Is it blown?

takhammer · #1 07-18-2011, 12:36 PM

I recently purchased an Epifani UL2 210 cabinet from the Classified section here on TB. I tested it, upon returning home from meeting the Seller, and all was fine. I have used the cabinet about 6 or 7 times since(2 gigs, and a couple studio sessions), and most recently when i was using it, i noticed a crackling coming from the cabinet. Upon further investigation, i noticed that if i turn the tweeter down on the back, it stops. Does this likely mean it's blown, or could it just be a loose connection? I never turned the tweeter up past the area that says normal(about 12oclock) on the dial, and never turned the head up past 6 or so on the master volume. If infact it is blown, what should i do about replacing it? Thank you for your time and answers in advance.

JimmyM · #2 07-18-2011, 12:49 PM

Sounds like it's blown to me. Replacing the tweeter is fairly easy and cheap. You could pull it and see if you can figure out what kind it is, or call Epifani and maybe they can tell you and/or sell you a replacement. But you might do better by getting your own replacement elsewhere.

BassmanPaul · #3 07-18-2011, 01:24 PM

There might be a replacement diaphragm available. Again Epifani should be able to source it for you.

As a side note i really don't think that a single 2x10 is enough to gig with on a regular basis. I use the format but always gig with a pair.

takhammer · #4 07-18-2011, 03:24 PM

Paul, I wasn't planning to use it for large gigs, and my band prides it self on being able to play at a suitable level. It is a 4 ohm cab, and i'm not sure if there is anyway to use it in a pair. If that is not enough, in what way would i be able to make better use of this cab? Or should i just sell it and get another cab? I originally went this route b/c of the weight of my rig being very strenuous on a back injury that is always flairing up.

P.S. I do have a GK 410 8 ohm cab that i use in larger settings, and wasn't planning to push this one too hard.

For reference i use a markbass f1 which runs 500w @ 4 ohms and the cab is a 500w rms 4 0hm Epifani UL2 210 series 1

RickenBoogie · #5 07-18-2011, 03:40 PM

the cab may be rated at 500 watts, but it most likely couldn't actually take a full 500 watts for any extended periods of time. maybe it's fine for your band, but if it's straining, and the tweeters blown, maybe you need another cab. A 2x12 is a great in-between size cab that handles itself well, and it wouldn't matter if it's 8 ohm or 4 ohm.

BassmanPaul · #6 07-19-2011, 09:48 AM

If you buy 4Ω cabinets you have to have an amp capable of 2Ω operation. I own four Acme b2s and all are 4Ω. All of my power amps can handle 2Ω per channel but, as I only need a pair, I run the amps in parallel with one cabinet per channel.

With the 4Ω minimum impedance that your F1 has you cannot add a second cabinet. As Rick posted, your cabinet has a 500W thermal rating but can actually use somewhere about half of that. Putting more power in will not make it any louder.

JimmyM · #7 07-19-2011, 11:08 AM

Take Epifanis's power handling rating and cut it in half. That is a more realistic power handling spec. The 500w is for when the the thermal power handling rating is reached and the voice coil toasts. But it means nothing compared to displacement, and generally it's right around half of the thermal limit. Anyone who tells you a 210 can take 500w should be looked upon with suspicion. 200-250w tops.

rockinroller · #8 09-30-2011, 10:59 AM

Hope you got your tweeter replaced by now. And hope you stayed away from the cheap Piezo plastic type that aren't worth the $2 or so online. Seems these bass amp manufacturers ought to spend a little more in the tweeter area when they build their products. GK's MB210 and 212 series combo amps are extraordinary performance amps--lightweight, powerful, etc.--but the tweeters are crap--at least they were.