Acme "Low-B" Cabs

[Zooberwerx]

Anyone compared acme to euphonic audio 210 -2vlz? That’s what I’m currently using. It sounds great with my MesaBoogie bass 400 plus and hybrid tube/solid state heads. It’s also a very natural sounding, uncolored full range cab. I’m looking for a full range with a big fundamental.

I'm an Acme fan-boy but have no experience with the EA 210 (...really nice enclosure by all accounts!). Are you using one or two enclosures? You'll need two of the Acme B-2's for nominal gig volume IME. They sound great but are power-hungry and a bit on the heavy side. I leave mine in our rehearsal space and use a single Epifani 310 for live venues.

I'm not sure you'll be gaining any sizable real estate with the change-over. Any way you can trial one? If you're anywhere near Virginia Beach, I'll lend you mine.

Riis

 

[bmoriarty]

If you're anywhere near Virginia Beach, I'll lend you mine.

Wow man thanks for the offer. I’m in Boston though. Most of my gigs are small jazz things and the worship band at my church. I had the refrigerator sized Mesa 410, 115 combo that sounded HUUUGE. With an amazing fundamental. I sold them off because they were too big for the gigs I’m playing these days. Just miss that sound and looking for it in a smaller package, like a low b 212. How are they with tube amps?

 

[Zooberwerx]

Wow man thanks for the offer. I’m in Boston though. Most of my gigs are small jazz things and the worship band at my church. I had the refrigerator sized Mesa 410, 115 combo that sounded HUUUGE. With an amazing fundamental. I sold them off because they were too big for the gigs I’m playing these days. Just miss that sound and looking for it in a smaller package, like a low b 212. How are they with tube amps?

The composite 212 would be the end-all for me but it's $1500. Weight comes in at 50 lbs. It will be the last enclosure you'll ever need.

Here's a blurb from the Series II manual...addressed in a similar fashion in the 212 manual.

"High damping factor solid state amps are recommended for greatest cone control, but if you have a tube amp, results will generally be acceptable. Several users report excellent results with the Ampeg SVT head and large Mesa-Boogie tube amps, with no negative consequences resulting from the high internal amplifier resistance associated with all tube amps"

Riis

 

[bmoriarty]

The composite 212 would be the end-all for me but it's $1500. Weight comes in at 50 lbs. It will be the last enclosure you'll ever need.

The Low B-2 is more like what I was thinking. It’s a 210 not 12. I thought it was 212. The 212 you mentioned is very interesting but I’m not sure about the rear facing speaker. I understand the physics of it, but the acoustics of a speaker hitting the back wall of a venue doesn’t seem it would be a best case scenario.

 

[Zooberwerx]

The Low B-2 is more like what I was thinking. It’s a 210 not 12. I thought it was 212. The 212 you mentioned is very interesting but I’m not sure about the rear facing speaker. I understand the physics of it, but the acoustics of a speaker hitting the back wall of a venue doesn’t seem it would be a best case scenario.

Gotcha. Still need two, though. They show up occasionally in the classifieds. I can't give 'em away here in Virginia Beach as they're not the flavor-of-the-month.

Find a "pony express" transport from eastern VA to Boston and I'll sell you a pair on-the-cheap...I'm down-sizing. Shipping is cost prohibitive.

Riis

 

[bmoriarty]

Find a "pony express" transport

Nice, I’ll consider.

 

[BassmanPaul]

I can't give 'em away here in Virginia Beach as they're not the flavor-of-the-month.

I think it may be less Flavour and more that they've never been heard of. I'm having a similar problem here in Toronto with my Series One pair.

 

[Wasnex]

@bmoriarty

I used to own a series I Low B2. IMHO it worked really well with upright bass for both pizz and arco, within the cabs SPL limits. I did find the cabs SPL limits were barely adequate for big band and BG cover band settings. I found it pretty easy to clack the woofer's voice coils with string bass. Some will suggest using an HPF to fix this, but that sort of defeats the whole point of using this type of cab if you run the HPF up too high. I would suggest using a pair for louder gigs.

I found the cab relatively small but also fairly heavy and awkward to lift. I believe they changed the handles on the series II.

I did not find this design to sound perfectly flat or transparent, as the mid driver and tweeter was a weak point. My perception is the woofers seemed to dominate the tonal characteristics of the cab and they are tuned to emphasize extended low frequency response. I believe a more powerful mid driver was used in the series II, however, I would still not expect a lot of punch in the low mids because the mid driver is small and the crossover is high.

Low mids are handled by the woofers which have a very low efficiency rating. I tried to EQ in a bit more low mids, and the speaker really did not seem to respond that much. It did respond somewhat to higher mid range EQ inputs which produced sort of a nice fusioney grind with BG.

The Sensitivity rating for a Low B2 is 93dB and the RMS power handling is 350W. Recommended amp size is 300-500W.

I enjoyed using the cab as a monitor in relatively low volume settings, when I didn't bring subwoofers. I ran the Low B off an Aux so I could use it for bass and also mix in a little bit of vocals. It worked pretty well like this for jazz trio with vocals and a few horns.

 

[Popps]

From the gigs you are playing a single Low B 2 would be more then enough. Not only will be one enough , but,
it will sound great a low volume, truly hi-fi. 3 of the 4 bands I use it with it is more then enough.
The only thing, even at low volume you do not want to under power it. I am using a Genz Benz Streamliner 900
and the cab has plenty left in the tank.

 

[bmoriarty]

From the gigs you are playing a single Low B 2 would be more then enough. Not only will be one enough , but,
it will sound great a low volume, truly hi-fi

That’s what I’m thinking. Currently with the church band and my jazz ensemble I’m playing in I mostly use my walkabout scout 112 and Mesa boogie walk about amp. 300w, I keep it at 1.5-2 on the master. More than loud enough for stage monitor a little louder and it fills the house. My euphonic audio cab and M/B 400+ combination I have to keep at nominal volumes as well. I don’t play 120db at clubs any longer.

 

[naetog]

I have a pair of B2 cabs (OLD series 1, and a series 2) and I have yet to find anything I enjoy as much as that pair stacked vertically.

I also have a pair of GK Neo112, but it's a serious trade-off of lighter weight for much less low end.

I've never needed more than two B2. Ever. From mellow folky stuff to metal, they have never let me down.

You do need ample power, but they are wonderful cabs as long as you're willing to schlep them around.

 

[abarson]

I've been powering my B2 with a Genz-Benz Shuttle 6.2 for many years now, and it's been a great pairing for all my bar and smaller outdoor gigs, playing classic rock covers. I still complain about its +50 lbs weight, but I've yet to find an affordable replacement that I like. It easily fits in the trunk of my compact car.

 

[tombowlus]

Anyone compared acme to euphonic audio 210 vlz? That’s what I’m currently using. It sounds great with my MesaBoogie bass 400 plus and hybrid tube/solid state heads. It’s also a very natural sounding, uncolored full range cab. I’m looking for a full range with a big fundamental.

I did compare these two cabs in my first 2x10 Shootout. Wow, that was from 2004!!!

This shootout was followed in 2005 by an updated 2x10 shootout.