Why are Tubas rated higher than even the most expensive commercial brands? Because they work. Take the Tuba 30, for instance. This SPL chart compares a single 30x30x27 inch 70 pound Tuba 30 loaded with an Eminence Delta 12 LF driver to the Cerwin-Vega L36, which is 30% larger and weighs twice as much.

But don't just go by a chart. Here's what builder Nick Birkby has to say about his T30s:

I built two full size T30's using JBL 2206 drivers. The sound from these cabs is nothing short of STUNNING! The bass has real authority and is fast and dynamic! Overall, the cabs have a way of reproducing bass in a very effortless manner, even with with heavy DJ/ dance material. Such a change from that 'struggling woofer' sound you get from typical 2x15 cabs. The waveform of the bass is 'tactile' if thats the right word. You can almost sense the momentum the wave builds up while travelling the length of the horn. Like a friggin e xpress train when it emerges! Yes I am waxing a bit lyrical here, but the satisfaction of firing these up was unique treat! Construction was relatively easy for me using very limited tools. I built the second much faster than the first, and used a handheld circular saw for the internal cuts, the rest being cut to size by the timber guys. The sheer presence and authority of these cabs outweighs any hauling gripes. Big thanks to Bill and the excellent Forum resource!

Build options abound with the T30. They may be built from 16 to 30 inches wide, loaded with one or two ten or twelve inch drivers. Build costs start from about $150 for a 16 incher loaded with an Eminence Basslite S2010.

Construction Degree of Difficulty: 5

Performance Quotient: 10

Suggested Audience Size, 16 inch wide cabs:

2 cabs to 300; 4 cabs 250-600; 6 cabs 500-1,000; 8 cabs 800-1,500

Wider cabs and dual driver cabs will handle larger audiences.

Equivalent Retail Value: $799 to $2999, depending on cabinet size and driver complement.

Recommended Tops: DR200, DR250, DR280, DR290, DR300, OmniTop 12, OmniTop 15