The LDS 2x8 3-way with NEO drivers and the EA VL208 are the two best sounding cabinets I know of. In this test, both were new cabinets - the LDS came to me a month ago and is now broken in. The EA VL208 was a 'new old stock' found in a store in NY, shipped to me a two months ago.
This test was done with my Schnitzer and DeSola DB, running a K&K BMP pickup and an AI Focus amp. Both cabinets were set up the exact same way, in a 20'x30' very solidly constructed room with good, but somewhat lively acoustics. I compared the sound from a foot away to 12 feet away from the cabinets.
The differences are very small. However, when you 'climb the mountain', even small differences can be significant to the listener. The obvious differences are the LDS is a couple of inches larger in size, not significant, about 8 pounds lighter at 39 lbs and is easier to drive. Eventhough I have the 4 ohm version, I believe even the 8 ohm would still be easier to drive than the VL208.
Of course the key is the sound. Here's what I heard after doing this comparison three times over several weeks. The LDS has more low bass energy, noticable on the 'E' string. The VL208 seems to get as deep, but the bass output is thinner. Could this be that this makes the VL208 more accurate as DB's really don't have much low end on their own? Yes, that may be the case. But I definately prefer the LDS version as I like to have that low end drive when I 'get down' to the lowest notes. I hear this bass power in recordings of my favorite bassists, I hear it in my head, and I think it is appropriate, as long as it 'seems' accurate, and not bloated in the least. And the LDS does that.
The overall tone of the VL208 comes across as getting more 'string' tone and less 'body', than the LDS. This is the crux of the matter to my ears. Both cabinets are very even and very accurate sounding. But which version of accuracy is the correct one?! At this point, I prefer the LDS. At first, I thought its extra body tone was a coloration and the VL208 was more accurate. I even thought that maybe the VL208 was revealing more of the supposed thinner sound that piezo pickups are reported to have. But, no, to my ears, the LDS is more accurate. I say that, only becuase I compared the sound of both with the bass unamplified. The LDS got the balance of wood, air, and string. The VL208 was more balanced towards string.
Final thoughts - I prefer the sound of the LDS, even though I respect how good the VL208 is. Its richer sound does not sacrifice accuracy, which is critical to DB sound, IMHO. I also should say that I came into this expecting the VL208 to be superior. That's why I had to do the test 3 different times to be sure.
I also tried a pair of stacked LDS 1x8 3-ways to the 2x8 3-way and found them too close to call any differences.
This test was done with my Schnitzer and DeSola DB, running a K&K BMP pickup and an AI Focus amp. Both cabinets were set up the exact same way, in a 20'x30' very solidly constructed room with good, but somewhat lively acoustics. I compared the sound from a foot away to 12 feet away from the cabinets.
The differences are very small. However, when you 'climb the mountain', even small differences can be significant to the listener. The obvious differences are the LDS is a couple of inches larger in size, not significant, about 8 pounds lighter at 39 lbs and is easier to drive. Eventhough I have the 4 ohm version, I believe even the 8 ohm would still be easier to drive than the VL208.
Of course the key is the sound. Here's what I heard after doing this comparison three times over several weeks. The LDS has more low bass energy, noticable on the 'E' string. The VL208 seems to get as deep, but the bass output is thinner. Could this be that this makes the VL208 more accurate as DB's really don't have much low end on their own? Yes, that may be the case. But I definately prefer the LDS version as I like to have that low end drive when I 'get down' to the lowest notes. I hear this bass power in recordings of my favorite bassists, I hear it in my head, and I think it is appropriate, as long as it 'seems' accurate, and not bloated in the least. And the LDS does that.
The overall tone of the VL208 comes across as getting more 'string' tone and less 'body', than the LDS. This is the crux of the matter to my ears. Both cabinets are very even and very accurate sounding. But which version of accuracy is the correct one?! At this point, I prefer the LDS. At first, I thought its extra body tone was a coloration and the VL208 was more accurate. I even thought that maybe the VL208 was revealing more of the supposed thinner sound that piezo pickups are reported to have. But, no, to my ears, the LDS is more accurate. I say that, only becuase I compared the sound of both with the bass unamplified. The LDS got the balance of wood, air, and string. The VL208 was more balanced towards string.
Final thoughts - I prefer the sound of the LDS, even though I respect how good the VL208 is. Its richer sound does not sacrifice accuracy, which is critical to DB sound, IMHO. I also should say that I came into this expecting the VL208 to be superior. That's why I had to do the test 3 different times to be sure.
I also tried a pair of stacked LDS 1x8 3-ways to the 2x8 3-way and found them too close to call any differences.
I had to mug my sister-in-law to borrow her camera. My wife always has hers 'in use'.
