacent 90x40 horns, the rear lobe would cause some 'interesting' effects. So, Ollie, enjoy the gig but be aware that it may be loud but not necessarily coherent ;-) Just my opinion...Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 And it's worth having a look at their sensitivity and Max SPL figures. Another manufacturer who has never actually measured the max SPL of their products and/or simply chooses to quote them in the most flattering light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seano Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 Have you noticed the drawings on This Page?I certainly noticed the photograph of one flown on four steel ropes. Its hard to be sure, the resolution isn't great, but it looks very much like the ropes are terminated with a single dog, the wrong way round. Pony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan slv-tech Posted June 1, 2006 Share Posted June 1, 2006 hiya been away working, with regard to the question about the amplifiers from darq, superb, cant fault them, ok they dont go down to 2ohms, but hell they have enough power in them, I have a PA04, PA08 and a PA18 giving me 5.8K for my appoge rig and boy it kicks and throws a long way. Can fault them brilliantly built, easy to service (if needed) and the company were rally helpful by letting me demo dwn in basildon. so its a thumbs up for me on darq amps! dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Beesley Posted June 1, 2006 Share Posted June 1, 2006 HI Guys, I have used virtually all their cabs and amps and amps... and its not a pretty tale. They are very very heavy, unreliable and the larger cabs have a peak around 2K5 that cannot be tamed. When working their kit is very very loud... but can deliver quite a harsh - take your ear drums out an 50yds type of sound... not very pleasent and requires a lot of EQ to get rid of the nasty peaks. Its a personal opinion but I would never use them again Chris B(non-CPC post!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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