2x15 or 1x15 + 2x10?

[Biggbass]

I have both rigs...
2 x 15 & 2x10/1x15 and like both. It depends on the amp, bass, player, music, room,
so many variables. either will work.

 

[Korladis]

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the efficiency of a home/car audio woofer very different from an instrument speaker?

OK - the joke is on me with this one. Obviously a joke. Duh...

Proof I shouldn't be responding to things while at work because I only see what I want to see!

Yeah, he was joking, as it's fairly common knowledge that car speakers have terrible efficiency compared to instrument drivers.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

Yeah, he was joking, as it's fairly common knowledge that car speakers have terrible efficiency compared to instrument drivers.

Yes. It is also hard to replicate the sound of car panels vibrating in a wood cabinet.

 

[39-Bassist]

As others have said....your cab selection really comes down to taste....I have played 2x15, 8x10, and 15 + 2x10
Depending on style and your amp ( how diverse the eq's on head are ) the 2x10 w/15 as long as power and ohms are paired, can be a great full frequency sound. Good luck with your decision.

 

[Eminor3rd]

15

 

[rtav]

My Trace Elliot 1528 2x15 sounds incredible...among the options I'd go with a 2x15.

 

[bikeplate]

I gigged a 1x15/2x10 Epifani UL's for a couple years. Sounded killer

 

[mustBmtd]

For the past two years, I ran with 2x10 + 1x15. Just this year I've switched to a setup of Glockenlang 2x12 and bottom Glockenlang 1x15 No! change anytime soon, I'm there with plenty of tone and bottom.

 

[mustBmtd]

For the past two years, I ran with 2x10 + 1x15. Just this year I've switched to a setup of Glockenlang 2x12 and bottom Glockenlang 1x15 No! change anytime soon, I'm there with plenty of tone and bottom.

 

[arbiterusa]

4x10 is what you want. That with the 1x15 - slamming tone.

 

[Linnin]

I think it is in fact an 8 ohm Black Widow, it's not a current model for sure. I'd definitely get another 8 ohm cab for sure if I mix them.

Right now the 15 gets 100% of the power of course, and she just can't stands no more! If I add the 210, would each 10" driver getting 1/4 the power be a good thing since they probably will each handle less than the 15, or am I thinking wrong there?

Your logic is perfect and that is exactly what you should do.

 

[rodl2005]

4x10 is what you want. That with the 1x15 - slamming tone.

No. Ya don't. 210 + 115 is a safer match IF you ain't gonna go the safe route and get matching identical cabs

 

[eigentone]

Also, I must have missed something on TB but what is this ridiculous idea about not mixing driver sizes?

Rule of Thumb: When using multiple speakers, choose speakers which match (like in a 4x10), align them (also like in a 4x10), and put them close together (like they do in 4x10s). This will minimize phase artifacts, yielding the purest sound and most efficient use of energy (=loudest). Mixing drivers can result in drivers pushing in opposing directions because different drivers will respond slightly differently to the signal.

That said, many people mix speakers for taste or because they hope the speakers compliment each other well.

This is sort of like pickups on a Jazz Bass. Using one pickup will give you a purer sound which is more evenly balanced. Mixing the two pickups will introduce phase cancellation, which can be used for good effect. Although some people do it, many people would dislike using both pickups equally all the time because it is like an effect which cannot be turned off.

Guitarists mix speakers more often. Since their wavelengths are (generally) shorter, it is less likely to offend.

 

[jimo]

What IF you used TWO different heads with mis matched cabs? Would that negate some of the problems with mixing driver sizes?? So really just two, totally different amps running at the same time.

 

[jwilson67]

Rule of Thumb: When using multiple speakers, choose speakers which match (like in a 4x10), align them (also like in a 4x10), and put them close together (like they do in 4x10s). This will minimize phase artifacts, yielding the purest sound and most efficient use of energy (=loudest). Mixing drivers can result in drivers pushing in opposing directions because different drivers will respond slightly differently to the signal.

That said, many people mix speakers for taste or because they hope the speakers compliment each other well.

This is sort of like pickups on a Jazz Bass. Using one pickup will give you a purer sound which is more evenly balanced. Mixing the two pickups will introduce phase cancellation, which can be used for good effect. Although some people do it, many people would dislike using both pickups equally all the time because it is like an effect which cannot be turned off.

Guitarists mix speakers more often. Since their wavelengths are (generally) shorter, it is less likely to offend.

This makes no sense. It's about speaker area rather than driver size. Yes the cones of 10" speakers will vibrate much more rapidly than an 18" but in the real world it doesn't translate to the human ear. All you're hearing is extended frequency range. I have never heard this at all before coming on TB. A 410 top with a 118 or 115 bottom is a common practice as is running both pickups of a Jazz Bass.

Also, this wouldn't explain 3 way speaker cabs. Maybe it's just me?

 

[jwilson67]

In a cabinet with four 10" woofers there is no guarantee that the cones are going to vibrate in perfect unison anyway. The science is obviously right on this issue but the actual result to the human ear is questionable.

 

[MobileHolmes]

Without going all techno babble on ya,
Driver size matters less than:
Cabinet frequency response
Sensitivity
Power handling

Assuming 8 ohm black widdow cab?
Safe bet is a match, or near match to the 15.
Next would be an 8ohm 2x10.
If you get a 4x10 , just replace the 15 with it.
The 410 will have more surface area, will most likely go lower, and possibly higher than the 15 and will be much lowder. (Depending on the particular 410)

I'd try elevation on the 15 first, milk crates are great for this application.

I agree on the 410 by itself. I've never been a huge fan of 15s. I have run a 410 and 115 set up, and while it didn't hurt anything, the 15 didn't bring much of anything to the party. Like you said, the tens go higher and lower, and an awful lot of 15s are just kind of loose and flubby sounding to me

 

[eigentone]

What IF you used TWO different heads with mis matched cabs? Would that negate some of the problems with mixing driver sizes?? So really just two, totally different amps running at the same time.

Depends on how you do it.

- If they are the same amps slaved and their output is equal then none of the phase cancellation will be negated.
- If they are the same amps slaved and their output is different (=biamp), reducing the volume of one amp will negate some of the phase problems. Assuming there is volume compensation.
- If they are different amps and your bass is run through different preamps… that could be better or it could be worse because preamps/EQs are able to alter your signal's phase more than speakers.

 

[eigentone]

This makes no sense. It's about speaker area rather than driver size. Yes the cones of 10" speakers will vibrate much more rapidly than an 18" but in the real world it doesn't translate to the human ear. All you're hearing is extended frequency range. I have never heard this at all before coming on TB. A 410 top with a 118 or 115 bottom is a common practice as is running both pickups of a Jazz Bass.

Also, this wouldn't explain 3 way speaker cabs. Maybe it's just me?

Different speakers react differently. Even if you put them in different cabinets (eg with different dimensions or port configurations), they will act differently. It's not simply based on size, but design. Therefore, the same design (make, model, era) should be used if you want to minimize phase cancellation. There's more to a speaker/cab than its power handling and frequency response. Time is an important consideration.

Would you agree that 10" drivers respond faster than 18" drivers? If yes, then you already understand that speakers respond differently. Phase cancellation in this context is a slight time misalignment. This phase cancellation also results in construction. This means that some frequencies will be significantly weaker and some will be stronger. Furthermore, smaller drivers tend to have wider spread so your sound will be much less consistent as you move off axis.

Do you know that speakers' frequency response changes when used in multiples? Eg a 4x10 will have a mid scoop.

I didn't say combining two pickups or cabs is unusual. I said it results in phase cancellation.

3 way systems use a crossover. Crossovers divide the signal into multiple bands. For example, the first speaker receives the low frequencies, the second receives the mids, the third receives the highs.

 

[two fingers]

I realize they are totally different cabs but....

I run a Mesa Walkabout Scout 15" with a matching ext cab and I love it. It has me wanting to experiment with more 2-15 setups.

But, as always, your sound will be more box driven than driver driven.