Good 2x10 cab for Bugera BVP-5500 standalone - Home/Recording Only

[GG7]

Looking for a good 2x10 cab that can function as the standalone speaker system with the BVP-5500 hybrid tube/solid state power amp.

I'm sitting on an impressive stock of NOS 12AX7 tubes that I recently found on the web and I have been wanting to buy a more powerful rig for my Fender American Deluxe Jazz and Rickenbacker 4003.

I tried some of the combo amps in this same price range and I wasn't impressed with the overall tonal options, so I decided to go for a separate head and cab system instead.

I am trying to keep the price down under $600.00 for the whole thing.

I got a really good deal on a new Bugera BVP-5500 hybrid head which puts out well over 250 watts and uses 4 12AX7s in the preamp section which is exactly what I wanted as a good use for some of these 1965 vintage JAN Phillips 12AX7s I scored. The amp has gotten very high marks for its sound quality, especially for the price.

Now I need to find a good cab to go with it. For the literal space I have to put this new rig, I am leaning heavily towards a 2x10 cabinet. I think it will probably give me the best tone in the medium sized spare bedroom my studio is built in.

I actually purchased a Peavey Headliner 210 cab with the amp earlier today, but the cab is backordered untl the 15th, so this gave me some time to do a little searching on the web for reviews on this new line from Peavey and frankly, I didn't like what I found. Seems that this new line is built for the price point which is never a good thing to read! This line doesn't appear that have the same price to quality ratio that Peavey has always been known for.

So... I have cancelled that part of the order and now need to find a better 2x10 cab to go with this somewhat powerful amp. The amp is apparently a clone of the popular and well regarded Ampeg SVT-3PRO hybrid head. I don't want to spend a fortune on the cab, but I don't want a piece of junk either.

I have narrowed the search down somewhat between two brands, but I am open to other suggestions as well.

Right now it is between these two, although the first one is a lot more within my comfort zone for this particular purchase.

Ashdown MAG 214T Deep 2x10

Markbass Standard 102HF Front-Ported Neo 2x10 Bass Speaker Cabinet 8 Ohm

I am going to try and get a better price on either one of these of course, but I was wondering if anyone out there has had first hand playing experience with both of these cabs and can comment on whether the Markbass is really worth the extra $$.

It looks from the picture that the Markbass has some kind of tweeter in the cabinet, but it isn't listed on the specs. I am not always a fan of these tweeters, and one thing I like about the Ashdown is that it has a three way control for their tweeter. (Off, Low, High)

Thanks in advance for any input!

Cheers!

[Arjank]

That BVP5500 is indeed excellent sounding, especially for the price.
I did swap two of the tubes for some Philips NOS types too(can't remember the exact type). I combined it with my own 210 and it sounds awesome.

I don't know which "commercial" cabs will do the trick for you, the only thing you can do is test them with the BVP5500....

[M. Owen Santy]

Look for a used Eden 2x10 - quality is excellent. Would also suggest that you look @ the Peavey headliner 2x10 and 4x10. They are a ton of cab for the price point.

[GG7]

Thanks for the suggestions guys! I had some store credit at MF that I needed to use up so I ended up going for an Ashdown MAG 210T 2x10 cab. They gave me a great price on one ($260.00) new, but it is backordered until the end of the month, so I will have the amp to look at for a few weeks before the bottom gets here.

In the meantime, I will just use my little BA-108 which never ceases to impress me for all of $100.00!

Thanks again for the input and Arjank... Thanks for the positive feedback on the amp! I am looking forward to seeing what these JAN Phillips and/or GE NOS 12AX7s sound like in that amp when I get everything up and running!

Cheers.

[shoot-r]

Check out Avatar's 210 bass cabinets, they might be what your looking for.
Great componets, great construction, great sound, GREAT price.

I've been gigging two of Avatar's Neo 210 cabinets for several years now.......LOVE em'!

www.avatarspeakers.com