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Cab Advice needed - 112 vs 2x8?

Cab Advice needed - 112 vs 2x8?

  • GRBass AT112H

    Votes: 17 40.5%

  • GRBass 2x8

    Votes: 4 9.5%

  • PJB C2

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Revsound 2x8 Vertical

    Votes: 15 35.7%

  • Other

    Votes: 6 14.3%
  • Total voters
    42
kraken_kr

kraken_kr

Jul 7, 2020
353
775
#1
Hello there,

I am looking to pickup my first "real" cab. I am currently looking at the ultralight carbon fiber cabinets from GRBass and have difficulty deciding if I should get the 112 vs 2x8 Vertical. The specs, weight, frequency response and price is all very similar for both cabs...I am hoping to get some advice on which one I should go for...and some general advantages and disadvantages of the two form factors...

  • Frequency Response: 38Hz - 22kHz (112) vs 38Hz - 18kHz (2x8)
  • Power: both 8Ω, 350W RMS(112) vs 500W RMS(2x8)
  • Sensitivity: 99dB SPL (112) vs 97dB SPL (2x8)
  • Weight: 5.7kg (112) vs 6kg (2x8)

I will be using the cab mainly as a practice amp at home volume and hope to get a as natural/transparent sounding cab as possible. I mainly play five string basses so would appreciate something that could reproduce the low end too.

As for the amp head, I would probably go for either a Bergantino Forte, PJB, Trickfish or Mesa D350.

I am also open to any other cab suggestions as well. But would hope to keep the cab under 20lbs. Thank you in advance！
 
#4
kraken_kr said:
Hello there,

I am looking to pickup my first "real" cab. I am currently looking at the ultralight carbon fiber cabinets from GRBass and have difficulty deciding if I should get the 112 vs 2x8 Vertical. The specs, weight, frequency response and price is all very similar for both cabs...I am hoping to get some advice on which one I should go for...and some general advantages and disadvantages of the two form factors...

  • Frequency Response: 38Hz - 22kHz (112) vs 38Hz - 18kHz (2x8)
  • Power: both 8Ω, 350W RMS(112) vs 500W RMS(2x8)
  • Sensitivity: 99dB SPL (112) vs 97dB SPL (2x8)
  • Weight: 5.7kg (112) vs 6kg (2x8)

I will be using the cab mainly as a practice amp at home volume and hope to get a as natural/transparent sounding cab as possible. I mainly play five string basses so would appreciate something that could reproduce the low end too.

As for the amp head, I would probably go for either a Bergantino Forte, PJB, Trickfish or Mesa D350.

I am also open to any other cab suggestions as well. But would hope to keep the cab under 20lbs. Thank you in advance！
Click to expand...

For home practice, either cab will be fine. Ideally you would try both and choose the one you prefer.

112 Calculated SPL at 350W is 124.4dB
2x8 Calculate SPL at 500W is 124dB.

So assuming these cabs can actually handle their rated power, they both make about the same max SPL. However, the 112 does it with significantly less power.

Good luck!
 
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#6
A 2*8 is between a 1x10 and 1x12 in cone area, and the published sensitivity is pretty much what one might anticipate from that.

The trouble I have with these sorts of polls is that personally I have not a clue how I would judge the tone of a piece of kit from someone else's description, and I'm not even sure I could judge much from recordings, even if I were really confident about the way the recordings are made.

For me I don't think I have any choice but to try and find a way of going to listen to stuff, but am I being a little hypocritical because I certainly didn't listed to my home built lightweight cab before I made it! Although at least with that I was able to do a certain amount of tuning it to my liking afterwards, even if I'm aware that I really should have spent a lot more time testing. **** it that will do intervened!

I still think, though, I would have to find a way to listen to cabs in person before I bought one off the shelf.

As far as the GRbass cabs are concerned I have a lot of confidence in carbon as a material because I have a background with high tech boats, but I have lower confidence that the music industry knows how best to use it - guitar builders anyway. Running through the GRBass website its awfully short on detail. Its all very well quoting 38hz - 18khz frequency response for example, but without knowing the range of db in that band, or the lumps and bumps in the graph it really doesn't mean very much. Similarly "Two layers of carbon fiber and a central layer of a material with the same audio properties as wood" tells me almost nothing. I want to know what the core material is, what density, and what the layup on the outside is because all that will affect how much the cab will be dented or even be holed on the road. Its a feature of small carbon sandwich structures that the limiting factor is not so much the required stiffness as the ability to survive handling. I could build a carbon/foam cab far lighter than my lightweight plywood one, but it wouldn't survive being carted up and down stairs, stuff piled on top of it in the music cupboard etc. This sounds very critical, but that's largely unfair, I'm aware of this stuff, but how much of their customer base would be.
 
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#9
From what you have listed my vote goes to Revsound 2x8 for a number of reasons.
I have a pair of TE elf 2x8 cabs under the elf head and love the setup and sound with my 5-string and any other bass. It took awhile before I had two cabs and I used just one for rehearsals/home use without any problems with sound or reliability. The second one I got just to provide longevity for the equipment by not having to push a single cab as hard.
Another reason for the Trickfish, it’s made in USA. I obviously don’t know where you’re located but, I made the decision a couple of years ago to try and only buy equipment made in my home country. Not because of prejudices or anything like that and solely, for logistical simplicity should anything need service or repairs.
You mention the desired cab weight to be under 20 pounds but I am failing to see why as, you said it’s only going to be used at home. Home use equipment typically gets put where it’s going to be used and then left there.
Regarding heads, choose your flavor and your budget. All that you’ve listed I’m sure are good choices and there are many others beyond those.
 
Last edited:
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#10
My choice would be rev sound because I’ve owned a number of their cabinets, including the 28 that you mentioned. They’re extremely well-built, very light, and the owner is a great guy and big supporter of TB community. I use a Genzler Magellan 350 with a 10 inch speaker all the time, and the very way you’re describing your needs, and it’s more than enough for practices, small gigs, and on stage monitoring with full PA support.
 
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#12
BOOG said:
From what you have listed my vote goes to Revsound 2x8 for a number of reasons.
I have a pair of TE elf 2x8 cabs under the elf head and love the setup and sound with my 5-string and any other bass. It took awhile before I had two cabs and I used just one for rehearsals/home use without any problems with sound or reliability. The second one I got just to provide longevity for the equipment by not having to push a single cab as hard.
Another reason for the Trickfish, it’s made in USA. I obviously don’t know where you’re located but, I made the decision a couple of years ago to try and only buy equipment made in my home country. Not because of prejudices or anything like that and solely, for logistical simplicity should anything need service or repairs.
You mention the desired cab weight to be under 20 pounds but I am failing to see why as, you said it’s only going to be used at home. Home use equipment typically gets put where it’s going to be used and then left there.
Regarding heads, choose your flavor and your budget. All that you’ve listed I’m sure are good choices and there are many others beyond those.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your reply! If I'd choose some bass cab that is made in Canada...the option will be pretty limited...even just for what's available here :-( But that's a really good point that I might have to take services/repair into consideration!

I have actually tried to lift the cabs available in store...~20lbs is where I am comfortable at. Sorry I am petite and weak I know...I move a lot too...between cities every couple of months so I was hoping you get something as light as possible.
 
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#14
Wasnex said:
For home practice, either cab will be fine. Ideally you would try both and choose the one you prefer.

112 Calculated SPL at 350W is 124.4dB
2x8 Calculate SPL at 500W is 124dB.

So assuming these cabs can actually handle their rated power, they both make about the same max SPL. However, the 112 does it with significantly less power.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Thank you! That calculation makes send to me!
 
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#15
I have no idea - Owned the Trace 2x8 and was pretty impressed by it but it was overkill for my home practice needs.

Bass cabs are not really all that high tech. Wood and speakers and some analysis to get the box tuning correct. I'm not inclined to go for some speciality materials solution. So I vote RevSound 2x8.
 
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#16
The physical dimensions and other little things like handle placement, surface material, connectors, metal vs cloth grill all contribute to how much I enjoy actually using a cab. Based on prior experiences, I might avoid a cab that is too short or deep. (I am tall and I encounter a lot of shallow stages - YMMV.)
It would be ideal if you could audition all your choices. Home practice is less demanding IME - when you get with loud drums guitars & keys then the power handling & voicing really gets put to the test.
If natural sound is a big deal, a high quality, well-implemented crossover & tweeter might be something to look for. (Though IME certain woofers will get me close enough for rock 'n roll - or even jazz w/ the upright!)
 
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#18
kraken_kr said:
I am currently looking at the ultralight carbon fiber cabinets from GRBass and have difficulty deciding if I should get the 112 vs 2x8 Vertical.
.
.
.
I will be using the cab mainly as a practice amp at home volume and hope to get a as natural/transparent sounding cab as possible.
.
.
.
I am also open to any other cab suggestions as well. But would hope to keep the cab under 20lbs. Thank you in advance.
Click to expand...

If you combine the two needs of low weight and natural sound at close range, you will probably do better with 1x12, all else being equal. You will have less subtle differences due to phase changes caused by your own motion in proximity to the cab. It will likely be easier to judge how well it sounds.

I have found multi-driver arrays to be more directional too, which might be something you want to avoid when using one in a very localised space.

Also, the weight of magnets in an array is likely to be a lot greater than that in a single driver capable of same SPL, as far as I know, but that point may well stand some correction.
 
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#20
SLPimp said:
I also wonder why a end GR AT cab money for home use? If you like the way they sound, sure, but for a cab tou aren't schlepping ot seems like a lot to spend.
Click to expand...

You are right - I am not particular about GRBass AT series. I was just hoping to find something lightweight and transparent sounding...unfortunately the selection seems to be a bit limited (mostly due to the weight factor)...I do have a decent bass so I don't want to cheap out on the cab...I am open to any other suggestions as well!! Thank you!
 
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