for the Avatar Owners Club folks...

Black Sheep · #1 10-01-2010, 02:18 PM

I am nearly ready to join in this group... My question for you all who actually live with these cabinets (410 NEO) is this: How does the "massive hole" in the upper mids that seems to always come up actually play out? It seems like there is a big variety of styles represented among the Avatar users here, so I can't believe it's actually that big of a problem...

Anyway, is this a real problem and if it does present itself how do you deal with it? This is coming from someone who would like a cab that allows a lot of versatility - jazz/classic rock/funk/a little slap/etc.

This is about actual experience and playing, as opposed to the theory of the cab and drivers. (...not that there's anything wrong with that...)
{not looking for heated arguments, just your experience} :-)

KramerBassFan · #2 10-01-2010, 02:27 PM

I use a 2x10 Avatar, Non neo judging by its weight, and i have no problems with it at all.

Biggest gripe is, it sounds best to me when i set it up vertically, but then i can't plunk one of my wide tube heads on it when i do that. So, i have to set it up horizontally, and then i have a hard time hearing it from 5 feet in front of it, whilst it kills from 20 feet.

Hope that helps...

evenintheshower · #3 10-01-2010, 02:28 PM

I have no problems with the upper mids in my Avatar B410 Neo cab. You want versatility? I use the same cab for bass and my V-Drums. My V-Drums setup hits every frequency imaginable and I have not noticed any "hole" when playing. As a bassist, I have had really good results with my Avatar cab. I have never noticed a problem with the upper mids. I play 5-string, fretless, active, passive, and have never had a problem. YMMV, IMO, IME, and all of that.

yawametoo · #4 10-01-2010, 02:37 PM

I too play out of a Avatar 410 Neo, what can I say I just love the thing..... I have owned several cabs and nothing compares to its sound quality or weight.... especially for the price. I am sure there are plenty of cabs out there that might sound just as good.. but I haven't found it.

I switched from a monster of a 810 Ampeg cab, I play both active and passive basses, 5 & 4's and I am able to get all ranges of sound. I play rock, jazz, alt, and funk stuff.

My sound quality is also attributed to my Mark Bass Tube 800, can't give all the credit to the Avatar. If you are thinking about getting an Avatar.... don't think twice they are worth it and best of all they are made in america, supported in america and relatively inexpensive.

But thats just my opinion.....

SlingBass4 · #5 10-01-2010, 02:38 PM

An Avatar cab is typically only as good as the quality of the head and/or the head of the player

Groovin_Joe · #6 10-01-2010, 02:42 PM

Same as above. I live mine. Don't really notice A big hole at all. I play about all the same stuff and I love it.

Black Sheep · #7 10-01-2010, 02:44 PM

Quote:

An Avatar cab is typically only as good as the quality of the head and/or the head of the player

Absolutely I agree on both counts. I am using a BX1500, which may or may not be the best for everyone, but it's been OK with my older RL410, which is being sold soon. Lot's of EQ options with the BX, but I tend to gravitate toward flat settings with my particular bass (LB75). FWIW, I did not much like the BRX10.4.

Johnny Crab · #8 10-01-2010, 04:58 PM

Curious.
I've toyed with the thought of supplementing some ACME B2's with 2x10 Avatars due to the additional mid bias that should be present(compared to flat ACME's).

Scott549 · #9 10-05-2010, 09:16 AM

I'm using a GK Backline 600 with an Avatar 1x12 and an old Hartke 1x15. I can get pretty good sound out of this rig, but when I tried just the Avatar without the Hartke, it could not handle the low E at all. I'm not sure whether this could be an issue with the amplifier, but with my setup I definitely need both cabinets.

Scionreality · #10 10-08-2010, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott549

I'm using a GK Backline 600 with an Avatar 1x12... it could not handle the low E at all.

I wonder what the problem really is, because I doubt it's the cab. I know an Avatar 210 will take a low B and a drop C without a problem.

thudfromafar · #11 10-08-2010, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Sheep

I am nearly ready to join in this group... My question for you all who actually live with these cabinets (410 NEO) is this: How does the "massive hole" in the upper mids that seems to always come up actually play out? It seems like there is a big variety of styles represented among the Avatar users here, so I can't believe it's actually that big of a problem...

Anyway, is this a real problem and if it does present itself how do you deal with it? This is coming from someone who would like a cab that allows a lot of versatility - jazz/classic rock/funk/a little slap/etc.

This is about actual experience and playing, as opposed to the theory of the cab and drivers. (...not that there's anything wrong with that...)
{not looking for heated arguments, just your experience} :-)

I'm not an expert but here's one thing I figured out. There will be a loss of dispersion in the upper mids due to the crossover at 5k, BUT, the deltalite-II drivers naturally have pretty HUGE bumps in that upper mid area. So it kinda evens out I would say... the cabs will be relatively mid-forward in front of the cab, and somewhat even off-axis.

Again, I'm not an expert, but this makes sense to me. I realized that my avatar 1x12 cabs actually sound surprisingly good as PA with the stock 5k crossover and foster horn. Not amazing, but better than expected, especially if you read a lot of the technical jargon around here

(not to say it's wrong, and again I'm not a pro sound engineer).

I wouldn't use them for studio monitors when editing important recordings, but they will do just fine as bass cabs, floor monitors, or faux PA.

Black Sheep · #12 10-11-2010, 08:07 PM

If the horn is turned off, can the tens be made to operate full range? Maybe I should do a search on this, but I wonder how it would be to bypass the x-over. I typically do not run the tweeter in my RL410T. For what I normally need, there are plenty of highs in the tens.

thudfromafar · #13 10-11-2010, 10:10 PM

^Yeah if you bypass the x-over straight to the speakers. Try this thread:

anybody remove the crossover/disconnect the tweeter?

rptrsn2 · #14 10-11-2010, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott549

I'm using a GK Backline 600 with an Avatar 1x12 and an old Hartke 1x15. I can get pretty good sound out of this rig, but when I tried just the Avatar without the Hartke, it could not handle the low E at all. I'm not sure whether this could be an issue with the amplifier, but with my setup I definitely need both cabinets.

If that is due to the cab you got a problem with it, i tune my 5 down to A and mine does great even cranked with my GK700rbii. I think your problem is elsewhere.

darthbatman · #15 04-10-2011, 10:29 PM

i got one coming in the mail! so stoked, swiped it just before the price of the neo speakers went up almost fifty bucks!!