410 with a 115. Why so much hate????

[mesaplayer83]

Personally I think the bandwagon on this front is a bit overwhelmed. Been using a 15+2x10 for 15 years. And the 2x10 goes on the bottom.
The cabs are matched, so they were designed to go together.

I think the bigger issue is when you mix brands/series which is perfectly understandable that the different characteristics of mixed brands would cause problems.

Studies suggest that vertically stacked drivers of the same type are less problematic of phase issues and will give a better sound as every driver is designed the same and working together.

IME, a 115 pairs up MUCH better with a 210 than it does with a 410...

 

[Nephilymbass]

I'm pretty new to the cabinet and head game. Always been a combo guy. I currently have a an acoustic bn410 (I know it's poopoo but it was super cheap) and I've been thinking of pairing an acoustic bn115 with it. Turns out the neo series really don't sound that bad.

Now this is just for fun to see if I like the multi cabinet rig and itll only cost me around 400 bucks between the two cabinets. One was on clearance and I'll pick the second up used. If I do like it in going to go to a better, preferably American made product.

I have noticed everyone seems to advise against 410/115 combo. Why? Teach me oh wonderful talkbass members. GAS is taking hold and I wanna buy stuff!

It’s seems like a hit or miss situation. I dig my 410+15 stack. One of the main problems people claim to have is they are pushing the 15 too hard. But most soundguys at the venues we play don’t allow gut busting/ear splitting stage volume anyways so I have a hard time picturing a situation where you’d actually play that ridiculously loud when pairing a 410 and a 15. Even if that was a problem you can always replace the 15 speaker with a high spec eminence and it’ll keep up with any 410 just fine.

 

[mesaplayer83]

A good combo is a 2X10 and 1X15. If you're going to mix cabs an speaker sizes than that setup works really well.

This...

 

[jalapejoe]

They both sound great I have 2 1x15 Portoflex sealed and 1 4X10 Heritage both sound fantastic
one pushed tight punchy air the others deep and tight

 

[tattooSAM]

I can sell you my vintage 3X12" Kustom cab and you will have only one cabinet to blame for being bad sounding and under powered. At least it's tuck and roll upholstered!
Seriously, as a champion of vintage cabs, I have to suggest you go with a proven modern cabinet such as a well designed 4x10" that can handle as much power as one would need these days.

 

[wmhill]

 

[Bander]

There is some truth to the belief we shouldn't mix drivers, but I've found its not important in actual practice. I personally like the eq and overlap you get with a 410 and a 115 or 215 on stage, with a band. The band and audience always do too.

 

[Jscriv]

So with all the power splitting overpowering: if you have a 500w amp and two cabinets capable of 500w+ a piece wouldn't the 15 be safe with only half of the wattage coming to it? Or am I missing a step in equation?

 

[Jscriv]

I am digging the idea of stacking two 212 can though. The current acoustic neo 410 can stay in my gear room and only be played at home for all I care. I need a nice going out rig

 

[Coolhandjjl]

The 410 + 115 is the best thing in bassdom that never really worked.

 

[Nakoatron]

I have found that 15s are less efficient than a 410, and tend to get lost in the mix unless you are running a bi-amp rig where both cabs can get the right amount of power.

 

[Nakoatron]

Hi twin!

It’s seems like a hit or miss situation. I dig my 410+15 stack. One of the main problems people claim to have is they are pushing the 15 too hard. But most soundguys at the venues we play don’t allow gut busting/ear splitting stage volume anyways so I have a hard time picturing a situation where you’d actually play that ridiculously loud when pairing a 410 and a 15. Even if that was a problem you can always replace the 15 speaker with a high spec eminence and it’ll keep up with any 410 just fine.View attachment 3048324

 

[Downunderwonder]

View attachment 3048446

Isn't he the guy who endorses a $1200 power cable?

 

[Korladis]

View attachment 3048446

He also sells ridiculous expensive power cables.

 

[KJMO]

I can barely stand lugging around my 410, so the last thing I would do is add another cab, but ymmv, I guess. Plus, if the 15 limits the power you can use (it does), then why have the 410 just sitting there loafing along all big and stuff? Like others have said, a 210 makes more sense. Or 2x210s, which is a 410.

 

[chris_b]

So with all the power splitting overpowering: if you have a 500w amp and two cabinets capable of 500w+ a piece wouldn't the 15 be safe with only half of the wattage coming to it? Or am I missing a step in equation?

You're not. People usually say the smaller cab is working twice as hard, but the reality is, as long as the smaller cab is being used within its operating parameters, the larger cab is actually working half as hard. A 500 watt amp into 2 cabs is 250 watts per cab. Assuming the specs of each cab is being adhered to neither of the cabs is in danger of being damaged because it is being used in this configuration.

Having said that, I still think that there are better ways of getting a good bass sound these days, using different configs.

 

[Ryan L.]

I’ve got both a Fender Neo 410 and Neo 115. Typically, I’ll only use one or the other, depending on what I want on a particular night. However, they *do* sound very good together, and seem to work best with the 15 on top. I’ll never get anywhere close to the amount of volume being pushed to where I’d damage the 15, so that’s not even a consideration for me.

 

[two fingers]

Like I said, cabinet newbie here. How could the 15 be over powered??

Anyone and everyone feel free to nerd out and really break it down. TB has taught me so much this way

A 15" speaker works exactly like a 10" speaker. Just because the cone is larger, that doesn't mean it is more "robust".

 

[Bander]

...unless you are running a bi-amp rig where both cabs can get the right amount of power.

That's usually right, and I do run a bi-amp head. I've also had luck with a two channel amp. I haven't thought about it before, but maybe some of the mixed driver dislike, is really mixed cabinet dislike? Because the two cabinets aren't the same efficiency, and running them on the same channel produces unequal response? The same thing could happen with two 410's of different efficiency?

 

[Matthijs]

Most 500 watt rated cabs can easily be wrecked with a 250 watt amp. The cab rating is mostly only the termal rating for the driver, and does not take into account the mechanical stress at the lowest frequencies. The amp rating is only for average power output at a certain max level of distortion.

This can get you into trouble, especially if you added the 15 for extra bass and don’t hear anything extra because it does not deliver more than the 4*10 already did. You start cranking the bass on the amp and before you know it the only function of the 15 is it brings the 10’s closer to ear level.