1x15 or 2x10?

[Mattbass97]

I am deeply considering either the fender 150 rumble or the 350 rumble combo! but I've heard a few times that the only reason the 350 is rated a higher wattage is because it needs it in order to power the speakers and that the volume on the 150 and 350 are similar? I need to know which will be better for me the 150 or 350, I play rock and funk with a loud enough band, the combo has to be able to withstand 50 watts or guitar at the most I'm guessing and an average pounding drummer and vocals. I'm really having trouble because I want to be heard without having to crank. Please try and keep your opinions within these two combos because they are basically my only option. Which would be better??

Thanks for any help

[DigitalMan]

IMO the 2x10 option gives you the best chance to be heard. More surface area moving, more midrange response, and tighter (not louder) low end will all lead to a more audible cut thought the mix.

These are my opinions. I offer no science to back them up.

[acubass]

I disagree, when I was gigging (IMO) I could never get the perceived volume with a 2x10 as i could with a 1x15. The cabs in question were Avatar and markbass 2x10 vs Ampeg and Avatar 1x15's.

[fuzzy beard]

Originally Posted by DigitalMan

IMO the 2x10 option gives you the best chance to be heard. More surface area moving, more midrange response, and tighter (not louder) low end will all lead to a more audible cut thought the mix.

These are my opinions. I offer no science to back them up.

With out knowing technical specs on the cabs it is hard to say. But a 1x15 typicaly has more surface area than a 2x10.

[dog1]

Your question may be impossible to answer. As far back as I can remember (1965 w/blonde bassmans), Fender has never made a respectable bass amp. No disrespect intended, but good luck with your two limited choices.

[Russell L]

I'd go with the 350 because it says 350w. I'd rather have one 15, though, but the 150 is only 100w, they say. I know watts don't say it all, that's a huge difference.

[oldcatfish]

Quote, "As far back as I can remember (1965 w/blonde bassmans), Fender has never made a respectable bass amp. No disrespect intended, but good luck with your two limited choices."

--Actually, neither of those amps are bad. Both are versatile, reliable, and loud--for a combo.

But the catch is...for a combo. "50 watts" on a guitar amp could mean anything from moderate volume to very loud. I used to have an old Randall RG 80 watt guitar combo that would deafen you with the volume on 4. And it got a lot louder than that.

I'm a big believer that either Fender combo SHOULD be loud enough for most bands...but the reality is, if you know that volume is likely to be an issue--you need a head/cab that you can expand if needed. If you like the sound of the Fender Rumbles, go for the 150 head and 4x10 cab--it's 4 ohms, so you you'll get the full 150 watts. It's about the same price as the 350 combo. If you still end up needing more, pick up 2 8 ohm cabs for the head. If you still need more, you are definitely playing too loud.

[ksandvik]

Doubt that Rumble will give you enough headroom, anyway. I.e. get some better gear for band use.

I prefer 2x10 as I like a bass to be heard as well as felt, 1x15s easily go over to the felt but not heard spectrum.

[tekdiver500ft]

Originally Posted by DigitalMan

IMO the 2x10 option gives you the best chance to be heard. More surface area moving, more midrange response, and tighter (not louder) low end will all lead to a more audible cut thought the mix.

These are my opinions. I offer no science to back them up.

No. 1x15 always has more surface area. Whether it moves more air depends on a plethora of other factors (magnet size, cab design, power, etc.). Moving air is the final goal, as that is what we perceive as sound. A 1x15 also generally has a tighter (more mid-rangey) voice if properly amped, although it takes more power to do so. A 2x10 generally will go deeper, but will a) fart out sooner, and b) sound boomier. These are broad generalizations, and should not necessarily be construed to apply to any two specific cabs.

[PDGood]

Originally Posted by oldcatfish

I'm a big believer that either Fender combo SHOULD be loud enough for most bands...but the reality is, if you know that volume is likely to be an issue--you need a head/cab that you can expand if needed. If you like the sound of the Fender Rumbles, go for the 150 head and 4x10 cab--it's 4 ohms, so you you'll get the full 150 watts. It's about the same price as the 350 combo. If you still end up needing more, pick up 2 8 ohm cabs for the head. If you still need more, you are definitely playing too loud.

+1
Go modular and then you can adapt as needed.

[DigitalMan]

Originally Posted by fuzzy beard

With out knowing technical specs on the cabs it is hard to say. But a 1x15 typicaly has more surface area than a 2x10.

Um, radius times pi equals area (roughly - not accounting for depth of cone)


2x10 = 5(2)*3.14 = 31.4 sq in
1x15 = 7.5*3.14 = 23.55 sq in

How is 1x15 more surface area again?

I said I'd do this without science, but I didn't make any promises about using good ol' grade school math.

[HeebHammer70]

Originally Posted by DigitalMan

Um, radius times pi equals area (roughly - not accounting for depth of cone)


2x10 = 5(2)*3.14 = 31.4 sq in
1x15 = 7.5*3.14 = 23.55 sq in

How is 1x15 more surface area again?

I said I'd do this without science, but I didn't make any promises about using good ol' grade school math.

Area of a circle is pi (r squared).
2x10- pi(5*5)= 78.5 x 2= 157 sq in.
1x15- pi(7.5*7.5)= 176 sq in

Close but no cigar.

[DigitalMan]

Originally Posted by HeebHammer70

Area of a circle is pi (r squared).
2x10- pi(5*5)= 78.5 x 2= 157 sq in.
1x15- pi(7.5*7.5)= 176 sq in

Close but no cigar.

Damn I'm getting old.

[will33]

OP, what is it that's limiting your choices? I'm going to say neither of those will be loud enough. If that's all there is, get 2 of them and slave them together.

At the math guys....it's r squared, and it doesn't matter. Displacement is what matters.

[Sav'nBass]

Originally Posted by Mattbass97

I am deeply considering either the fender 150 rumble or the 350 rumble combo! but I've heard a few times that the only reason the 350 is rated a higher wattage is because it needs it in order to power the speakers and that the volume on the 150 and 350 are similar? I need to know which will be better for me the 150 or 350, I play rock and funk with a loud enough band, the combo has to be able to withstand 50 watts or guitar at the most I'm guessing and an average pounding drummer and vocals. I'm really having trouble because I want to be heard without having to crank. Please try and keep your opinions within these two combos because they are basically my only option. Which would be better??

Thanks for any help

I'd go with the 350. Better to have the juice and not need it than to need it and not have it.

[petrus61]

Originally Posted by ksandvik

Doubt that Rumble will give you enough headroom, anyway. I.e. get some better gear for band use.

I prefer 2x10 as I like a bass to be heard as well as felt, 1x15s easily go over to the felt but not heard spectrum.

On what planet?

[Lowactnsatsfctn]

Id stay away from both, but thats just me. I've owned 2 of the Rumble series amps and the volume and or tone sucked on both. I can say the 350 is plenty loud enough to use in most band settings. For the price of the 350, you could do a decent head/cab and be much better off.

[RumbleSteve]

I have a rumble 150, and from what i'v read and understand, both the 150 and 350 have the same amp with the same amount of power. So what your looking at is the size of your speaker and what comes with all of that.

The 15 is going to bring you a deeper, thick low-end whereas the 10's will give you attack. These are both IMO good choices. I play Rock and funk, and for a combo the 150 has the power and the sound to get it done.

[Broadstbully22]

2X10 Gets my vote.

[Schpector]

I've played both several times when jamming with a local neighborhood band in my free time. They had both amps in question, so I had a chance to a/b them side by side in a live setting a couple of times.

They seem to have about the same volume capabilities. No big noticable difference. The 1x15 seems a little fuller, warmer.