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Big E Speakers Part 4 - Quadraphenia

#3,201
2x 16 was bangin' at the beer garden gig tonight. Unsure if it has the output of the MA109, but it is sweet and deep!
 

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#3,204
coyoteboy said:
NS Omni Bass, bass guitar and a bit of cello. The pjb 400 is really nice, perfect power for these. Got a bit of line noise, ut going through three extension cords will do that.
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Right! I forgot that you play cello, too. Acoustic with a pickup, or electric? How do you find the amp/cabs for arco work? How's the NS, for that matter?
 
#3,205
IMG_3679.JPG
The NS instruments are very nice. Cello is also an NS, though im only scratching the surface of its potential. Arco sounds very natural to me through this setup, though I have a more guitar-oriented setup for the cello as well. MAS all around. ;-)

The Omni was a recent trade that Im really happy with. Arco really impressive there too! To scared to post audio at this time.
 
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#3,206
coyoteboy said:
View attachment 1102842 The NS instruments are very nice. Cello is also an NS, though im only scratching the surface of its potential. Arco sounds very natural to me through this setup, though I have a more guitar-oriented setup for the cello as well. MAS all around. ;-)

The Omni was a recent trade that Im really happy with. Arco really impressive there too! To scared to post audio at this time.
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No worries about the audio. :) I forgot that you had that special, guitar-modded 26, too -- am I remembering that right?
 
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#3,209
3rdcurve said:
Just ordered a second Bodai 110, can't wait to hear the pair! I gotta say, this cab with the Mesa 800+ has just flat out blown me away. :bassist:
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You are gonna love that rig! I was really impressed with the pair of Bodai 110's I heard at NAMM. :thumbsup:
 
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#3,212
Mike did it again! I was at Mike's yesterday and got to hear the MAS 18. We compared it to a 16, which is just a little smaller an a little lighter. The 16 is one of the best sounding speakers I've heard and when I first heard one, he had two sitting next to each other and when we played through it, I assumed he had both hooked up, judging from the volume and the low end, but it was one. It's only one 6" speaker! Two hooked up I think has enough volume to carry a bar or a small club. Now the 18. This thing just blew me away. It seemed to have more than twice the sound pressure of the 16 and the low end just pounds on you. It seems to have as much volume as a decent 2x10, more bass, better sound, and does the BigE magic with dispersion and projection. It's only 16" tall, 14" deep, about 10" wide and weighs under 20 lbs. There are pictures and specs on the Mike Arnopol Sound works Facebook page. I'm blown away again!
 
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#3,213
radbass said:
Mike did it again! I was at Mike's yesterday and got to hear the MAS 18. We compared it to a 16, which is just a little smaller an a little lighter. The 16 is one of the best sounding speakers I've heard and when I first heard one, he had two sitting next to each other and when we played through it, I assumed he had both hooked up, judging from the volume and the low end, but it was one. It's only one 6" speaker! Two hooked up I think has enough volume to carry a bar or a small club. Now the 18. This thing just blew me away. It seemed to have more than twice the sound pressure of the 16 and the low end just pounds on you. It seems to have as much volume as a decent 2x10, more bass, better sound, and does the BigE magic with dispersion and projection. It's only 16" tall, 14" deep, about 10" wide and weighs under 20 lbs. There are pictures and specs on the Mike Arnopol Sound works Facebook page. I'm blown away again!
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You know, I've been thinking an 8" something from Mike (a little 1x8 or a vertical 2x8) would be cool. Talked with him about it way back. I'm more than a little interested to check out the Bodai line now, but will give the 1x8 a look.
 
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#3,214
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.
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Snaxster said:
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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Thinking about this more since, I concluded that though doubtless I would appreciate the Bodai 112's sonic improvements over the MAS-112, I myself don't need them now. But some other player might. What that player should consider, though, is the set of quantitative differences between the two models, and between them and other of Mike's cabinet models.

The comparison described to me the value in Mike continuing to offer a range of cabinet models whose spec, function, and price overlapped. For example, depending on the particular player's needs, either the MAS-112 or the Bodai 112 could be the better solution.

Based on the specs I got from Mike, either from his website or in email, I compared the MAS-112 to the Bodai 112:

Compared to the MAS-112 Eminence, the Bodai 112 costs 27.5% more, and is about 30% heavier (13 lb more) and 6% larger (9718.5 ci vs. 9176 ci). A lightweight version of the Bodai 112 is only about 15% heavier (7 lb more). Both can be either 4 or 8 ohms (non-Eminence MAS-112) and have similar power handling capacity (though the MAS-112 can have higher capacity with the alternative woofers).​

All the universals for use cases apply; features, function, size, weight, price, and sound.

Generalizing, then, a player who
  • could hear and use and did want the Bodai 112's superior sonics might choose it over the MAS-112 if they could afford it and cart it
  • couldn't hear the difference, but who knew that their band and audience would benefit from it, and they could afford and cart it, might choose the Bodai 112
  • had a strict cost and weight budget, but wanted to get in the MAS game and move a lot of air, might choose the MAS-112
  • etc.
This is a tough sell for makers like Mike, I know. Bringing "the best" to market one year, then bettering it the next year is a double-edged sword. Ask Porsche. Unlike an automaker's cars, however, there are no dealerships for seeing and trying Mike's products.

As I have seen (though I'm no marketer), there is an art to marketing both across generations of a product and within a range of products at any given time. Ideally the marketing is not just hype, but helps buyers understand what the differences are and how they apply to their needs and wants.
 
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#3,215
Stacking two 18s sounds like a great and flexible rig. Place them horizontal and stack? I double on gigs and it has been a struggle to find cabs that work for the slab and upright. The MA109 does a amazing job with the upright, but the slab usually prefers a bigger driver.
 

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