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Speaking from my own experience:
Because of Avatar's No Return Policy, I was hesitant to buy from them at first. It is very understandable to want to steer way clear of any company that won't take a return on a brand-new-in-the-box product. I even covered all my bases by contacting Dave and asking him about the return policy when it came to goods damaged in shipping. Cabs are heavy and easily damaged when dropped/thrown. Dave relayed that he had never gotten a cab returned due to being damaged in shipping. I absolutely did not believe this, but due to the hundreds of positive comments here on TB, I got the cab anyway.
When the cab arrived I absolutely believed Dave's claim about never having a cab returned due to shipping damage. I had never seen anything packed that well in my life. Even brand-new $20K servers (I'm an IT guy) are not packed that well. There was literally 20 pounds of heavy cardboard fashioned into corner protectors, grill protectors, etc. Even the control plate had a little piece of cardboard taped over it. There was so much cardboard stuffed everywhere around the cab that the whole box felt like one solid rock. The cab didn't move at all inside the box. You would literally have to throw the whole thing down a flight of stairs to even dent it. I've bought two cabs from Avatar, about a year apart and they were both packed identically.
Both cabs worked perfectly right out of the box and two years later I've had zero issues with either cab. I wholeheartedly recommend buying an Avatar cab.
Now, one thing that you're not covered for is "But I just don't like how the cab sounds!" In that case, you're stuck with the cab. Me being new to bass (playing about a year now) I had no other personal experiences with other bass cabs to draw from. The general consensus here on TB (hundreds of people own these cabs) is that they are a great value for the money. They sound "90% as good" as cabs costing 3x as much. They are not finished as well as a $1,200 cab b/c they are not a $1,200 cab. I find the construction itself very solid, the Eminence drivers are top-notch, reliable and sound great. Avatar cabs are a steal at their current prices.
IME, IMO, YMMV, 2.2% financing only available to pre-qualified, post-screened buyers during the first quarter of the 9th month of every other leap year. Etc.
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As far as budget 610s go, it seems like it'd be tough to beat the Sonic. I think I paid $300 for mine, which was low for the amount of cab that you actually get. I suppose you are right about it lacking a certain amount of unique character, though. Oh well, that's an entirely different subject.
You've gotta use what you like. I'd really like to try an Avatar B410 at some point but I've got too many other cabs on my GAS list.
+1, I have the same setup and it DOES smoke, for sure! Mine are even blonde cabinets too!
Nice snag!
5sg.
Thanks guys! It was such an awesome deal I couldn't pass it up.
Can't wait to try em out this weekend.
I paid more than $400 for my B212 alone! I hope to get a B210 soon.
