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Big E Speakers Part 4 - Quadraphenia

#3,161
spiritbass said:
Is there a 'tweeter defeat' switch?
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No, and there also isn't any mid padding switches. What you hear is what you get, and you must tweak your eq accordingly. The 8x5, the 210 Flex, and the 112, all had excellent qualities that set themselves apart from each other. In my short time with this cab, I don't feel that it changes that aspect. It is a melding of those three cabs. While it wont beat any one of them at their strongest attributes, it is a more well rounded package IMO. There will still be those who are perfectly happy or even prefer the more established models in Mike's line-up. Moving forward though, the Bodai's will likely be top sellers.
 
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#3,162
3rdcurve said:
No, and there also isn't any mid padding switches. What you hear is what you get, and you must tweak your eq accordingly. The 8x5, the 210 Flex, and the 112, all had excellent qualities that set themselves apart from each other. In my short time with this cab, I don't feel that it changes that aspect. It is a melding of those three cabs. While it wont beat any one of them at their strongest attributes, it is a more well rounded package IMO. There will still be those who are perfectly happy or even prefer the more established models in Mike's line-up. Moving forward though, the Bodai's will likely be top sellers.
Click to expand...

Thanks for satisfying my curiosity! :) It's handy for me because my two active basses sound great with the tweet switched off on my Flex. When I plug in my precision, I turn the tweet on and bump the treble & presence up for sonic nirvana... :cool:
 
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#3,163
3rdcurve said:
The Bodai 110 has landed. I haven't had alot of time with it yet, so I don't have anything in depth to share yet. Initial impressions -

Mike has the packaging down. Minimal packaging with maximum protection. The cab arrived in perfect condition, and the fit and finish was great. No rattles or buzzes.

It's light. Noticeably lighter than the MAS 112, and much easier to move. It is nearly the same height as the MAS 112 and only a few inches narrower.

It is much more present in the mids and highs than the MAS 112. The compression driver definitely adds a bit of tweeter like snap that I didn't feel I was missing before, but love it now that it is there. Chords.....heavenly. It is quicker and more responsive than any of my previous MAS cabs sans maybe the 8x5, this thing is tight.

Now, this is where things get tricky. The MAS 112 (eminence) was my favorite bass cab of all time. It sounded huge, had warmth, depth, punch, articulation.....just fabulous. The Bodai 110 has a much more neutral and transparent sound. Instantly I realized that the signal chain for the 112 would not sound the same with the new 110. The EBS Reidmar 750 became a bit more hi-fi than I care for (though I am sure some would love it). I dialed in a bit of bass and low mids to fatten it up. The 112 is Super efficient and 4 ohms, so the Reidmar could push it as hard as it wanted to go. The new 110 is an 8 ohm cab with much lower efficiency, and it feels like the Reidmar may be a bit lacking in low end grunt at 8 ohms with this particular cab. So, I have an RAD Engineering Icepower 1000 amp incoming and plan to try some different preamps and eq points. Mike is busy gearing up for a show in Germany, but when he returns I plan on trying either a second 110 or the new 112. I am looking forward to getting to know this little beast alot better!

For reference, here is a list of my previously owned MAS cabs:
8x5
210 Flex
MAS112 (18Sound)
MAS112 (Eminence)

Currently MAS Bodai 110
Click to expand...

spiritbass said:
Is there a 'tweeter defeat' switch?
Click to expand...

3rdcurve said:
No, and there also isn't any mid padding switches. What you hear is what you get, and you must tweak your eq accordingly. The 8x5, the 210 Flex, and the 112, all had excellent qualities that set themselves apart from each other. In my short time with this cab, I don't feel that it changes that aspect. It is a melding of those three cabs. While it wont beat any one of them at their strongest attributes, it is a more well rounded package IMO. There will still be those who are perfectly happy or even prefer the more established models in Mike's line-up. Moving forward though, the Bodai's will likely be top sellers.
Click to expand...

Thank you very much for this initial report. It confirms for me what I predicted: Though the Bodai models are fantastic performers, their character is a departure from the vibe I so prize in my MAS-112 Eminence w/ switchable B&C tweeter.

To your point about future adoption, it's not a question of which is better, but of whether the player knows and prefers the sound and feel of the older model.
 
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#3,164
Snaxster said:
Thank you very much for this initial report. It confirms for me what I predicted: Though the Bodai models are fantastic performers, their character is a departure from the vibe I so prize in my MAS-112 Eminence w/ switchable B&C tweeter.

To your point about future adoption, it's not a question of which is better, but of whether the player knows and prefers the sound and feel of the older model.
Click to expand...

After I posted, Mike and I corresponded about his 112 designs, old and new. Among other things, he had this to say:

“The Bodai112 maintains the sound of the regular 112 but adds a more articulate midrange and high end. What you love about the 112 is still there — warm but super punchy and tight. None of the qualities that you like in the 112 have changed.

3rd curve is right — I integrated what I've learned in the new cabs. The 3D midrange presentation of the Flex, but with a more finely tuned crossover.

I feel that if you like the [MAS-]112, you'd like the Bodai [112] better.

Also — the Bodai110 is a very different presentation than the Bodai112. VERY even and hifi. But — if you like the bit of warmth of the 112 — the 110 is a bit drier…

So — different voicings for different tastes.”​

As I told Mike, if I weren't loaded with bass cabinets (and amps, and basses, and pedals...) now, I would order a Bodai 112 and do my own comparison right away. That I will do eventually. In the meantime I appreciate both 3rdcurve's review of his Bodai 110 and Mike's description of his new designs compared to his older ones.
 
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#3,165
I am a simple mind when it comes to the technical specs, but I think for my purposes, (4 strings flats), blues and a little jazzy blues songs, or funky blues songs, I could get by fine with one of the MAS 112's that people sell to help acquire a Bodai. That would only be for another small footprint cab that still had the vortex. I play some small stage places where I currently take an Avatar 112 which I converted to mid instead of tweeter. OK but got no vortex! I am a vortex junkie. I can shoe horn the 210 flex in but they will just ask me to turn down so they can hear the customers place their order. Bigger club gigs coming in May and June. yeah!
 
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#3,166
Snaxster said:
Thank you very much for this initial report. It confirms for me what I predicted: Though the Bodai models are fantastic performers, their character is a departure from the vibe I so prize in my MAS-112 Eminence w/ switchable B&C tweeter.

To your point about future adoption, it's not a question of which is better, but of whether the player knows and prefers the sound and feel of the older model.
Click to expand...

Very true. I can't imagine the backlog Mike would have if MAS had a distribution network of shops that had cabs on hand for people to try. Name another bass cab manufacturer that has such a wide and diverse lineup of cabs at different price points. Mike offers something for everyone. The amount of time and effort that must go into R&D makes my head spin.
 
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#3,168
UPDATE:

Holy $#*+!

Signal chain matters fellas.

Today I took delivery of my new RAD Engineering 1000 watt amp. I am beyond happy with this thing. 100% changed my take on the Bodai 110. While initially impressed, I wasn't quite "in love" with the 110 vs my 112. The new amp is dead quiet, absolutely pristine in reproduction, and I have never heard lows this huge and solid. This is only using my Muckelroy's built in Agulair OPB3 preamp! Step on my Darkglass B7k and BOOM, there is the overdriven tone I have been trying to coax out of it for months. I have to say, you can't get the full experience from one of these 10" cabs until you feed it the healthy dose of watts it craves.

Ok, I am Gushing a little bit here.... but DAYUM is this a killer little rig!
 

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#3,170
3rdcurve said:
UPDATE:

Holy $#*+!

Signal chain matters fellas.

Today I took delivery of my new RAD Engineering 1000 watt amp. I am beyond happy with this thing. 100% changed my take on the Bodai 110. While initially impressed, I wasn't quite "in love" with the 110 vs my 112. The new amp is dead quiet, absolutely pristine in reproduction, and I have never heard lows this huge and solid. This is only using my Muckelroy's built in Agulair OPB3 preamp! Step on my Darkglass B7k and BOOM, there is the overdriven tone I have been trying to coax out of it for months. I have to say, you can't get the full experience from one of these 10" cabs until you feed it the healthy dose of watts it craves.

Ok, I am Gushing a little bit here.... but DAYUM is this a killer little rig!
Click to expand...

Glad you're diggin' it, brother! This being your fourth MAS model that you have owned officially qualifies you as a MAS junkie! ;) ;) ;)
 
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#3,173
In conversation this was gleaned, for the curious.The Bodai 110 does need some juice. In order to get that 10 incher to do what it does the sacrifice was efficiency. It's an 8 ohm speaker (so guys could do two at a time).

So--I'll be completely honest here. I'd really give it a solid 400 watts to get all you can out of it. It'll handle 700 watt peaks--I've done it. It'l be ok at 300, but in a class D I'd give it 400. Some of the lower powered A/B amps have higher headroom and would work at 300.

The Bodaii 112 is the oppposite. I've heard it sound good with 50 tube watts. It's a 4 ohm cab that is very efficient. It'll take 800 watt peaks no sweat. I'd say that a 500 watt amp would be good
 
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#3,174
mntngrown said:
The Bodaii 112 is the oppposite. I've heard it sound good with 50 tube watts. It's a 4 ohm cab that is very efficient.
Click to expand...

FYI, the Bodai 112 is available as either an 8 ohm or a 4 ohm cabinet.

Edit:

On re-reading your post (quoted in full here, below), I realize that you were quoting Mike in his correspondence with you. If true, then I assume he meant

"[as] a 4 ohm cab that is very efficient."​

My clarification about the Bodai 112 impedance was based on info Mike gave me in my correspondence with him, in which he also commented on efficiency:

"The Bodai 112 [is] right around 99db efficiency---you have to keep in mind--with my cabs efficiency rises with more power"​

mntngrown said:
In conversation this was gleaned, for the curious.The Bodai 110 does need some juice. In order to get that 10 incher to do what it does the sacrifice was efficiency. It's an 8 ohm speaker (so guys could do two at a time).

So--I'll be completely honest here. I'd really give it a solid 400 watts to get all you can out of it. It'll handle 700 watt peaks--I've done it. It'l be ok at 300, but in a class D I'd give it 400. Some of the lower powered A/B amps have higher headroom and would work at 300.

The Bodaii 112 is the oppposite. I've heard it sound good with 50 tube watts. It's a 4 ohm cab that is very efficient. It'll take 800 watt peaks no sweat. I'd say that a 500 watt amp would be good
Click to expand...
 
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#3,178
3rdcurve said:
I will likely be ordering a second 110 this week. Not necessarily because I need it, but the GAS won't let me sleep. Last piece of the puzzle- preamp. Looking really hard at the sonic farm.
Click to expand...

Aah - I didn't read your post re: RAD amp closely enough. It is a power amp only and you were driving it with your bass's onboard pre - now I get it!

Played my five-string Dingwall SJ through the Reeves > Flex 110/sub this morning with the tweet on, mids in the 'dark' setting. It is a thing of beauty. :cool:
 
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