Ampeg SVT-410HE: Realistic Expectations?

[Warpeg]

I may be able to get a great deal on an SVT-410HE. However, I am concerned with how this cabinet will perform. The cabinet is located a long drive from me; I'd like some real world input before I commit to the drive. So, for those of you that have quite a bit of experience with this model:

1. I play in a loud-ish rock band and use an Ampeg B-4R, which will push the cab at 680w RMS @ 8 ohm bridged. It will be my only cab; do you feel it is loud enough to cut through a mix and full enough for a well-balanced tone?

2. I'm used to using a ported 3-way cab (See my thread about modified SVT-1510HE). Will this sealed 410 sound drastically different?

[CL400Peavey]

Originally Posted by Warpeg

1. I play in a loud-ish rock band and use an Ampeg B-4R, which will push the cab at 680w RMS @ 8 ohm bridged. It will be my only cab; do you feel it is loud enough to cut through a mix and full enough for a well-balanced tone?

Depends on your eq/desired tone, and play style. If you want a lot of mid range cut, then this cab will do that in spades. If you are running a scooped tone or a ton of lows, then it may not be the cab for you.

Originally Posted by Warpeg

2. I'm used to using a ported 3-way cab (See my thread about modified SVT-1510HE). Will this sealed 410 sound drastically different?

Yes it will sound different.

[Warpeg]

Originally Posted by CL400Peavey

Depends on your eq/desired tone, and play style. If you want a lot of mid range cut, then this cab will do that in spades. If you are running a scooped tone or a ton of lows, then it may not be the cab for you.

Good point. I usually use a BDDI as a preamp, but I cut the bass and treble knobs on it way back to get a close-to-flat frequency response. My main player is an EBMM SR4 with the EQ flat; sometimes I add a slight + bump to the low or mid bands. My playing style is usually medium to aggressive finger style.

[Nephilymbass]

I have one. They are great cabs.

They have a few things that some folks don't like for one they are not good cabs for little amps that only put out 200w @8ohms . They need power, basically amps that would be happy pushing the 810e. So your amp should work good. The smallest amp Ive used with mine is an swr 750x which gives it 450w @8ohms. The tone also changes drastically with volume. Which is why i recommend a high powered amp. Turned down, like the post above mentions it sounds really scooped (lacking mids) but at high volume the tone balances out and sounds amazing. They are completely opposite from swr cabs that sound good at bedroom levels but bad at high volume. I personally turn the horn down a little on mine also

As far as good things. Its a sealed cab which gives you focused lows that don't get overly muddy. It gives a really good tight low b. It's a light cab so its easy to pick up. Mine has 4 removable casters. I set my rack on top and with my bass in a gig bag I load in in one trip. I played an 810e for over ten years before I got it so what I do is stack mine on top of my rack. My rack is a flat flight case style 8 space and it lifts the cab close to the same height as the 810. It's also one of the smallest 410s. The only ones Ive seen that are smaller are the swr golight series. But the biggest thing I like about this cab is like the 810e it sounds good loud. I prefer the tone of the 410he cranking over the 810e turned down.

Don't know what kind of deal your getting but I got mine online with 20% off new. Had to pay a little for shipping but with the discount it was still cheaper then full price with free shipping.

[taurus1]

a single 410 is never enough for a loud band, for me anyway.
I just bought a SVT410HE with the intention of buying a second. I'm used to 810's and want something that's easier to move.

[JimmyM]

I hear the SVT 410he as sounding pretty much identical to an 810e except for the tweeter.

[Warpeg]

Anyone else have experiences with this cab in a loud setting?

[sedan_dad]

I have 2 but I only use one. I push it with a 3 Pro. Great little cab. I use mine every weekend in a loud band. Of course it doesn't push air like a 810 will, but it does a great job. I had one of those 1510's. I found it to be anemic and thin. Traded it for a Steinberger Spirit. I do love the 410he. Make sure it's the 500 watt cab and not the 200 watt version .

[vin*tone]

People have massively different definitions of "loud". I have used one in a 200pp covers gig without going through the PA and it was plenty loud.

[musicman666]

I have the older 200 watt version that I used with a 3 pro. It worked well for blues-rock and such but Metal....nope!

[Groovy_Gravy]

Originally Posted by Warpeg

I may be able to get a great deal on an SVT-410HE. However, I am concerned with how this cabinet will perform. The cabinet is located a long drive from me; I'd like some real world input before I commit to the drive. So, for those of you that have quite a bit of experience with this model:

1. I play in a loud-ish rock band and use an Ampeg B-4R, which will push the cab at 680w RMS @ 8 ohm bridged. It will be my only cab; do you feel it is loud enough to cut through a mix and full enough for a well-balanced tone?

2. I'm used to using a ported 3-way cab (See my thread about modified SVT-1510HE). Will this sealed 410 sound drastically different?

I use one with my V4-b which is only 100W and it RIPS! its loud as hell.... I say get the cab, you wont be disappointed.

Beast!! 98% of the time I use it with just the 410HE only

[Groovy_Gravy]

Originally Posted by Nephilymbass

I have one. They are great cabs.

They have a few things that some folks don't like for one they are not good cabs for little amps that only put out 200w @8ohms . They need power, basically amps that would be happy pushing the 810e. So your amp should work good. The smallest amp Ive used with mine is an swr 750x which gives it 450w @8ohms. The tone also changes drastically with volume. Which is why i recommend a high powered amp. Turned down, like the post above mentions it sounds really scooped (lacking mids) but at high volume the tone balances out and sounds amazing. They are completely opposite from swr cabs that sound good at bedroom levels but bad at high volume. I personally turn the horn down a little on mine also

As far as good things. Its a sealed cab which gives you focused lows that don't get overly muddy. It gives a really good tight low b. It's a light cab so its easy to pick up. Mine has 4 removable casters. I set my rack on top and with my bass in a gig bag I load in in one trip. I played an 810e for over ten years before I got it so what I do is stack mine on top of my rack. My rack is a flat flight case style 8 space and it lifts the cab close to the same height as the 810. It's also one of the smallest 410s. The only ones Ive seen that are smaller are the swr golight series. But the biggest thing I like about this cab is like the 810e it sounds good loud. I prefer the tone of the 410he cranking over the 810e turned down.

Don't know what kind of deal your getting but I got mine online with 20% off new. Had to pay a little for shipping but with the discount it was still cheaper then full price with free shipping.

My amp puts out 100W and it makes this cab roar. I turn the horm completely off.

i got mine used but it was mint. $350

[elwuss]

Originally Posted by Nephilymbass

I have one. They are great cabs.

They have a few things that some folks don't like for one they are not good cabs for little amps that only put out 200w @8ohms . They need power, basically amps that would be happy pushing the 810e. So your amp should work good. The smallest amp Ive used with mine is an swr 750x which gives it 450w @8ohms. The tone also changes drastically with volume. Which is why i recommend a high powered amp. Turned down, like the post above mentions it sounds really scooped (lacking mids) but at high volume the tone balances out and sounds amazing. They are completely opposite from swr cabs that sound good at bedroom levels but bad at high volume. I personally turn the horn down a little on mine also

As far as good things. Its a sealed cab which gives you focused lows that don't get overly muddy. It gives a really good tight low b. It's a light cab so its easy to pick up. Mine has 4 removable casters. I set my rack on top and with my bass in a gig bag I load in in one trip. I played an 810e for over ten years before I got it so what I do is stack mine on top of my rack. My rack is a flat flight case style 8 space and it lifts the cab close to the same height as the 810. It's also one of the smallest 410s. The only ones Ive seen that are smaller are the swr golight series. But the biggest thing I like about this cab is like the 810e it sounds good loud. I prefer the tone of the 410he cranking over the 810e turned down.

Don't know what kind of deal your getting but I got mine online with 20% off new. Had to pay a little for shipping but with the discount it was still cheaper then full price with free shipping.

my experience is pretty different.

I don't like the 410HE.
I like it when I play at low volume and gently, but I crank it up and play more aggresively, it's farting too much.

that's the reason why I didn't buy it - I bought SVT 810 which I really like.

I play a Fender P special + GK Fusion 550


I really wanted to get 2 410HE's, because I thought it will be THE SAME as 810 - well, it's NOT!

[Fair Warning]

I push the #ucx out of the SVT410HE's that I have. I commonly use just one 410 with an SVT 4 Pro, bridged for heavy metal and it keeps up with great sound just fine! Using 2 410's at 4 Ohms is just louder and smoother.

[Groovy_Gravy]

Originally Posted by elwuss

my experience is pretty different.

I don't like the 410HE.
I like it when I play at low volume and gently, but I crank it up and play more aggresively, it's farting too much.

that's the reason why I didn't buy it - I bought SVT 810 which I really like.

I play a Fender P special + GK Fusion 550


I really wanted to get 2 410HE's, because I thought it will be THE SAME as 810 - well, it's NOT!

I crank the hell out of mine and it doesnt fart out..try turning the bass down a touch..

granted, my amp is 100W tube but its LOUD and i play in 2 different bands and one has 2 loud guitars and a sax and I am heard fine and I still have headroom...

[Nephilymbass]

I also crank the hell out of mine. No problems. Never heard it "fart out" And ive tuned as low as g# with it. I had the 810e for over a decade. I first tried the 410he in the studio because the guy wanted to use an iso box. All I owned at the time was the 810 i brought which obviously wouldn't fit in the ISO box. With the 810e and the 410he in a different room and me listening to the mic signal with both headphones and studio monitors i was wrong over and over trying to guess which was which.

This cab on the floor is obviously going to be no where near as easy to hear as the 810 but lifted to the same height its extremely loud. The noticeable difference live is the 810 is louder at 15-20 feet away where you are far enough away to actually hear the bottom half of the cab. At practice I can here myself much better because all the speakers are close to my head and not punishing my bandmates accross the room so they've turned down a lot.

[popgadget]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I hear the SVT 410he as sounding pretty much identical to an 810e except for the tweeter.

Same here. It's a pretty easily recognized tone that you either love or hate, and completely different from the ported HLF.