Are 15" speaker cabs the new 12s?

[chazsundance]

For awhile now the 12" config. cabinets have been the hot thing. Lots of single 12 and double 12 options, but I've noticed a lot of people using the 15" speaker setup nowadays (myself included). I have the Aguilar DB115 and besides a quick few days with a Subway 215 cab, I haven't tried any of the other brands. The Mesa wasn't a good test since it was with an amp I didn't like. I hear great things about the Subway 15s though, What else are you guys liking in the 15" world? Has anyone compared my DB115 side by side with any other brands?

 

[2saddleslab]

I'm sticking w/ my tried & true 12's.

 

[Redbrangus]

IMHO, there has never been a time when 15s were not a popular choice for bass speakers.

 

[el murdoque]

It actually is the other way round.

Back in the day, there were 10s and 15s for bass and 12s were very exotic (because 12s are for guitar).

They gained popularity, though - because physics are on their side (a bit more surface than a 10, yet more speed potential than a 15) and people slowly realized that a bass speaker and a guitar speaker are different things, even when they have the same diameter.

Barefaced has replaced their 15s with 12s a few years ago. They don't even offer 15s any more.

 

[chris_b]

I've done 15's. They were good, but it's been 12's all the way for me for the last 15 years. I played Berg 112 and 212 cabs for many years, now I'm using Barefaced 112's. IMO these cabs cab do everything a 115 can do, and more.

 

[Bushrod Johnson]

I always get great compliments on my PF115HE together with my PF115LF.

 

[C-60 Bass]

Berg NV215 all the way

 

[baileyboy]

I'm sticking w/ my tried & true 12's.

Same. Haven't had a gig yet that required more than 2 12s, including in and outdoor.

 

[Gustopher]

I'm using a 1x15 right now with great results... but I would love to try a 2x12 or 1x12 to see if I liked it, but don't really want to spend on something I don't need.

 

[bgavin]

IMO, this is "cycling by marketing."
If one waits long enough, Old becomes New.

Maybe bell bottoms and gussets will come back into style as well.
Same as 15" drivers, bell bottoms are very practical and useful.
They just may/may not be in style with the marketeers and fan boys.

 

[agedhorse]

Sometimes a designer’s choice of speaker diameter is based on a better set of compromises that get the design to where it needs to go.

Every speaker design involves managing a group of potentially conflicting variables and trade-offs. As player tastes change over the years, speaker designs evolve.

 

[chadds]

What if I use all? Do I need to leave?

 

[JRA]

i can't compare your rig with any others, sorry, but i'm glad that you like what you have! (it means you win!)

Are 15" speaker cabs the new 12s?

the 12" config. cabinets have been the hot thing.

i didn't get a memo to that effect, but maybe some of the cab/driver sizes get more play in certain circles. (though i'm currently without any 15" configuration) i happen to like 'em all...and no matter the configurations: if they're lightweight enough = i love 'em!

IME/IMO: i don't think 15s are the "new" anything --- they've always been around as a good choice.

 

[Silky Johnson]

Sometimes a designer’s choice of speaker diameter is based on a better set of compromises that get the design to where it needs to go.

Every speaker design involves managing a group of potentially conflicting variables and trade-offs. As player tastes change over the years, speaker designs evolve.

Just curious, which sells more Subway 15 or 12s? Or pretty even split?

 

[MCS4]

I'm no expert, but I would guess that there probably has never been a year in which cabs with 12's have ever outsold cabs with 15's in the overall bass market. However, I do acknowledge that my own anecdotal experience is colored by the fact that I very rarely see cabs with 12's in the situations and scenes where I play.

 

[ItsmeSantiago]

I have a 112 out of convenience for transporting and fitting into small venues. My 15 is my favorite cab for most applications though. In a perfect world I’d model everything and run IEM through a nice PA with subs for every gig, but life isn’t perfect.

 

[primusfan1989]

15s were always the thing for me, 10s and 12s never really did it for me

 

[lavmonga]

I didn't even realize 12s were popular. I've always seen 15s or 10s.

 

[RColie]

The Subway 115 certainly gets a lot of attention and praise. Another top-shelf 115 is the Genzler BA15-3. I haven't heard either of these cabs in person but I'd love to see/hear a side-by-side comparison.

 

[rtslinger]

I run 2 10 and 1 12 myself currently, but with 15's getting lighter I would not think twice about going back to 1 15 and the 2 10 set up