• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Berg IP153 review

#21
emjazz said:
As for the fast remark, I get it for sure. The first thing I noticed when I played through an IP was how quickly my notes were reproduced when I played them. It was uncanny. It's what got me hooked from the get go. I'd imagine with this technology through a really good 115 speaker as well as the DSP controlling the crossovers, it would seem very fast. It's not what one would expect from a cabinet loaded with a 115....not at all.
Click to expand...

Yep. If you could not see the configuration I don't know what you'd think was making the sound. It all comes out so equally it is quite an expression of frequency balance. Hope I didn't trigger any resident engineers that time:)
 
#22
chadds said:
Yep. If you could not see the configuration I don't know what you'd think was making the sound. It all comes out so equally it is quite an expression of frequency balance. Hope I didn't trigger any resident engineers that time:)
Click to expand...

Yeah, the world would be a much better place without them.
 
#23
Sorry that I am late to this party! Back when I was first able to audition the IP322, and Jim was telling me about the capabilities of his on-board DSP, one of my first comments was, 'Hey, now you can do bi-amping right!' :D And, that blossomed into the discussion of time alignment, phase coherence correction, etc. to make a 3-way cab work as well as possible. Well, Jim likes to tinker, and he tinkered with these ideas for some time, and I gotta say, it's worth the effort! :bassist: :bassist: :bassist:

As I told chadds when he asked me what the IP153 offered relative to the other (excellent in their own right) IP cabs, the phrase that came to mind is that while all the IP cabs are very balanced and even in their response, very loud, very dynamic, very full, etc., the thing that really pops about the IP153 is that 'effortlessly articulate' thing. It is one of the 'fastest' :hiding: cabs I have played. Just amazing. For those who heard it at my GTG, it has been through at least two DSP programming changes since then, and is now really fine tuned and kicking even more A. :D

Not sure if all of these questions were answered, but no, the 15" is not neo, and yes, the 6" midranges are the same as used in the NV215.

The low end is sufficiently different from the IP310, btw, that anyone who struggled getting controlled low end in some rooms will probably have better luck with the IP153 than with the IP310. The IP310 has that '10" roundness' to the deep lows, and the 15 is more attacking and cutting.

I may have to get three of the IP153/EX115 stacks. One for my bass rig, and one for the 'new and improved' Berg PA. :smug: :p :D That way, I can leave that rack full of CA9's at home! :eek:

Tom.
 
#24
So, chadds,

You must have gotten some playing time in on the new sweetnezz. Be glad to hear more : }

Also, if you do happen to talk to Jim, you might mention that in the 15" category there are a few good neo drivers available that won't change the general tonality/frequency spread and power handling that's sweet about the current lead-sled choices. That's not necessarily true of current 10' and 12" offerings...
 
#25
Well I am reluctant to say much as the new crime here is gushing:) ie:waxing on about how good something is. Then TBers forget their responsibilities and run into the streets and buy the new gear only to be disappointed later.:)

Anyway the IP153 is just wonderful. It's smooth. ( Oh no! The "RAEs", Resident Armchair Engineers, are going to start up about the exact parameters of smooth!) :)
You may notice, if you do, that you can sometimes change your technique to coax some frequencies or emphasis out of your gear or compensate for lack of this or too much of that. Some of this is called being a competent musician. To be conservative I notice I'm doing this less than with previous gear I've owned. This also means that it exposes your technique more:( :).

I added the lower cab the EX115. It delivers concert bigness that sounds exactly like the IP153 but bigger.
For mere mortal sessions, I have placed the IP153 back on the floor on it's own. It is amazing.
 
#27
jokerjkny said:
143_4319.jpg


...
Click to expand...

Just another look.

:help:

I also just checked out Jim B's website -- it seems to list everything but the IP153 & EX115 ('pix coming'...on the HS cabs).
 
#28
Okay. I haven't heard anything this good outside since standing in front of a 1969 Sunn 2000s in 1969. All that shaking your vision stuff. Stand too close you get very controlled bass feedback with a solid body. Rolled up the mids on the bass for more punch. Incredible. Outside today I preferred the Kern IP777 to the Dem HPB-1. That's today. The buttery warmth filled in the band. The band, two guitarists one using a Hayseed 30 and the other a Fuchs. ( I know ). Also sax and drums. Load in was great. The two cabs the 153 and the EX115 fit easily in the wagon and were noticeably lighter and more compact then two G3s. Jim recommends using the wheels on the bottom cab to isolate the cab from the stage. To me, and I said to me, it's a little too wobbly when the cabs are stacked. So I forgot my Gramma and put it right on the sidewalk that was our stage. This was the Annual Run For Recovery so we are in a parking lot.
Sound? Clarity, punch, huge boom and this was outside without PA support. I cranked the power amp a little past 1/2 and had great headroom and actually turned down the volume of the bass a few times. That's been rare with other rigs. Next time I will roll the Berg's volume all the way up and bring down the output of the Pre. I could only walk 20 ft out but the rig cuts. You hear what you're playing. No hidden notes. You could descend on the B and each note was clearly distinct. Double stops and chords were very clear. Earlier we mentioned quickness. It's unbelieveable. Quick snaps in funky stuff were just handled. Inside this rig should be a monster. One cab, not using the EX115, should be enough in a lot of situations.
 
#29
chadds said:
Okay. I haven't heard anything this good outside since standing in front of a 1969 Sunn 2000s in 1969. All that shaking your vision stuff. Stand too close you get very controlled bass feedback with a solid body. Rolled up the mids on the bass for more punch. Incredible. Outside today I preferred the Kern IP777 to the Dem HPB-1. That's today. The buttery warmth filled in the band. The band, two guitarists one using a Hayseed 30 and the other a Fuchs. ( I know ). Also sax and drums. Load in was great. The two cabs the 153 and the EX115 fit easily in the wagon and were noticeably lighter and more compact then two G3s. Jim recommends using the wheels on the bottom cab to isolate the cab from the stage. To me, and I said to me, it's a little too wobbly when the cabs are stacked. So I forgot my Gramma and put it right on the sidewalk that was our stage. This was the Annual Run For Recovery so we are in a parking lot.
Sound? Clarity, punch, huge boom and this was outside without PA support. I cranked the power amp a little past 1/2 and had great headroom and actually turned down the volume of the bass a few times. That's been rare with other rigs. Next time I will roll the Berg's volume all the way up and bring down the output of the Pre. I could only walk 20 ft out but the rig cuts. You hear what you're playing. No hidden notes. You could descend on the B and each note was clearly distinct. Double stops and chords were very clear. Earlier we mentioned quickness. It's unbelieveable. Quick snaps in funky stuff were just handled. Inside this rig should be a monster. One cab, not using the EX115, should be enough in a lot of situations.
Click to expand...
Thanks for remembering to do the follow-up review, chadds.

My first born just moved back to Boston to start law school in the fall. Maybe I'll ask Jim what I can get for him...

Bluesy Soul :cool:
 
#30
chadds:

Your experience mirrors mine. I recently played an outdoor festival (well, we were inside a very large, 1,000+ person, tent) with my IP153/EX115 stack. We were on an elevated stage, and I did keep the casters on the EX115. I really loved how it filled a very large area (outside, no less) without killing small mammals on stage. Super full, yet super detailed, and again, very quick. 'Effortless', you might say. :smug:

I have a lot of toys to play with, but I gotta say, when it comes to packing up for a gig, the IP cabs see more use than anything else. :cool:

Tom.
 
#32
jacove said:
Sounds really like a mighty fine rig...I was wondering how the EX115 would sound with a HT112...Any thoughts on that match?
Click to expand...

Hmmm..., I hadn't thought of that combo. I bet it would sound pretty good, kinda like a 'bigger' HT112/EX112 stack. Perhaps not as punchy and focused, with more apparent low end.

Tom.
 
#34
If I wasn't such a 'weight wimp', I'd have one of these.

I think the inclusion of the mid drivers, and the replacement of that big, aggressive tweet with the very nice HT112 tweeter (now I assume crossed over nice and high) will greatly improve on the already quite amazing IP's. This seems to be a VERY nice piece of gear! I don't know enough to really comment of the biamp thing, but I'll assume that's a good thing also:)
 
#37
Such a great design. The only thing I'd do differently is make it taller and narrower for easier audibility and portability and use a Kappalite 3015LF for the woofer to save some weight and probably gain some max output. And thinner panels with more bracing to save further weight.

If you have the money and don't mind the haulage I doubt you can do better!

Alex
 
#38
KJung said:
If I wasn't such a 'weight wimp', I'd have one of these.

I think the inclusion of the mid drivers, and the replacement of that big, aggressive tweet with the very nice HT112 tweeter (now I assume crossed over nice and high) will greatly improve on the already quite amazing IP's. This seems to be a VERY nice piece of gear! I don't know enough to really comment of the biamp thing, but I'll assume that's a good thing also:)
Click to expand...

The biamping allows the playing of highs and mids and there is no conflict with the lows. Chords are amazingly clear. I mean not just solo in the studio but live amidst wailing guitarists, a sax and a drummer kickin' the polyrhythms. The Thiele alignment promotes great response.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back