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Cabinet Coupling Query

RandoP

RandoP

Dec 30, 2021
16
13
#1
Hi all,

Posting what might be a very subjective affair, but humor me if you dont mind.

I currently have two bass cabs, a Barefaced Two10S and a Hartke HD112. I have a shot at a matching HD112. If I got it, I'd probably sell the barefaced. Looking for opinions on this. I like both of them. I find the Hartke has a much "smoother" sound, probably less pronounced mids.

My typical gigs are bars/restaurants/halls. Probably 50/50 on whether there is suitable PA support to DI, which i would typically always do. When we dont have great PA support I like to use two cabs. I have an SVT-3 Pro, and a GK fusion 800 for heads.

Any thoughts about going to the 2x112 arrangement, sticking with the mixed 112x210?
 
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#4
Sounds like you prefer the Hartke.

Generally when you add a cab, it's connected in parallel. The results of a parallel connection with a matching cab: combined impedance is 1/2, combined power handling is 2X, combined sensitivity is +3dB.

Additional consequences. A pair of cabs should sound a bit fuller than one cab. The dispersion will be impacted across the axis of alignment. For example if the cabs are stacked vertically, vertical dispersion will narrow a bit and form into lobes. The number and angle of the lobes varies by frequency and the center to center spacing of the drivers.


AFAIK the HD112 is switchable between 4 and 8 ohms. That means a pair of cabs may present 2, 2.67, or 4 ohms to the amp. This is something you may need to pay very close attention to. Many amps are not rated for less than 4 ohms. Also many amps that are rated for 2 or 2.67 ohms have an impedance switch that must be set to the correct position.

The HD112 is rated for 300W RMS, so a pair is rated 600W RMS

AFAIK Hartke does not publish the sensitivity for this cab. If the power remains the same when you add the matching cab, you should get +3dB more volume. If the power doubles when you add the matching cab, you should get +6dB more volume. If the power increases but does not double, you should get between more the +3dB, but less than +6dB more volume.
 
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#9
RandoP said:
very subjective affair
Click to expand...

There's no "right" answer here; It's anybody's guess - except yours; you have to go by what your ears tell you - in a live situation.

The 2)112s might sound great together; on the other hand - it may be the "mids" of the Two10s that balance your sound out on stage for you.

I've had a few 210 cabs throughout the years; (Hartke, Revsound and still have the SVT210 cab)
I really never cared for 210s on their own - but add a 112 and it's a whole different animal!

But now my pref is just 2x 112s - just for consistency and the height - (it's hard to put an amp on a vertical 210)
- but I've never played through a Barefaced 210!
 
#10
Wasnex said:
Sounds like you prefer the Hartke.

Generally when you add a cab, it's connected in parallel. The results of a parallel connection with a matching cab: combined impedance is 1/2, combined power handling is 2X, combined sensitivity is +3dB.

Additional consequences. A pair of cabs should sound a bit fuller than one cab. The dispersion will be impacted across the axis of alignment. For example if the cabs are stacked vertically, vertical dispersion will narrow a bit and form into lobes. The number and angle of the lobes varies by frequency and the center to center spacing of the drivers.


AFAIK the HD112 is switchable between 4 and 8 ohms. That means a pair of cabs may present 2, 2.67, or 4 ohms to the amp. This is something you may need to pay very close attention to. Many amps are not rated for less than 4 ohms. Also many amps that are rated for 2 or 2.67 ohms have an impedance switch that must be set to the correct position.

The HD112 is rated for 300W RMS, so a pair is rated 600W RMS

AFAIK Hartke does not publish the sensitivity for this cab. If the power remains the same when you add the matching cab, you should get +3dB more volume. If the power doubles when you add the matching cab, you should get +6dB more volume. If the power increases but does not double, you should get between more the +3dB, but less than +6dB more volume.
Click to expand...

The barefaced is switchable between 4 and 12 ohm, so if I run that at 12 and the Hartke at 8, I get parallel 4.8 ohm.

I've rationalized that in this arrangement the the
Hartke gets more power but its less sensitive.

There is an amount of it that is having a cleaner stack look also. I have to put the barefaced horizontal with the hartke on top which just feels wrong.

Glad my alliteration was recognized!! 😀
 
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#11
Go with a 2nd matching 112 you’ll for sure be happier when using them together. That Barefaced is a great cab but I’m willing to bet, wildly different from the Hartke on design principles alone which would lead me to believe it operates different within its bandwidth.

It may be the best mix and match combination available.

So, how do you feel about the mixed set up?

How would you feel about a bigger, thicker version of the 112?

Only you can decide.
 
#17
RandoP said:
I'll mic them up once I have, and do some A/B/C/D.
Click to expand...
that's always so hard to get discernible results from

on the recording, unless you've added amp grit then mic'ed bass speakers mostly just sound like the bass itself. whether the stack has better low end or whatever in the room doesn't seem to translate, we just hear the character of the low end of whatever we're listening to the recording on
 

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