Anyone use 2 2x15 cabs?

[micguy]

I play a couple of places where there are four 2 x 18 subs in the PA, with 10 to 20 KW behind them. They can be used judiciously, or.... to great effect. There's nothing wrong with a very capable rig.

 

[fhm555]

I used a couple Peavey 215 cabs with a couple MKIII heads. It was rockin.

 

[SC Bassboy]

A 6x10 cab is mean but so are two 2x15 cabs. Contrary to what one might initially think, the two 2x15 cabs might actually be easier to move around than the 6x10. That being said I would suggest you go with what you really want even if it is hard to find. Eventually a 6x10 Berg will pop up somewhere

 

[packhowitzer]

I used two Crate 215 cabs in the mid 90s back when Crate, Ampeg, and Audio Centron were all under the SLM banner. Actually at that time, I used a combination of all three of those brands. In fact, I had an Audio Centron RMA-1600 pushing those cabs. Initially the signal was provided by an ADA MB-1 and later a SansAmp PS-1. Ahh those were the days.

I played in a metal band with a guitarist with a full stack and he seemed to hog all the bass frequencies. So I ditched my Ampeg SVT 810e and bought the two Crates. It didn't sound as good really, but it was brutally loud and could cut through all the sonic sludge.

It was never really a satisfactory setup honestly and all of that nonsense definitely contributed to the hearing loss I experience today.

 

[theduke1]

Not since the 60’s when I had a dbl bottom Kustom placed one on each side of the stage long before there was pa support
Duke

 

[Scott Lynch]

@YoungJames - NV610 on FB marketplace

 

[Peteyboy]

I’ve still got my Plush stack with the 3x15”.
Rockin!

I've got a Plush 2x15 - I'd LOVE to see a pic of your 3x!

 

[Johnny Fingers]

I would go for it.

 

[arbitrary]

Do it! I enjoy my nv215 with my nv412. You could look for a 4x12.

...but 2 nv215 would kill, especially for what you're doing

 

[bherman]

Odd...I thought the NV215 was even more rare than the NV610.

As far as it making sense? How hard are you willing to work and how much stage space do you have are probably the biggest detractors.

Running a pair of matched cabs is going to change the tone a bit. Mutual coupling occurs below frequencies where the drivers are spaced within about 1/4 wavelength. The idea here is mutual coupling only occurs in the low range, and this is the primary reason it will sound fuller and thicker. The mutual coupling adds approximately 6dB from whatever SPL one of the cabs is producing.

AFAIK: The NV215 is was rated for 600W at 4 ohms, and had a sensitivity rating of 101dB 1W/1m

The DB751 makes 750W at 4 ohms and 975W at 2 ohms.

So a DB751 can produce more power than a single NV215 is rated for. Keep this in mind if you feel you are pushing the rig.

If you run both cabs, the max SPL works out as follows:
1. The 975W will be split equally between both cabs, so each will get 487.5W
2. The decibel change from 1W to 487.5W is about 27dB
3. The max volume one cab will make with the available power is the sensitivity rating plus the decibel change (101+27=128db)
4. Because you are running two cabs, mutual coupling provides an additional 6dB for lower frequencies. (128+6=134dB).

134dB is very, very loud, but you don't have to use the full power. You may enjoy the extra booty that results from using both cabs at a lower SPL.

Whether this makes sense depends on how much work you want to do, if you have a way to transport such a large rig, whether you go through the PA or push the room with your amp, etc.

IMHO the best way to figure out if you like the way it sounds is to actually try it. Even if you ultimately never use the full rig, I suggest trying it just for the fun of it.

Here's my monster rig.
View attachment 4319209
This is a Quad of Genz Benz Uber Quad 1288Ts. I doubt I will ever use even one of them on a gig. The inspiration for this experiment was The Grateful Dead's Wall of Sound.

@Wasnex you are an extremely knowledgeable sound engineer but looking at that Genzler stack, also one sick Mofuk!!

 

[staurosjohn]

I just flashed-back to 1980… with my RIC 4001 thru 4 Peavey 15’s
(I actually, sometimes, used the RIC-O-SOUND output… neck pu thru Peavey’s - bridge pu thru a Sunn head & 2x15 cab)
I’m old, now, so I must go to sleep!

 

[Pauly 4001]

I've got a Plush 2x15 - I'd LOVE to see a pic of your 3x!

Umm,
I just had a look at the Plush stack as it sits now and while it's plugged in with the head on top of the 3X15" cabinet I have it somewhat obscured at the moment:
This was a couple weeks ago with the Plush on the 3X15" peeking out on the left:

But since then things have deteriorated further and the Plush can barely hold its head above water in it's current location:

It's the model pictured on the left with the chrome ports over the cutouts:

 

[Steve M222]

One of my first live rigs I had (2) 215 cabs. Unfortunately, I only had a 100w Peavy head so they were more for looks than anything else (I was 18). Appreciate you using a 751 as I was using a 750 for about a year recently and it was the best sounding head I've used...just got tired of lugging it around and switched to a Tone Hammer 500 with a sl410x. Great rig, weighs nothing & sounds great. No regrets.

 

[Flatwound]

I’d love to be on a big stage with a couple of 2x15’s or 8x10’s, but I don’t see it in my future. My entire rig of a Terror Bass head and 2 OBC12 cabs weighs less than an SVT head.

Decades ago, I damaged my hearing quite a bit with a Roland 200 watt amp and matching 215 cab.

And I have back trouble.

 

[basscrab]

i have one 2x15 + two 1x15 cabs (= 4x15) available ... there r gigs, albeit few, that u will not be sorry u hav all 4 available

 

[Basshappi]

Overkill is awesome , isn't it ?

There is no replacement for displacement.

 

[A Bass And Its Boy]

The inspiration for this experiment was The Grateful Dead's Wall of Sound.

So then does each string on your bass go to a different cab?

 

[Wasnex]

So then does each string on your bass go to a different cab?

No; I only intended to explore the line array aspect of the system.

My understanding is Phile Lesh played through four 30'-40' tall arrays...one for each string. I only have one array that is a little over 7 1/2 feet tall, and I can only stack it in certain room. Even buying used, discontinued cabs, they cost about $2,000.

I play a six string, so if wanted a 7 1/2 foot array for each string I would need to spend another $10,000. Then to approach 40" tall, my arrays would need to be quintupled in height. So now we are talking something like $50,000 just in cabs. Even I'm not that crazy .

 

[YoungJames]

@YoungJames - NV610 on FB marketplace

I’ve messaged on FB, found the ad on CL, emailed, and even called. I got no response. And it’s within driving distance.

 

[YoungJames]

Odd...I thought the NV215 was even more rare than the NV610.

As far as it making sense? How hard are you willing to work and how much stage space do you have are probably the biggest detractors.

Running a pair of matched cabs is going to change the tone a bit. Mutual coupling occurs below frequencies where the drivers are spaced within about 1/4 wavelength. The idea here is mutual coupling only occurs in the low range, and this is the primary reason it will sound fuller and thicker. The mutual coupling adds approximately 6dB from whatever SPL one of the cabs is producing.

AFAIK: The NV215 is was rated for 600W at 4 ohms, and had a sensitivity rating of 101dB 1W/1m

The DB751 makes 750W at 4 ohms and 975W at 2 ohms.

So a DB751 can produce more power than a single NV215 is rated for. Keep this in mind if you feel you are pushing the rig.

If you run both cabs, the max SPL works out as follows:
1. The 975W will be split equally between both cabs, so each will get 487.5W
2. The decibel change from 1W to 487.5W is about 27dB
3. The max volume one cab will make with the available power is the sensitivity rating plus the decibel change (101+27=128db)
4. Because you are running two cabs, mutual coupling provides an additional 6dB for lower frequencies. (128+6=134dB).

134dB is very, very loud, but you don't have to use the full power. You may enjoy the extra booty that results from using both cabs at a lower SPL.

Whether this makes sense depends on how much work you want to do, if you have a way to transport such a large rig, whether you go through the PA or push the room with your amp, etc.

IMHO the best way to figure out if you like the way it sounds is to actually try it. Even if you ultimately never use the full rig, I suggest trying it just for the fun of it.

Here's my monster rig.
View attachment 4319209
This is a Quad of Genz Benz Uber Quad 1288Ts. I doubt I will ever use even one of them on a gig. The inspiration for this experiment was The Grateful Dead's Wall of Sound.

This is what I needed to figure out if I planned on getting the second cab. You are correct in saying the the NV215 is harder to find. That being said, I’m picking it up today. Thanks for the info and I appreciate it.