One of the only cabs that I can think of that meets your criteria, and can do better than your pair of 115s is a Barefaced Big Twin. A close second IMO would be a good 2x15 cab (take your pick).
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1)Dispersion 2)Efficiency 3)Size
- Thread starter LowG
- Start date
Mr. Foxen
Commercial User
Traded off the efficiency for bandwidth on newer ones, as power is not an issue, the stuff amde for valve amps they do considers low power availability. Greenboy with Kappalite 3012 should be equivalent to the Barefaced, I'm not super familair with the 12" loaded stuff as use the 15" loaded stuff.
Edit: should note I'm suggesting 12s over 15s for dispersion purposes.
Doesn't Mike make a MAS112 LPT for low power tube applications? Has a more efficient driver as I remember...
=wr=
=wr=
Mr. Foxen
Commercial User
Its the driver the Super 12 used. They are now discontinued since Barefaced moved to custom drivers.
Dominick C.
Guest
Another shout out for MAS stuff, especially since dispersion is your top priority-his cabs are almost omnidirectional, and bass proximity effect is minimal. He is also a great guy to work with, and I'm sure he could come up with a way to meet your needs.
Mas 112Thank you, not looking for a free lunch
If they don't exist than so be it. Maybe there is no single cab that can match the sensitivity of a traditional 2x15 stack? Maybe there are physics that say that if a single cab does match the sensitivity then it will beam mids horribly?
Regardless, lots of suggestions so far, thanks everyone
I use an Ampeg PF-50t with my BoomBassCab 1215 Tank and it is amazing. It's about the size of a single 15" cab, but so much more sound. The 50W amp works well and if I need more then it still handles the 800W or 1000W amps.
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I gotta add to the MAS 112 love. I tried one Sunday at a local bass hang where Mike brought a bunch of his cabs. I've tried some of his cabs before, and this one was my favorite. Great dispersion, efficient, plenty of lows if needed, but it sounded like a rock cab. And it was a breeze to pick up by the handles.
alexclaber
Commercial User
The Super Twin has equal 1W sensitivity to the older Super Twelve, better high power sensitivity and much better dispersion. The Four10 is more sensitive and dispersion is just as good as the Super Twin.
I've got a pair of the Avatar 210 cabs that used different neo driver. They're not as deep, focus a bit more on mids, and the power handling is lower (but SEEMINGLY more sensitive). Honestly one or two of those stacked up vertical takes up no space, disperses pretty well, and would likely satisfy what you're after. When I rocked that rig I could achieve the coveted "single trip load in" too.
I'm not arguing for or against any brand or product because I've never used or heard some of these being advocated.
All I'm suggesting is to pay attention to the laws of physics in thinking about the prerequisites you want this new speaker system to do.
If you want wide dispersion, that means that you want small diameter drivers - nothing bigger than a 10. Its simple physics that the larger the speaker, the more directional it is.
You also have to avoid HF driver / horns and piezo HF devices because they're more directional than a dome tweeter. Or - you could avoid systems that don't use an HF driver if you can find one that delivers the sound you want.
The sensitivity issue is important because its hard to find systems that will work well with lower powered amps that use small diameter drivers that aren't in large boxes.
So - good luck in your quest.
All I'm suggesting is to pay attention to the laws of physics in thinking about the prerequisites you want this new speaker system to do.
If you want wide dispersion, that means that you want small diameter drivers - nothing bigger than a 10. Its simple physics that the larger the speaker, the more directional it is.
You also have to avoid HF driver / horns and piezo HF devices because they're more directional than a dome tweeter. Or - you could avoid systems that don't use an HF driver if you can find one that delivers the sound you want.
The sensitivity issue is important because its hard to find systems that will work well with lower powered amps that use small diameter drivers that aren't in large boxes.
So - good luck in your quest.
Good point. I do know that I'm trying to thread a tight needle with this, which is why I posted in the first place - if it was easy it would be easy!
When all is said and done I could drop my sensitivity requirement and use a different amp for playing live in this group, but if I don't have to that would be cool. I have a huge Bag End S15B-D 2x15 cab (I think that's the model - it's the bigger enclosure) that I can use at home with the low power head and it takes care of business. But, as is being pointed out, the cab is very large to get that sensitivity. I really don't have to play very loud with the low power head, but I want to squeeze what I can out if possible.
I can also be pretty flexible with the size - I'm not looking for the smallest, just reasonable. However, if the size/weight starts approaching what I already use then other attributes would have to be that much more superior to convince that the change is needed. After all, I'm generally ok with the 2 Yorkville 15" cabs. I probably could simply spin the bottom one towards the drummer (as was suggested in an earlier post). Sure, it's a lot to haul, but I don't gig that much.
I will probably not utilize a tweeter, but some of these systems with arrays of smaller mid drivers seem attractive.
Thanks again everyone, a very enlightening thread (for me, anyway
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