Distorting Factory Speakers - combo amps

[MNAirHead]

Hello.

Not really looking to discuss specific amps.. just a generality. I know there are always folks suggesting a $800 small amp -- not really interested in discussing the amps that do not speaker distort .

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In low to quality combo amps, it's common for the speakers to distort out (with plenty of power amp headroom left).

I trust the engineers know how to do thiel calculations and port the cabinet correctly.

Question - Upgrade the Speaker?
Is this a commonly speaker that needs to be upgraded to an upper quality OR is this a limitation of a small combo box.

I could understand for weight and budget, a lesser speaker could be installed.

Tim

PS.. thanks for not suggesting the search button.

[Rick Auricchio]

It's generally a limitation of the cab size and number of drivers. There's only so much loudness you can get from any cabinet. Combos have to be reasonably small to make them marketable; something has to give.

Changing the driver would be a crapshoot, because you can't make the cab larger.

And then there are budget considerations. Perhaps a driver costing the factory $5 more could give a 10% improvement. But that $5 becomes $20 at retail, and that's enough to force using the lower-priced driver. How can you tell if they made that cost-cutting decision? You can't.

[NoGraveConcern]

Originally Posted by MNAirHead

Question - Upgrade the Speaker?
Is this a commonly speaker that needs to be upgraded to an upper quality OR is this a limitation of a small combo box.

Most budget-priced combos are built with undersized cabinets and speakers with poor mechanical power handling...true.

Can this be fixed with a speaker upgrade?

Well, we can't really determine this for all small combo's. We need to talk about a specific instance to determine if its driver is inadequate or if the box is too small causing poor LF sensitivity which is made up for with eq on the amp which causes the farting.

[MNAirHead]

Understood.

I have several amps that all end up doing the same thing.. no cheezy amps.. all quality gigable amps.

I know it's not a limitation of the 10,12,15 size as I do have some cabinets (not combos) that do not do this.

Unfair comparison, yes am aware..

I just picked up a very cool combo.. it farts out at 1/4 volume.. enough volume for a stage monitor..


Thanks.

[MNAirHead]

Originally Posted by Rick Auricchio

It's generally a limitation of the cab size and number of drivers. There's only so much loudness you can get from any cabinet. Combos have to be reasonably small to make them marketable; something has to give.

Changing the driver would be a crapshoot, because you can't make the cab larger.

And then there are budget considerations. Perhaps a driver costing the factory $5 more could give a 10% improvement. But that $5 becomes $20 at retail, and that's enough to force using the lower-priced driver. How can you tell if they made that cost-cutting decision? You can't.

I'm willing to buy a driver to put in this one (will disclose the model later) after working with a speaker vendor and thiel rating and reporting.

Tim

[BigOldHarry]

Originally Posted by Rick Auricchio

It's generally a limitation of the cab size and number of drivers. There's only so much loudness you can get from any cabinet. Combos have to be reasonably small to make them marketable; something has to give.

Changing the driver would be a crapshoot, because you can't make the cab larger.

And then there are budget considerations. Perhaps a driver costing the factory $5 more could give a 10% improvement. But that $5 becomes $20 at retail, and that's enough to force using the lower-priced driver. How can you tell if they made that cost-cutting decision? You can't.

Sounds right to me. Combo amps are often (but not always) a marketing ploy more than a real product; The offer "everything you need at an affordable price". I've had several combos, and learned their limitations the hard way. The best combo I have owned was an old SWR RedHead, and it was fine for small gigs - but medium / big gigs? No, no, no. It wasn't *designed* for those gigs.

in short, I'm not a fan of combos for this reason & they limit you. If you had a head & cab, you have much more flexibility. I like what GB does with their small combos - you can detach the head very easily and use it elsewhere - which makes perfect sense to me. But that's GB - and they are not cheap.

You get what you pay for, and most combo amps are priced for beginners. 'nuff said.

[NoGraveConcern]

Well, put it this way, if it's a combo with a single 12 or single 15 I bet you could get better results by investing in a certain $150 speaker that works well in smaller boxes. However, you may have to do some work to change the tuning of that box to work well with that certain $150 speaker.

If it's a single 10" speaker then there isn't much out there that is economically feasible and can hold it's own with more than 150w and any added bass shelving.

[MNAirHead]

Thanks for understanding (and not including dork replies)

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I own about 10 combo amps.. some very huge and well designed amps and cabs.. a ton of DI and IEM gear.

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I agree that many are an entry into bigger stuff.. and that a head/cabinet are better at creating thunder.


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The farther and farther I mature in playing.. the better dis get.. the easeier it is to do IEM.. the less and less a fridge is necessary....

It may be combos are like diapers.. we start and finish with them.

[MNAirHead]

I should note..

The MOST continual money I've ever made with a single cabinet was a down fire 10.. single speaker and DI box

The single 10 cabinet was custom built and doesn't fart out.. I can play a 7 string with it and play loud enough (clearly and zero distortion) that sound crews ask me to turn it down.

If I were to post a description of the gig, the TB kids would quickly tell me my SVT was neccesary due to the size of the room.

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Sill trying to downsize all the gear to be one trip no carts.

[steelhead2]

that's exactly what i'm experiencing with my GK combo,brought home only because i sold my old PV TNT and stopped by guitar center after the delivery,it's a great `amp'(for what it is),,but i'm questioning the speaker in it,a used piece of equipment bought on a whim,,so after researching it i guess they are known for `buzzing' and `farting',,hahaha,it's still just a practice amp!,and still without a headphone jack(darnit!)

i'm pretty much done with combos i think i'll get a `rumble' 15 for headphones and step up with something `great'after this,less than a week with`farty marty' and i've had enough