Subwoofer versus bass cabinet

[Dkerwood]

Aside from the obvious tweeter, what's the difference between a bass cabinet and a dedicated subwoofer?

More importantly, would it be detrimental to use a bass cab (or even a high powered combo) as a sub?

[Munjibunga]

A bass cab will typically have a broader frequency response than a sub. Most subs are designed to cross over at about 100 hz, with the top of their frequency range at about 250 hz. Bass cabs typically top out at about 4Khz to 5Khz. Subs also are designed to handle a lot of power at very low frequencies. The typical bass cab (say, a 410) is designed to handle the greater frequncy range, and may not be able to handle as much power down low. Bass cabs with 18's would accomodate the low frequencies better.

Bottom line, you can probably get away with using a bass cab as a sub, but be very judicious in the application of power. If you're feeding it everything below 100 hz, I doubt that it would stand up very long, even at its rated power.

[Trevorus]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

A bass cab will typically have a broader frequency response than a sub. Most subs are designed to cross over at about 100 hz, with the top of their frequency range at about 250 hz. Bass cabs typically top out at about 4Khz to 5Khz. Subs also are designed to handle a lot of power at very low frequencies. The typical bass cab (say, a 410) is designed to handle the greater frequncy range, and may not be able to handle as much power down low. Bass cabs with 18's would accomodate the low frequencies better.

Bottom line, you can probably get away with using a bass cab as a sub, but be very judicious in the application of power. If you're feeding it everything below 100 hz, I doubt that it would stand up very long, even at its rated power.

Along with this, too, you must think of the power bandwidth in relation to frequency. Look at it this way: With a bass cabinet, you can use 500 watts for the whole of it's spectrum. That means, the power is actually spread out differently along the sound spectrum. Usae the same 500 watts in a subwoofer range, it's seeing a lot more power concentration in a low frequency area, which can be stressful to a speaker if it is not designed for this sort of use.

Now I may be totally talking out of my ass (i'm not sure on this one...), but the thing I am trying to get across is you can kill a bass instument speaker by treating it like any old sub.

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by Trevorus

Along with this, too, you must think of the power bandwidth in relation to frequency. Look at it this way: With a bass cabinet, you can use 500 watts for the whole of it's spectrum. That means, the power is actually spread out differently along the sound spectrum. Usae the same 500 watts in a subwoofer range, it's seeing a lot more power concentration in a low frequency area, which can be stressful to a speaker if it is not designed for this sort of use.

Now I may be totally talking out of my ass (i'm not sure on this one...), but the thing I am trying to get across is you can kill a bass instument speaker by treating it like any old sub.

No, you're on it. It's a slightly more detailed description of what I was trying to get across.

[Dkerwood]

That's what I thought. What about a cab like an 18? I'd assume that anyone buying an 18" cab would be pairing it with a 210 or something...

And how would it work to throw a subwoofer into your bass rig? Would it work ok?

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by Dkerwood

That's what I thought. What about a cab like an 18? I'd assume that anyone buying an 18" cab would be pairing it with a 210 or something...

And how would it work to throw a subwoofer into your bass rig? Would it work ok?

You can use a sub as part of your bass rig, but you'll need some tens or something to carry the mids and highs. I have tried it at home with one of my EAW SBX-220's (two twelves in a sub configuration), and it really kicked on the bottom end, but needed something smaller to produce the pitch.

Even if you use 18's designed for bass instruments, they still are awful boomy without some tops.

Here's what the guts of the SBX-220 look like.



Here's a pic of one of my SBX-220's with a JFX590 on top.