Bergantino CN212

[Old Fart]

One is for sale locally. These are fairly light, efficient, less bottom end than HD but I have tone knobs, and this would handle whatever power I would throw at it. I know I cannot count on you guys to talk me out of buying it but perhaps you could tell me what I would be getting into. I wonder if it could fill a decent-sized venue (several dozen people up to 100) in a moderately loud band.

I love my HT322 but bringing a forklift is inconvenient.

 

[jthisdell]

The CN line is a couple years old but still a very good, well engineered cab. I have a CN112 and 210 and love them. There is a Berg mega thread where you may get more feedback.

 

[FRoss6788]

That cab should handle a gig like that no problem.
I have not used a CN, but I have an HDN 212, and I believe they are very similar in performance.
I would feel very confident using my HDN 212 for a gig of that size.
If it's priced fairly and in good shape, I'd recommend snatching it up.

 

[Jerry Ziarko]

Absolutely will work. I powered mine with a Bamp, I could never use all it had to give. And a bonus, it's so unbelievably light!

 

[pfschim]

CN212 can handle the kind of gig your talking about with ease. The CN212 has plenty of low end, so don't worry about that at all.
I have used a CN212 as my primary go-to cab for about 10 years. Pushed the cab with a Walkabout, WD800, Demeter VTBP-M-800, D800+ and it worked great with all of those amps. I liked my CN212 so much that I added a CN112 to my cab options for smaller gigs.

You should have total confidence buying this cab as long as it looks to be in good shape. Better yet, if you can try it out with your primary amp, that will tell the tale.

good luck!

 

[Old Fart]

Thank you. Let me ask you this: Between an NV215 and the CN212, I'd guess the 212 is similar in horsepower but smaller and lighter. The 215 would be overkill for the (under 100 people) venues I play. I notice its sensitivity is 104 or something. The Walkabout should rock this thing. Do I have this right?

There is an NV215 also available. Cheaper. Longer drive. I think the 212 is the animal, between those two.

 

[FRoss6788]

The NV 215 is probably 100lbs., not really the direction you're looking to go if I'm not mistaken...

Rad cab though.

 

[pfschim]

Thank you. Let me ask you this: Between an NV215 and the CN212, I'd guess the 212 is similar in horsepower but smaller and lighter. The 215 would be overkill for the (under 100 people) venues I play. I notice its sensitivity is 104 or something. The Walkabout should rock this thing. Do I have this right?

There is an NV215 also available. Cheaper. Longer drive. I think the 212 is the animal, between those two.

The NV cabs are very different from the CN/HDN cabs. NV are sealed, CN are ported. NV are loaded with ceramic drivers, CN are Neo. NV are pretty heavy for modern cabs (because of the ceramic drivers), the CN cabs are very light. My NV212t = 70lbs vs 46lbs for the CN212 with both cabs being the same dimensions.

I've had both ... NV610 and currently an NV212t, along with the CN212 and CN112. Both Berg types sound great, and in fact, I am starting to favor the NV212t with my Walkabout .. seems like a great match (other than power ... NV212t is 8ohms, so the WA only delivers ~165w into that cab), but its a sweet combination. The NV610 was 4ohms and the WA killed through it, but man was that a heavy cab .. and ultimately way more than I needed.

IMO/IME, I would say CN/HDN are more modern, even and full across the spectrum. (although with the horn turned down and appropriate EQing they can do old-school thump no problem). The NV cabs (NV = "new vintage") are more old school thump from the get-go .. although if you turn the horn up on the NV's they can get very shiny up top.

So, much depends on what your tone goals are. I'd probably go with the CN212 as a great all-round cab choice. The NV's are great cabs but will be a bit more specifically voiced with a fairly steep low end roll-off and a bit of a low mid bump.

good luck

 

[FRoss6788]

Nice breakdown of the different cab pf....

Ju

The NV cabs are very different from the CN/HDN cabs. NV are sealed, CN are ported. NV are loaded with ceramic drivers, CN are Neo. NV are pretty heavy for modern cabs (because of the ceramic drivers), the CN cabs are very light. My NV212t = 70lbs vs 46lbs for the CN212 with both cabs being the same dimensions.

I've had both ... NV610 and currently an NV212t, along with the CN212 and CN112. Both Berg types sound great, and in fact, I am starting to favor the NV212t with my Walkabout .. seems like a great match (other than power ... NV212t is 8ohms, so the WA only delivers ~165w into that cab), but its a sweet combination. The NV610 was 4ohms and the WA killed through it, but man was that a heavy cab .. and ultimately way more than I needed.

IMO/IME, I would say CN/HDN are more modern, even and full across the spectrum. (although with the horn turned down and appropriate EQing they can do old-school thump no problem). The NV cabs (NV = "new vintage") are more old school thump from the get-go .. although if you turn the horn up on the NV's they can get very shiny up top.

So, much depends on what your tone goals are. I'd probably go with the CN212 as a great all-round cab choice. The NV's are great cabs but will be a bit more specifically voiced with a fairly steep low end roll-off and a bit of a low mid bump.

good luck

 

[Al Kraft]

So, much depends on what your tone goals are. I'd probably go with the CN212 as a great all-round cab choice.

I could not agree more! When I was looking at the CN vs the HD for a 212 cab, the CN really hit the mark for me in every area. It is fair to say it is a littlle less present in the deep lows, but the cab takes EQ quite nicely and as long as you're not trying to use it as a subwoofer, I think it works great.

A 100 person venue is easily in the CN212's wheelhouse IME. On top of that, the CN212 sounds great with every head I've used it with from Mesa WA/Carbine/SW/WD to GK MB to Aguilar Tone Hammer. Jim Bergantino really hit another homerun with this cab IMO.

 

[Anemic_SluG]

I have the CN212 powered with a Mesa D800 I can attest that everything said above is accurate. I also own a NV610t and it's 2 flavors of awesome, just one doesn't fit in my STI. So the CN gets the majority of the play time. I was surprised because I really like the punch of a sealed cab that the CN comes really close when eq'd to taste.

 

[WaldoNova]

The CN212 will cover your stated needs. Very loud and punchy cab. I love mine!

For a while they were going for $1,100 used. I sold one recently to pay bills for $800. It's worth it within this range and a killer deal if you're able to get it under this range.

Let us know how you like it when you pull the trigger!

 

[chris_b]

My last Berg was a CN212 and I loved it. IMO there was no lack of bass, just a tight and punchy bass tone that pushed through the band and didn't allow bad rooms to influence its sound. If I wanted more I added my AE112 and ran a 2.67ohm amp.

 

[MVE]

I also have a CN212.

Im not a cab connoisseur that has owned 10 or 20 different cabs to compare it to, but I do know I love mine very much. I have never enjoyed the sound of my own bass as much through anything else.

I would say it can handle any gig. I don't think I have ever even turned it up enough to hear it max out. Anything that demands more should have FOH anyway. I often play at a bar that keeps an Ampeg 610 for backline so I have A/B'd it with that and the CN212 blew it away.

 

[jthisdell]

I had an NV115, great cab, really good sealed cab lows, better low end than the specs indicate. I eventually needed something smaller and got a CN112 and then found myself never using the NV115 so I sold it and got a CN210. The NV's are great but so are all of Jim's cabs. The CN has a different sound but still great but the portability difference is huge.

 

[bikeplate]

Killer. Don't hesitate

 

[Gougedeye]

Don't hesitate! I have a CN212. It is a great 1 cab solution for me. Works in any situation. AND only 46 lbs. and fits in my Corvette!

 

[FrenchBassQC]

I also have a CN212 and I love it. I use it with either an Agui TH500 or a GK MB500 Fusion or a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.2 and it sounds amazing with each and any one of them.

 

[MVE]

Don't hesitate! I have a CN212. It is a great 1 cab solution for me. Works in any situation. AND only 46 lbs. and fits in my Corvette!

LOL! I bought the CN212 when I got a Lexus SC400 several years ago because my Schroeder 210PL just wouldn't fit. The Schroeder was actually smaller but the shape just wouldn't fit into the trunk no matter how you twisted or flipped it. Before I purchased the CN212, I actually cut up a cardboard box and taped it all back together in the exact dimensions as the cab just to make absolutely sure it would slide in. LOL.

Update, I know have a 5 year old daughter and have since sold the sports car and now drive an SUV.
But I sill love the CN212 cabinet!!!

 

[coreyfyfe]

Late to the party but throwing my hat in the "you'll be fine" ring and sing the praises of the CN212. Use one for my upright rig with an EA doubler II. But I've also used that cab with a number of other heads for electric gigs, never been disappointed with the sound. My only complaint is the shape. When I run one of my tube heads I end up having to put the amp on the floor or have an awkwardly balanced stack.