Aguilar or Avitar Cabinets?

[Jeff Zak]

I'm in the market for new bass cabs. I have grown tired of my 4 X 10 Hartke and want to get a 2x12 or 1x15 (bottom), and a 2x10 top cab. I have heard good things about both companies but have not heard Avitar cabs with my own ears. Any help or suggestions?

[Liam Wald]

I have never played through Aguilar, but I do have an Avatar B153 bottom and an Avatar B210 top. I drive them with a Mesa M6 Carbine and they sound fabulous!
In my humble opinion that is.

[MuzikMan]

Avatar speakers are well built and moderately well engineered cabs. The TB153 is especially good, with a lot of thought put into price/performance. They are absolutely worth the money.

Now, get ready for a pile of people explaining to you that mixing cabs is bad (rightfully so).

[Jeff Zak]

Mixing cabs is bad? When was this decided? LOL I have been playing almost 30 years and have always "mixed" cabs. 1x15 & 4x10 Hartke stack, 1x15 & 2x10 Edens stack, Marshall 4x12 stacked on a Peavy 1x15.

Somebody tell me what is bad about that?

[Sav'nBass]

Originally Posted by Jeff Zak

Mixing cabs is bad? When was this decided? LOL I have been playing almost 30 years and have always "mixed" cabs. 1x15 & 4x10 Hartke stack, 1x15 & 2x10 Edens stack, Marshall 4x12 stacked on a Peavy 1x15.
Somebody tell me what is bad about that?

Vrrroooom vroooom

Nothing personal .. this is a very well tread subject in here is all ... Wait for it ... waaiiit for it...

[Mr. Foxen]

Aren't Aguilar much more expensive than Avatar? I've had an Aguilar cab and it was very good. I sort of considered Avatar to be good budget cabs, and Aguilar to be higher end coloured/traditional sounding cabs.

[THORRR]

Follow your EARS !

I use 2 Avatar B410 Neo cabs powered by an 800w MarkBass
digital head. It is TREMENDOUS!

(No experience with Aguilar so I can't compare, nor do I feel
the need to.) I'm perfectly happy with my setup & wouldn't change
a thing.

Avatar is a great product. You won't be let down.

[bassgod0dmw]

I've been playing Aguilar GS cabs for the last 5-6 years or so. I've never had a problem with them and always had a killer tone. The GS's and DB's aren't the smallest or lightest cabs out there, but they hit right where it counts...tone. THe SL's on the other hand, well those are pretty light.

I think it really depends on your budget, aren't Aggies more expensive than Avatar? What brought you to decide between these two brands?

[Jeff Zak]

I've tried just about every other cab out there and still looking for something that I'm 100% happy with. Right now the Hartke cabs I'm using are doing the job but they are not mine.

I've heard good things about Aguilar and Avitar and have been considering them for about a year. I have heard Avitars take a while to get, while Aguilars ship pretty quickly. Is there any truth in that?

Aguilars are about twice the cost of Avitars but I need something that can hold up to a lot of road use (50+ gigs a year).

[MuzikMan]

There may be reasons why Aguilar cabs are worth more money but durability isn't one of them. Avatar cabs (and I'm sure Aguilar also) are very solid and durable. Also, since you have waited over a year to get new cabs I wouldn't be too concerned about shipping times.

[shoot-r]

Originally Posted by Jeff Zak

I've tried just about every other cab out there and still looking for something that I'm 100% happy with. Right now the Hartke cabs I'm using are doing the job but they are not mine.

I've heard good things about Aguilar and Avitar and have been considering them for about a year. I have heard Avitars take a while to get, while Aguilars ship pretty quickly. Is there any truth in that?

Aguilars are about twice the cost of Avitars but I need something that can hold up to a lot of road use (50+ gigs a year).

If you are happy with the sound of the borrowed Hartke's, I'd suggest going with the same model of Hartke cabinets.

Aguilar and Avatar (and just about every commerically built bass cabinet manufacturer) use Eminence drivers and Foster/Fostex/P-Audio horns.
Ag and Avatar use Eminence 2510's with a custom x-max driver to match up with their cabinets sound design goals.
Avatar uses a Eminence crossover, odds are Ag does also.
Biggest difference of the two besides the cosmetics, the cabinets size and it's tuning.
Only your ears can say which manufacturers tuning you'd prefer.

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by Mr. Foxen

Aren't Aguilar much more expensive than Avatar? I've had an Aguilar cab and it was very good. I sort of considered Avatar to be good budget cabs, and Aguilar to be higher end coloured/traditional sounding cabs.

That would be my take on it...

MM

[MuzikMan]

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

That would be my take on it...

MM

Actually I am wondering why the Aggies cost more. They seem to use similar components.

[T Bassman]

Why mess around, get yourself a couple AGUILAR GS 1X12 Cabs and fahghettabboutiiittt!!!!
Seriously though, wonderful cabinets for a player on the move, and on the lighter side for such HUGE sounding Cabs.
I actually really like the Avatar products I've heard, and if budget is a huge variable here they would be an excellent choice as well. But if you can round up the scratch GO AGGIE!

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by Jeff Zak

I have heard Avitars take a while to get, while Aguilars ship pretty quickly. Is there any truth in that?

Not as far as turnaround time for the Avatars is concerned, no. I've dealt with Dave @ Avatar on a pair of guitar cabs earlier this year, and I've got to say that turnaround time was excellent: about 48 hours (or less) to build the cabs (to my specifications), three days to get 'em from Idaho to New York via UPS, and those babies were at my door.

Can't beat the service...

MM

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by MuzikMan

Actually I am wondering why the Aggies cost more. They seem to use similar components.

Dave's direct sales model that cuts out distributors and retailers, along with his low overhead that allows him to price his product competitively, would have to be a big part of that equation...

MM

[bobcruz]

Frequently, though, the Aggies on Amazon are priced like Avatars and sometimes less, especially if you have Amazon's Prime membership and get free shipping. Keep an eye on the Amazon Deals thread in the Hot Deals folder. For example, here is Aguilar's 115 in tweed for $408: http://www.amazon.com/Aguilar-DB-115...=5336121837-20. Avatar doesn't offer a comparable 2-way ceramic 115 but its ceramic 112 with tweed and cloth grill is $414 shipped. So these sales at Amazon complicate the choice--which is great, isn't it?

Edit: and here's the Aggie ceramic DB112 in tweed for $360: http://www.amazon.com/Aguilar-DB-112...3637899&sr=1-4. Amazing price.

[Jason Dutra]

I use avatars, B212, sound is amazing. Heavy and clear. I just called, talked with Dave took about 5 min. Cab delivered to So Fl less than a week. Whole process couldn't have been easier or smoother. Never used Aguilars but completely happy. I really like the direct approach with Avatar.

[wonderjosh]

Originally Posted by bobcruz

Edit: and here's the Aggie ceramic DB112 in tweed for $360: Amazon.com: Aguilar DB 112 Bass Cabinet, Boss Tweed, 8 Ohm: Musical Instruments. Amazing price.

Thank you for this link! I just bought two!

[bobcruz]

Originally Posted by wonderjosh

Thank you for this link! I just bought two!

You're welcome! The price on both the 115 and 112 is back up to the usual, but these crazy Amazon deals happen all the time so if anyone missed it, keep watching.