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opinions: 210 and 115 modular rig vs 410

410 cab or modular 210 + single 15

  • 410 alone

    Votes: 46 35.1%

  • 210 + single 15

    Votes: 85 64.9%
  • Total voters
    131
bassman_al

bassman_al

Supporting Member
Commercial User
Apr 16, 2008
2,299
117
Fairfax, VA USA
Disclosures
Dealer for Aguilar, Lindy Fralin, KorgUSA
#1
Hi all,
Considering moving from Hartke 410XL to Hartke 210XL + Trace 1518C.

Opinions on the 210/115 set up as compared to the 410 alone?

I play in a wedding band. Jazz, junk, swing, rock, disco, motown.

SVT 3 Pro, Sansamp BDDI, Fender Jazz '62 RI

Thanks!
 
#6
I'm really curious to see where this thread goes, i'm trying to decide between these two setups myself. I'm only familiar with a 4x10 setup and haven't got to try the other.

I read in TB the other day that there can be a phase cancellation potential mixing driver/cab sizes. How big of a factor is this?

The potential cost difference is a consideration for me too, but it could be worth it for the modular element and a (possible) more dynamic sound. My mind would tend to think the variety of cabs could produce a "fuller" spectrum, if you will. Is this true?
 
#7
some have told me that the shorter waves produced by the 10's and the longer waves produced by the 15's can/will result in the sound being very different depending on how close you are standing to your rig. Others have said the 15/210 setup is a great option. So far the poll supports the modular...

I am no physics expert so I have no idea about the wavelength issue...
 
#8
small gigs, I drag out one cab, usually the 1x15 (it has a horn). if i need the whole shebang, it is only 1 more cab to cary along. thank god for the shuttle!
wowbass.gif
 
#10
I have only played through the 15 and 2x10 combo's before. But, it seems to me a bigger factor would be what brand of speaker cabs you are going to get. I am only going off of what I read on thesepages, but brand A 4x10 sounds different than brand B's 4x10 and so on.... So maybe it would be a bigger factor of what brand of speakers you get than the configuration. Again I don't claim to know anything only played through Peaveys in the 80's and they worked fine back then. I think I would be more influence by tone and portability than speaker configuration at my age.
 
#14
Provided you buy good cabs, the 2x10 + 1x15 is the way to go. Why? Small gig portability. Yes, you WILL be playing small gigs at some point in your life... why not plan ahead?

just make sure you either have a head that can drive 2ohms or you makes sure to buy 8 ohm cabs...
 
#15
Good points Harry. I am soon-to-be 42 and starting to really wonder why I lug around my Hartke 410XL when I already own a 210XL that has sounded great for years. Why not by the Trace Elliot 1518C that is for sale in my neighborhood, sell the 410 for hopefully about the same price and save my back in the process? I am already doing gigs that are smaller, and even for some of the larger ones the 210 would probably work, but the added 15 on the bottom would sound great. I tried them out together last night, and even though its a bit "ghetto" in that the pieces are "mix and match" (Ampeg head, Hartke cab, Trace cab) it sounded good to my ears.
 
#16
bassman_al said:
some have told me that the shorter waves produced by the 10's and the longer waves produced by the 15's can/will result in the sound being very different depending on how close you are standing to your rig. Others have said the 15/210 setup is a great option. So far the poll supports the modular...

I am no physics expert so I have no idea about the wavelength issue...
Click to expand...

Dunno about that, what I do know is that the larger the base of sound the less you can hear the midrange when your not stood infront of where your cabs pointed. As far as I'm aware it's nothing to do with driver size alone, if you stand at the side/above of a 1x10 you will hear the midrange better compared to a 1x15, but if you do the same with a 4x10 you will hear less mids in the same situation then the 1x15, that's my understanding of it anyway.
 
#18
so I bought a Trace Elliot 1518C to go with my Hartke 210XL. I'll A/B that rig against the 410 and describe the difference for anyone else who is curious. So far it is as earth shaking as the 410, but I have only played it about 30 minutes in the basement "studio" that I have at my house.
 

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