Are the big amps history? At least not here...View attachment 1174944
That is a little amp.
Big cabinet - little amp. We use one for our PA... it weighs less than 10lbs.
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Are the big amps history?
- Thread starter jkalads
- Start date
That is a little amp.
Big cabinet - little amp. We use one for our PA... it weighs less than 10lbs.
And this explains your observations.
Though I think the C-C separation of the woofers would be more like ~30" with them stacked on top of one another (if I'm looking at the right plans) so there should be some coupling in the low mids down to the HPF point.
I think the accepted number is actually 1/2 wavelength but I could well be wrong. Haven't looked at that stuff in a while.
And this explains your observations.
Though I think the C-C separation of the woofers would be more like ~30" with them stacked on top of one another (if I'm looking at the right plans) so there should be some coupling in the low mids down to the HPF point.
Yeah - I think it's actually about 35" center to center separation with the top cab inverted... so you get get coupling from ~55-100Hz (100Hz 1/4 wavelength ~33.76").
I'm surprised it didn't sound at least a little different because of the nature of mutual coupling. Even at the same SPL two cabinets closely placed would have more low end than one. Coupling only occurs effectively below the frequency with wavelength twice the distance between the centres of the drivers so it skews the frequency response of the system. This can be mitigated with advanced multidriver designs with appropriate crossover points (see every line array box) but the vast majority of bass guitar cabinets aren't designed that way. In a typical 112/tweeter cabinet (or 410 and tweeter, etc.) the woofers are crossed over to the HF element well above the point where a pair of them would couple and the HF elements are way too far apart to couple (for reference, even at absolute minimum separation of 12" mutual coupling only works up to about 600Hz with 12" drivers).
But I bet it sounds different with two. Whether that's "better" or not is of course, quite subjective. My perception of things in general is that a single cabinet would tend to be more focused than a pair because of the mechanism I described above.
At the end of the day if you're happy with the sound you get from a lightweight rig that's a win-win as far as I'm concerned. I love my little rig for most gigs. It does pretty much exactly what I want for corporate stuff with my cover band (70s and 80s pop mostly). However, for my balls out rock and roll band, it doesn't cut it both in overall SPL and in the tone I'm looking for there. In that situation my SVT/NV610 rules and I haven't come across anything else that does that thing the way that rig does. Yet, anyway. And even if I did, I don't think I'll be parting with a mint condition mid-70s SVT anyway, even though it is a bit of an anachronism.
Yes, it did sound "different"... not as good.
The loudest I typically get with my 1012 cab is at soundcheck, just to scare the horses or address the occasional "Is that all you brought?".
Again, in the scenario where I have more volume on tap than I need, I'm getting excellent coverage on stage without the need for monitors, my lows are handled without drama, the focus is optimal...
what exactly would be the benefit of a second cab? Two trip load-in?
There may be one near you. That's the easiest way to understand what they do. I know that for some, the more I explain the more it sounds like I'm lying. Maybe I am.
BTW I know several people who replaced SVT cabs with a single Tank 1015 or 1215. They loved their SVT and apparently don't miss them.
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I get alarm when I mention my cab is 70lbs. I'd guess we are in the mid sized gear section of this plane.
If it sounds good, it is good... but I know the mere act drives some folks crazy. Which I find amusing to no end.
It's like saying Bob Dylan can't sing. On some technical level. Seems like he's been "can't singing" for a long time, supporting himself and making us happy and wiser.
If it sounds good, it is good... but I know the mere act drives some folks crazy. Which I find amusing to no end.
Yeah, I know, lol... I can say from 1st hand experience that a Mesa PH210 on top of a PH 115, powered by either a Streamliner 900 or ShuttleMax 12.0 work really well... I have also stacked my Subway 115 on top of my PH115, and that worked really well, too...
Yes, it did sound "different"... not as good.
The loudest I typically get with my 1012 cab is at soundcheck, just to scare the horses or address the occasional "Is that all you brought?".
Again, in the scenario where I have more volume on tap than I need, I'm getting excellent coverage on stage without the need for monitors, my lows are handled without drama, the focus is optimal...
what exactly would be the benefit of a second cab? Two trip load-in?
There may be one near you. That's the easiest way to understand what they do. I know that for some, the more I explain the more it sounds like I'm lying. Maybe I am.
BTW I know several people who replaced SVT cabs with a single Tank 1015 or 1215. They loved their SVT and apparently don't miss them.
I wasn't suggesting that 2 cabs inherently sound better than one or that anyone needs another cabinet if a single meets their needs. In fact, I explicitly said that whether the sound is better or worse is subjective. I was just stating that that a pair of cabinets will almost always sound different than one. I actually supported your argument that one cab has better focus than a pair and I'm in no way suggesting you're lying about anything.
Clearly, if a single cab meets all your gigging needs there's no benefit to adding a second. That goes for anyone.
I will to test your theory that one sounds better than twoYou won't need two!
I wasn't suggesting that 2 cabs inherently sound better than one or that anyone needs another cabinet if a single meets their needs. In fact, I explicitly said that whether the sound is better or worse is subjective. I was just stating that that a pair of cabinets will almost always sound different than one. I actually supported your argument that one cab has better focus than a pair and I'm in no way suggesting you're lying about anything.
Clearly, if a single cab meets all your gigging needs there's no benefit to adding a second. That goes for anyone.
I know you weren't saying that. This tangent arose from the insistence that two is better than one that my friend was making.
My cab is exceeding my needs, which is basically how I spec most of my gear... I want it to be able to coast through my gigs.
It's fun when I do find myself in a volume escalation situation... the look of confusion is priceless. Which brings up another bonus:
No one assumes I'm going to be too loud when I walk in. I've seen that assumption made with larger gear and it's both dumb and amusing.Before even plugging in.
I do have a friend who gigs with two 1012 cabinets. He plays a nine string and runs stereo.
I will to test your theory that one sounds better than two
Well played.
I no longer work with the company so you're on your own with that one.
I'd love to plug into that 400ps rig!
And I don't mind bringing 350 lb of amps'n'cabs to a gig.
I remember those things. I tried one out in Charleston WV back in the day. Loud as hell.
