opinions on 2nd cab

Laurie Bass · #1 12-02-2011, 08:26 PM

I have a Traynor YBA 200-2 that I find just does not have enough power to fill a large hall. I recently bought a new Eden 410 cab ( E410xst8, 800watt RMS) and although it is better with the greater sensitivity it seems that I need,or want more head room. So I recently purchased a used Carvin B1500 (Thanks Laurent!)off T.B. which is rated at 700 watts R.M.S. @ 8 OHMS. If at some time I wish to add a 2nd cab to this monster head,,what would you guys suggest??? Another identicle 410 Eden cab or a 1x15 Eden cab,,or another manufacture at all?? Thank you for all your thoughts. Laurence (Laurie)

randysmojo · #2 12-02-2011, 08:31 PM

If you are really happy with your overall tone and just want more of it, then by all means get another 410 just like the first. I would personally probably try out a single 15 Eden cab, but that might not be the thing for you. Gotta find your tone!

Laurie Bass · #3 12-02-2011, 08:53 PM

Thanks for the reply. You mean a Eden 1x15 on it's own or with the 410 I have.?

randysmojo · #4 12-02-2011, 08:55 PM

I mean adding to the existing cabinet.

lomo · #5 12-02-2011, 08:56 PM

Safest sonic bet is another identical cab.

brendanbassist · #6 12-02-2011, 09:01 PM

Second identical cab is best.

pie_man_25 · #7 12-02-2011, 09:03 PM

I think he means the Eden 115 on it's own. I would personally recommend against using a 115 with a 410 - I did that with my warwick 410 pro and a homemade 115, and I ended up blowing the 115 in one show. Mixing cabinets of different types can be risky, but a 115 and a 410 together can be asking for trouble.

Let's look at it mathematically:
My Acoustic B-3 head puts out 320 watts into 4 ohms,

my warwick 410pro can handle 300 watts and is 8 ohms,
my 115 could take about 150 watts and is also 8 ohms - putting the total impedance at 4 ohms.

each speaker on the 410pro would have been getting about 40 watts - which is pretty safe with their 75 watt thermal limit. My 115 cabinet however was getting about 160 watts - which is just OVER the thermal limit! No wonder the thing fizzled out, it was only compounded by the fact that I put it on the bottom and I couldn't hear it chuffing out, if that was even happening. This isn't taking into account things like the mechanical limit (xmax) of the speakers, along with a number of other potential factors. It might seem attractive - there are a lot of posters and such with a 410 atop a 115 cabinet, but I would recommend against it, at least for pairing any single driver cabinet with a 410 or 412.

In other words, especially if you like the tone of your eden cabinet, the best bet to increase your volume and keep tone the same is to get another identical eden cabinet. You can experiment with other speaker cabinets if you want to - but it would be more of a crapshoot.

randysmojo · #8 12-02-2011, 09:13 PM

I read people saying not to mix cabinets with different sized speakers all the time, but some of these cabinets where designed with the intention of putting a 410 or 210 with a 115. I did it for years and got the best tone I had ever had. Made sure I match impedance and neither cabinet was rated much more than the other wattage wise, and I thought it was great. I see artists all the time with different sized speakers in their rig and they have great tone with it. With the more efficient 10" speakers today than what was available many years ago, it would be harder to find a 115 or 118 that wouldn't be rated way under a 410, but doesn't mean it can't be done and that it is wrong by any means.

BassmanPaul · #9 12-02-2011, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laurie Bass

Another identical 410 Eden cab or a 1x15 Eden cab,,or another manufacture at all?? Thank you for all your thoughts. Laurence (Laurie)

Never mix a 4x10 with a 1x15. It's simply a recipe for disaster. The 1x15 has no chance of keeping up. A second cabinet identical to the first is always the safest bet.

JimmyM · #10 12-02-2011, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randysmojo

I read people saying not to mix cabinets with different sized speakers all the time, but some of these cabinets where designed with the intention of putting a 410 or 210 with a 115. I did it for years and got the best tone I had ever had. Made sure I match impedance and neither cabinet was rated much more than the other wattage wise, and I thought it was great. I see artists all the time with different sized speakers in their rig and they have great tone with it. With the more efficient 10" speakers today than what was available many years ago, it would be harder to find a 115 or 118 that wouldn't be rated way under a 410, but doesn't mean it can't be done and that it is wrong by any means.

True. But it does mean that performance will be unpredictable and you won't be able to tell until you try it. Some folks do love their mixed cab rigs. But it's really more about engineering by looks than anything based on the principles of how audio works, and cab companies are always happy to make products that people will buy, so they make them and market them to those who want them.