Single 2x12" vs. Two 1x12" cabs...

[Addison]

I'm quite positive this particular subject has been beat to death here before, but... after trying about 8 different searches and reading every subject line on about 20 different result pages, I couldn't find anything.

Anyway...

I'm in the secondary stages of a new rig purchase.

I have a huge and heavy back-breaking "stack" setup for my huge and heavy gigs (Mesa Bass 400+ and two separate Mesa cabs toatlling six 10's), but I've been picking up a lot more med-small to med size gigs with other bands lately and have been exploring the world of Class D and single speaker cabs for those gigs.

I've already decided on Class D for an amp... and I already know I want to go with two 12" speakers.

My current dilemma is trying to decide whether I want to go with two separate 8 ohm 12" cabs, or a single 4 ohm 2x12".

The first benefit of having two separate cabs was immediately apparent to me... I'll basically have more options... I can run a single 1x12", or both and make it a 2x12".

Tonally, however, I'm clueless.

To the people who have experiences running both of those options through the same head... can you tell me what I might be able to notice in regard to both volume and tone?

Thanks so much!!!

[PSPookie]

It all depends on how the cabs in question were designed. If the 112s you are looking at are basically half of the corresponding 212, in terms of internal volume, then 2x112 should sound aabout the same as the 1x212.

[Addison]

Ah, Ok... I see what you're saying.

I'm looking at getting two Aguilar DB112 cabs as opposed to getting a single DB212.

Maybe I'll have to ask them directly what I should expect... ?

Hmmmm.

[MuzikMan]

Originally Posted by Addison

Ah, Ok... I see what you're saying.

I'm looking at getting two Aguilar DB112 cabs as opposed to getting a single DB212.

Maybe I'll have to ask them directly what I should expect... ?

Hmmmm.

Yes, you should. As others have said, the design of the actual cabs in question will dictate how they stack up tonewise. All else being equal, if the 1x12 is exactly half of the 2x12, then two of the 1x12 cabs will sound exactly like the 2x12, assuming the drivers are vertically aligned.

[gillento]

The db212 has more internal volume, but two db112s are definetely a great pair easier to move than a single db212.

On the other hand, the db212 is the best cab I ever played

[Alper Yilmaz]

I have a pair of Bergantino AE112s and an AE212. I did not AB the systems side by side, but at different times, I played these setups with the same heads, including Epifani UL-502, Acoustic Image Focus III, Markbass F1, etc.

It somehow felt like AE212 was a bit deeper than the two AE112s used at the same time. It also felt like it had smoother tops and less aggressive mids than the two AE112s. This might be most probably due to the fact that each cabinet is designed for use by itself, so two AE112s would not be the same as AE212. However, both setups are great and I am sure if you spent some time EQ'ing your head, you could dial in quite similar sounds, if not the same.

If I were to pick one of the two setups, I would go for two 1x12s. For smaller gigs, if any, you can take one of the cabinets at 8 ohm and could still cover the gig, but for larger stuff, you can take both. In my case, AE212 is amazing (actually one of the best cabinets I have ever heard), but it would be an overkill for some of the venues, if not most, I play at.

Cheers,

Alper

Originally Posted by Addison

Ah, Ok... I see what you're saying.

I'm looking at getting two Aguilar DB112 cabs as opposed to getting a single DB212.

Maybe I'll have to ask them directly what I should expect... ?

Hmmmm.

[PSPookie]

Originally Posted by Addison

Ah, Ok... I see what you're saying.

I'm looking at getting two Aguilar DB112 cabs as opposed to getting a single DB212.

Maybe I'll have to ask them directly what I should expect... ?
Hmmmm.

That's the best idea I've read so far.

[Musicman20]

I did the same, ended up with DB212.

Why? Cheaper, casters, only one cover needed!

Overall weight is also less.