Ampeg Portflex PF-115HE cabinet

Scott549 · #1 07-16-2011, 11:43 AM

Some quick thoughts on the Portaflex 15" cabinet. I think it is good, but unspectacular.

Good -- it looks really cool, it's reasonably light, and it's got the flip-top feature.

Average -- the sound. I've heard 15" cabinets that can produce a lot more low end and overall sound level. Paired with my Avatar SB112, it's a good setup. But is it better than two Avatar 12's would be? I'm not sure. I guess they should be close since they're both essentially $400 cabinets.

Bad -- the tweeter doesn't do much, and when it is turned to the highest setting it produces a hissing sound.

lfbassguy · #2 07-16-2011, 01:47 PM

my tweeter doesn't do any hissing when it is turned all the way up, and i sure can tell a huge difference when it is on. maybe yours is defective? any way i really like how these cabs are tuned. i think they sound great. the bad thing is, it just seems week by itself, but when i put another 15" cab with it, it seems to really come alive then.

shoot-r · #3 07-16-2011, 01:58 PM

Does anyone have a PF 210 and a PF 115 they can compare to each other?
The newest BassPlayer mag write-up on the PF cabinets really didn't go into as much detail as I'd liked to have read.

BassmanPaul · #4 07-16-2011, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott549

Bad -- the tweeter doesn't do much, and when it is turned to the highest setting it produces a hissing sound.

No it does not. A tweeter reproduces what is fed to it. It cannot produce sound on its own. The hiss comes from the amplifier.

Scott549 · #5 07-16-2011, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

No it does not. A tweeter reproduces what is fed to it. It cannot produce sound on its own. The hiss comes from the amplifier.

Yes, I understand what you are saying. I'll have to play around with it some more. I let you know what I find out.

GregC · #6 07-16-2011, 03:46 PM

I wouldn't expect a sealed cab like the PF-115 to put out a ton of low end.

**ddbassGA** · #7 07-16-2011, 07:53 PM

Definitely a controlled low end, as you'd expect for a sealed cab. I am old school and biased to ported 1x15 cabs and tend to like that loose bottomy sound. But I'm finding I like this cab's tighter response and balance of bass, mid and high. Im getting a nice punchy sound that cuts through and fills the venue with clean bass without being boomy. Of course the PF500 head has something to do with that, and having 500 watts to throw at this cab.

Scott549 · #8 07-17-2011, 09:48 PM

The tweeter doesn't do much with my setup. I like some high end, so I've got it on the high setting, but it is not dramatic at all. But the Avatar SB112 combined with the PF-115HE make a nice setup. I think two of the Ampegs would be similar. Bottom line -- one of the Portaflex cabinets would be fine for coffee shop gigs or bands without a loud drummer. For bands with a drummer who hits hard, you need two cabinets.

I am really not educated on the sealed/ported cabinet issue. I do have a big old Traynor 15" cabinet that I play in my practice place that would probably work fine as a standalone. But it weighs a lot -- probably 75 pounds. Too much for a guy my size and age to haul to gigs.