Advantages to differant Brand Cabnets

ethanbowen666 · #1 08-21-2011, 07:37 PM

I'm in the market for 2 cabnets (most likely two 4x10s).

Can I get some opinions on some brans like

-SWR
-MarkBass
-Eden
-GK
-Ampeg

I'm looking for something that will give me a tight clean definitive sound. I like to be able to hear the actuall notes being played vs feeling them. If that helps at all.

Thanks!

username1 · #2 08-21-2011, 09:22 PM

SWR if your looking for a good clean uncolored sound.

scottfeldstein · #3 08-21-2011, 09:40 PM

I think all of those makers have good 4x10 cabs. But you'll have to weigh things like a) the tone you like, b) the cost, c) the weight.

In my case, I have my biases. I like the GK brand. It's a good company. I like their amps. I like my Neo 212. I would be inclined to go with them on principle. I'd go with another brand only if I got a deal on something used. But none of that has anything to do with you.

Let price, weight, tone and volume be your guides. There are reviews of a lot of those cabs in the reviews area of this site.

One thing I'll say: they all make good cabs.

Road Bull · #4 08-21-2011, 10:38 PM

I don't think you would go wrong with any of your choices. IMHO, I feel the SWR and the Eden have the sound I enjoy. And of the two. I like the Eden D410LXT a little bit better than the Goliath III. But I would be happy with either. If you went with Eden, you might want to look into getting one of each of their top 410 cabs. The 410XLT and the 410XST are supposed to compliment each other very well.

I think Mike Watt's Contemplating the Engine Room album and tour sold me on the Eden sound. Watt could hit everything from very smooth clean tones to aggressive snarls.

If you can, try to listen to as many of these rigs as you can. If possible, take as much of your gear, bass / amp, as possible to test these cabs. This will give you a better idea of what to expect.

Good luck and have fun!

JimmyM · #5 08-21-2011, 11:37 PM

All of those cabs will give you that. It's just a matter of finding which one hits your buttons. I've used them all and the Ampeg cabs hit my buttons way more than any of the others. YMMV.

Quote:

SWR if your looking for a good clean uncolored sound.

Ain't a cab on the market that does "uncolored."

edgaroviz · #6 08-22-2011, 12:57 AM

Lets face it, most cabs are heavy, I went to my ampeg dealer, and there's no way I'm going to buy a 8x10, or 2x4x10... You just can't move them easily, or... At all.

When I went to check the markbass out, they are good cabs, really good, and they their weight it just 60lbs for a 4x10, and if you're planning to move they cab out of the house for practice, or a venue, they are the best!
Because the second you start thinking if you're going to take a cab with you, you... Won't.

I'm going for Markbass, or fEarful... I'll just see if I can get these speakers.

ethanbowen666 · #7 08-22-2011, 02:27 AM

Thank you for all of your opinions. My main concerns are...

1. Punchy/clear sound
2. Weight
Price is not a concern to me, I work at Musician's Friend so I can order things directly from the manufacture.

-I'm going to do some research on those "Eden 410XLT and the 410XST."

Anyone have any experience with the GK "RBH Series"??
Any opinions on Markbass?
Has anyone ever mixed different brand cabinets... or is that a no no?
Last Question... Ports in front of cabinet VS ports in back??

Russell L · #8 08-22-2011, 06:11 AM

I like my Markbass cabs, but I haven't played all the others. I think they have a punchy sound without sounding boxy or boomy. Plus, my Little Mark II amp is killer (it's in my 121H combo).

fenderhutz · #9 08-22-2011, 06:27 AM

Punchy clear sound. Lighter cabs?

That screams Avatar 410 to me. That's what mine sounded like and it was one of the lightest 410 cabs I ever owned.

Pbruno · #10 08-22-2011, 06:30 AM

I have a Neo 212 avatar cabinet.
For the price, i think its a great cab, and it weights only 50 Lbs

rodl2005 · #11 08-22-2011, 06:35 AM

Rear ported cabs generally have a tighter bottom end compared to front ports. AFAIK

Bob C · #12 08-22-2011, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodl2005

Rear ported cabs generally have a tighter bottom end compared to front ports. AFAIK

I've never heard that before, and have no reason to believe it's true.

Von Felgenhauer · #13 08-22-2011, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

All of those cabs will give you that. It's just a matter of finding which one hits your buttons. I've used them all and the Ampeg cabs hit my buttons way more than any of the others. YMMV.

Ain't a cab on the market that does "uncolored."

What about a fEARFUL?

jacojbass · #14 08-22-2011, 06:51 AM

mesa boogie....punchy,super clear, not to heavy.....but a little pricy and worth every penny.

Oobly · #15 08-22-2011, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Von Felgenhauer

What about a fEARFUL?

+1

I did a lot of research and came to the conclusion that it's worth trying one. From what I have read they are very "clear", what goes in through the cable comes out of the box and they are very light, too. Busy building a 15/6 at the moment.

There are even some guys making super-lightweight composite cabs to the fEarful design. List of builders here: fEARful™ enclosures for bass/drums/keys

Rockin Mike · #16 08-22-2011, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethanbowen666

Thank you for all of your opinions. My main concerns are...

1. Punchy/clear sound
2. Weight
Price is not a concern to me, I work at Musician's Friend so I can order things directly from the manufacture.

-I'm going to do some research on those "Eden 410XLT and the 410XST."

Anyone have any experience with the GK "RBH Series"??
Any opinions on Markbass?
Has anyone ever mixed different brand cabinets... or is that a no no?
Last Question... Ports in front of cabinet VS ports in back??

If going the Eden route, remember their heads are good down to 2 ohms. You could run a 410XLT at 4 ohms by itself, and add a 210XST at 8 ohms (4 ohms + 8 ohms = 2.6 ohms, well within the operating specs for Eden heads) for larger gigs. That way you make the most of your amp and you have the versatility to handle small, medium or large situations.

Eden+SWR is a good combination too.
I have an Eden head and 410XLT, and on top of that I sit an SWR Redhead combo amp. Sounds great.

JimmyM · #17 08-22-2011, 08:37 AM

Even a fEarful is dependent on the voicing of the speakers for its sound, and the 3015LF is certainly not dead flat, so you're not going to get dead flat sound out of one unless you put some EQ on it.

As for the ports, port location makes zero difference. It's all in the size and tuning of the cab.

pablomigraine · #18 08-22-2011, 10:20 AM

Having tried pretty much every 410 available on the market, I've found that the Genz Benz Uber 410 is the best "mass-market" 410 available anywhere, from anyone.... willing to spend a little more? The Bergantino HS410 is the greatest cabinet available in a 410, bar none, hands down.

Anyone who says so-and-so brand 410 is better than the Genz Benz UB-410..... first ask to see if they've actually ever played the genz benz..... because if they say the SWRFENDERGKAMPEG is better.... then they havent...

will33 · #19 08-22-2011, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethanbowen666

Thank you for all of your opinions. My main concerns are...

1. Punchy/clear sound
2. Weight
Price is not a concern to me, I work at Musician's Friend so I can order things directly from the manufacture.

-I'm going to do some research on those "Eden 410XLT and the 410XST."

Anyone have any experience with the GK "RBH Series"??
Any opinions on Markbass?
Has anyone ever mixed different brand cabinets... or is that a no no?
Last Question... Ports in front of cabinet VS ports in back??

As far as it's function, the location of the ports doesn't matter as the frequencies they put out are omnidirectional. That said location does matter in that if a rear port is directly behind one of the cones, some middle and upper frequencies from the back of the cone can "escape" through it changing the voicing of the cab. You also shouldn't place them right up against a back wall, keep them a few inches away. In a certain proximity, the wall can function as part of the port either by choking it off or extending it, again changing the voicing. Done right, there's nothing at all wrong with rear ports and they're used a lot in compact cabs simply because there isn't enough room to put them in the front.

As far as punch, that happens in the lower midrange, not the deep lows. Giving a cab a little higher lowend rolloff (less low bass) will make it sound punchier. More low bass isn't always the answer.

Rockin Mike · #20 08-22-2011, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by will33

As far as punch, that happens in the lower midrange, not the deep lows. Giving a cab a little higher lowend rolloff (less low bass) will make it sound punchier. More low bass isn't always the answer.

+1 to the punch living in the low mids around 150 to 350 Hz.
Most rooms will reinforce the lows. Whenever I've stepped out into the audience, the first thing I heard was the low bass being too loud, muddy and/or boomy. Nowadays I cut the lows below 100 or 200 Hz and let the low mids do the talking.