Replace OR repair old dead EV15's in my 215 Diesel?

[BeyondFiredUp]

I'm thinking of reconing my EV (400 watts each) speakers in my mid 90's Mesa Diesel 215 or even replacing them with comparable Eminence ones. I've heard great things about Eminence 15's and I like a very FAT clean punch for funk and rock sounding 15's. I bought this cab used a few months back and it's just never really been "there" for me.

They are bordering on sounding like garbage at louder (gig) volumes. I play a pre/power (BDDI/ QSCrmx1450 at 4 ohm) with a MarkBass Compressore setup. Plenty of volume and control...
Anyone prefer Eminence (Omega, Delta, Beta, Kappa...???) over EV for 15"s, and specifically, for the 215 Diesel? and yes, I have tried a million eq settings, even scooping and that helps a bit, but I get lost in the mix if I do.
So, would you think I recone or buy new (Eminence? or identical EV's?) Thanks mates!

[billfitzmaurice]

3015s will work much better in the low end. But they don't have the highs of EVs. That's sort of moot, as the EV highs are quite beamy anyway, but if you want the highs of the EVs you'd need to use a pair of sixes, along with a crossover, as per the fEarful 215/26.

[fu22ba55]

If you decide to replace the EVs, don't just trash them. Lots of stubborn luddites like myself love those old drivers. Put 'em on eBay or try to sell them here on TB. (Or hang on to them in case your tastes change.)

That's a killer cab, and should sound great with 3015s. It will sound a bit different than it did with the EVs, but maybe that's what you're goin' for.

[BeyondFiredUp]

I did some reading on those and they seem very good with a sensitivity of something like 100.8. I've never played a neo before much less a 15" neo. Any more of you guys agree with the 3015 choice? Any other thoughts?

[Interceptor]

I've had the joy of actually playing that style cabinet with the original EV speakers and the Eminence 3015. The 3015 is considerably more hefty sounding, much lighter and can safely take a boatload more power.

The EV speakers do have value on the used market.

[fu22ba55]

Originally Posted by BeyondFiredUp

I did some reading on those and they seem very good with a sensitivity of something like 100.8. I've never played a neo before much less a 15" neo. Any more of you guys agree with the 3015 choice? Any other thoughts?

As many others will attest to, "neo or non-neo" is not a sonic issue. Magnet material is irrelevant. Cab designers are able to design some new cabs based on the T&S parameters of the newer speakers, but neo's don't sound different because of the magnets. They sound different because they are different speakers.

My experience with 3015s is documented here.

Since that thread, I've come to accept the 3015s for what they are. The EV15Bs are brighter, and EV15Ls are brighter still... The 3015s sound much darker to my ears. They are able to produce tons of low end with way more headroom than the EVs. But they don't have the on-axis "sparkle" or "shimmer" of the EVs.

I think the 3015 is an "all-around" better speaker, but the EVs have a sound all their own that a lot of people still really like. If really depends on what kind of tone you're going for. If you don't like the sound of the EVs now, then the 3015s might be for you.

In my current rig I'm using two 3015s and two EV15Bs, so I'm getting the best of both worlds.

If you want a speaker that sounds like an EV15B or 15L, the 3015 is not it. If you want a great speaker that will work in that box, the 3015 is a good candidate. And they are stupid light, which helps since those Boogie cabs are nice and heavy.

[JoeVictim]

The 3015 is currently the reigning champ of 15" speakers. I have one in my cab and it sounds huge. IMO, you will need something along the lines of a crossover with some mid range driver to get more higs. But, you may like the sound of the 15's by themselves. Plenty of people have cabs with just the 3015's in them. Think of this as more of a sub speaker.

Hopefully next year, another Omni 15...

[greenboy]

Man, people saying the 3015 sounds HUGE? Words sure do have multiple meanings.

I'd say it sounds loud and rather mid-present, myself. But unlike a lot of old-school 15 drivers it doesn't have a big midbass hump in cabs this size, which is generally what I've heard people call huge.

The vintage JBLs on the other hand, and some EVs have more upper-mids and some lower treble the 3015 doesn't really have - but that's mainly on axis ANYWAY. They don't have much reach down lower though.

Really can't find it all in one driver. It's all trade-offs.

[Bass_Pounder]

I have a 2X15 Roadready loaded with a pair of 3015's.

Compared to the original EV's that were in there, I would say that the 3015's are a great improvement.

[Chef]

If your EV's haven't failed, re-coning them won't help.
If you don't like the tone of them, or the cab, it's probably best to flip it, and move on.

As noted, the 3015's are lighter, don't have the same top end extension, and whether they'll be deeper and fuller is as much about cab tuning as anything.

IMO, IME, ymmv, etc.

fwiw, I had two mesa diesel 115's; both came ot me with blown speakers
I did replace both with 3015's as it was about the same expense as repairing the blown stockers. It worked pretty well, for what it was, but you're not going to drastically change the voicing of that cab merely by changing the drivers...again, IMO, IME, ymmv.

[BeyondFiredUp]

You guys have been great with analytical balanced opinions and insight, first-hand experience no less(!) and its looks like I'm gonna go with a pair of 3015's! Thanks mates. Best wishes and Merry Christmas; may all your gigs sell-out and may all your recordings be nailed on the first take... well,, we can wish right?!

[koobie]

The EVM15B has a presence/rise/grind in the upper mids that's pretty cool for rock (at least the 200 watt versions do, I haven't used the 400 watt versions). If you like that aspect of them, get them reconed. In comparison, the 3015 is darker/less grindy with more body/weight in the lower mids and lows. I've gotten to enjoy how much bigger 3015s sound and feel, and with 200-300 watt amps I feel like I don't have to particularly worry about playing them too hard. If I was playing five strings and/or drop tunings, I'd probably be interested in a woofer that goes lower, but for my needs/tastes the 3015 is a good all-around driver. I think your Mesa cab has separate inputs for the two drivers so you could buy one 3015 and see how you like it compared to your EV (I'm not suggesting you use both at the same time). If you don't dig it, you wouldn't be out much reselling it.

[BassmanPaul]

Originally Posted by BeyondFiredUp

I did some reading on those and they seem very good with a sensitivity of something like 100.8. I've never played a neo before much less a 15" neo. Any more of you guys agree with the 3015 choice? Any other thoughts?

If BillF says it is so you can take that to the bank.

[craig.p]

I'm probably too late to this, but what the heck...

First, this is a used cab, so we really don't know the history of those drivers. They could be beat to hell, and if they are, then a recone would help. No, they won't go up against the Eminence alternatives, but they'd essentially be brand new after the recone. (And yeah, I'd get them reconed as Bs.) I've always loved the sound of those drivers and so I admit I come at this from a biased POV.

Second, you're sending 225 watts per cone to those EVs, so you have zero slack with respect to power handling and you really need to be careful. If you haven't already done so, enable the 30 Hz subsonic filter on that channel of the QSC, because subsonics could be at least partially responsible for those EVs not getting the job done.

[BeyondFiredUp]

thanks craig .,
i'm 99% sure the 30hz filter is enabled, but i'll check when i go to rehearsal. i think i'm like the third or fourth owner of this cab and i just think the drivers have been pushed and farted and killed for so long, that they are pretty much done as far as good response and articulation from what they once were. not blown, just lifeless now, you could say.

[JoeVictim]

Originally Posted by greenboy

Man, people saying the 3015 sounds HUGE? Words sure do have multiple meanings.

People? Do I qualify as people now? C'mon, I don't have my own orbit yet.

IMO, my cab sounds huge. I can't say how much of it is the box design and the crossover, but my Omni will get it's proper work out in just a few weeks. Getting the Drivecore XLS1000.

But, looks like someone with your same cab design has had goodluck with the swap. "Sounds good to me", say the people.

[Alex1984]

I like the sound of the original EVs in there. I liked them paired with Traynor/Mesa heads for rock music, but I don't think it'd work well for funk, so you might be better off with the 3015.