The "Best" Cabs

Ezmar · #1 08-26-2011, 08:21 PM

So I was wondering, Since it's obvious that no brand of amps are "Better" or "worse than others objectively, I Know that you really can't say that there's a "best" brand for cabs either. But it seems to me that Some brands are going to make better cabs than others, simply because some brands just started out with electronics and amps, and gained steam and started making speakers to sell, too. I guess what I'm saying is that Although you can't really say what are the "Best" cabs, because you might like any brand of cab for its particular sound, there seem to be some brands that you kind of can't go wrong with, that just make quality speaker cabs. The ones I've noted are Bergantino and Bag End.

Do you know what I'm saying? Like these aren't the "best" by any means, because that's ridiculous. But there seem to be cabs that you kind of just know will sound great no matter what you run through them (within reason, I'm not saying that ANYTHING can save a crappy amp), that although you might not pick them over everything else, In general there aren't many glaring complaints about, that most dislike is just personal taste. Are there any just "Great" cabs like this? I sort of think people who JUST make cabs, it seems to me that they'd be of better quality than people who made cabs and heads, but that's just me. Of course that's not a rule by any means.

I'm fairly new to all of this, and I haven't tried literally any amps at all for comparison. But the main brands I've heard nothing wrong with and seen to be fairly popular ar Bag End and Bergantino, like I mentioned before, and GK, which seems to be very popular, and I've never heard any complaints.

So?

Mojo-Man · #2 08-26-2011, 08:30 PM

There are many great cab makers.
You should decide what cab fits you tonal needs.
I prefer, Ampeg, Bergantino, Schroeder, Orange.
The are very old school cabs, which I like.
There is no best, just best for you.

Ezmar · #3 08-26-2011, 08:37 PM

Yeah, but are there any that aren't really "wrong" for Anyone?

Like I said, I really don't have any experience with cabs, and I guess something that I'm trying to get at is What kind of tonal differences are you going to see from cabs? I just don't see the brand affecting the sound of the CAB too much, although I'm sure it does. I can't imagine how, I can only imagine that some cabs are bad, and some are Better. I can't think of how they'd be different. Is it just the cab shape and enclosure, the way that's put together, and if so, what does that really affect?

I just don't understand how different brands could possibly make a tangible difference between the cabs themselves, with the same head and everything. Although I know they do. I just don't understand what the differences would be.

I love all this tone and gear stuff, a little too much, I think

steve_rolfeca · #4 08-26-2011, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ezmar

Yeah, but are there any that aren't really "wrong" for Anyone?

...I just don't understand how different brands could possibly make a tangible difference between the cabs themselves, with the same head and everything.

No, there's no such thing as a "universal cab", that's good for everybody.

If you get a chance to look at some frequency response graphs, you'll see why. Even so-called "flat response" cabs like the fEarful and Acme, have HUGE peaks and valleys in their response, when compared to even a crappy power amp.

Guys obsess over this amp vs that amp, yet your electronics actually have far less impact on your sound, than the speakers you choose.

Ezmar · #5 08-26-2011, 09:17 PM

Well, maybe not good, but I'm sure there are some that aren't necessarily "bad" for anyone, although I guess that's just the same as saying that you really can't complain if you spent a couple grand on a speaker Cab.

Where would I find these frequency response graphs? Right now I have a nice amp, with a new "Acoustic" cab, so it's not the best, but there really should be nothing wrong with it. I'm really itching to go out and try a zillion different amps and cabs, but I have neither the time nor the money.

So what can be said in general? Nothing? I mean, is the difference between two brands going to be as drastic as the difference between a 2x12 and a 4x10? I imagine that the speaker size and number is going to have a greater impact on the overall sound than the brand, some brands can certainly make a 4x10 with much worse high frequency response than a good 2x12...

I guess I'm just really greedy for all the knowledge I can get on this subject. I don't suppose there's any way for me to become more knowledgeable without actually playing amps and comparing sounds and nuances myself, is there?

tekdiver500ft · #6 08-26-2011, 09:33 PM

I've been impressed with the build quality and sound quality of Ampeg and SWR 4x10 cabs...

oldsalt · #7 08-26-2011, 09:52 PM

I used to think that brand to brand, things couldn't be much different. A 4x10 by one manufacturer couldn't be that different than another manufacturer. I did, however, start to notice differences. Each maker has their own internal design that they feel works best with the speaker they choose to put in the cab.
Take a look at 8x10s. Ampeg is the classic design. They talk about the baffling. Their cabs have a different sound because the design is basically four 2x10s stacked. Whereas another manufacturer will have an 8x10s that is really just two 4x10s in a single cabinet. There are little things that each company does.
Keep looking into it & using your ears. I prefer sealed 4x10 cabs because, I hear more mids pushed. But, I've owned an Eden ported 4x10 that had the greatest depth I've ever heard out of a 4x10. So, personally, I've noticed lots of differences.
Even in 1x12 cabs. Like, the Aguilar DB has such volume out of such a tiny box. They use a very shallow cab to get that effect. My trace elliot 1x12 sounds like an entirely different animal.
Cab designs fascinate me as well! I love it when I see two manufacturers use the same speaker & then I see two completely different internal cab designs. That is each maker's attempt to get the most out of that speaker.
Don't know if any of this helps at all, just some personal observations.

Sartori · #8 08-26-2011, 09:56 PM

It's subjective.

What's good and what's bad really depends on what sort of sound you're going for. This is no less true with cabs than with amps.

My cab probably wouldn't be suitable to a lot of people, and their cabs might not really work for me.

As long as the build quality is good, it's really all down to what you like and what you don't like, which differs between people.

I thought my friend's Ampeg 810 sounded great, but I know that there are some people who hate those.

Ezmar · #9 08-26-2011, 09:58 PM

*sigh* This means I'll have to go out and compare the crap out of all these cabs.

And I WANT to, really bad, it's just that I don't have the means right now. Starting college and everything... And no real music stores without a lengthy drive... I'd love to just take a field day - wait, make it "week" - and just play all sorts of different stuff.

Ah, maybe someday, right?

Sunn · #10 08-26-2011, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ezmar

*sigh* This means I'll have to go out and compare the crap out of all these cabs.

And I WANT to, really bad, it's just that I don't have the means right now. Starting college and everything... And no real music stores without a lengthy drive... I'd love to just take a field day - wait, make it "week" - and just play all sorts of different stuff.

Ah, maybe someday, right?

This.

rockstarbassist · #11 08-26-2011, 10:31 PM

There's no such thing as a "better" cab in terms of being subjective and what you like and want to hear... are there such things from build quality, reliability, tone and looks that make ones "better" than others? Sure.

I'd put top tier builders out there like Mesa, Bergantino, Orange, GB, Aguilar and certain Ampegs (mainly the Fridge) with guys like SWR, GK, Hartke and Peavey close behind. But again, for 98.345% of us, a cab is just a big monitor (unfortunately) so as long as I can get something quality that sounds good standalone or mic'd, and won't take a dump on me mid-song, then I'm pretty much open to whatever. I like 12's, not everyone makes good multiple 12"-equipped cabs so my options were somewhat narrowed and it is what it is. I'd be happy with anything aforementioned, however.

rodl2005 · #12 08-26-2011, 10:42 PM

A 'starting' point for your week of trying different cabs could be to think about the style/s of music/tones you're looking for, & going on from there??

Rockmusician · #13 08-26-2011, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ezmar

So I was wondering, Since it's obvious that no brand of amps are "Better" or "worse than others objectively,

No offense, but this makes about as much sense as saying that it's obvious that a Kia is as good as a Mercedes. While personal perference is highly subjective, there are amps and cabs that are better than others, just as there are better and worse products in every line of consumer goods.

Ezmar · #14 08-26-2011, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockmusician

No offense, but this makes about as much sense as saying that it's obvious that a Kia is as good as a Mercedes. While personal perference is highly subjective, there are amps and cabs that are better than others, just as there are better and worse products in every line of consumer goods.

Well, that's sort of what I was asking about. I was just trying to show that I wasn't just some total newbie who thinks that there is a "best" amp brand, like the kind of guitarist who gets a Marshall full stack with a les paul or whatever and considers themselves "done" because they have the best stuff in existence. I was just trying to say that I WASN'T that guy.

I guess A better question would be which are the Bad ones? Don't say anything harsh about the new Acoustic ones, because I know they're not high end at all, but that's what I'm going to be using for quite a while, and I'd like to avoid feeling dissatisfied with it.

dhomer · #15 08-27-2011, 12:34 AM

I guess you could start at "state-of-the-art"....

fEARful™ enclosures for bass/drums/keys

countrybassist · #16 08-31-2011, 07:53 AM

I've played Ampeg cabs, SWR, Fender, Hartke, Aguilar and most recently a Berg. My preference is the Berg NV610. But that's just my opinion.

walkerci · #17 08-31-2011, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by countrybassist

I've played Ampeg cabs, SWR, Fender, Hartke, Aguilar and most recently a Berg. My preference is the Berg NV610. But that's just my opinion.

Can't go wrong there. All the NV series are awesome.
I A/Bed all of them and the AE series also, with the same model amp I usually gig with. I liked the NV412 the best.

Yup, it is subjective and amp/cab pairing can be important.
I've found that all my cabs sound great with all my amps.

cchorney · #18 08-31-2011, 08:21 AM

There are a lot of variables involved in what reaches the ear, and beyond that, what your perception of "good sounding" is. Assuming all the brands you limit your shopping to are of comparable build quality and will adequately handle what your amp is feeding it, I would recommend you test each cab with the SAME amp in the SAME space with the SAME bass playing the SAME mix of stuff on it. That will limit the differences to perceived tonal differences resulting from the size and shape of the enclosure, construction method and material used, build quality, etc. This is a huge pain in the butt to do but it really does help to weed out differences that just confuse the process.

You might also want to consider factors such as size, weight and shape - I prioritized weight in my recent cab purchase, and I know of people who had to rule out certain cabs as they wouldn't fit in the back seat of their current vehicle!

Munjibunga · #19 08-31-2011, 09:27 AM

I like Bergantino cabs, but I have to say I'm impressed by the DNA cabs I've played, especially the DNS-410.

Gearhead17 · #20 08-31-2011, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cchorney

There are a lot of variables involved in what reaches the ear, and beyond that, what your perception of "good sounding" is. Assuming all the brands you limit your shopping to are of comparable build quality and will adequately handle what your amp is feeding it, I would recommend you test each cab with the SAME amp in the SAME space with the SAME bass playing the SAME mix of stuff on it. That will limit the differences to perceived tonal differences resulting from the size and shape of the enclosure, construction method and material used, build quality, etc. This is a huge pain in the butt to do but it really does help to weed out differences that just confuse the process.

You might also want to consider factors such as size, weight and shape - I prioritized weight in my recent cab purchase, and I know of people who had to rule out certain cabs as they wouldn't fit in the back seat of their current vehicle!

+10

No matter what you buy, it's going to sound different in every room you play. The real question is, can you get a decent tone and volume out of it in every room you play?

Each and every speaker cab out there is usable. Some are more useful for quieter, coffee shop gigs, some are better reserved for louder rock bands.

The one brand I suggest staying away from is Behringer. It's cheap Chinese made bass gear that is not worth your time. I have had several Behringer products fail on me from NO ABUSE. Can Behringer gear work on stage, definitely. Will it last a long time? Probably not.