Which 4x10'' cab to go with Ampeg SVT-7 Pro?

Imaginos · #1 12-21-2011, 01:04 PM

Today I went to the band rehearsal an hour earlier than the rest of the band so that I could test out my current rig: a Marshall MB450H head through a MBC410 cab. I bought the rig last spring and for a while thought it sounded good. Now that I've experimented around I've come to hate it: the sound is either farty, cold or too distorted (not overdriven nicely).

Well, I've decided to get an Ampeg SVT-7 Pro but I have no idea what would be the best 4x10'' cab to order along with it. Many of you guys have been praising this amp but I don't want to shoot myself in the leg and get a great amp with a crappy cab. The cab can't really cost over 800 $/€.

sad_katz · #2 12-21-2011, 01:42 PM

What kind of tone do you want? Does it need to be 410 or equivalent volume okay? (212/215 cabs)

For that Ampeg tone, I'd recommend an SVT-410HE cab. Sounds like the vintage SVT from what reviews I read. Rolled lows and highs, bump in the mids.

Might also wanna try an SVT-410HLF. It sounds radically different than the 410-HE. Deep lows. Deep, deep, and big. Makes the mids sound small in comparison.

Imaginos · #3 12-21-2011, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sad_katz

What kind of tone do you want? Does it need to be 410 or equivalent volume okay? (212/215 cabs)

For that Ampeg tone, I'd recommend an SVT-410HE cab. Sounds like the vintage SVT from what reviews I read. Rolled lows and highs, bump in the mids.

That cab would sound just about fine but I'm afraid it wouldn't pack as much punch (volume-wise) as I'd want.

Tone-wise I'm looking for something defined and mid-rangeish with good bottom-end.

Something like this would be awesome: Roxy Music - Love Is The Drug - YouTube

JimmyM · #4 12-21-2011, 04:35 PM

I'd say the 410HE would be the Ampeg 410 to get if that's your ideal sound.

BassBob1 · #5 12-21-2011, 04:49 PM

I use a 7 pro with the 410hlf. The 410hlf is definitely a modernly voiced cab but back off the lows and bump the mids and it sounds plenty vintage and punchy. The sound clip in my sig is my setup mic'ed with very,very little DI.

**jmattbassplaya** · #6 12-21-2011, 04:52 PM

I'd suggest a Genz Benz NeoX212T. Obviously not a 4x10, but it can keep up with any 4x10, and in my experiences it sounds much more open, full, and warm than any Ampeg cab. I play both a Pro7 and an SVT-CL through one and always get compliments on my tone.

sad_katz · #7 12-22-2011, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imaginos

That cab would sound just about fine but I'm afraid it wouldn't pack as much punch (volume-wise) as I'd want.

Tone-wise I'm looking for something defined and mid-rangeish with good bottom-end.

Something like this would be awesome: Roxy Music - Love Is The Drug - YouTube

The 410-HE has plenty of punch in the mids, Ampeg flavored. Definitely not lacking in the volume department. If you tried a 410HE and find it not loud enough, you'd need an 810 or more efficient cabs.

Bottom end and punch sounds like Genz Benz NEOX 212. As loud as any 410 cab yet lighter. Plus it's higher than a regular 410 cab thus you can hear it better.

Imaginos · #8 12-22-2011, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sad_katz

The 410-HE has plenty of punch in the mids, Ampeg flavored. Definitely not lacking in the volume department. If you tried a 410HE and find it not loud enough, you'd need an 810 or more efficient cabs.

Bottom end and punch sounds like Genz Benz NEOX 212. As loud as any 410 cab yet lighter. Plus it's higher than a regular 410 cab thus you can hear it better.

Sorry, I confused the 410HE with the B-series or whatever that can handle only 200 watts. Definitely looking into 410HE now! My local store may even have it on display.

I got to check out Genz Benz too but they seem to be a bit rarer here in Europe.

rodl2005 · #9 12-22-2011, 02:34 AM

LOVE my 7 pro into my Bergantino AE410, these are discontinued, but the newer Berg HD410 would also work wonderfully. ANY Berg 410 that is.
2 x Ampeg PF210's would also be nice, & portable/flexible

vij · #10 12-22-2011, 07:24 AM

I am running a 410HLF with my bridged SVT4 and I am very happy with it but if i had the money i would replace it with a EBS NeoLine 410.

Its much lighter and smaller, has much higher sensitivity and handles more power. It is just this small thing with the missing money.

Jocke........

Imaginos · #11 12-22-2011, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vij

if i had the money i would replace it with a EBS NeoLine 410.

Its much lighter and smaller, has much higher sensitivity and handles more power. It is just this small thing with the missing money.

Jocke........

Haha, totally out of my price range too, but thanks.

tombowlus · #12 12-22-2011, 08:39 AM

The Ampeg Pro Neo 4x10 (PN-410HLF) is a great match for the 7Pro, IME/IMHO. It may be out of your price range, though.

The GK Neo410 is one heck of a great cab for the money, and it sounds awesome with the 7Pro, too.

Scogman · #13 12-22-2011, 08:51 AM

If you are looking outside the 4x10, someone earlier suggested 2 2x10 cabs for flexibility. That would be a good way to go, you could vertically stack them when you use them together.

Another option outside the 4x10 space would be a fEARful 15/6. I have an SVT-7 Pro that I run through a fEARful 15/6 and the sound is awesome. Great lows and articulate mids. I can get a bright modern tone, and with a little EQ change get a nice Ampeg vintage-like tone, which is what I like.

Some folks use a Sansamp VT bass pedal in front of their amp to help out with the tone. I use a Sansamp Paradriver in my effects loop to dial in a bit of grit. The SVT-7 has an effects blend knob on the front that allows me to keep the tone of the SVT-7 'up front' with the slight Sansamp tube grit mixed back a bit.

Imaginos · #14 12-22-2011, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tombowlus

The Ampeg Pro Neo 4x10 (PN-410HLF) is a great match for the 7Pro, IME/IMHO. It may be out of your price range, though.

The GK Neo410 is one heck of a great cab for the money, and it sounds awesome with the 7Pro, too.

I've tried googling around a bit but I can't figure out what's the relevance of the speaker magnets being neodynamic.

Also, shouldn't I buy an 4 ohm cab to get the most juice out of my amp? I probably won't be adding other cabs to my 4x10.

And thanks for the 2x10 cabs suggestions but my mind seems to be set on just one 4x10.

sad_katz · #15 12-22-2011, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imaginos

I've tried googling around a bit but I can't figure out what's the relevance of the speaker magnets being neodynamic.

Also, shouldn't I buy an 4 ohm cab to get the most juice out of my amp? I probably won't be adding other cabs to my 4x10.

And thanks for the 2x10 cabs suggestions but my mind seems to be set on just one 4x10.

Neodymium speakers are (usually) lighter, can take more power, has better displacement (thus can do louder before shredding itself vs ceramic ones), different voicing than ceramics (usually tighter and punchier, more defined/less lows/mud). Also much pricier after the whole supply lockdown issue

Not all speakers are the same but neo vs ceramics are usually like that.

"get the most juice out of my amp" is moot if the speakers cannot even handle half of what you can "theoretically" get from your amp. Which is the case with most conventional cabs today.

In reality (and practically) you are not going to regularly push the amp hard enough to "get the most juice" out of it. Better make room for possible expansion

And to my knowledge, these 4-ohm 410 cabs exist for 2ohm/4ohm tube amps.

CMIIW

tombowlus · #16 12-22-2011, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imaginos

Also, shouldn't I buy an 4 ohm cab to get the most juice out of my amp? I probably won't be adding other cabs to my 4x10.

While I do feel that radiating (cone) area and efficiency are probably more important than the jump from 8 to 4 ohms, you have a good point. The PN-410HLF is only available as an 8-ohm cab, although the GK is available as either 4 or 8 ohms.

I'm not sure if it's in your budget, but a new Bergatino HD410 would smoke with the 7Pro. You might also be able to pick up the also excellent HS410 for cheap, if people are looking to step into the new HD series.

MattyH · #17 12-22-2011, 02:07 PM

Ampeg 410HLF

Imaginos · #18 12-22-2011, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sad_katz

Neodymium speakers are (usually) lighter, can take more power, has better displacement (thus can do louder before shredding itself vs ceramic ones), different voicing than ceramics (usually tighter and punchier, more defined/less lows/mud). Also much pricier after the whole supply lockdown issue

Thanks! No wonder googling "neodynamic speakers" didn't yield the right results!

Quote:

Originally Posted by sad_katz

"get the most juice out of my amp" is moot if the speakers cannot even handle half of what you can "theoretically" get from your amp. Which is the case with most conventional cabs today.

In reality (and practically) you are not going to regularly push the amp hard enough to "get the most juice" out of it. Better make room for possible expansion

CMIIW

So, if the SVT-7 gives theoretically 600 watts at 8 ohms, I'm not going to notice it comparing side by side running it at 4 ohms with 1000 wats through a 4 ohm cab? Meaning that if I get even close to the maximum watts in either case I'll be blowing the speakers already? I just thought I'd have more wiggle room using a 4 ohm cab and higher watt read.

vin*tone · #19 12-22-2011, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tombowlus

While I do feel that radiating (cone) area and efficiency are probably more important than the jump from 8 to 4 ohms, you have a good point. The PN-410HLF is only available as an 8-ohm cab, although the GK is available as either 4 or 8 ohms.

I'm not sure if it's in your budget, but a new Bergatino HD410 would smoke with the 7Pro. You might also be able to pick up the also excellent HS410 for cheap, if people are looking to step into the new HD series.

I was going to suggest the HS410 too but they might be hard if he's buying in Europe. I have one and it's one of the most balanced 410's I've heard. The HD410 is supposed to sound similar.

vin*tone · #20 12-22-2011, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imaginos

Thanks! No wonder googling "neodynamic speakers" didn't yield the right results!

So, if the SVT-7 gives theoretically 600 watts at 8 ohms, I'm not going to notice it comparing side by side running it at 4 ohms with 1000 wats through a 4 ohm cab? Meaning that if I get even close to the maximum watts in either case I'll be blowing the speakers already? I just thought I'd have more wiggle room using a 4 ohm cab and higher watt read.

I don't know which 4Ω cab would take 1000 watts but I'd say that unless you are in an ear bleedingly loud band - you're delving into hypotheticals.