GK MBE's

[335guy]

I know this subject has been kicked around a lot. But I still have some questions re: the MBE's and the NEO's. From what I've read, both cabs use the exact same speakers. The high freq. horns are very different and the NEO's are much higher quality. But the NEO cabs are also built different. It's this I am wondering about. I know the cab sizes are different, with the NEO's being larger. GK sorta says they use 1/2 plywood on the MBE's. Well, what is used on the NEO's ? I know the MBE's lack loads of bracing and have no absorption material installed, whereas the NEO's do. So, in theory, the NEO's should sound better. But do they ? Has anyone done a side by side test ? My point( or question ) is:
Is the sound difference ( if any ) between the MBE's and the NEO's worth an additional $150.00 per cabinet ? What are we actually getting for an additional $150.00 ? More bracing and sound absorption materials ? More weight as well ! Would the NEO's just last longer ? I realize many say that the NEO's are better built, and I agree with that. But does that mean the MBE's will fall apart after a short time and are unsuitable for bass ? My reason for asking these questions are: The MBE series appears to be what most of us say we want: very light weight cabinets that are compact, sound good and priced well. But are they ?
I have the GK 212Neo, and while it's a good cab, it's not all that. It's worth what I paid, $400.00, but I don't think I'd pay another $150.00 for one ( the MAP ). And I'm thinking of switching to either 4 x 10's or (2) 15's. The MBE 115 are $300.00 for the 400 watt version. So, for $50.00 more than the MAP GK 212 NEO, I can have two 115 MBE cabs that handle 800 watts total and weigh only 32 lbs each. I'm having a hard time seeing the value in paying 50% more for the NEO's. Thoughts please ?

[will33]

I didn't know they used the exact same drivers......or do they?

Assuming they do, and the neo's are larger and ported differently, I'd expect more/better response in the lows. The mb's bracing and lining is an easy enough fix but another thing that makes wood light is density, or rather lack of it. Bracing an mb is definitley an improvement but I don't know if they'll react the same when really pushed.

[335guy]

I didn't know they used the exact same drivers......or do they?

According to everything I have heard and read, the speakers are the same in both lines of cabinets. The high freq. drivers are different however.

The performance of the cabs are different, according to the specs on GK's site. While the 12" cabs are very similar in sensitivity and freq. response, the 10's and 15's are quite different in those areas. Example: The 410 NEO is rated at 103 db at one watt and a freq. range of 30 hz-19Khz. The 410 MBE is also 103 db at one watt, but the freq. response is way different @ 51 hz-18 Khz. The 115 NEO is 99 db in efficiency and the freq. response is 45 hz-19Khz. But the MBE 115 is only 91 db efficiency and 51 hz-18Khz.

So, therein is the difference. The larger cabs with greater ports allow the speakers to go lower. I can't wrap my head around why the 115 in the NEO would be so much more efficient than the MBE, if they are the same drivers.

At any rate, it shoots down my desire to consider (2) MBE 115's in lieu of my NEO 212. They don't go lower! In fact, none of the MBE cabs go below 51 Hz, which doesn't even cover the low E fundamental on a 4 string. The NEO115 gets close at 45 Hz, and the NEO410 covers it nicely at 30 Hz response. But none of the 12's in either the NEO's or the MBE's go below 51 Hz. Looks like a 410 NEO is in the works for me. I was hoping not to exceed 50 lbs

[will33]

The specs for the neo line are quite suspect. The mb's look closer to honest. There isn't a 410 that reaches 30hz, especially not @ 103db. Likewise there are 15's that play 45hz and 15's that play 99db but very damn few if any that do both. If they did they'd be worthless above 1khz and I don't see any mid driver in that 115.

I'd take all that with a big dose of salt.

[335guy]

Well, it maybe that their 410 NEO will go to 30Hz, but it could be down 10db or so from 50 Hz. Only way to tell is to hook up a 31 band eq and boost in that low freq. Sucks that the manufacturers rarely present these stats truthfully.

[evil-g]

My MBE 212 cabinet is one of the better purchases I've made in a while. It can get loud and it can get low(Low B no problem). It does feel really flimsy but it will surprise you (speaker grill mostly) It sound great with an upright too.

[will33]

Originally Posted by 335guy

Well, it maybe that their 410 NEO will go to 30Hz, but it could be down 10db or so from 50 Hz. Only way to tell is to hook up a 31 band eq and boost in that low freq. Sucks that the manufacturers rarely present these stats truthfully.

Without listing how they were measured or what frequencies those measurements apply to, you'll never know. If they state they use the same drivers in those designs and the specs vary that wildly, something's amiss. I could get a 4" radio shack speaker to reach 30hz if I didn't care if it was -30db.

I should ammend, there are SOME 15's that can approach that but they are few. Then listing the same driver as 91db in a different box doesn't make sense. You could expect a little bit lower low freq. spec in the bigger box, that's all.

[335guy]

Yeah, GK seems to be playing fast and loose with the facts. And merely telling us players what they think we want to hear. I had a hard time understanding that wildly different db measurement for the same 15" speaker. It does not make sense. And GK chooses not to reply to these questions either.

[will33]

Originally Posted by 335guy

Yeah, GK seems to be playing fast and loose with the facts. And merely telling us players what they think we want to hear. I had a hard time understanding that wildly different db measurement for the same 15" speaker. It does not make sense. And GK chooses not to reply to these questions either.

Giving vague and exaggerated specs like that is pretty common among a lot of companies, sadly it's more the rule than the exception. When you don't qualify how numbers like that are arrived at, you can pretty much print anything, then come up with some scenario where they could be reached. It does give merit to the "forget the specs, just listen" way of doing it because with "specs" like that, it's really the only way to know what something sounds like/how it performs. Too bad most people can't just go to some giant bass cab store and actually listen to every offering by every company.

[garagebassman]

I have posted my experiences with these before....and own both cabs....
I always take the MBE and will continue to until it lets me down somehow.
I find more mid grit and grind from the MBE for certain.
A/B'd cabs with either MB500 (main amp) or 700RB II, and always same result....to me the MBE wins, but I like the mids and upper mids, even harsh and grindy sometimes.
The NEO is more solid "feeling" and 60lbs (version I) so quite a bit heavier. I am pretty sure the neo may be able to fill a larger room with more low end at a louder volume....but with one 8 ohm MBE, I have been able to turn up quite loud (even an outdoor gig without pa support) and still get very good sound.
And as far as i understand, same exact speakers in each(at least version II neo's), so the cabs make the difference in sound (as well as the more sophisticated horn mgmt sys which does sound nice with the 700, but not nice enough for me to haul the bigger setup right now)

hope it helps

p.s. I have noticed some retailers not stocking the MBE 212, so maybe they did miss "the mark" and won't "catch on", but I think they're still quite a value

[Muttleybass]

I did a side by side test. I went with the Neo. They sounded quite different to me, and the Neo rocked. That's all it took.

For a measley $660 new, it's still the best bang for the buck, IMO.