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Bergantino NV158? ???

#601
jazztonebass said:
"sealed vs. ported thing".... anyone care to elaborate for someone who has never played a sealed cab? How are they different?
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Sealed cabs have a more controlled response. The back pressure from the air within the cab keeps the driver from "flopping around" (though I'm not saying that ported cabs will necessarily "flop," but sealed cabs are tighter in this regard, respectively). Ported/vented cabs are typically more sensitive/efficient, and because there is no back pressure (or a lot less), the drivers can move more, and in turn, move more air. They tend to sound bigger and deeper than sealed cabs, but not as controlled.

You also have the situation with your typical ported cab where the lows that your brain perceives are emanating from two (or more) sources - the driver(s) and the port(s)/vent(s). This can contribute to that big/deep thing. With a sealed cab, the lows are emanating pretty much from just the driver(s) (though in both cases, the sides/back of the enclosure itself can contribute a little bit). This is the "single point source" thing I was talking about earlier. These factors contribute to what makes sealed and ported cabs sound different. Some folks prefer one kind, and some prefer the other.

This is not to say that there are not deep sounding sealed cabs (though this usually means that they are on the larger size), nor does it mean that there are not tight-sounding ported/vented cabs, but that's the basic difference in a nutshell.
 
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#604
Fuzzbass said:
You sold your NV215, right?


.
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Yup, it went to Frank (Sliderbass) and ended up with Jason (Eyeballkid).

The cool thing with all the big NV's, which are ultimately more similar than different, is that there is/was likely one out of the three that would appeal to someone looking for this type of sealed vintage vibe. I've seen/heard first hand how the subtle differences allow each cab to really mesh with the right player - Ken and his 5 string Sadowsky's sounds awesome through the 610, Jason and his Stingrays really mesh with the 215, and the 412 really works well with my passive four string pickstyle.
 
#605
jazztonebass said:
"sealed vs. ported thing".... anyone care to elaborate for someone who has never played a sealed cab? How are they different?
Click to expand...

Tom gave a nice explanation.

In addition, the Berg NV cabs don't have tweeters, and lack the high-end extension of a modern ported/tweetered bass cab. The NV115 looks like it has a tweet, but it's a 6 inch "mid driver". Per Tom it extends farther up than the one in the NV215 (thank you Tom for finding your comparison for my lazy a$$), but it doesn't go nearly as high into the treble range as a true tweeter, so "mid driver" is accurate.

The lack of ultra-highs can be a deal killer for some, slappers in particular, but the NV series cabs sound awesome for Chili Peppers slap tunes IMHO. :cool: And for those of us who sometimes (or always) get down and dirty, the lack of tweeter reduces the "buzzy bees" effect when using distortion/OD.

You were asking about sealed/ported and not tweeters, but your handle is jazztonebass so I thought I'd mention it. :p
 
#606
Fuzzbass said:
Tom gave a nice explanation.

In addition, the Berg NV cabs don't have tweeters, and lack the high-end extension of a modern ported/tweetered bass cab. The NV115 looks like it has a tweet, but it's a 6 inch "mid driver". Per Tom it extends farther up than the one in the NV215 (thank you Tom for finding your comparison for my lazy a$$), but it doesn't go nearly as high into the treble range as a true tweeter, so "mid driver" is accurate.

The lack of ultra-highs can be a deal killer for some, slappers in particular, but the NV series cabs sound awesome for Chili Peppers slap tunes IMHO. :cool: And for those of us who sometimes (or always) get down and dirty, the lack of tweeter reduces the "buzzy bees" effect when using distortion/OD.

You were asking about sealed/ported and not tweeters, but your handle is jazztonebass so I thought I'd mention it. :p
Click to expand...

Some want tweeters, some hate tweeters. For me, that 6-incher is just right to balance the top end of the cab. I'd be afraid that a tweeter would leave a gap in the response without a mid driver in there. I usually have the tweeters in my cabs about half way up, but I don't really need them that much.
 
#608
After spending more time with my NV115's, I continue to be very impressed. Much like the NV215, when I switch to the NV115 after listening to a tweeter-equipped cab like the HD212, it takes a little bit for my ears/brain to adjust to the high end. But this is a pretty quick adjustment, and unlike the NV215, when I switch back to the tweeter-equipped cab, I don’t feel like I had been missing anything. The lows and low-mids are just amazing, and even though it’s a very full, stout-sounding cab, there is never an issue with articulation/clarity. Yes, it is a bit more obvious where the lows are coming from with this cab (unlike some ported enclosures where the lows just kind of fill a general area, and you don’t hear the “source” as well), but I’m of the opinion that this isn’t a bad thing – especially if the off-axis dispersion is good, which it is.

As I've been saying, these cabs aren't the ultimate solution for every player, but if you dig what sealed cabs bring to the table, I think that the NV115 is a very compelling option, which may even expand your expectations of what a sealed cab can do. :cool:
 
#609
I think my chances of trying out the NV115 before I buy are slim. However, its been the one I keep coming back to as I do research for my 1st pro rig.

Seeking head recommendations to pair with the NV115, my primary bass being a Precision with Labella Flats.
 
#610
Thanks for the all the input Tom. I'm lucky enough to work in a town that has a Berg dealer (Rocket Music), so I need to get my butt over there and try this thing out. I'm about ready to buy a new rig and I'm confident that a Berg cab will a part of the equation. I'm leaning toward a GB Streamliner/NV115 setup. I would like to someday buy a Reeves (just not economically feasible right now), but, I think the Streamliner will serve the tube requirement for now and be a great backup when the Reeves becomes a part of the equation. Has anyone seen the price on the covers for these yet?
 
#612
Under $1000 - I was going to pick up a Streamliner 900 second hand but the local guy is unresponsive to his CL ad.

I have zero experience with everything I'm looking at online and its near impossible to find the higher end stuff around here (Concord NH area)
 
#615
2funky said:
Under $1000 - I was going to pick up a Streamliner 900 second hand but the local guy is unresponsive to his CL ad.

I have zero experience with everything I'm looking at online and its near impossible to find the higher end stuff around here (Concord NH area)
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GK MB Fusion 800. It's got a tone for everybody, hella loud, and well under $1K. [/thread]
 
#616
I have always liked the natural sound of the older Mesa Diesel 2x15. Anybody have any thoughts on how one or two NV115's would compare "tone" wise? Can I get the NV to sound close?
Lex
 
#617
Having owned both an older Diesel 215 and currently owning a Berg NV215, I can tell you that the two are, IMO, poles apart. The Mesa is very mid/upper mid focused whereas the Berg NV215 responds evenly across the frequency range. For my purposes the Berg is infinitely superior.
 
#620
I can chime and say that this is a loud single 15 cab! I don't find it to be too bright. In the mix that just become definition.

I used it with a p bass with flats at dance band volume and a upright playing standards at cocktail volume. It was plenty loud for the dance scenario. Granted this was a wedding in a reception hall.
 

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