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Budget 2x10 cab comparison.

M

moody

Feb 1, 2003
1,412
836
50
Blacktown (sydney) Australia
#1
Hi all, very long time since I've posted here - to the point that I'm in a completely different stage of my life to what I was then. (was married and playing in an alice cooper tribute band).

Covid killed off the last band I was playing in (not literally) and I'm looking at finally getting into something new. I'm not exactly mega rich but I very much would like to get some new gear before I start auditioning. (I've not always made great impressions in the past because of rather 'roadworn' gear that I have)

I would ideally like to get a vertical stack of 2 2x10 cabs - to be able to hear myself clearly through being near head high while not blasting the room. I bought a tc electronics BQ500 amp a few years back and I think that would make a relatively portable solid rig. I've been looking at the peavey headliner 2x10 ($400), the ampeg svt-210A ($600) and the fender rumble 210 ($750). All prices in aus dollars.

I'd not be playing any super loud styles, classic rock generally. I'm currently using a schecter 5 string that I splurged on last year.

I'd really like opinions on the cabs in question, especially why the peavey cab is so much cheaper - as it looks like a solid option. I haven't heard any of them. I like that the peavey also has a speakon connection while the other two do not.

I would consider making my own - but most speakers that are decent would end up making the box more expensive than these and would still have to figure out the box sizing.

​

 
#2
Peavey cab is likely cheapest due to cheaper/heavier construction. It weighs over 20lbs more than the next lightest option, the Fender. While budget-friendly Peavey stuff has always done me well in the past, it's almost never lightweight. (With the exception of recent Trace Elliot products).

If I was choosing from one of those three options, I'd probably go with the Fender. To me it looks better, seems slightly less gimmicky (the SVT210AV seems to mostly exist to match the Ampeg SVT Micro-VR head), and the Rumble can handle the most wattage- rated for 350W vs 300W on the Peavey or 200W on the Ampeg. The Rumble 210 also has speakon connection as well.

I'm not sure if they're available in the AUS market, but you might want to keep an eye out for Markbass products too. My current cab is the Markbass 102P Traveler and I've been very happy with it. 400W/8ohms and just over 30lbs.
 
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#3
Drewbacca said:
Peavey cab is likely cheapest due to cheaper/heavier construction. It weighs over 20lbs more than the next lightest option, the Fender. While budget-friendly Peavey stuff has always done me well in the past, it's almost never lightweight. (With the exception of recent Trace Elliot products).

If I was choosing from one of those three options, I'd probably go with the Fender. To me it looks better, seems slightly less gimmicky (the SVT210AV seems to mostly exist to match the Ampeg SVT Micro-VR head), and the Rumble can handle the most wattage- rated for 350W vs 300W on the Peavey or 200W on the Ampeg. The Rumble 210 also has speakon connection as well.

I'm not sure if they're available in the AUS market, but you might want to keep an eye out for Markbass products too. My current cab is the Markbass 102P Traveler and I've been very happy with it. 400W/8ohms and just over 30lbs.
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Markbass is available, but it's $1200. I could get 2-3 of the other cabs for that price. As per the weight - it's not a huge deal, the size and sound is what I'm interested in - have you tried any of the cabs in question? Current rig is a 2x10 and 1x15 marshal cabinet which gets ridiculous - especially as I no longer own a van or station wagon.
 
#6
Drewbacca said:
Peavey cab is likely cheapest due to cheaper/heavier construction. It weighs over 20lbs more than the next lightest option, the Fender. While budget-friendly Peavey stuff has always done me well in the past, it's almost never lightweight. (With the exception of recent Trace Elliot products).

If I was choosing from one of those three options, I'd probably go with the Fender. To me it looks better, seems slightly less gimmicky (the SVT210AV seems to mostly exist to match the Ampeg SVT Micro-VR head), and the Rumble can handle the most wattage- rated for 350W vs 300W on the Peavey or 200W on the Ampeg. The Rumble 210 also has speakon connection as well.

I'm not sure if they're available in the AUS market, but you might want to keep an eye out for Markbass products too. My current cab is the Markbass 102P Traveler and I've been very happy with it. 400W/8ohms and just over 30lbs.
Click to expand...
+1 on MarkBass. The 102P cabs are stout, loud and light and they can stack vertically.
IMG_20220308_164453942.jpg
 
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#11
gtirard said:
From $1000 I would prefer buying one great 2x10 cabs rather than 2 affordable ones: less weight, better sound, and probably as much volume.
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Having the cab being easily heard at lower volume is important to me. A 2x10 sitting on the ground won't do that. Even if that just means putting it on a stand.or angling it as other options.
 
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#12
moody said:
Having the cab being easily heard at lower volume is important to me. A 2x10 sitting on the ground won't do that. Even if that just means putting it on a stand.or angling it as other options.
Click to expand...
I'll expand on that. My best playing experiences have been with taller setups that I can get close to. Early on that was a single 15 sitting above a 15" folded horn (biamped). Later I had a marshal 210+15" cab which also did well because the 10s were well raised up. I have no way of transporting either of those setups anymore. I could conceivably get 2 single 15" cabinets for the same general deal, but I have no matched pairs and I think I prefer 10s.
 
#18
definenredefine said:
Do y'all have Hartke in Australia? If so, I suggest you check out the HyDrive cabs. I have 2 of the HD112 cabs and I really like them. The HD210 would be, I think, about $100 more Australian than the Fender (assuming the prices are equivalent to US dollars.)
Click to expand...

That's the way I'm leaning. I'd rather have a pair of 112's for the sake of modularity / mobility plus they look cooler stacked IMO.

Riis
 
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#19
bottomzone said:
The Carvin BRX 10.2 is an excellent cab, is fairly cheap BUT heavy.
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Yup… I still have my BRX 2x10 and BRX 15 and love them. But these days the 2x10 is just too heavy for me. I use a Markbass 3x10 or an Ampeg 2x10 combo - both of which are noticeably lighter. But if weight isn’t a factor the old Carvin cabs (especially the BRX line) are always a great value.
 
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