Reaching out to those who use a 210+115 cab rig, I have been thinking about having this config be my next cab setup. What do you like about the setup? Now many would say just get 2 115's or 2 210's, however I am curious to the 210+115 setup so please keep that in mind when voicing your opinions.
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210+115 rigs
- Thread starter klejst
- Start date
I ran an Eden 210 and 115 rig for many years, and thought it sounded great...
Then (because of information I found here, on TB) I A/B'ed that stack with two Eden 210 cabs.
There was no comparison. The matched-driver rig was far superior to the mixed-driver rig. The two 210s were louder, fuller, more "harmonically rich", and altogether better than the 210 and 115. The mixed-driver rig sounded thin, honky, and anemic by comparison.
That was enough proof for me - matched drivers are absolutely the way to go. I doubt I will ever run a full-range mixed-driver rig again.
Then (because of information I found here, on TB) I A/B'ed that stack with two Eden 210 cabs.
There was no comparison. The matched-driver rig was far superior to the mixed-driver rig. The two 210s were louder, fuller, more "harmonically rich", and altogether better than the 210 and 115. The mixed-driver rig sounded thin, honky, and anemic by comparison.
That was enough proof for me - matched drivers are absolutely the way to go. I doubt I will ever run a full-range mixed-driver rig again.
At least this rig will be a fairly close match power-wise..... The 15" that sat underneath a 4x10" always struggled like hell!
+1
To add, there is also very little reason to bi-amp full range drivers. It may eliminate some of the phasing problems, but at the price of less total output.
Mismatched cabs may or may not work, and even when they work they may only work in a narrow "sweet spot".
My golden rule, if it sounds good to you go for it, to heck with "the rules"
But like already hinted at, what I thought sounded good at one time was only relative to what I later found sounded better.
These days I'm about getting a good tone with even sound dispersal that sounds good over a wide area, and tone that sounds good at an appropriate volume (whether loud or not mind you).
If I were looking at expanding my rig, it would be two 210 cabs stacked vertically, simply because it produces practically the same tone off to the sides as in front, and the same at head level as it does at the knees.
No good thinking you have a great tone up high off to the side, when in reality the audience is getting blasted by directional boom clank out in front (15" drivers can be very directional)
My golden rule, if it sounds good to you go for it, to heck with "the rules"
But like already hinted at, what I thought sounded good at one time was only relative to what I later found sounded better.
These days I'm about getting a good tone with even sound dispersal that sounds good over a wide area, and tone that sounds good at an appropriate volume (whether loud or not mind you).
If I were looking at expanding my rig, it would be two 210 cabs stacked vertically, simply because it produces practically the same tone off to the sides as in front, and the same at head level as it does at the knees.
No good thinking you have a great tone up high off to the side, when in reality the audience is getting blasted by directional boom clank out in front (15" drivers can be very directional)
My favorite thing about the 2x10 & 1x15 rig is you can split it up to get different sounds. Don't need the full rig one night? Take a 2x10. Want a 15 instead? Cool, bring the 1x15.
I dunno. My 2x10 & 1x15 rig is my backup and small jam rig so it doesn't get as much love as my 810 but serves me well at home and the occasional night doing something else.
I dunno. My 2x10 & 1x15 rig is my backup and small jam rig so it doesn't get as much love as my 810 but serves me well at home and the occasional night doing something else.
For 20 years I ran 210 + 115 and 410 + 115. Thought it was great -- most of the time. But there were so many "bad rooms," you know. Then I learned about matching cabs here, and I discovered I preferred the 115, the 210 or the 410 alone. Overnight the "bad rooms" disappeared. I now run a 2 212 set-up.
You may like your mixed cabs -- I'm glad it works -- but my advice: Match your cabs.
You may like your mixed cabs -- I'm glad it works -- but my advice: Match your cabs.
Live I use a GK Neo 210 & 115 with an MB500. Sounds full to me and is extremely easy to shlepp (I also own a GK410sbx whose sealed cab weight is the same as my live rig, combined!).
That said, I would love to hear pairings of these cabs as I bought with my eyes with the biggest eye on modularity before I had read all the matched cab discussions.
That said, I would love to hear pairings of these cabs as I bought with my eyes with the biggest eye on modularity before I had read all the matched cab discussions.
My 10's and 15 are in the same cab. They are designed to sound good together. Is there any other cab companies besides Traynor that build something like that? I know Mesa has a 15+410 cab. Which I'm sure would be monstrous. And how much would a 410+15 vary from a 210+15 besides weight?
Ampeg and Fender both built them at one point. Peavey made one with an 18 and two 10s (the 1810) and one with two 18s and two 10s (the 1820).
None of these cabs were "engineered to work well" with mixed drivers. The Mesa Powerhouse 1200 is one of the worst sounding "big cabs" out there.
The Mesa cab to which you refer is called the Powerhouse 1000. And to the best of my knowledge, the only thing "monstrous" about it is its reputation for being monstrously bad.
I've read numerous references to it during the past few years. To the best of my recollection, not a single one of them was unreservedly favorable, and most of them specifically mentioned how unbalanced the cab sounds, due to the power-handling mismatch between the single 15-inch driver, and the four (4) 10-inch drivers.
It's solid evidence that even as professional a company as Mesa is capable of getting it wrong...
MM
I hate, hate, hate to admit it, but the matched cab faithful are 100% correct. 
The worst rig I ever played through was my SWR 410/115. First time I rehearsed with it, couldn't be heard over the drums and guitars. It was a tone suck. I thought something might be wrong with the head, so i borrowed my buddies workingman's 410 to pair with my goliath 410. Unreal difference, if a bit unfair to that little 115.
I've always wanted to try two son of bertha 115's together. I bet they'd kill too!
Victor Wooten can go'n wit his bad self.
Me, I'll stick with matched cabs.
The worst rig I ever played through was my SWR 410/115. First time I rehearsed with it, couldn't be heard over the drums and guitars. It was a tone suck. I thought something might be wrong with the head, so i borrowed my buddies workingman's 410 to pair with my goliath 410. Unreal difference, if a bit unfair to that little 115.I've always wanted to try two son of bertha 115's together. I bet they'd kill too!
Victor Wooten can go'n wit his bad self.
Me, I'll stick with matched cabs.Bergantino used to make the HT322, which was two 10" drivers and a 12" driver. It remains the best sounding cab I've come across. So yes, mixed drivers in one enclosure certainly can sound good when done right. (NB: The HT322 weighs a tonne).
I had an Eden D-115XLT and a D-210XLT in my practice room. That rig never left the room because it didn't sound good at all. I sold the 115 and bought a D-210XST. Together with the D-210XLT, THAT was a gigworthy rig.
