Bergantino HT-322 vs HT/EX stack

LarryR · #1 09-15-2011, 10:57 AM

Tom Bowlus? Others?
I've never heard an HT322. How much fatter will the HT322 be than the orig HT/EX stack (which I currently use)?
What other tone differences would I see?

My current setup: Fender P & P/J > Ashdown ABM500 or Streamliner 900 > HT/EX112.
Style: 80% fingerstyle, 20% pick, Rock, Pop, Blues, R&B, Funk

KJung · #2 09-15-2011, 03:49 PM

I had the modular HT322 (called the 's' stack) for a while, and have spent some time with the original HT/EX stack.

VERY different.... more crisp and sizzly up top, much deeper voiced (even than the newer HT112ER), and very polite midrange. Very hi fi, as we use that term here on TB. It would be a bit like adding one more 12 to your current stack, and then dialing in an enhance/contour/scoop control on an amp, if that makes any sense (i.e., boosting deep bass, cutting low mids, extending and boosting upper treble).

Also, it is a ball buster. Heavy in an absolute sense, and it feels even heavier. Nice cab if you have a lot of power, and are after that kind of 'piano' tone... huge low end, smooth, polite midrange, and crystal clear upper treble that extends WAY up.

IMO and IME.

LarryR · #3 09-15-2011, 03:53 PM

Thx Ken. What I miss in both my Sadowsky SA410 and HT/EX stack is .....well, the sound of 15's! Ha! No surprise! But, as I double on upright and don't have the scratch for gobs of cabs, always settled with what Bergantino gave me. Sounds like I'll get close to a 15 sound with the HT322. As to sizzly on top.... not my thing. Can't I just roll all that off, and boost mids on my head to get more of the phat Rock/R&B tone?

KJung · #4 09-15-2011, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LarryR

Thx Ken. What I miss in both my Sadowsky SA410 and HT/EX stack is .....well, the sound of 15's! Ha! No surprise! But, as I double on upright and don't have the scratch for gobs of cabs, always settled with what Bergantino gave me. Sounds like I'll get close to a 15 sound with the HT322. As to sizzly on top.... not my thing. Can't I just roll all that off, and boost mids on my head to get more of the phat Rock/R&B tone?

There is a tweeter attenuator on that cab, so you can dial that down. However, to my ear, the cab is crossed over quite low, so you lose some upper mid/lower treble definition if you do that.

It will be much fatter than the SA410 and original HT/EX stack, which were both somewhat low end attenuated, and very nicely present in the low mids and mid mids, with a very natural sounding tweeter. The HT322 is almost the opposite of those cabs in every way.

If you can find an AE212, you would get a lot of that '15' thing you are describing, and not quite the scoop, sizzle or weight. IMO! The newer HT112ER/EX112ER stack would get you there also... much bigger and deeper sounding. I actually have a clip of the HT112ER up on my Youtube channel if you are interested. BIG low end, but still lots of low mid punch to that one.

I'm sure Tom B. will be along, since he also has or had an HT322 and the 12 stack you have.

Edit: An Acme 'FullRange/FlatWound' stack (in 8ohm version) would get you there also...BIG low end, and only about 36 pounds each.

LarryR · #5 09-15-2011, 04:39 PM

Ok. Now understand when you said you don't think it's the best cab for rock, with those polite mids and crossover. I've started a couple threads about cab choices and yet again, you and others point me to the "ER" stuff. I know why. Jim satisfied what lacked in the HT/EX stack. Attenuated lows. Guys compare the ER's to DB112's I believe. Alright... maybe the HT322 isn't my thing.

GeorgeG · #6 09-15-2011, 06:05 PM

The Bergantino ER series definitley adds in the lows that the previous HT/EX series lacked. It has been described as a 12" cab which thinks is a 15" cab and certainly does sound it in a lot of ways. Full, solid lows -low mids, a little less focused in the middle-high mids and very smooth natural highs which can be dialed with the attenuator on the back.
The New HD112 will be pretty much the same thing as the ERs or even the HD212 which will sound pretty close to an ER satck.

stingraysvt · #7 09-15-2011, 09:24 PM

Just a heads up there is a 322 just popped up on eBay for an astounding $475 +70 shipping

I almost bought it just to try out and resale but don't really need a cab that size in my arsenal.

Note: the auction is not mine just got it saved on my searches and saw it just now.

tombowlus · #8 09-16-2011, 03:44 PM

The HT322 has a low more depth, meat and authority down low. The highs are not that much different, but they are a bit more pure and refined. There is definitely a difference in the midrange, with the HT/EX stack being more mid-focused, and having more "texture" to the midrange. This difference in the mids makes the highs sound even more different than they might otherwise.

I like both setups, but for me, the HT112/EX112 is better when I am standing closer to my rig, or playing in a room which needs more control in the lows to low mids. The HT322 is hard to beat, though, when you have a medium to largish room/stage, and you want to rock out with authoritah!

LarryR · #9 09-16-2011, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tombowlus

rock out with authoritah!

Lol! Thanks Tom. Good point about gigs with tight stages. The HT/EX is so versatile. While I can get a smoking deal on the HT322, I may have to pass. I have such high respect for Jim Bergantino....and Andy Lewis for that matter. One has to appreciate the design of the HT-322. 2 separate boxes for the 10's and 12 whose separate ports are clearly shown in this photo:

LarryR · #10 09-17-2011, 11:33 PM

Well, I broke up my HT/EX stack. Traded the HT+cash for the HT-322. Seller allowed me to A/B both rigs. The HT-322 was everything you guys have said. Ken and Tom, your descriptions were pretty much spot on. I dunno, I'm just missing fat low end in my sound. Problem solved with 322. A few gigs under my belt and I'll know if I made the right move. Thanks all for your time.

LarryR · #11 09-21-2011, 12:22 AM

So far so good. I'm happy I made the move. I always liked my HT/EX stack, but, again, have been yearning for massive low end for a while. HT322 sounds like a tight, fat 215 but with great clarity. It sounds like a stack of the old Electrovoice EVM 3-way cabs, but, tighter (and easier to move). Someone said the HT322 sounds like 1 speaker. So far, I agree. Pretty seemless from 36khz on up, plus, it EQ's well. I can get the mids I need to cut through. OT: my Streamliner 900 sounds great with it, better than the Ashdown. I retubed my 900 and the cab has responded well with the changes. Before I got the HT322 I was thinking of flipping the S900. Now, I'm getting the meanest, tightest low end tone. The kind of tone you'd think could only come from a very high end rack. Much happy!

chris lykins · #12 09-23-2011, 05:49 PM

I love the HT322, just room filling hugeness

mindwell · #13 10-08-2011, 04:39 PM

DANG! I'm the guy who BIN'd it.

Thanks for not pulling the trigger! Between the time I saw it on my Blackberry and the time I was able to get downstairs to log in to the computer lab, I was totally stressed; adrenaline trembles, the works.

It *is* amazing. I cannot believe how much I love it. Absolutely the best cab ever, and plenty punchy in the mids. Loud as an SVT 810 onstage, but much fuller spectrum sound. How to tell my wife that I'm jonesing for a second one?

Quote:

Originally Posted by stingraysvt

Just a heads up there is a 322 just popped up on eBay for an astounding $475 +70 shipping

I almost bought it just to try out and resale but don't really need a cab that size in my arsenal.

Note: the auction is not mine just got it saved on my searches and saw it just now.