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Ampeg SVT212AV vs 410HE

Slaplord88

Slaplord88

Jun 11, 2013
67
64
#1
There's been some discussion on here of this topic in various other threads, but I can't seem to find a dedicated thread for this matchup.

For those that own both, how do they compare in terms of sound?

I really like the responsiveness of 10's, but everything I read about the 212av seems to say it's quick for a pair of ported 12's and it's voiced quite similarly to ampeg's classic sealed cabs.
 
#2
Resurrecting my own thread here, as I now have had a chance to try out both cabs with my V4BRI. Bass used is a P with flats, Aguilar 60's style pickups.

Hate to say it but I'm not digging the 212av as much as I thought I would. Generally with Ampeg stuff I can plug-in and with minimal tweaking work out a tone that I like. This has been the case for me with flip-tops, classic series cabs, SVTS, V4s, etc. - even some of the solid state combos. To my ears the two cabs are sounding like this:

410HE: solid low end, linear response as you climb up the freq spectrum, warm yet punchy, balanced, supportive :D

212AV: somewhat thin low end, shouty/forward mids, less linear, less cohesive or balanced, extra lows can be dialed in via eq, but they don't seem to integrate with the overall tone, just kind of sit below it:meh:

I'm having a bit of difficulty hearing the magic in the 212AV as compared to the 410HE and really missing the 810 comparisons. I've been using the 410 for years so perhaps it's just what I'm used to...

I do need more time with the 212. I suppose the mid-forward vibes can help cut through the mix and folks seem to dig that. In my recent rehearsals I felt the cab was getting too loud and shouty before it was getting enough low-end to really fill and support, and I'm definitely not a hifi, super-low, sub bass kind of player at all...

One note - one of the drivers in the 212 was recently replaced and has little to no time on it, the other is original and has lots of time on it. Could be minor differences but without getting into the speaker break-in argument I don't foresee any possible minor changes being drastic enough to address my concerns...
 
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#4
Drivers are in phase - just checked tonight. I think I'm just not used to the sound. After turning the bass up to around 3 o'clock on the V4B it's starting to fill out a bit and sound more balanced. Think I just need more time to mess with EQ and adjust to the tone.
 
#5
One of the speakers had a fried voice coil! Knew something seemed off, but it wasn't fully apparent until I upped low-end and volume and it started completely farting out. Strangely enough higher notes sounded ok from the driver, and at low volumes it wasn't really an issue. I've got the speaker re-coned and I'm ready to re-evaluate my opinion on the cab.
 
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#7
I no longer have the 410HE so I can't do a proper A/B anymore, but just played two rehearsals and three gigs with the 212AV (with re-coned speaker), and thought it sounded great. Ample low-end for my needs. Enjoyed the rare occurrence of receiving compliments on bass tone from non bass players. No complaints really, and probably not a huge difference in tone from the 410HE once in the mix of a full band (maybe a little less low-end girth and low-mid if memory serves me, the 212 also seems to have slightly more clarity/texture). Way lighter though which is a nice difference, easily carried by a single person in and out of venues. I like it! And it looks great with the V4BRI.
 
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#8
410HE has a lot more speaker surface so would expect it to be louder, but the only Ampeg 410 I've owned is the HLF which is ported and voiced for more low end, not a good comparison. I use the 212AV all the time however and it's been a great fit for me with SVTs, Genz Benz and GK heads. I think it's a really good cab for the clubs and bars I play.
 
#9
Slaplord88 said:
I no longer have the 410HE so I can't do a proper A/B anymore, but just played two rehearsals and three gigs with the 212AV (with re-coned speaker), and thought it sounded great. Ample low-end for my needs. Enjoyed the rare occurrence of receiving compliments on bass tone from non bass players. No complaints really, and probably not a huge difference in tone from the 410HE once in the mix of a full band (maybe a little less low-end girth and low-mid if memory serves me, the 212 also seems to have slightly more clarity/texture). Way lighter though which is a nice difference, easily carried by a single person in and out of venues. I like it! And it looks great with the V4BRI.
Click to expand...

Old thread, I know. But from memory how is the volume difference between the two. I'm currently using a V4B Reissue and LOVE it. In our rehearsal space there's a 610hlf, but if I can lug a smaller cab for bar shows I'm ALL for that. Playing a punkish/power pop band doing covers of well known songs with our own twist on them.

Cheers!
 
#10
FIREpunkMEDIC said:
Old thread, I know. But from memory how is the volume difference between the two. I'm currently using a V4B Reissue and LOVE it. In our rehearsal space there's a 610hlf, but if I can lug a smaller cab for bar shows I'm ALL for that. Playing a punkish/power pop band doing covers of well known songs with our own twist on them.

Cheers!
Click to expand...
Hey sorry to just get back to you, somehow I missed this.... If by some chance you are still wondering, the 610HLF will definitely be louder, but in my experience with the 410HLF boomier. Being taller the top speakers are closer to your ears which is nice. However, the V4B reissue with the 212AV is loud AF, and in any bar situation I've played it's way more than enough low end/volume. I generally gig with somewhat quieter bands, but I played a bar recently with a loud 2-guitar rock band (Les Paul through a Marshall half stack and telecaster through a twin reverb) and the 212AV provided more than enough headroom to keep up. Anything more than that would've been pointlessly absurd from a volume level.
 
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#11
Mastermold said:
410HE has a lot more speaker surface so would expect it to be louder, but the only Ampeg 410 I've owned is the HLF which is ported and voiced for more low end, not a good comparison. I use the 212AV all the time however and it's been a great fit for me with SVTs, Genz Benz and GK heads. I think it's a really good cab for the clubs and bars I play.
Click to expand...
i have both of them the 410he and the 212AV, and even if the 410HE has more speakers, the 212 it is louder slightly louder i ve tested with my 1975 v4b, and SUNN 2000S, and the 212av cut through the mix easily, i play loud rock, only thing is the 410 has a little better lows, instead the 212 has stronger mid and low mids, for instance when i use the 212 i ve to turn up 3 notches on the bass, and lower the mids midlows 3-4 notches, but the 212 has a more presence and definition in the mix, and it has a little bigger presence in the mix compared to the 410,
 
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#12
Sunnampeg said:
i have both of them the 410he and the 212AV, and even if the 410HE has more speakers, the 212 it is louder slightly louder i ve tested with my 1975 v4b, and SUNN 2000S, and the 212av cut through the mix easily, i play loud rock, only thing is the 410 has a little better lows, instead the 212 has stronger mid and low mids, for instance when i use the 212 i ve to turn up 3 notches on the bass, and lower the mids midlows 3-4 notches, but the 212 has a more presence and definition in the mix, and it has a little bigger presence in the mix compared to the 410,
Click to expand...
Having had more recent experience owning and using a 410he, a 610hlf, and 212av I will say the 212av is the only one I still own. The 610hlf was a muddy boomy mess no matter how I eq'd. Loud? YEP but not very pleasing. The low end had a "bloat" to it that was just... anope. The 410he was actually a really great cab, but at 8ohms I wanted the option of an SVT as well. This led me to gamble (and WIN) on a 212av. Best of the 3 hands down. Very much the spirit of an old 810, no maybe not as loud but has that "vibe". Also happens to be the cab that sat just right in our mix, which is after all the MOST important criteria. Once those 12s had some play time on 'em, magic. I also seemed to feel like it was louder and more present in the room than the 410he (still a good cab!).
 

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#13
FIREpunkMEDIC said:
Having had more recent experience owning and using a 410he, a 610hlf, and 212av I will say the 212av is the only one I still own. The 610hlf was a muddy boomy mess no matter how I eq'd. Loud? YEP but not very pleasing. The low end had a "bloat" to it that was just... anope. The 410he was actually a really great cab, but at 8ohms I wanted the option of an SVT as well. This led me to gamble (and WIN) on a 212av. Best of the 3 hands down. Very much the spirit of an old 810, no maybe not as loud but has that "vibe". Also happens to be the cab that sat just right in our mix, which is after all the MOST important criteria. Once those 12s had some play time on 'em, magic. I also seemed to feel like it was louder and more present in the room than the 410he (still a good cab!).
Click to expand...
I'm happy you agree with me on everything. Yes i also find the 610 a bit foggy, it is because the bass reflex like the 410hlf, which is a cab that i hate, i ve to say the 610 is a bit more focused compared to the 410 hlf, anyway talking about the 410 HE it has great sound but as you hear it does not cut through like the 212 because it has a smaller presence in the mix/band, i ve to say is not a case that ampeg offer the 410he to match the svt15E both together are a great combination at 4 ohm. I bought a peavey black Widow 1x15 4 ohm 300w to match the Ampeg 212 so i have a 2 ohm stack, and it is super for rock or old school tone, but since I've the 410, I would be curious to buy an Ampeg SVT15E to match the 410HE as a 4 ohm stack, also last night i ve tried my vintage Ampeg v4b 1975 over an aguilar DB410, and i was blown away for how loud it was I could not turn up the volume knob over 11 /11:30 o'clock and i could keep up with marshall jmp on a hiwatt412, it was very similar at the aire and the power of an ampeg 810, but not the tone, the bass used was a 78 gibson RD artist
 
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