Bergantino NV158? ???

[geddy402]

I've only got my SB300 and NV115 up to about 3 on the master volume and 7 on the individual channels. Is there a good rule of thumb for channel volume and master volume? Set about equal or channel greater than master?

Tim, how much did you crank it before it started to protest? Thanks.

 

[Tim1]

I don't like the notion of "rule of thumb". There are so many different variables - the bass/room/eq settings.... However, I can't imagine any issues with 3 on the master. I think I just put it on about 7 and 7 to see what happened and you could hear it clearly was too much as I fully expected it to be. I really just wanted to get an idea of whether there was a limit. The best advice (clichéd as it is, I know) is to use your ears, I have never blown a speaker at a gig - if I hear it protesting I simply turn the amp down.

 

[geddy402]

Makes sense. Don't have a ton of experience with the channel vs. master volume dynamic. With both channels at 7 and master at 3 it sounded like there was plenty of room for some more volume. I figured based on my svt-3 pro head that pushing the channel volume and keeping the master lower wouldn't cause too many problems....the opposite of when I blew the speaker in my Eden 210xst when I had the master volume cranked all the way up and gain about half.

and if you need more room you can always add another 15! Which is probably what I'll do if I end up gigging regularly again. Or maybe add my xst into the rig.

 

[mattwear]

Tim, thanks for your review. Always appreciated. The idea for me getting the NV115 to match with my SB300 would be for quieter gigging and practice situations. Therefore the necessity for serious level cranking less important. Having said that, it would be great to have a cab in which i feel confident enough to push the power tubes into breakup at lower levels. Do you think once the cab has broken in it may inspire more confidence?

 

[Holdsg]

I had some quality time pairing the CN112 and NV115 in practice situation over the weekend. I liked it very much. I turned the tweet on the CN112 off, because I figured I was getting enough of anything high-end thru the 6 inch on the 115. With the 112 stacked on top, that's the cab I hear the most. The bass was an active jazz (Mike Lull TC4) and the head was my Streamliner. Really nice, warm, round tone, for a CR band playing everything from Grass Roots to Spinners, I certainly did not lack in booty with this stack.

 

[Tim1]

Matt, I do have total confidence in the nv115 and it sounds like it would be perfect for your needs of practice and quieter gigs. However the 300 is a powerful amp as we both know, and puts out a lot of grunt if you want power tube distortion. I think it would be fine if you use your ears sensibly.

 

[SCT1422]

I had some quality time pairing the CN112 and NV115 in practice situation over the weekend. I liked it very much. I turned the tweet on the CN112 off, because I figured I was getting enough of anything high-end thru the 6 inch on the 115. With the 112 stacked on top, that's the cab I hear the most. The bass was an active jazz (Mike Lull TC4) and the head was my Streamliner. Really nice, warm, round tone, for a CR band playing everything from Grass Roots to Spinners, I certainly did not lack in booty with this stack.

I just received a CN-112 that I now use for the light weight.. I'll have to check that cab with the NV-115....

 

[SilkyStrings]

I just ordered a second NV 115. I would like a super light rig but after trying the CN212 in person I decided it was worth the extra weight to get the cab that sounded best to me. I did have a hard time deciding between the NV a pair of HD 210's but something about the low end on the NV 115 tipped the balance in its favor. Surprisingly the single NV 115 handled a medium sized bar gig very well. Looking forward to trying two. I'm using a GK MB 800 fusion, which is a bit modern sounding and a Sadowsky jj but it really sounds good, so much so that I sold my Eden cabs and my Aguilar TH500.

 

[KJung]

It will be interesting to see how the NV115 stacks up to my CN212. The CN212 is a hammer (for a 212 anyway), and has covered literally ever gig I've had it on, including some stupid loud ones.

I'm hoping the NV115 is 'close' to the output of the CN212, with the nice 400 or so watts of the DeMonique.

That will be a powerful one-two punch of the CN212 and the Glock or TH500 (amazingly, that little TH500 hammers EVERY BIT as hard as the Glock Blue Soul into 4ohms, and outperforms it into 8ohms!), and the DeMonique with the NV115, depending on the gig and my mood!

 

[bugbass]

It will be interesting to see how the NV115 stacks up to my CN212. The CN212 is a hammer (for a 212 anyway), and has covered literally ever gig I've had it on, including some stupid loud ones.

I'm hoping the NV115 is 'close' to the output of the CN212, with the nice 400 or so watts of the DeMonique.

That will be a powerful one-two punch of the CN212 and the Glock or TH500 (amazingly, that little TH500 hammers EVERY BIT as hard as the Glock Blue Soul into 4ohms, and outperforms it into 8ohms!), and the DeMonique with the NV115, depending on the gig and my mood!

So the Blue Soul must have some lazy 650 watts? I can`t remember the TH500 to be much more powerful than other 500w heads.

 

[rollopizza]

I know it's a very different than the TH500 or the Glock but the NV115 with Streamliner is killer!

Borrowed one from a friend this weekend and the sound was thick and punchy. Also tried the cab with the GK MBFusion 800 that was ball busting too very good sounding amp. I'm waiting to sell a cab so i can afford one of those amps.

rp

 

[tombowlus]

So the Blue Soul must have some lazy 650 watts? I can`t remember the TH500 to be much more powerful than other 500w heads.

In our Link Removed, we did get 647 watts (continuous and burst) at 3% THD into a 4-ohm load, but the wave shape started to get a little funky, so we used the 1% measurements for our official output power ratings, and it clocked in at 560w continuous, 572w burst (also at 4 ohm). The thing with Glock heads, is that you have to be willing to let that "clip" LED flicker a bit to get the most power out of them.

 

[bugbass]

In our Link Removed, we did get 647 watts (continuous and burst) at 3% THD into a 4-ohm load, but the wave shape started to get a little funky, so we used the 1% measurements for our official output power ratings, and it clocked in at 560w continuous, 572w burst (also at 4 ohm). The thing with Glock heads, is that you have to be willing to let that "clip" LED flicker a bit to get the most power out of them.

I wish I could try out those new Berg cabs in Norway, they do look very interesting!

 

[KJung]

So the Blue Soul must have some lazy 650 watts? I can`t remember the TH500 to be much more powerful than other 500w heads.

Both of these heads hammer hard, and again, in the 'typical' large cab, a reasonably efficient 4ohm high quality 212 or 410, both will get as loud as almost any player will need.

They seem both very honestly rated. Given that the wattage is relatively close, it does not surprise me that they perform somewhat similarly, although the tonality is very different (the Glock is very 'precise' and articulate, with a very clean, 'quick feeling' response, and a totally open low end, where the Aguilar is purposefully just a touch 'blurry and chewy').

That being said, I've found the TH500 to outperform most other micro's in its wattage class and above on maximum, uncompressed low end (I've cranked them all!). That thing (just like the Glock at 4ohms) handles peak transients as well as any amp I've ever played. Whether you dig the tonality is another thing.

At 8ohms, I can easily get the Glock's power amp clip light to come on, while the Aguilar just purrs along. This probably has to do with the 'hard limiting' built into the Glock (per Tom's post above), which is very hard to hit at 4ohms (again, the Glock CRANKS), but not so much at 8ohms.

All good stuff, but that little Aguilar is really something. I can't wait to check it out with the NV115. Should be a VERY good match-up for a fat, punchy 'old school meets new school' type tone

 

[KJung]

I know it's a very different than the TH500 or the Glock but the NV115 with Streamliner is killer!

Borrowed one from a friend this weekend and the sound was thick and punchy. Also tried the cab with the GK MBFusion 800 that was ball busting too very good sounding amp. I'm waiting to sell a cab so i can afford one of those amps.

rp

Yeah, the NV115 seems made for the Streamliner. I found the Streamliner and TH500 (gigged them both quite a bit) to put out about the same maximum output, but with very different tonality, with the TH500 extended a bit deeper, and VERY much more present in the midrange, with VERY good midrange control (i.e., you can dial in and out as much as you like across a wide range of frequencies), and the Streamliner being very 'big' sounding in the upper bass, very relaxed in the midrange, and having a unique, crystal clear treble response that is as close to a big all tube amp run clean as I've ever heard.

I personally dig the midrange presence of the TH500, but I would guess with the sealed NV115, that Streamliner really comes alive and sounds great! I totally dug the Streamliner with the Baer ML112 also.

Of course, the voicing of the Glockenklang Blue Soul wouldn't make a lot of sense with a sealed 15 with mid driver, since so much of the beauty of that head is deep, deep extended lows, and super hi fi extended hi's. With the CN212... nice, nice, nice. With the HD212, I would think maybe even nicer!

I should have my NV115 early next week! It will be fun to A/B it with my CN212 with the Aguilar! My DeMonique will most likely not arrive for at least a month or so.

 

[rollopizza]

Well, I guess we'll have to wait for you to post your findings. I'm surprised you ordered an NV115, I guess what I mean I read some other postings where you've mentioned a sealed cab is not your bag. I always thought since you played a Pbass some of the time that his cab would be excellent for you. To be honest I have played a Jazz, Pbass, Musicman, Nordy P/J and they all sound great! Although it's not Hi Fi it's very reminiscent of well balanced bass tone (perhaps you can use vintage, since it reminds me of the combination of the sound of some of my favorite bass players). Jim has done an outstanding job with his crossover ( as he always does) and voicing with this cab. Big lows and BIG lower mids, and the 6" does a nice job of covering the upper extensions and it's not hissy or nasal sounding just a nice representation of that extension of the bass you play. Slapping is still an option with this cab and so is grooving. Good luck with your new cab.



rp

 

[KJung]

Well, I guess we'll have to wait for you to post your findings. I'm surprised you ordered an NV115, I guess what I mean I read some other postings where you've mentioned a sealed cab is not your bag. I always thought since you played a Pbass some of the time that his cab would be excellent for you. To be honest I have played a Jazz, Pbass, Musicman, Nordy P/J and they all sound great! Although it's not Hi Fi it's very reminiscent of well balanced bass tone (perhaps you can use vintage, since it reminds me of the combination of the sound of some of my favorite bass players). Jim has done an outstanding job with his crossover ( as he always does) and voicing with this cab. Big lows and BIG lower mids, and the 6" does a nice job of covering the upper extensions and it's not hissy or nasal sounding just a nice representation of that extension of the bass you play. Slapping is still an option with this cab and so is grooving. Good luck with your new cab.



rp

Thanks! Yes, my whole thing drastically changed a few years ago when I got the Nordy P. As I've posted before, the pop music that I play is amazingly driven these days by synth bass, and surprisingly a lot of P Bass. That whole 'wide voiced, roundwound J' thing that I loved (and still love) for so many years has pretty much disappeared from the stuff I listen to (a lot of indie rock these days) and modern dance stuff that I play. It sounds very good through the CN212, but I became interested in the Monique, and the sealed/mid driver thing seemed to be made for that (of course, not just limited to that, but the CN212 and Glock are going nowhere, especially when I gig the uber modern Roscoe on occasion).

Anyway, I've been relatively unimpressed with many of the mid driver cabs out there (primarily when the mid drivers are paired with a woofer designed for subwoofer applications... just doesn't work for me). If anyone can make a mid driver execution that I like, it is Jim Bergantino. Since I recently sold a massive amount of gear... basses, cabs, amps, pedals, cables... almost everything.... I had a bit of fun money, so there I went!

Per your post, I use relatively fresh nickel wounds on my ash/maple P5, and the grind in the upper midrange is 'music to my ears'. The NV115 should do that wonderfully. We shall see!

I just found out it will be here Thursday.

K

 

[RocketMusic]

I just found out it will be here Thursday.

K

Thanks, Ken! I look forward to your review.

 

[rollopizza]

Any try out the Streamliner and the Shuttle with the NV115?

rp

 

[tombowlus]

Any try out the Streamliner and the Shuttle with the NV115?

rp

SCT1422 and I played his Streamliner 900 and ShuttleMAX 9.2 (along with a bunch of other amps) through his two prototype NV115's. They both sounded pretty darned good with those cabs. I personally preferred some other heads, but they were both very good.