Can a cabinet "scoop" mids by itself???

kjpollo · #1 12-16-2010, 08:02 PM

I was looking into making a deal for a cab and in the process of discussing trade bait, a certain model of cabinet came up.

I offered it to the potential trade partner and he came back to me and said he wasnt interested in the cab in question because it supposedly produces scooped mids.

I was/am VERY confused.

I always thought you could only scoop mids via some form of EQ- either a 3 band on the bass or via the amp's EQ section.

How on EARTH can an unpowered speaker cabinet scoop out mids???
HELP!!!!

billfitzmaurice · #2 12-16-2010, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjpollo

How on EARTH can an unpowered speaker cabinet scoop out mids???

By using drivers with weak midrange.

Mr. Foxen · #3 12-16-2010, 08:10 PM

Cabs with bassy drivers and a tweeter do it by having a gap between where the drivers roll of and the tweeter kicking in. Kind of in the high mids.

kjpollo · #4 12-16-2010, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

By using drivers with weak midrange.

I'm the first to admit-while I know about a bunch of basses, I dont know very much about amps & cabs.

Would this mean that the drivers themselves are inferior if they have weak midrange?

the brand of cab we were discussing is a brand that is held in pretty high regard around here. Maybe a step or 2 below the real top-notch companies but definitely a very well-respected brand.

Needless to say, I was really surprised to hear this.

**JxBass** · #5 12-16-2010, 08:24 PM

Not inferior (IMO) just a different design goal. Epifani UL cabs sound mid-scooped to many folks, are quite popular, and not inexpensive.

Musicman20 · #6 12-17-2010, 02:56 AM

[quote=JxBass;10140927]Not inferior (IMO) just a different design goal. QUOTE]

+1

Depends on the tone goal.

Alexander · #7 12-17-2010, 03:16 AM

Yep - the Epifani UL410 and Ampeg 410HLF are two cabs that sound mid-scooped to me...

KJung · #8 12-17-2010, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JxBass

Not inferior (IMO) just a different design goal. Epifani UL cabs sound mid-scooped to many folks, are quite popular, and not inexpensive.

+1 That dip/space between the top of the driver and the tweeter can be a VERY positive voicing with some playing styles, and is the signature Epifani UL tone (as an example)... plenty of low end and mids in general, but an automatic 'softening' in that 1K range which 'automatically' reduces that ganky upper mid tone that many don't like, and also kind of 'uncovers' the tweeter a bit... resulting in the top end of the cab to kind of 'sit out there' a bit, versus being cluttered up in the lower treble region.

It is more of a tone choice than a 'better or worse'. That very smooth, airy voicing is not really my thing at this point, but it can sound VERY good out in the room.

Devo-lution · #9 12-17-2010, 05:08 AM

Eden XST also sounds a bit scooped.

Great cab for playing dub and hip hop. I like it les when playing funk or rock.

sonic assassin · #10 12-17-2010, 05:18 AM

i read somewhere on here "swr has a hole in the mids you could drive a truck through".

it happens. cabinets have voices. theres one ampeg 4x10 that is known for being boomy.

Sartori · #11 12-17-2010, 05:54 AM

Not all speakers are the same.

Some are stronger in some areas and weak in others. Some speakers and cabs they're loaded in are very good at pumping out lots of deep low end but not as strong in the mids. Others are very mid present but lack as much low end. Many are designed this way, to have a definite "voice."

Cristo · #12 12-17-2010, 12:48 PM

The design of speakers and the cabinets that enclose them can affect the resulting sound, just like many other factors.

So yes, a cab could be mid scooped.

tbird36go · #13 12-19-2010, 08:18 AM

If you want some scooped mids get a any Avatar cab. They got some serious mid scooped mids. I had to get rid of thoise things quick.

Munjibunga · #14 12-19-2010, 11:25 AM

If you like mid hump, buy Aguilar DB series.

Chrisk-K · #15 02-25-2011, 11:37 PM

I recently bought an Epifani UL2-110. It's very mid-scooped. It makes my USA P with a '62 RI pickup sound modern. Probably it's going back.

zone1 · #16 02-26-2011, 06:57 AM

My Peavey TVX 4x10 seems pretty scooped in the mids. I have to give a good bump around 300hz or so to cut through with my Sansamp RPM.

lomo · #17 02-26-2011, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JxBass

Not inferior (IMO) just a different design goal. Epifani UL cabs sound mid-scooped to many folks, are quite popular, and not inexpensive.

+1