EV B215-M power rating

cimchazz1 · #1 06-29-2011, 04:33 PM

I just picked up an old EV B215-M bass cab and it says it is 4ohm 200W on the back. I've been reading some of the post regarding this cab and didn't see any reference to a 200W B215. The speakers have EV coil covers, but I haven't looked inside yet. And it sounds great, but what's up with the 200W (continuous) rating on the back. Is this an older model? Will it actually handle more? Is this a different rating system of some kind? Anyway, I'm going to use it with a 135W tube amp, thought it would be good for that. Anybody have any info on this 200W version of a B215-M?

billfitzmaurice · #2 06-29-2011, 04:49 PM

The thermal ratings for EVM15B's gradually increased over the years from 100w to 400w, but the real limiting factor, xmax, never changed. All EVM15Bs, and 15Ls as well, can only make use of 100w each.

cimchazz1 · #3 06-29-2011, 05:33 PM

Thanks, Bill, nice sounding cab, though, I'm going to use it in one output from my 400PS Fender head, should be a good match, I'm hoping.

will33 · #4 06-29-2011, 07:44 PM

The EV's have a classic tone but are limited in the lows like Bill said. They do have pretty good SPL though....a good match to get volume and nice tone out of lower power heads.....or 1/3rd of a monster like that.

steveksux · #5 06-29-2011, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cimchazz1

I just picked up an old EV B215-M bass cab and it says it is 4ohm 200W on the back. I've been reading some of the post regarding this cab and didn't see any reference to a 200W B215. The speakers have EV coil covers, but I haven't looked inside yet. And it sounds great, but what's up with the 200W (continuous) rating on the back. Is this an older model? Will it actually handle more? Is this a different rating system of some kind? Anyway, I'm going to use it with a 135W tube amp, thought it would be good for that. Anybody have any info on this 200W version of a B215-M?

Luckily for you, I'm kind of psychic. I believe I have a LOT of info on that cab. If that is the cab I think you have, it was purchased around 1980 at Gus Zoppi's music on 8 mile near Dequindre. Single owner babied it, played it for years, its been to Atlanta GA, Slidell LA, New Iberia LA, Tucumcari NM, Oconomowoc WI, Quincy IL, and a lot of local Metro Detroit area bars. There is a metal piece on the top with a thumbscrew. It was used to attach a homemade guitar stand for an original Steinberger XL2.

If that cab could tell stories, it would be interesting, cause some of those stories I am not able to post...

Where did you get the cab?

Reason I ask is I sold one to the Troy Music Go Round. If that's where you got it, I replaced the original 100w EVMs with the 200W models. I had bought a 600W amp and was concerned the 100W models could be damaged. Traded the 100W EMVs in on a pair of 200W EMVs with white EV on the coil covers rather than wait until I blew them and reconing with the 200w coils. So with 2 200w EVMs instead of the stock the cab can handle 400W RMS, not 200W as it states on the back, from a thermal perspective, theoretically.

Bill is most likely correct about the xmax, I would not want to bet against him. The EVM IIs were at least rated at 200W RMS each, 400W program ("music power" I think they called it back in the day), and there was some sort of "impulse" handling of 800W. That 800w was pure marketing BS in my view. Figures are per speaker, so double it for the cabinet.

Randy

cimchazz1 · #6 06-29-2011, 09:56 PM

Interesting, we wondered what that thumb screw was for. That's the cab I have, seems to be in decent shape for it's age, and sounds nice. It looks like it's been around, so I figured it got used onstage quite a bit, but took it anyway thinking maybe it had been maintained well, since it had to be reliable to gig with. I plugged it and a Behringer BB410 (both 4 ohm) into the 400PS and I couldn't tell the 410 was even plugged in. That EV cab must be much more efficient? Is the 6" original? How old are the 15s? I used to buy all my stuff from Gus Zoppi. I still have a '68 Hagstrom H8 I bought new from there. That was the place to go, there and Massimino's. I'm thinking maybe I should look for a few more, they sound pretty good with this old amp. What amp were you using with it? If you don't mind me asking, what was the name of the band?

will33 · #7 06-29-2011, 10:00 PM

Now this is cool...

steveksux · #8 06-30-2011, 09:57 PM

Used it for a couple of bands, Lenore Paxton, then Bootleg, another band that was also on the road the hotel circuit. Martha Reeves (from MR and the Vandellas) came into the bar, and sat in with us with that cab also. Was my main cab for 5-6 years or so I'd guess.

The 6" is the original driver, the 15's are only a couple years younger, I replaced them after a couple years when I got a pre/power amp setup with a 600W amp. I figured that was a little too much for the original 200W RMS rated cab. Traded them in at Massimino's for the newer version of the EVs rated at 200W apiece instead of 100W, making the cab 400W RMS.

I finally switched to an 18" and a 2x10 biamp setup after a few years when I went to a 5 string. Figured the low b would be a problem, I think the port is tuned to around 40hz, I was afraid it would decouple the speakers below that and at some point between the E and the low B the air would reinforce cone movement instead of oppose it, and cause overexcursion.

The cab is nice tight sounding, not boomy, the mid driver sounded more musical to my ear than horn tweeters, and helped make for nice midrange. Makes for a nice defined sound without being too twinkly.

Randy

andertone · #9 06-30-2011, 11:12 PM

Still have my B215M since 1976, yes it is limited in total power capacity, but a great one cabinet solution for a bar gig. It seems to like tube amps, but I have used my F2B/PLX2402 setup with no complaints. I remember seeing Stanley Clarke playing through several of these with great results <grin>

billfitzmaurice · #10 07-01-2011, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andertone

I remember seeing Stanley Clarke playing through several of these with great results <grin>

Maybe. I saw Stanley last week, playing through Ampegs, and didn't hear a single note though them. His tone though what I did hear, the PA, was pretty good though.

andertone · #11 07-01-2011, 10:47 AM

I worship the ground that Bill stands on, he is such a tremendous resource here.

I'm been playing professionally for almost 40 years, and my ears have been constantly tuned to bass tone.
Stanley was using those B215M's in small clubs (I saw him in Santa Barbara late 70's at a stylish State St. bar),
and there was little FOH, and his alembics and overall tone was cutting like crazy.

But then again, my hero Jack Casady played through gear that today would be considered dinosauric (Multiple Fender Showmans, Alembic 2 x 15 JBL cabinets and Versatones, and I still have not heard anything close to that. His control of feedback predates pedals that don't come close today

All boils down to the brains and fingers. I'm sure Vic Wooten sounds good with *everything* he plays (EMG pickups included)

steveksux · #12 07-01-2011, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

Maybe. I saw Stanley last week, playing through Ampegs, and didn't hear a single note though them. His tone though what I did hear, the PA, was pretty good though.

And I suppose you're going to claim that Geddy Lee's tone wasn't partly due to using Cornish hens rather than run of the mill chickens in his rotisseries, and was all PA...

And of course, using Mogami cables to connect the hens...

Randy