Amps and Cabinets - Are they designed to be optimum together?

[xray]

I've always been curious is equipment manufacturers actually design their amplification heads to be the most optimum if used with their "own" cabinets and visa-a-versa?

This isn't a post about tone, your ears, your preferences, your options, etc. More on the lines of design!

Do the engineers at G-K, G-B, MB, Eden, Ampeg, Hartke, etc. actually design their heads around their cabinets? Do they sound the "best" if used in unison?

[Bmorefoozler]

Their Marketing Departments would certainly like you to think so. If you read enough around here, you might understand they do most of the designing, so YES. From a VISUAL standpoint, the products are intended to be used together and that is what is important to the manufacturer. You also tend to see Thermal power handling matched up, as inconsequential as that is in practice.

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by xray

Do the engineers at G-K, G-B, MB, Eden, Ampeg, Hartke, etc. actually design their heads around their cabinets? Do they sound the "best" if used in unison?

Quite a different question from the question in the poll...

The answer: Some do, some don't. AFAIK, most don't. But I also agree, the marketing departments would certainly like you to think so...

MM

[SteveC]

I voted yes, but I am using a combo :-)

I am guessing they probably work well together but many heads and cabs sound great with those of other companies as well.

[Alex1984]

I would say, yes, they probably voice the cabs using their own amps and vice-versa, to achieve the sound in THEIR heads, but not necessarily the sound that you want. Aesthetically, they'd look more appealing if matched, and the specs would probably line up better; OTOH, it severely limits the options available, and also, there are quite a few companies that make great heads but not-so-great cabs.

[Tim C.]

Your poll question and the question posed in your actual post are two different questions.

Companies certainly want you to believe that matching their products will give you the best result.

[R Baer]

Originally Posted by Alex1984

...I would say, yes, they probably voice the cabs using their own amps and vice-versa, to achieve the sound in THEIR heads..

+1 We did do quite a bit of mixing and matching, but most of the listening test were done matching our head and cabinets together. Some overall tweaks were done to both the amp and the cabs to make them complement each other well. I'm sure the gear junkies on TB will all agree that while most cabs and heads mix and match pretty well, some combinations sound better than others, while others still can sound downright magical.

IMO, I think every company out there is designing what they believe to be the best tone on the market based on their own personal taste. Then, we throw it out there and the players either agree with our choices or they don't.

[jmattbassplaya]

I`m sure they design them that way to an extent, but you`re by no means limited to that.

[Buster Brown]

Originally Posted by Bmorefoozler

Their Marketing Departments would certainly like you to think so. If you read enough around here, you might understand they do most of the designing, so YES. From a VISUAL standpoint, the products are intended to be used together and that is what is important to the manufacturer. You also tend to see Thermal power handling matched up, as inconsequential as that is in practice.

Couldn't agree more.

From time to time I like to pair up my Acoustic 370 with my 8X10 and brother....it rocks.

Additionally, the MarkBass LM sounds pretty damned good through the 8X10...

[fourfinger]

Bass Gear magazine included a feature on Gallien-Krueger, including a detailed interview with Bob Gallien once that went into some depth about how they are matched.

Too technical for me to repeat here in any detail, but from that interview I got the strong impression that GK amps probably do match best with GK speakers, because of how they use a higher current than other amps, causing the transients have a sharper peak. A speaker built to that expectation would take full advantage of the amp's design; others might not.

I use an all-Mesa rig. Even if another brand of speaker might sound marginally better, I don't spend any time worrying about it, figuring that the Mesa engineers lost enough sleep over that already.

[Gearhead17]

I use Mesa cabs and Carvin heads. Sounds great!

I believe the SVT 3 PRO and SVT 410hlf were TRULY designed for each other. I have never heard the 410hlf sound as good with other heads.

Eden heads bring out Eden cabs amazingly too - with other heads, their cabs are still good, but do not sound as sweet as the Eden heads do.

The GK heads and the GK cabs are made to create that G.I.V.E. technology Gk is famous for.

That's in my experience...........

[xray]

Originally Posted by fourfinger

Bass Gear magazine included a feature on Gallien-Krueger, including a detailed interview with Bob Gallien once that went into some depth about how they are matched.

Too technical for me to repeat here in any detail, but from that interview I got the strong impression that GK amps probably do match best with GK speakers, because of how they use a higher current than other amps, causing the transients have a sharper peak. A speaker built to that expectation would take full advantage of the amp's design; others might not.

I use an all-Mesa rig. Even if another brand of speaker might sound marginally better, I don't spend any time worrying about it, figuring that the Mesa engineers lost enough sleep over that already.

I'm going to have to find that article.

[Vetchking]

Vetchking Here:

All I can say on this topic is the original Acoustic Control Company. Did indeed match various cabs with various amps.
We also took that approach in our new "acoustic" USA products.

Hey, It works.............

Later

[somegeezer]

To an extent they "match", but that doesn't always mean they are the best for the sound you want. For me, it was more price limitations that didn't allow me to get the cab I wanted. I would have loved the bi-amp feature that GK use in their cabs. One day, I'll sell the Laney cabs and match with the RBH series GK make instead.

[ridgeback]

have also tried different amp /speaker rigs over the years what i have now works for me.. have a boogie 400+ with a trace elliott 4x10 and a trace 1x15 ..just sounds better to my ears ,more punch than the boogie cabs..also tried the boogie cabs with my trace quatra valve but its not the same..sold the boogie cabs and use the quatra valve as a spare.. the old svt i had sounded really good with the boogie cabs ..
so i guess its kind of subjective what works for me someone will think is bad..having said that i do think that used speakers sound better than new..there is just so many factors to take in....

[Sartori]

Maybe. Not particularly important though. I use a Mesa/Boogie head with an Ampeg cab and an Ashdown cab.

[tombowlus]

Originally Posted by xray

I'm going to have to find that article.

Here's a link to Issue #3. Check out the Bass Gear Icons story on page 21, and my interview with Bob on page 26.