Bassic 15- 3015 or 15PR400

[5StringPocket]

Exactly...these are great full range drivers...not really meant for a 2 way rig

Normally you'd think of a woofer like the 3012LF or 3015LF to pair with a mid driver but I have a 3015-loaded cab with a Faital M5N8-80 crossed at 1500 Hz and it sounds amazing. I have mid-loaded cabs with the 18 Sound 6ND410, Faital W6N8-120, and the M5N8-80 and for a bass guitar cab the 3015/Faital 5 is my favorite. The sensitivity and tone match just work and it transforms the mids in a good way. There is still some grind from the 3015 and the mids are strong but smoother and response is extended up to about 6300 Hz. I have a switch to bypass the mid and run the 3015 full range but I rarely use it.

 

[dukeorock]

Ah, I see. That HF102 looks like a fantastic driver.

It's a sleeper for sure...not the best PA tweet as it kinda has a weird dip at about 13khz, but smooth as silk up 'til then. For my loud upright nonsense, I love some 5-7khz, then start tapering down fast, and out by 10-12k...really think it's a very bass friendly tweet

 

[iualum]

Normally you'd think of a woofer like the 3012LF or 3015LF to pair with a mid driver but I have a 3015-loaded cab with a Faital M5N8-80 crossed at 1500 Hz and it sounds amazing. I have mid-loaded cabs with the 18 Sound 6ND410, Faital W6N8-120, and the M5N8-80 and for a bass guitar cab the 3015/Faital 5 is my favorite. The sensitivity and tone match just work and it transforms the mids in a good way. There is still some grind from the 3015 and the mids are strong but smoother and response is extended up to about 6300 Hz. I have a switch to bypass the mid and run the 3015 full range but I rarely use it.

I have this same "defeat" toggle on my 215/high freq. In fact, I had it incorporated after a few PMs between us, if you remember (although maybe you don't ). Anyway, I like having the option.

 

[5StringPocket]

I remember. Glad you're enjoying the cab.

 

[bassdrop]

Different applications need different solutions.

Yes it is off topic but I was talking about PA-tops and wedge monitors. Considering the reinforcement of voices and vocals which is a different animal (yes it is off topic), that means that some forward edge around 1..2kHz is sometimes a benefit, of course it is all depending on the acoustic situation of a given room.


Back to topic.

The Orange AD200 provides a very significant edge around 1..2kHz (and above). This Orange typical boost is a firm component of the Orange Schematic design. It cant't be switched off and is therefore present all the time, no matter which EQ settings are used.

Hiwatt design works similar but the Hiwatt static Boost is rather focused at the treble band.

Orange schematic was designed at a time period where most of speakers provided muddy sounds, mid scoped with reduced treble range.
So the Orange design has it's most permit on vintage speakers of the 70s or similar vintage designed stuff.

Hiwatt's treble Boost is more smooth and therefore works perfect even with modern designed speakers like 15PR400/3015.

My suggestion for the AD200.
Neither 15PR400 nor 3512.
At least the 15PR400 because it has not any peak where the AD200 is very strong anyhow.

But I would keep on looking for something like 70s Vintage sounding.

Don't get me wrong but it is very hard to give any advice for any (vintage) amp that is coloring at the high mid band very strong.

Which Orange preamp does this statement apply to in particular: AD, Orange/Matamp, GRO, OR, OD, or 90's OTR series? The OTR series was designed to accommodate Noel Gallagher's request for a bit more "sparkle" than the standard OR preamp. I would actually characterize the AD200 as darker than most bass amps out there, counter to the above statement about the tilted frequency response. Perhaps your statement applies to one of the earlier series?

In any case, I will agree the AD200 is not a scooped amp and, as such, will probably be more suited to the Faital.

 

[Mike Arnopol]

I have a lot of experience with both drivers. I've had two cabs and a/b'd them side by side.

At first it was the Faital all the way--it's baked in sound is balanced the way I like it.

but-----

If you can eq it--I actually like the 3015 more. The tautness and impact are something I really like. I'd have a hard time with it if I couldn't eq it, but I think that it's superior if you can. I assume that the Orange has limited eq---in that case I'd do the Faital. But if you got a little parametric pedal and could tame the midrange wank---I'd go with the 3015

 

[bassdrop]

Thanks for the info, Mike. Very helpful. I can hear in John's clips the impact that you refer to in the high bass region. Did you feel that the loss of the extended highs in the Eminence vs the Faital, once the mids were EQd, were something you missed both solo'd and in a band mix? Was one demonstrably more efficient to your ears?

 

[iualum]

Thanks for the info, Mike. Very helpful. I can hear in John's clips the impact that you refer to in the high bass region. Did you feel that the loss of the extended highs in the Eminence vs the Faital, once the mids were EQd, were something you missed both solo'd and in a band mix? Was one demonstrably more efficient to your ears?

Objective/subjective?

 

[bassdrop]

Objective/subjective?

The efficiency specs are 2db higher for the 3015, but a tube amp can be more efficient with a less dynamic impedance curve, which is also driver dependent. Faital actually publishes an impedance curve but Eminence does not. So far the consensus seems to be that the difference is negligible, but I thought I'd ask Mike since he's A/B'd directly between them in similar cabs.