Vertically aligned vs. square drivers

[Dustin Teel]

Lately I've been putting a lot of thought into posts describing vertically aligned drivers (2x15, (2) 2x10 vertical, 2x12, etc.) having better, more accurate midrange dispersion and less frequency cancellation than a cab with "square" driver alignment (4x10, 8x10, 4x12, etc).

Is the difference dramatically noticable? It's gotten me very close to retiring my 4x12 cab and going with either a vertical stack of two 2x10s or a 2x15.

What is the real science behind this? Or am I nit-picking at this point? Is it something that will be noticeably different?

I've grown to feel that my 4x12 is a bit overkill. Our band tries not be overbearingly loud. I often find myself with the EQ set completely flat with a slight treble boost and the volume on 7:00 (just barely on) and still feel that I drown out the guitar players at some points. I'm using a Hartke 5500 head. I have no intention of changing the head, I love the tone, but would a smaller cab with vertically aligned speakers be a smarter way to go?

Any opinions? (which I will certainly value and rely on when making a decision - I am not looking for reinforcement for what I already want to do).

Thanks in advance!

[JimmyM]

Dispersion is better with a vertical 210 stack than a vertical 215. The bigger the driver is, the more it beams the higher frequencies. The 210, while it will beam the higher freqs from 3-5 khz not covered by the tweeter (if you have one), does pretty good below that point, but a 215 vert beams pretty noticeably. That said, you'll get my B-15 stack when you pry it from my cold dead hands.

[will33]

Ya, most noticable off to the sides of the cab. Dead center, you still hear everything, the farther you move to the side, the more you lose first treble, then uppermids, etc. This makes a big difference if you play gigs where your rig carries the room. The people on center with your cab are in the hotspot, the folks off to the side get muddier, less clear sound. It's even more obvious with guitars and vocals as they have higher frequency content. Having wider dispersion on stage means the other guys in the band can hear you better, stay together, play tighter, etc.

[Downunderwonder]

For many years I would always gravitate to some spot in the room dead in front of the 4x10 or 8x10, but never knew why. I wear earplugs to live gigs so it wasn't for wanting extra bass, it was for wanting all of the bass as it turns out.

[BassmanPaul]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

That said, you'll get my B-15 stack when you pry it from my cold dead hands.

Now what was your address again Jimmy?

[rpsands]

1. It will make much more of a difference if you play out doors or in very large rooms. In smaller rooms there are so many reflections that it's often less of a big deal. It is still a big deal to some people, like me, but not to everyone!

2. It will make much more of a difference if you use a lot of signal over ~800hz or so. Typical flatwound tone knob rolled off guys are not going to notice dispersion issues as much.

[Dustin Teel]

This makes sense. It seems like this would be beneficial to me, then, as I do make use of treble and slight overdrive (i.e. Justin Chancellor, David Ellefson, etc.) I like a kind of metallic, grinding, warm tone.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

Now what was your address again Jimmy?

Hey man, should only be a 24 hour drive for you...you leave now, you might even catch me before my gig

[esa372]

Originally Posted by Dustin Teel

Is the difference dramatically noticable?

Is it something that will be noticeably different?

In my case, absolutely yes.

When I made the switch to a vertical 410 rig (two 210 cabs), every single band member at the first 'vertical rehearsal' made a comment about being able to hear me clearly.

It's true, and it works.

[basscooker]

do you like my work in progress? this was a matching pair, but i went to town with one. i haven't tried go gig it yet, but i don't need as much power as i used to to be heard during rehearsals. the unfinished one has a bad rubbing driver so i don't use it yet. the little guy is a 4x6.5 i use for a guitar backup.

[will33]

Originally Posted by basscooker

do you like my work in progress? this was a matching pair, but i went to town with one. i haven't tried go gig it yet, but i don't need as much power as i used to to be heard during rehearsals. the unfinished one has a bad rubbing driver so i don't use it yet. the little guy is a 4x6.5 i use for a guitar backup.

Those are a good example of what a bass or guitar 410 or 412 technically should look like. They'll sound better to more people out front as well as onstage......too bad the 2ft. wide tube head would be teetering off the top, and you can't get rid of that amp.....no...it's not a joke...you really can't. You can however place it somewhere other than on top the speaker column.

[JimmyM]

Hey, I got a Crate Power Block, too...nice little guitar amp. Like the stack...reminds me of a Shure Vocal Master, which with better speakers and a sub would have been pretty good