I told my drummer at the time, "If you ever see me with a rig bigger than this one, it's because I am forced to bring something for a review."
Really! Forced! Ummmm More like forced by curiosity and excitement!
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AudioKinesis Cabs Part VI...
- Thread starter Thor
- Start date
Really! Forced! Ummmm More like forced by curiosity and excitement!
Yeah, my gas is ruined by my 33 lb composite Thunderchild 115. I'd love to try a Hathor 112, but can't find a way to justify one. NOTHING this cab can't do.
I loved my Thunderchild 115. The one thing the Hathors do better than the Thunderchild is mid grind, also Hathors really speak with overdrive.
Hey, Duke.
I'm quoting an old post here, but I'm curious as to whether there have been any developments on the Hathor 1505 front. I know that the move to Texas has been complicated and, if I remember right, you're still waiting on the 5" driver to be released, so if there's nothing to report just now, feel free to report when there is!
Good luck with the ongoing transitions.
I'm quoting an old post here, but I'm curious as to whether there have been any developments on the Hathor 1505 front. I know that the move to Texas has been complicated and, if I remember right, you're still waiting on the 5" driver to be released, so if there's nothing to report just now, feel free to report when there is!
Good luck with the ongoing transitions.
- Nov 24, 2008
- 4,343
- 7,163
- Disclosures
- Owner & designer, AudioKinesis; Auth. mfg, Big E (Home Audio only)
Very interesting! I think that's great innovation on your part, and see no reason not to pair them. Mike's MVW cabs really are something special, so I can tell you that my cab was honored to share the stage with his. Mike and I are fairly familiar with one another's work or at least one another's goals, and I mentioned your post to him on the phone today and he also thought that sounded like a great pairing.
The projections regarding relative efficiency of Hathors 1203 and 15xx seem to have been pretty close, with the latter being about the same efficiency as the twofer stack of 1203s, but with half the power handling of the 1203 stack (one Kappalite motor vs two).
I'm now calling it a "15xx" because I'm going to at least prototype something other than the "1505" configuration... hey I have these weird ideas and gotta try them and see what happens. Don't think that I'm backing away from that new Eminence midrange because I'm not... but it'll probably be early May at the earliest before I can label it with something more definite than "xx".
Sounds all kinds of awesome Duke!! Efficiency of a H1203 stack in one cab is a game changer right there. And I'm sure whatever else you have up your 15xx sleeve will amaze us all! Thanks for all you do.
Hey there – I posted in here a while back asking a similar question, but the parameter's have changed, so...
I'm looking for (a) head(s) to power my incoming TC112AF and TC115AF.
I'll note that I'm getting said cabs because I want to be able to cleanly, clearly reproduce the full tonal range of my bass; that is to say I want clear, singing highs that are not harsh but rather accurate, combined with a solid low-end.
As such, I have been leaning towards the GK micro head series (MB500 / MB500Fusion / MB800 / MB800Fusion)...
However, I may have a lead on Aguilar gear for cheap, or even free. As such, the TH500 has now entered the running.
I've heard, however, that the TH, however, is known as an "anti-GK" head, in that it has a smooth, rounded tone that tapers off the highs...?
So will going with the Aguilar defeat the awesome clarity of the TC cabs?
(FWIW I'm also considering the LH1000 so that I can power both cabs with one head at a cheap price, and that sounds pretty "clear" from what I understand – but it's something like 4-8x the weight :/)
I'm looking for (a) head(s) to power my incoming TC112AF and TC115AF.
I'll note that I'm getting said cabs because I want to be able to cleanly, clearly reproduce the full tonal range of my bass; that is to say I want clear, singing highs that are not harsh but rather accurate, combined with a solid low-end.
As such, I have been leaning towards the GK micro head series (MB500 / MB500Fusion / MB800 / MB800Fusion)...
However, I may have a lead on Aguilar gear for cheap, or even free. As such, the TH500 has now entered the running.
I've heard, however, that the TH, however, is known as an "anti-GK" head, in that it has a smooth, rounded tone that tapers off the highs...?
So will going with the Aguilar defeat the awesome clarity of the TC cabs?
(FWIW I'm also considering the LH1000 so that I can power both cabs with one head at a cheap price, and that sounds pretty "clear" from what I understand – but it's something like 4-8x the weight :/)
I would agree that the Tone Hammer is the "anti G-K". It can get rough and dirty in a way that is quite a bit different from the MB series, especially if you push the AGS.
But I would characterize the Aguilar as being more than just a bit retiring in the highs. To my ear, it sounds positively murky in comparison, with something odd, almost veiled in the upper mids.
I think that the TH and MB's are both a little off the beaten path compared to your typical Ampeg fare. I've noticed that there's a lot of polarized, "love it or hate it" opinions about both the Aggies and G-K's.
I personally think of the Aggie as better suited to people who buy the Hathor for its compatibility with distortion pedals, and G-K (especially the Fusion) as better suited to people who like the purity of the TC.
But that's just my opinion. You really need to sample both, to be sure what's going to float your boat.
One thing I will say- AudioKinesis cabs in general, and the Thunderchild series in particular, do two things better than just about any other cab: they bring out all the subtleties of your signal chain, and the smooth response tends to flatter just about anything you plug into them.
Cab matching doesn't get much easier than this...
But I would characterize the Aguilar as being more than just a bit retiring in the highs. To my ear, it sounds positively murky in comparison, with something odd, almost veiled in the upper mids.
I think that the TH and MB's are both a little off the beaten path compared to your typical Ampeg fare. I've noticed that there's a lot of polarized, "love it or hate it" opinions about both the Aggies and G-K's.
I personally think of the Aggie as better suited to people who buy the Hathor for its compatibility with distortion pedals, and G-K (especially the Fusion) as better suited to people who like the purity of the TC.
But that's just my opinion. You really need to sample both, to be sure what's going to float your boat.
One thing I will say- AudioKinesis cabs in general, and the Thunderchild series in particular, do two things better than just about any other cab: they bring out all the subtleties of your signal chain, and the smooth response tends to flatter just about anything you plug into them.
Cab matching doesn't get much easier than this...
Even though I have not "played" with the TC series of cabs, I have the feeling that what your saying Steve is true. I am truly impressed with the H1203's! I also agree, that what ever amp that you choose, I believe that AK line in general, are going to expose move of what your amp has in tone. Nothing colored by the cab other than the color that is coming out of the amp, which is everything that comes before it.
Free th500? Take it. You can always sell or trade it. It will do loud and clean. It doesn't have an ags button but a drive knob that is interactive with the gain that will dirty it up if you crank both. I posted some soundcloud clips somewhere demonstrating this. It does have some high end roll off and the drive knob will increase that as well as roll off the low end.
I reviewed some posts I made about amps and thunderchildren cabs to refresh my memory. The first cab was a 4ohm tc15af wide. I used it with the th500. Monster solid punch. The combination was overall a bit dark for my tastes with the basses I was using.
Later I picked up a composite 212. This cab sounded different than the 15 to me. Tighter lows, more midrangey but still incredibly loud. I had the th500 and really enjoyed the combo. But I did a complete redo on my p Lyte and with the emg's I got the idea I wanted a super clean full range amp. I traded the amp for a shuttlemax 9.2 and also tried the gk mb800. IMO opinion it was all just too much clean and bright. Yes, between the bass and amps there was mucho eq available but I couldn't get the upper mid/treble to sound pleasant. Harsh/brittle. I'm willing to admit it could be me and not the amps/cab.
I put the cab up for sale but procured another streamliner before it sould. Conventional wisdom would say it wouldn't match well with the TC cabs and I would agree that it would be too mellow for the 4ohm 15 but with the 212 it was luscious. Full, open, even wide range from lo to hi but warm and inviting. In retrospect the th500/212 was the same way with maybe a little less sparkle up top.
TLDR; TH500 is cheap or free. Try it. Nothing to lose.
I reviewed some posts I made about amps and thunderchildren cabs to refresh my memory. The first cab was a 4ohm tc15af wide. I used it with the th500. Monster solid punch. The combination was overall a bit dark for my tastes with the basses I was using.
Later I picked up a composite 212. This cab sounded different than the 15 to me. Tighter lows, more midrangey but still incredibly loud. I had the th500 and really enjoyed the combo. But I did a complete redo on my p Lyte and with the emg's I got the idea I wanted a super clean full range amp. I traded the amp for a shuttlemax 9.2 and also tried the gk mb800. IMO opinion it was all just too much clean and bright. Yes, between the bass and amps there was mucho eq available but I couldn't get the upper mid/treble to sound pleasant. Harsh/brittle. I'm willing to admit it could be me and not the amps/cab.
I put the cab up for sale but procured another streamliner before it sould. Conventional wisdom would say it wouldn't match well with the TC cabs and I would agree that it would be too mellow for the 4ohm 15 but with the 212 it was luscious. Full, open, even wide range from lo to hi but warm and inviting. In retrospect the th500/212 was the same way with maybe a little less sparkle up top.
TLDR; TH500 is cheap or free. Try it. Nothing to lose.
Now you have me wondering what the sonic difference would be between a stack of two H1203's vs the TC-212!
This is definitely of interest to me as I feel that the 15xx cab will do everything I would need from a cab and while not as modular as 2x 1203 it should be an easy carry. The timing (earliest May to have a proto worked out) is also good for me as I should be in a better position to buy a new cab in the summer.
Is it safe to assume dimensions similar to a TC115 if not a bit shorter in height?
I suspect it will be a little taller than a TC115. I'll be sure to post measurements when I receive it (I'm the Beta tester).
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No, it was originally 8 ohms and now it will likely be 8/4 ohm switchable
Hey guys one of my speakon connectors has come unscrewed and is loose on my TC112. I tried screwing it back but the screws just turn and don't tighten. Am I going to have to take the horn out to get to the front of the speakon to tighten it back ? I've never taken a cab apart.
- Nov 24, 2008
- 4,343
- 7,163
- Disclosures
- Owner & designer, AudioKinesis; Auth. mfg, Big E (Home Audio only)
Sorry to hear one of my cabs has a screw loose! Is it a screw holding one of the speakon jacks, or one of the four holding the entire metal dish?
Unfortunately either way, you'll have to remove the horn. 4 or 8 ohm cab? Rectangular or square (butt-cheeks) horn? Let me know and I'll go over the horn removal and replacement procedure.
You'll need a Phillips screwdriver, needle-nosed pliers, and possibly a small screwdriver to fit the small screws holding the Speakon jacks to the metal dish (sometimes I used small Phillips screws, sometimes small slotted screws, depending on what was available at the local hardware store).
Basically once the horn is out, you're going to grab and hold the corresponding little hex-shaped nut on the inside with the pliers, and use a screwdriver to tighten the screw from the outside.
And if one has worked its way loose, it might make sense to check the others while you're at it.
The whole thing will probably take 10-15 minutes, but it won't be too painful. If you want to, you can call me on my cell as you go through it, five oh four, two five one, two three one one.
Okay the fairly high efficiency (about 1 dB higher than the 3015 non-LF) results in a larger box size being required for good low end, that's just the inescapable tradeoff thing. The Hathor 15xx will probably be 27" tall by 18" wide by 14" deep.
Astute observers of the Hathor series will notice that the 18" depth is the same as the height of the little 1203, and that's intentional, so that a side-ways 1203 will fit atop (or underneath) the 15xx.
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