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2x 210 or 210+115 cabinets

2 matching cabs, stacked vertically: It works for me.

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Science also suggests to never use a chorus pedal. I tend to agree with that one...

Science cannot posit the musical quality of random interactions of constructive versus destructive phase interaction. But science can tell you that it is less optimal than a solution with no such interaction.

There is no science that can bridge the gap between qualitative and quantitative. People who declare science has a musical opinion of any kind and that it is the only right opinion are misusing the wonderful tool of science.

Everywhere else in the bass signal path we benefit from the inclusion of imperfections. Tubes, multiple pickups, OD pedals, effects, etc. To say that creating a thicker, more complex, and less perfect sound is scientifically wrong is pointless. Human ears love imperfection. We go to great lengths to creat organic feeling to our various art forms (mostly). Who is to say that a more complex and less perfect sound is wrong? You play in a band, music contains chords, walls reverberate sound, and humans have two ears on the opposite side of their heads. To pick on this one thing is myopic.

Listen to yourself and pick the gear that sounds best to you. Not picking the cab combination that sounds best to you is as dumb as setting your EQ by the numbers instead of your ears.
 
I'll be "that guy" feel free to tell me how wrong I am.

I use a 210 on top of a 115 and I even like it.

Didn't know it was scientifically wrong when I bought it. I had an Eden D210XLT and later bought an Eden D115XL. It changed my sound a little, but I liked what it brought to the party.

I believed, as did the salesman at very reputable Seattle bass only store, that it was the correct bottom cab to go with that top cab.

I can totally appreciate science, and alsolutelly trust the experience of talkbass members, but will add this:

If at all possible - try both choices with your bass, your amp, and your existing cab.
 
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Nothing wrong with pairing a 210 and 115 of same make and model. Usually their thermal limits would be close and overall cone surface area is similar. It was the old industry standard and marketed as an optimal setup for awhile with the notion that the fast 10s handled higher freq and the 15 for the lows which we have learnt isn't true since 10s can go low too... and we have learnt the benefits of 2x 210 vertically stacked. Reduced comb filtering and better dispersion alongside increased height for better self monitoring.
 
I'll be "that guy" feel free to tell me how wrong I am.

I use a 210 on top of a 115 and I even like it.

Didn't know it was scientifically wrong when I bought it. I had an Eden D210XLT and later bought an Eden D115XL. It changed my sound a little, but I liked what it brought to the party.

I believed, as did the salesman at very reputable Seattle bass only store, that it was the correct bottom cab to go with that top cab.

I can totally appreciate science, and alsolutelly trust the experience of talkbass members, but will add this:

If at all possible - try both choices with your bass, your amp, and your existing cab.

If you like it, you like it. Fine. Sure the 212/115 sounds better than the 210 only. No question there. Did you test drive another D210XLT with your existing one, though? What was it, exactly, that both you & the salesman believed that led you to choosing the 115 over a 2nd 210?

Objectively, a 2nd D210XLT will simply be a better match for your existing D210XLT, again, not that the 115 doesn't improve on the single 210. If you really can "totally appreciate science," then you should likely appreciate the superiority (by whatever margin) of a matching 210/210 rig.
 
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Nothing wrong with pairing a 210 and 115 of same make and model. Usually their thermal limits would be close and overall cone surface area is similar. It was the old industry standard and marketed as an optimal setup for awhile with the notion that the fast 10s handled higher freq and the 15 for the lows which we have learnt isn't true since 10s can go low too... and we have learnt the benefits of 2x 210 vertically stacked. Reduced comb filtering and better dispersion alongside increased height for better self monitoring.
Yes, all of this :D .

Also applies to another "old industry standard" which is still marketed/sold as a "current industry standard," the 410/115 rig. This makes a 210/115 rig seem like nirvana.
 
It's good that we are all forearmed with the greatest possible degree of knowledge to go out and make our choices in the world. Foreknowledge does not make our decision foregone conclusions, but helps us understand the tradeoffs we are making.
 
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Same drivers, same crossovers, same manufacturer, same driver arrangement. The only difference is the relative internal volume of space because of what the amp in the combo takes up. I'll live with it.
Not saying it's not good. Just pointing out that it's not matched for the sake of being consistent with our use of science. People who stand on science to make recommendations shouldn't be able to cherry pick when to apply it. And I'm definitely not saying that is what you are doing. This is just a good example of a very subtle difference that may or may not mean anything at all, but still falls into the category of the interaction of the unknown from which science purists purport to save us from. My point is only illustrative. I'm sure that it doesn't warp a hole in the fabric of space and time, unless you play a flat 5th off of C#, in which case all bets are off.