2x15 or 6x10?

[Buster Brown]

Originally Posted by Old Fart

With all due respect to the 10" speaker craze that has apparently captured the world in recent years/decades, I suspect that a lot of bass players would be impressed by 2x15 cabs if they gave them a try. I just recently passed on a 610 in favor of a 215 because to my ear, the 215 sounds WAY better. Very different speakers, different manufacturers, etc. Apples and oranges, of course. I know there are some amazing cabs out there with 10" speakers. But seriously, if you guys heard these two cabs blindfolded, you'd SWEAR the 215 was the 610. Much more detail, crisper, more sparkle. Also no tweeter or horn. Just two good 15" speakers. Go figure.....

I played 15s (usually 2-215 cabs) throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s and always dug the hell out of them and I was always hesitant to go the 10 route but finally ( after the 15s basically went the way of the dinosaur ) I made the transition and have been using 10s pretty much since then.

Unfortunately, until the 15s begin their resurgence, I have too much tied up with my Ampeg 610 and 810 to go back.....

[skidmarkbass]

I have a Markbass SD800 rig with a 410 and 115. I usually use only the 115 at practice and I like the tone. I'm thinking of selling the 410 and picking up another MB 115, or maybe just trying to find another brand 115 on CL.

[billgoodwin]

2-15's for my gig rig - vintage 1973 Acoustic 106 cab and 150 head... 1-15 Acoustic B200 combo for practice.

[dhsierra1]

Originally Posted by Calaverasgrande

the prevailing wisdom is that you cant generalize about driver size. Not all 15" speakers sound the same, not even the same exact drivers in different cabinets sound the same. EG Sealed vs ported vs horn loaded.
That all on the table, I tend to like 15" cabs over any others. Most EV and JBL 15" instrument drivers sound fantastic to me. Give me two or more and I am happy.
IME 15 speakers have a certain upper mid emphasis that works really well with bass guitar. Especially Stingrays and Fender Jazz basses.
8x10 or 6x10 cabs may get louder, but they dont have that upper mid hump.
Well they do, but it is higher usually.

+1, esp re JBLs and EV 15s.

[Sartori]

Originally Posted by Calaverasgrande

the prevailing wisdom is that you cant generalize about driver size. Not all 15" speakers sound the same, not even the same exact drivers in different cabinets sound the same. EG Sealed vs ported vs horn loaded.
That all on the table, I tend to like 15" cabs over any others. Most EV and JBL 15" instrument drivers sound fantastic to me. Give me two or more and I am happy.
IME 15 speakers have a certain upper mid emphasis that works really well with bass guitar. Especially Stingrays and Fender Jazz basses.
8x10 or 6x10 cabs may get louder, but they dont have that upper mid hump.
Well they do, but it is higher usually.

+1

I've got EV 15"s in my big cab, and it definitely has an element of upper mid aggressiveness to it that really works well with my Rickenbacker. They're really great speakers.

[bertbassplayer]

I've been running my two Schroeder 15" cabs for a while now, and they are great. 400 Watts handling with 104db sensitivity at 35 lbs a piece it's great.

[warnergt]

Two years ago, here on TB, you would have heard "You don't
need no stinkin' 15s. 15s have nothing over 10s."
It sounds like a lot of folks who disagree are coming out of
the woodwork.

Long live 15s!

[TussinBot.]

having never gigged or rehearsed on 10s i cant comment on those. but my 15's (EVM 15-L) sound better WAYYY better than the 12s (Avatar neo 2x12 w/ eminence 12s) I had. If you like the 15 stack another one and call it a day.

[Tim1]

I used to have an old Mesa Diesel 215 cab with EVs and that definitely had a strong upper mid emphasis like you mention. In fact it was too mid strong for me in combination with the Mesa 400+ I had at the time, and I ditched it.
The two fifteen cabs I use at the moment seem to have a much more even and open response (GK Neo 115 and Bergantino NV215) while still retaining that nice fullness of fifteens. The modern fifteen cab is way ahead of the old fifteens of the seventies IMO, and a considerable improvement - again IMO - which may be why they are becoming fashionable again.

[NDpeppers]

After years of playing tens i went to 12's. After 12's i went to 15's. I just like the roundness of the 15's and with certain ones you can just the right amount of highs and sweet mids along with them. 15's in a reflex cab sound great, no need for tweeters.

[bertbassplayer]

Originally Posted by warnergt

Two years ago, here on TB, you would have heard "You don't
need no stinkin' 15s. 15s have nothing over 10s."
It sounds like a lot of folks who disagree are coming out of
the woodwork.

Long live 15s!

I've been a member of TB for over 12 years. I've found things seem to cycle quite a bit. There always seems to be a "flavor of the moment."

[back2thefuture]

Thanks for all the input! I did a show last night for about 350 people using the 6x10 and while it was plenty loud, I was really missing my 15. I think I know what I have to do now!

[klejst]

I used to play nothing but 10's, I have owned and used 410's, 810's and 610's. However upon buying my 215 (which is currently my only cab) I am a true firm believer in 15's now. Still like 10's don't get me wrong, however the 15's and their tone are my new love. I would say it's up to you, whatever sounds the best to you that is what you should stick with.

[4Mal]

+1

It isn't about the size of the driver... If the cab is good, the driver is a good fit for the cab... That said, I like the grunt of my 2x15, the clarity of my fEarful12.6, the convenience and tone of a little custom built 1x10 combo. Pick the right too for the job as it were...

[Fuzzbass]

Over the years I've owned a number of different 15" loaded cabs, but wound up selling them fairly quickly. They appealed to me because they sounded so good in the showroom, but the punchier 10s sounded better at the gig, where I do most of my playing.

There are exceptions:

Originally Posted by Tim1

Bergantino NV215. Two fifteens and a six inch drver, sealed cab. Finest cab I have ever owned, bar none.

The Berg NV215 is probably my favorite 15" rig, with Bag End S15Ds being right there too. I also look forward to trying Jonathan Reiner's cabs this weekend, but sadly I don't believe they are going into production.

[JGR]

Originally Posted by Fuzzbass

I also look forward to trying Jonathan Reiner's cabs this weekend, but sadly I don't believe they are going into production.

Don't you worry Ken, I built an extra pair that are sitting there quietly, waiting for speakers and someone to love them.

[Russell L]

I don't get why haul a 610 when two lightweight 115s will do the same job and give options.

[LowBSix]

Originally Posted by Russell L

I don't get why haul a 610 when two lightweight 115s will do the same job and give options.

The reason I got away from 15s and prefer 10s is I can hear myself on stage much better. Drummers seem to like them because the bottom end doesn't mask their toms and sound mixers don't have to contend with mushy bottom end floating around live microphones. Lets not forget about unschooled singers struggling to identify harmonic structure dictated by bass notes....

15s are great in the "right" situation.
I've found all situations right for 10s.

[Tim1]

I think the modern 15" speaker and cabinet has come a long way from the sound of the seventies. They can have as much punch as tens now. In fact my Berg 215 has an even response across its range and more extended response than my Fender 610 and my old Bergantino 610. Many of us moved to tens because they had the punch and clarity that some felt was lacking in the old days, IMO the modern fifteen cabinet has addressed that issue which is why more people are going back to fifteens now.

[Tactician]

6x10s will probably move more air - but that's a calculation on cone movement x area. BUT, I think your biggest problem with this will be about getting speakers you can configure to match the impedience of the output on the amp. It's hard enough to do with 8ohm and 4 ohm and the speaker chassis's available. But Six speakers is a headache - you'll end up with a cab that's generally 6ohm or 12ohm. That's why most cabs are multiples of 2, 4, or 8.

I used to use 4x10s but I'm a convert to a pair of 3015s. Cannot imagine something better (or louder).