Mesa Powerhouse 1000 or 1x15 & 4x10

[NapBass]

Let me start by saying that I love my Mesa Diesel 1x15 2x10 setup and sound. But when I recently blew a speaker in the 2x10, I started looking again at running a 15 and 4 10's.

This led me to looking into a used Mesa Powerhouse 1000, however, I read some negative comments concerning the sound - specifically that it sounded "sloppy" because of the 2 different speaker sizes reacting at different rates.

I never had that feeling with my own setup, but I'm looking for opinions on the 1000 verses running a 1x15 with a 4x10 on top (also considering a 4x10 purchase).

I will say that when I saw the 1000, I was surprised the 10's were set both below and above the 15 (instead of all above), but my instinct is to defer to Mesa's engineering knowledge.

thanks for any input.

[Bass_Pounder]

A 1X15 is not a good match for a 4X10

Covered here over and over again.....................

[bassman1185]

I'd go with a 6x10, 8x10 or 4x12 WAY before that cab. It's not bad, but the 4x10/1x15 configuration just doesn't work that great unless you can run a stereo power rig with separate volumes for the 15 and the 10s.

[KsPiNeSh]

If you're bent on getting 2 cabs, I'd go with 2 410s. If you think you want a PH1000, I'd still go with 2 410s.

[JimmyM]

two 410's for me, thanks.

[Mo'Phat]

Originally Posted by NapBass

Let me start by saying that I love my Mesa Diesel 1x15 2x10 setup and sound. But when I recently blew a speaker in the 2x10, I started looking again at running a 15 and 4 10's.

This led me to looking into a used Mesa Powerhouse 1000, however, I read some negative comments concerning the sound - specifically that it sounded "sloppy" because of the 2 different speaker sizes reacting at different rates.

I never had that feeling with my own setup, but I'm looking for opinions on the 1000 verses running a 1x15 with a 4x10 on top (also considering a 4x10 purchase).

I will say that when I saw the 1000, I was surprised the 10's were set both below and above the 15 (instead of all above), but my instinct is to defer to Mesa's engineering knowledge.

thanks for any input.

Don't do that...

They made the PH1000 because it looks cool. Not at all because of engineering. It's actually a horrible design.

The 610, 412, 810 or two 4x10's are a much better option. Of those, I'd opt for the 4x12.

[derridiandrift]

for what it's worth, here's my preference, in order...

810
2x 410
610
2x 15

turn those horns off

[RickenBoogie]

+1 to all the above. A 4x12 or 2x 2x12 would be my choice. 410/15 is horrible, any way you cut it.

[greenboy]

I'd actually like to hear a fEarful 15sub under a Hydrive 410.

[garmenteros]

Originally Posted by NapBass

Let me start by saying that I love my Mesa Diesel 1x15 2x10 setup and sound. But when I recently blew a speaker in the 2x10, I started looking again at running a 15 and 4 10's.

This led me to looking into a used Mesa Powerhouse 1000, however, I read some negative comments concerning the sound - specifically that it sounded "sloppy" because of the 2 different speaker sizes reacting at different rates.

I never had that feeling with my own setup, but I'm looking for opinions on the 1000 verses running a 1x15 with a 4x10 on top (also considering a 4x10 purchase).

I will say that when I saw the 1000, I was surprised the 10's were set both below and above the 15 (instead of all above), but my instinct is to defer to Mesa's engineering knowledge.

thanks for any input.

I own a powerhouse 1000 and the last thing I'd call it is sloppy. I've owned 4 x 10s, 2 x 12s, ran two 15cabs and the powerhouse has been my favorite setup (minus the b15n which is the mother of bass amps). I used it with a mesa400+, and tons of different heads and got great results... I trust mesa products and I don't think they'd sell stuff just because it looks cool... There are other things they can do to make stuff look good to sell...

[Coelho]

Say what you want, I love my 1x15 + 410 (sealed) setup.

Why all the hate?

[dmot002]

Not sure what type of music you are doing but I never heard a Mesa 4x10 and 1x15 cabinet combination sound bad. That is a classic combination for a full bass sound. Very warm thunderous and percussive sounding in my opinion with the right top end...

[s_mcsleazy]

Originally Posted by Coelho

Say what you want, I love my 1x15 + 410 (sealed) setup.

Why all the hate?

because on talkbass its genuenly considered your loosing power because theres not a simalar number of inches of speeker

tbh i only notice a slight diffrence

[Rooster009]

I run a M-pulse 600 into a PH 1000 for my big stage rig and it sounds awesome. In fact I'd put it up against any other rig out there. Not at all sloppy, actually very punchy and quick as well as reaching very low. IMHO I bet you'd find very few people that reply to your thread that have actually played through a PH 1000. The 15 that Mesa uses is very very smooth and rich sounding while the 10's are seriously punchy. That would be the only way I could describe it to you.
I haven't played through a desiel before but i have played through a 400+ hooked to my cab and it was phenomanal. If your desiel is anything like the 400+ you should be able to get just about anything you want out of the PH.
As far as load in and outs go when playing live, the cab is very well thought out and easy to deal with. All the handles and the wheels are very well placed. I would absolutely take this cab over any 4x10 with casters win it comes to loading.

[Crabby]

I am a huge Mesa fan and I own 5 Mesa cabs including a pair of 115's, a 410, a 412 and a Scout 112. I compared the Powerhouse 1200 directly against the 412, the 115 cabs and an Ampeg 810 before realizing that the 1200 was a really boomy indistinct and muddy cab compared to every other combination I tried. The 1200 had way more bottom end then the Ampeg fridge but it was out of control flub at high volumes.

I didn't completely dislike the 1200 but I am a firm believer through experience and trial and error that one large cab or a pair of identical cabs will work much better then mixed drivers. That doesn't mean it doesn't work to mix cabs with different size drivers as often the results are quite good. But to me nothing sounds a cohesive and focussed as 412's or 2 15's ort 8 tens working together!

[georgestrings]

When compared directly to the PH610, PH810, PH412, or PH215, it becomes obvious that the PH1000 and PH1200 are inferior cabs... I HAVE directly compared them on several occasions, and feel confident making that statement... Furthermore, another bassist in my area that uses the PH1000 ended up using my PH610 during a gig, and said the same exact thing afterwards about his own cab...

I currently own a PH610 and a PH810, and an M-pulse 600, and have also owned a BB750 - and have played thru pretty much every cab Mesa makes, so I feel pretty qualified to make the above statements...


- georgestrings

[georgestrings]

Originally Posted by Rooster009

IMHO I bet you'd find very few people that reply to your thread that have actually played through a PH 1000.

OK, lets go this way - have you ever A/B'd a PH1000 against any of the other cabs I named??? I have, and all the other cabs I mentioned blow it away in regards to volume, low end, and clarity...


- georgestrings

[Rooster009]

Originally Posted by georgestrings

OK, lets go this way - have you ever A/B'd a PH1000 against any of the other cabs I named??? I have, and all the other cabs I mentioned blow it away in regards to volume, low end, and clarity...
- georgestrings

Yep played through a road ready 8x10 previously. compared to the PH 1000 the 8x10 had practically no lowend extension.
IMO both cabs have a tremendous amount of energy between 120 and 400 HZ. Dial @ 3db out at 400 and @ 1-2db out at 120 and they both have good punch with some lowend extension. The 10's in both cabs are really aggressive and can be a little to much around that area. The 15 on the other hand is a smooth lowend machine and dishes it out in spades.
The Cab of the PH 1000 was actually designed to get rid of the phasing issues other 4x10 and 1x15 stacks have. All of the speakers in the PH 1000 are closer together resulting in less of a phase problem. And hey it's no big deal if some people don't agree with me. I realize everyone has there own generalizations when it comes to sound.

[lomo]

Originally Posted by garmenteros

I trust mesa products and I don't think they'd sell stuff just because it looks cool... There are other things they can do to make stuff look good to sell...

I am a card-carrying Mesa fanboy, but even I see clearly that they fall prey to bull%$#@ marketing on occasion. Try taking my fave combo in the known universe, a Walkabout 12, which they routinely advise in the 4 Ohm configuration (and offer it as standard) because "you wanna get your full 300 watts" and max it out. You will find that although it's rated at 300 watts, it compresses and distorts well before that, like all stock 12s out there. The 8 Ohm makes much more sense (and gets just as loud as the 4 Ohm before both distort) because you can more easily add another cab.....but then they'd have to advertise it as 165 watts and would lose sales. Even many of their sales staff fail to realize this.

[rpsands]

I've played the 6x10 next to the PH1200 in a store and the 610 makes it look like a pathetic piece of crap by comparison It just sounds better.

That said, I'm with Greenboy on the 'stick a fEarful 15 sub under a nice sealed 4x10'