I chose a 2x10+1x15 because I liked the versatility of that particular combo better than a single 4x10. E.g., there are a lot of gigs I do where I only need to bring the 1x15 cabinet, and it's a whole lot easier to carry a 1x15 than a 4x10!
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4x10 vs. 2x10/1x15
- Thread starter SamWebsterbell
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I'm currently debating whether or it to stick with my PR-410HLF or go to a biamped 2x10 with a 1x18 underneath. I've tried the 2x10, 1x15 thing and think it's good, but it doesn't seem to have the pure, bass bomb, shake the Earth kind of low end that I thought it should. That said, I do love the tone I've gotten out of that combo when they were a matched set (same brand and series...)
- Mar 8, 2011
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- Authorized greenboy designs builder/Owner of BNA Audio
I would think an Eminence Kappalite 3015LF in the right enclosure, would provide more than enough huge lows. I have a 15sub with that driver, and for most rooms, it borders on WAY too much low end, and I love massive lows
2x10 plus 1x15, but only because this is usually a slightly taller setup than a single 4x10. The advantage in getting the sound going towards my ears, rather than past my knees.
What I actually use is a 1x15 for small gigs and a 2x15 for big gigs.
What I actually use is a 1x15 for small gigs and a 2x15 for big gigs.
Why not get a cab stand (like the combo amp stand)? Raise a 410 about 18" off the ground and angle it as well.
I'm a 2X15 guy myself, but of those two choices a 4-10 for sure. It will move more air. And then there's the whole "matched drivers" thing. It's all above my head but it seems to work.
As much as guys try to say 15s aren't inherently lower than 10s and 10s arent inherently higher than 15s, do yourself a favor, go to a site that sells raw speakers, and go ahead and look at the specs for all the 15s and 10s they sell. Then go ahead and do a statistical analysis on those numbers, and tell me what is the average low point for 15s vs 10s, and the average high point for 10s vs 15s, and the standard deviation for all 4 sets of numbers. That will give you the truth. For a more obvious answer, do 8s vs 15s or 6s vs 15s. Please go find me a 6 that can reach down to 50Hz and then I'll believe that "size doesn't matter".
Certainly, there is a lot of overlap these days between driver sizes, and SOME 10s might be lower than SOME 15s and SOME 15s might go higher than SOME 10s. But the tendencies are exactly what you would expect. You could say the specs aren't honest, but companies make both 10s and 15s in most cases, so I have to imagine their "lies" are proportional. But even so, once you average out 20 or 30 drivers from each size, the truth should come out either way.
Anyway, I voted 2x10/1x15. EVERYTHING in audio is a compromise. You will always be compromising SOMETHING, even if it's cost and/or weight. I feel like that combined setup tends to be a very good compromise of all pertinent values. You get modularity, both in terms of size/weight, and in terms of somewhat different sounds between cabs (if you have 2 2x10s, you have 2 choices, with the 10/15 setup, you have 3), you often get great tone, because each driver size tends to strengthen the weaknesses of the other, it can often be cheaper, both because single 15 cabs are cheaper than multiple 10 cabs, and because you don't have to buy a "super cab" that can do EVERYTHING, because of the aforementioned complementary nature of mixed cabs, etc...
A 2x15 is another great option. 4x10s can be great too. But they tend to be very boxy, so they can be awkward to carry and difficult to fit in some smaller cars. Plus they have the worst dispersion of any of the setups being discussed.
One other point, when people are comparing "tight" 4x10s to "muddy" 15s, are they taking into account that most 4x10s have tweeters and most 15s don't? What that means is that you could have a 15 that was the "tightest" speaker ever, but if you don't have that extended treble to give it intelligibility, you might not realize it, and another cab might sound better just because you have those upper harmonics to make the notes more precise. But that's another reason why mixing is good. You take a single 15, and pair it with a 2x10 with a tweeter and now you should have plenty of low end, plenty of mids, and plenty of highs to do with as you please and if something is too strong, then just EQ it out.
Certainly, there is a lot of overlap these days between driver sizes, and SOME 10s might be lower than SOME 15s and SOME 15s might go higher than SOME 10s. But the tendencies are exactly what you would expect. You could say the specs aren't honest, but companies make both 10s and 15s in most cases, so I have to imagine their "lies" are proportional. But even so, once you average out 20 or 30 drivers from each size, the truth should come out either way.
Anyway, I voted 2x10/1x15. EVERYTHING in audio is a compromise. You will always be compromising SOMETHING, even if it's cost and/or weight. I feel like that combined setup tends to be a very good compromise of all pertinent values. You get modularity, both in terms of size/weight, and in terms of somewhat different sounds between cabs (if you have 2 2x10s, you have 2 choices, with the 10/15 setup, you have 3), you often get great tone, because each driver size tends to strengthen the weaknesses of the other, it can often be cheaper, both because single 15 cabs are cheaper than multiple 10 cabs, and because you don't have to buy a "super cab" that can do EVERYTHING, because of the aforementioned complementary nature of mixed cabs, etc...
A 2x15 is another great option. 4x10s can be great too. But they tend to be very boxy, so they can be awkward to carry and difficult to fit in some smaller cars. Plus they have the worst dispersion of any of the setups being discussed.
One other point, when people are comparing "tight" 4x10s to "muddy" 15s, are they taking into account that most 4x10s have tweeters and most 15s don't? What that means is that you could have a 15 that was the "tightest" speaker ever, but if you don't have that extended treble to give it intelligibility, you might not realize it, and another cab might sound better just because you have those upper harmonics to make the notes more precise. But that's another reason why mixing is good. You take a single 15, and pair it with a 2x10 with a tweeter and now you should have plenty of low end, plenty of mids, and plenty of highs to do with as you please and if something is too strong, then just EQ it out.
with a gk 800rb i liked to use a 4 ohm 15 for the low side, and use a 8 ohm 210(no tweeter) for the high side, biamped or not, i liked the deep low end and the tight highs i got with this set up. this was the most hi fi sounding combination i have found...
for any other type head i prefer a 410, i feel it is punchier with a quicker response...
of course, experiances differ from person to person, and i'm sticking to the question as put forth by the OP...
for any other type head i prefer a 410, i feel it is punchier with a quicker response...
of course, experiances differ from person to person, and i'm sticking to the question as put forth by the OP...
I voted 4x10 but my backup rig is a 2x10/1x15. 
If I would have found a used SVT410 when I was building my rig I'd have bought it, but as it stands the 2x10 and 1x15 were available and cheap...
I'd prefer a 4x10 because you can generally only mic one speaker & on the 210/115 setup you have to choose which to mic... Or get a really cool sound guy that will mic both and blend them properly (which has never happened to me).
If you DI, I guess it doesn't matter aside from only having to schlep around 1 cab if you get a 4x10.
If I would have found a used SVT410 when I was building my rig I'd have bought it, but as it stands the 2x10 and 1x15 were available and cheap...
I'd prefer a 4x10 because you can generally only mic one speaker & on the 210/115 setup you have to choose which to mic... Or get a really cool sound guy that will mic both and blend them properly (which has never happened to me).
If you DI, I guess it doesn't matter aside from only having to schlep around 1 cab if you get a 4x10.
- Oct 18, 2012
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- Endorsing Artist: Fender, Spector, Ampeg, Curt Mangan, Nordstrand Pickups, Korg , Conquest Sound
I prefer to use my two SVT410He cabs. I have tried mixing sizes in the past and didn't like the sound. 15s just sound too muddy for me.
Anybody who says 15s are muddy has probably never heard a JBL or an EV in a good cab. Pretty much enough to make you dedicate your life to 15s forever.
Cone size does not dictate the sound of a cab. Any speaker cab can sound muddy, including 10s, 12s, or 15s. Or they can sound great. I don't get why it's so hard to understand the fact that it's all the specs that contribute to the overall sound.
I had a Hartke 410xl cabinet for a long time. It sounded great. But the best rig I ever heard live I heard the other night. A Trace Elliot with a 600 watt head, a 210 cab and a 1 15 cab. This thing sounded amazing.. I liked it so much Im going to get the same rig myself...
Sounds just like my main rig, except my Trace head is down for repair for the time being.
I think where well meaning people get into trouble, is thinking that because specs often overlap, that that means there are no general tendencies between sizes. But in my experience that tends to not be true. Things like frequency range (low and high points_ power handling, xmax, price, etc... tend to fall in certain ranges for each size.
I think where well meaning people get into trouble, is thinking that because specs often overlap, that that means there are no general tendencies between sizes. But in my experience that tends to not be true. Things like frequency range (low and high points_ power handling, xmax, price, etc... tend to fall in certain ranges for each size.
My EV 15B speakers don't really do the super sub-low thing.
But what they do really well is deliver big sounding, authoritative bass while remaining extremely clear and defined.
I agree, the idea that 15" speakers are inherently muddy is silly.
