Both. The wattage bump isn't quite as critical as the speaker bump, but it helps. And yes, making a stack will put 250w into each cab.
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Ampeg PF500/PF350 Pt II.5
- Thread starter Chef
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My PF-350 does the same thing. Yellow fault line comes on briefly at power up and power down.
My PF115 arrived today. The fit, finish, and build is spot on- very nice quality with a classy look. I haven't had much time to play around with it, but my gut reaction is that I would prefer it to be ported. I've never had a sealed 15" - so this is something new to me. It does tight modern sounds very well, but farts out on some notes when I try to give a good thumpin low end. I slid the lid over to the left so it would leave an opening about an inch or so wide, and the farting went away. Nice "HLF" type of bass sound. I'm really splitting hairs by mentioning that - it's a great cab and sounds just fine as is - I just think I can tweak it a little more to my tastes. Will keep playing around with the settings before I break out the jig saw and go to cutting ports... 
I guess that's a taste thing, but it goes lower than my double baffle cab and sounds almost identical otherwise, so mine won't be requiring any sawing.
I haven't had much time to play around with it, but my gut reaction is that I would prefer it to be ported. I've never had a sealed 15" - so this is something new to me. It does tight modern sounds very well, but farts out on some notes when I try to give a good thumpin low end. I slid the lid over to the left so it would leave an opening about an inch or so wide, and the farting went away. Nice "HLF" type of bass sound. I'm really splitting hairs by mentioning that - it's a great cab and sounds just fine as is - I just think I can tweak it a little more to my tastes. Will keep playing around with the settings before I break out the jig saw and go to cutting ports...
A couple thoughts:
It's a new cab, so it'll need a sometime to break in before it really gets going. I've read that speakers take 10-20 hours of moderate playing to loosen up, and that has proven to be true with the last 4 cabs I've bought (two Avatars and now my PF115's). The new PF115 sounds a anemic and tight compared to the "old" one that's already broken in.
I'll also echo Jeff... try the different settings for on the tweeter switch. Don't be afraid to turn the knobs on that amp, either. I've had a few different amps and never had one that liked to be tweaked as much as the PF500. I've been able to dial in everything from beefy modern clean (tweeter on) to thumpy vintage sounds (tweeter off).
I was a die-hard 10's guy and like yourself, my Portaflex setup is my first experience with 15s and sealed cabs. I was skeptical for sure, but this has quickly become my main rig. I never thought I'd say it, but I'm sold on both 15's and the fact that it's sealed. It gets nothing but compliments, even from people who don't know bass gear from a blender.
One last thing... if you get the cab broken in and still don't like the sound, I'd suggest selling it and getting a different cab before you try carving your own ports in there.
5sg.
Ya, the comparison between the PF115 and a 70's Thiele cab has been made, and I think that's fairly accurate. It's like a Thiele on the bottom and a double baffle everywhere else. All out of a sealed cab...never thought it would happen, but they did it!
Would it be weird pairing a pf210 w/a micro 210av? I have a micro half stack now, and am contemplating a PF350/a PF210 for larger gigs.
Jimmy, have you tried this combo?
J!
Jimmy, have you tried this combo?
J!
One cab handles 200 watts, and the other 450.
I wouldn't do it, but that's just me.
Jimmy (or somebody else) , please try it with Double Bass, im undecided between the 2 x 10" or the 15". 
Nuno
Nuno
I actually didn't really like the sound of my first PF115 at all when I got it... I thought it sounded a little too honky, like it had "a frog stuck in its throat." I really had to fight my first instincts of sending it back, but I remembered the break-in period with my Avatars.
Now that it's broken in, I don't have any second thoughts about keeping it. Actually, with Jimmy's direct comparison of the PF350/PF115 vs. B-15, I actually have reverse buyer's remorse.
Soundwise, the new PF115 is the same, but it'll get there. Can't wait to have them both broken in and see what the full stack can really do! I have this sneaking suspicion that these amps/cabs may at least hold their resale value down the line if/when Ampeg discontinues them.
5sg.
Pretty much sums up my feelings too. I've always been a fan of ported cabs. I've owned a few sealed cabs through the years and have always found myself going back to ported cabs.
When I first saw the pictures of the new PF cabs, I thought WOW, cool retro look and big smile when I saw they were ported. Started gassing for the PF-500 and two of the 15 cabs. Then got bummed when I found out that the shipping versions were sealed cabs. Nobody in my area had any Ampeg SVT-15E or B-15E's in stock. That's why I ended up getting the Hartke HyDrive HX115 ported cabs instead.
farts out on some notes when I try to give a good thumpin low end. I slid the lid over to the left so it would leave an opening about an inch or so wide, and the farting went away. Nice "HLF" type of bass sound. I'm really splitting hairs by mentioning that - it's a great cab and sounds just fine as is - I just think I can tweak it a little more to my tastes. Will keep playing around with the settings before I break out the jig saw and go to cutting ports...
The farts out thing is how I feel about sealed cabs in general but they do get low albeit a different type of low than ported cabs. The PF115 will sound better after it breaks in but whether or not it will hit as hard as you want is another question entirely. As far as getting out the jig saw, I'd try pulling the horn out first and seeing if the hole for the horn gives you enough porting for bottom without the speaker farting out or suffering from over-excursion. If that works out, then you could cut a port that size and put the horn back in. If not then you can just put the horn back in and play it as is or sell it. IMO I don't think the PF115 will get close to an HLF even with porting. The HLF is a low end thundering tone beast. I miss mine but my back sure doesn't
I'm still debating picking up a single PF115 though, just for the fliptop feature and to have an all in one setup that's easy to haul around.
Keep Low
Let's hope Ampeg continues this series of PF's for a long time. So far it looks like a big hit. Just for S&G, I'd like to see a compact 410 cab with the fliptop feature and possibly a 212 cab too.
Now that would be cool
Keep Low
Let's hope Ampeg continues this series of PF's for a long time. So far it looks like a big hit. Just for S&G, I'd like to see a compact 410 cab with the fliptop feature and possibly a 212 cab too.
Now that would be cool
Keep Low
I want a Fliptop 4x8 or 6x8
Might have to call Don at LDS.............
Let's hope Ampeg continues this series of PF's for a long time. So far it looks like a big hit. Just for S&G, I'd like to see a compact 410 cab with the fliptop feature and possibly a 212 cab too.
Now that would be cool
Keep Low
I think a PF112 would do well, like the SB-12s of old...
I currently have a GK MBFusion on the way to try, but I have to say, the PF500 will get tried out at some point.
Nope, and don't plan to. First off, I don't have a PF210. Second, I don't like using mixed cabs because it can cause phasing issues. Doesn't always, but I don't like to take a chance.
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