One (or 2) Avatar TB153 with GB Shuttle 6 ?

arcieangelo · #1 06-10-2011, 11:51 AM

Greetings. Just ordered one Avatar TB153 (8 ohm cab). Currently use Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 (375 watts at 8 ohms, 600 watts at 4 ohms). I don't expect any problem with this match. The TB rated at 450 watts. I'm considering ordering a second TB 153 (8 ohm) cab. Do you expert folks expect the 600 watt output of the GB will be sufficient to drive both cabs, or will I need a more powerful amp? What should I expect if I try this? (Has anyone else tried it?) Can anyone tell me what to expect using the GB with one cab and then with two cabs? I'm considering doing this for larger halls and outdoor gigs where extra volume is needed.
Thanks in advance for any input.

JimmyM · #2 06-10-2011, 12:01 PM

Sure, it would be fine. Expect to get about double the volume of one cab between the extra wattage and the extra cab. Even with cabs like the TB153, bigger is always better. I would turn the tweeter off in at least the bottom cab, though.

RickenBoogie · #3 06-10-2011, 12:44 PM

+1 to all that^

NWB · #4 06-10-2011, 12:46 PM

I have a Shuttle 6 and just got a 4-ohm TB 153 yesterday.

The combination is nothing short of awesome.

I've never heard bass quite like this. The sound is just huge.

I think the Shuttle will do fine with an 8-ohm version.

Although I rather doubt you'll need a second cab.

NWB · #5 06-10-2011, 12:49 PM

Oops, I forgot to add that if you think you may need a second one, you'd better act now because of a shortage of neo magnets means that the cab will soon be in short supply.

Dave at Avatar related that he may be out of the neo cabs in a month or so. If this is what you want, don't wait!

babebambi · #6 06-10-2011, 12:51 PM

I'd get the 900 (or 9.0 or 9.2) if I have the 8ohm version of the 153

AwkwardLoudness · #7 06-10-2011, 12:56 PM

2 TB153s is better than 1 TB153

JimmyM · #8 06-10-2011, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AwkwardLoudness

2 TB153s is better than 1 TB153

Always. Two matching cabs stacked vertically is always better sounding than one cab, even if you don't need it for volume.

AwkwardLoudness · #9 06-10-2011, 01:12 PM

Exactly. Stacking them vertically is important: better horizontal dispersion + closer to ear level. Use earplugs.

Like JimmyM said in post #2, don't use more than one tweeter.

I can hang with any loud drummer with my TB153 stack

jeff7bass · #10 06-10-2011, 01:12 PM

To me the design of the TB153 screams “standalone”. A four ohm version (or even the 8 ohm version) of this cab with that head can piss off any soundman, and two of them would almost always be overkill.

NWB · #11 06-10-2011, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AwkwardLoudness

Exactly. Stacking them vertically is important: better horizontal dispersion + closer to ear level. Use earplugs.

Like JimmyM said in post #2, don't use more than one tweeter.

I can hang with any loud drummer with my TB153 stack

You could probably disembowel a loud drummer with that rig!

Is there a venue still standing after you've fired up that thing?

wcriley · #12 06-10-2011, 01:20 PM

Stacking two TB153s will be louder than one, for sure. But unless you can order one with a reversed baffle (I've read contradictory posts about this), stacking them could mess with the mids.

The TB153 seems to have been inspired by greenboy's fEARful designs. I can bury any drummer with a single fEARful 12/6 with 450 potential watts (virtually the sane as the OP's 375 watts). If the Avatar cab performs as well as a fEARful, I can't imagine ever needing a second TB153...unless you don't want to hear the drummer.

jeff7bass · #13 06-10-2011, 01:21 PM

Is that a bass head? Kinda looks like a guitar head... Is it 400w of tube?

philter25 · #14 06-10-2011, 01:25 PM

Do you really need 2?

Did you consider getting the 4 ohm version and running the full 600 watts of the shuttle into the single cab?

To me, ive never played at a venue where I wouldnt think a single TB153 as a stand alone solution wouldnt suffice. Any place THAT big where it would be needed SHOULD have a damn good PA!

JimmyM · #15 06-10-2011, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wcriley

Stacking two TB153s will be louder than one, for sure. But unless you can order one with a reversed baffle (I've read contradictory posts about this), stacking them could mess with the mids.

The TB153 seems to have been inspired by greenboy's fEARful designs. I can bury any drummer with a single fEARful 12/6 with 450 potential watts (virtually the sane as the OP's 375 watts). If the Avatar cab performs as well as a fEARful, I can't imagine ever needing a second TB153...unless you don't want to hear the drummer.

Again, you don't HAVE to turn them up loud. And though it would be better to have the mid drivers stacked together and vertically, it could work to have them separated. You'll get combing in the vertical plane, but I believe that's usually not such an issue as it is in the horizontal plane.

NWB · #16 06-10-2011, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arcieangelo

Greetings. Just ordered one Avatar TB153 (8 ohm cab). Currently use Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 (375 watts at 8 ohms, 600 watts at 4 ohms). I don't expect any problem with this match. The TB rated at 450 watts. I'm considering ordering a second TB 153 (8 ohm) cab. Do you expert folks expect the 600 watt output of the GB will be sufficient to drive both cabs, or will I need a more powerful amp? What should I expect if I try this? (Has anyone else tried it?) Can anyone tell me what to expect using the GB with one cab and then with two cabs? I'm considering doing this for larger halls and outdoor gigs where extra volume is needed.
Thanks in advance for any input.

I should be a bit more on-point. I'd expect the 6.0 to have sufficient power to drive a pair of those. Mine (TB153) seems fairly efficient and I'd expect 300 watts per cab to work pretty well and get very loud indeed. If not, there's always the 9.0. You could probably expect to fill a stadium with earth-moving bass using a pair.

AwkwardLoudness · #17 06-10-2011, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff7bass

Is that a bass head? Kinda looks like a guitar head... Is it 400w of tube?

HIWATT PHOTO GALLERY 15

Big iron all tube bass head. It can be used with guitar (like an SVT can be used for guitar) but it's too insanely loud after clipping kicks in. I've done it with a quad of 4x12 Hiwatt cabs...jet engine loud!!

rpsands · #18 06-10-2011, 02:11 PM

A shuttle 6 with a 4 ohm TB153 should be overkill for most situations.

AwkwardLoudness · #19 06-10-2011, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wcriley

Stacking two TB153s will be louder than one, for sure. But unless you can order one with a reversed baffle (I've read contradictory posts about this), stacking them could mess with the mids.

I could rotate the top TB153 cab 90° in order to align the mid-drivers near one another. I tried to order one with reverse baffle to no avail.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wcriley

The TB153 seems to have been inspired by greenboy's fEARful designs. I can bury any drummer with a single fEARful 12/6 with 450 potential watts (virtually the sane as the OP's 375 watts). If the Avatar cab performs as well as a fEARful, I can't imagine ever needing a second TB153...unless you don't want to hear the drummer.

fEarful cabs are a little bit better but Avatar saved me from the time and hassle of building two cabs.

faulknersj · #20 06-10-2011, 02:29 PM

If it's not too late...I would reccomend one 4 ohm version.