swr 8x8 or ampeg 6x10 with big amps

[dyack]

I'm trying to decide between a swr 8x8 and an ampeg 6x10. I play mostly rock cover tunes in medium to large sized bars. I know the cab is overkill, but its what I want. We do the occasional outdoor gig to. On this I get to compete with a triple rec mesa and a 100 Watt bogner. I'm running either a SVT II or a kustom b1200. I'm wondering how the 8x8 would handle these amps. I'm not just cranking the volume to 11, but they will be loud. Swr rates the 8x8 at 480w I believe. Probably conservative but I'm not sure. A 300w tube amp or a 1200w SS should definitely test its limits. I'm also looking into a 4x10 with a 2x10 setup. I appreciate any input.

[grenadilla]

Your Kustom head can drive a 2ohm speaker load.I am presently trying 3 210 cabinets stacked. You could use 3 or 4 210 cabinets. Traynor also make a 8/8inch cabinet.It is rated at 800 watts/4ohms.

[bassgod0dmw]

I've heard a lot of good things about the SWR 8X8's, but I've never played one myself.

If I were in your shoes I'd go with the 6X10, but that's because I want a Berg NV610 for similar situations.

[coreyfyfe]

I've owned both and they were fine, neither ended up being the cab I settled on. Between the two, I'd take the 610. They're both ported with tweeters, and the 8x8 gets a surprising amount of low end, but I preferred the 6x10 when I had it. It's been long enough that I probably couldn't give you an accurate description of what I didn't like about one vs the other, but I think the 610 was more present in the mids, and paired better with the SVT-CL I was using at the time.

[Blue_Whistle88]

Neither. Get an SWR Goliath Senior. Loud as ****, massive range of sounds, and sounds amazing with overdrive with the tweeter off. Plus, it's 1200 watts, which is all you will EVER need.

[georgestrings]

Originally Posted by Blue_Whistle88

Neither. Get an SWR Goliath Senior. Loud as ****, massive range of sounds, and sounds amazing with overdrive with the tweeter off. Plus, it's 1200 watts, which is all you will EVER need.

I agree - both the cabs the OP mentioned will be more prone to blowing drivers, and will put out less volume than the Goliath Sr - especially when up against a pair of loud guitarists...


- georgestrings

[Triad]

I tried the 8x8" some days ago with several heads: Ampeg SVT3Pro, G&K Backline 600, Peavey Tour 450, G&K Mb200, Epifani 800w (don't remember the model name)... a nice cab for sure but it wasn't the most accurate cab I've played thru. My 3ways cab is better for that BUT I think the Henry is a very good Rock cabinet. The specs say it's only 96db or so but with a 300w head it could really shake the place. And it's not huge... and not too heavy (45kg).
If the price is good, I'd say go for it.

[JGR]

Buy the sweet LDS 8x8 Kringle has for sale in the classifieds!

[tekdiver500ft]

The 6x10 will be louder for the same input, and will treat the bottom end a little better. I'd go that route, but that's me...

[BassmanPaul]

Why go for little girly maaan 8" speakers when you can have manly sized 10" ones?

[Saetia]

I'd personally take the Henry, I know this may sound biased because I own one, but I chose to keep it around because it's a rather great cab. I've toured with it, played hundreds of shows through it and it's never even began to fart out. Handles lows like a champ and I have to differ on one point, the mids are quite present in this cab, very punchy and there. I wouldn't call it a flat cab by any means but it takes eq well. I mostly keep the tweet turned off or very low, the 8's go high enough for my liking and I've never really been a fan of tweeters.

I've definitely used this cab against two full stacks before and had no problem being heard or hearing myself because it cuts so well and is punchy. It projects very well.

-Benny

[Saetia]

I'd like to add I personally like 8" and 12" drivers over 10's most of the time. I know each box is different, but I tend to find most 10 equipped boxes to be "honky." I won't say all and this is definitely IMHO and YMMV, but 8's and 12's tend to be smoother and more "coherent" in general to me.

-Benny

[bassgod76]

I've used the Goliath Sr. If you're exploring the 610 route, give it a look.

I would favor a 410 and 210 setup. It gives you more flexibility to adjust to venue size. Plus those taller 610/8X8 cabs are more of a pain to haul around and load. Just my .02

[Saetia]

Originally Posted by bassgod76

I've used the Goliath Sr. If you're exploring the 610 route, give it a look.

I would favor a 410 and 210 setup. It gives you more flexibility to adjust to venue size. Plus those taller 610/8X8 cabs are more of a pain to haul around and load. Just my .02

The Henry is 36" tall, tilt back, side and top handles. You just tilt and go (I'm 6'4" tall so I gotta bend down a bit to move it) but it sure beats either pushing a castered 410 or lifting one... Even a light neo cab. To load I just tilt it back and lift/ slide. Or if I'm in the trailers, just get in, lift and slide. It's only 100# or so aswell.

[VanillaThundah]

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

Why go for little girly maaan 8" speakers when you can have manly sized 10" ones?

Or 2x15's

[coreyfyfe]

Originally Posted by bassgod76

I've used the Goliath Sr. If you're exploring the 610 route, give it a look.

I would favor a 410 and 210 setup. It gives you more flexibility to adjust to venue size. Plus those taller 610/8X8 cabs are more of a pain to haul around and load. Just my .02

FWIW, the Goliath Sr, Henry, and Big Bertha were all the same size and IMO are very easy to move. They tilt back at the perfect size to roll around, have skid rails, can be lifted by one person, and with the side and top handles you can very easily tilt them onto the side, lift using a side and top handle and slide it into a vehicle.

The problem I had with my 8x8 was that the top was shallower than my SVT was deep, so it didn't fit perfectly on that cab. The OP's amps - especially if in rack cases - should be fine, but that was always a pain.

[coreyfyfe]

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

Why go for little girly maaan 8" speakers when you can have manly sized 10" ones?

Because there's 8 of them

[mustbampeg]

I would love to try out an 8x8 cab, but they don't come up for sale too often. And when they do, they are grossly overpriced, imo. I think $250-$400 is a fair price for a used one, but I've never seen one that cheap.

Randy

[Saetia]

I got mine right here on TB for $375 shipped

-Benny

[mustbampeg]

Originally Posted by Saetia

I got mine right here on TB for $375 shipped

-Benny

Awesome! I Musta missed that one, lol.

Randy