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Carvin vs. Avatar for a 2x10" cabinet...

Beav

Beav

Graphics Whore
Jul 17, 2003
2,160
8
42
Middle Tennessee
www.scott-beavers.com
#1
I'm about to replace my beloved Ampeg SVT-410 HLF cabinet with either one or two 2x10 cabs(depending on how much I get from the HLF) and these two seem to have the wattage that I need for the price. I know this is a pretty involved decision to make just from a few facts, but here are a few major issues. I play mostly a 4 string, but occasionally I whip out my 5. My "sound" is mostly low mids. I like whatever cuts through good and has that gritty sound. I play a lot of punk and alternative rock. I don't want a cab that limits me to low mids. I'd like to have some lows(obiviously with the 2x10 things) but not a lot.

If you need me to post any other things that will help making the decision I will.
 
#2
I have an avatar 410 and I think that an avatar would be perfect for punk...lots of punch! if you pull out your fiver and play hard on the B string it'll fart out...so I'd get a 15 to run with it...IMO I'd go with the avatar's on this one...but that's just me (and i love avatar)
 
#3
FWIW, I have tried a Carvin 2x10 (the redline series, not one of the new black ones), and I have not tried an Avatar 2x10, and I would buy Avatar...

The Carvin 2x10 just seemed like it was "trapping" some of the sound in the cab, and not letting everything out. I've only tried the one Carvin 2x10 though...
 
#4
I have owned both the Carvin RL410 and the Avatar B410 cabs. I sold the Carvin to pay for the Avatar and was glad I did. I had a fender jazz 4 string that if I detuned to D the carvin cab would fart out. The Avatar had to be pushed much harder to breakup.

As far as 210's go, the Carvin will not work for your 5'er, the Avatar however may be a better cab but may still breakup just not as easily.

Your SVT 410 is a much better choice than all of these, I sold my Avatar and bought an 80's vintage SVT-410E and have never looked back. Just this past week I added an new SVT-15E Classic to round out the rig.
 
#7
Heh, i guess im the minority here...

While i havent tried the avatar, i will say that ive used my 210 carvin cab with my 7 string conklin, and even with the bass boost pulled (on my bass knob, you GTBD users know what im talking about), as well as the bass knob pretty far up, my 210 didnt fart at all, and stuff on the walls was shaking of the storefront of the business i was at....


just my .02, YMMV
 
#8
TJBass said:
I have owned both the Carvin RL410 and the Avatar B410 cabs. I sold the Carvin to pay for the Avatar and was glad I did. I had a fender jazz 4 string that if I detuned to D the carvin cab would fart out. The Avatar had to be pushed much harder to breakup.

As far as 210's go, the Carvin will not work for your 5'er, the Avatar however may be a better cab but may still breakup just not as easily.

Your SVT 410 is a much better choice than all of these, I sold my Avatar and bought an 80's vintage SVT-410E and have never looked back. Just this past week I added an new SVT-15E Classic to round out the rig.
Click to expand...


If only I could... I have to sell it because I'm moving into a big city in which I hope to start gigging more and the weight of the cab and sheer size make it impossible.
 
#10
The problem that you're going to run into is that the 410HLF has awesome low end and neither of the two 2x10 you mentioned do.

The Carvin is a 4 ohm only cabinet (IIRC), the Avatar is available in 4 or 8 ohms. I have an Avatar and was quite impressed at how it sounded alone, sitting on end on the floor. The only time I've played through Carvin 2x10s was part of a triamped rig with a pair of 2x10s, a pair of 1x15s and a pair of 1x18s (all Carvin).

It's a shame that Ampeg doesn't make an SVT-210HLF. On that note, the closest cabinet that I can think of that has nice lows is the Hartke 2.5XL. The 2.5XL is a slot ported 2x10 with a 5 in. midrange. All aluminum cones. Some people like 'em, some don't. Let your ears be the judge.

Another big bass 2x10 is the Eden D210XLT but I don't care for them.

There are others...Acme B2 has massive low end but is quite power hungry and has been described as flat sounding compared to an Ampeg cabinet.

Good luck!!!
 
#11
BillyB_from_LZ said:
The problem that you're going to run into is that the 410HLF has awesome low end and neither of the two 2x10 you mentioned do.

The Carvin is a 4 ohm only cabinet (IIRC), the Avatar is available in 4 or 8 ohms. I have an Avatar and was quite impressed at how it sounded alone, sitting on end on the floor. The only time I've played through Carvin 2x10s was part of a triamped rig with a pair of 2x10s, a pair of 1x15s and a pair of 1x18s (all Carvin).

It's a shame that Ampeg doesn't make an SVT-210HLF. On that note, the closest cabinet that I can think of that has nice lows is the Hartke 2.5XL. The 2.5XL is a slot ported 2x10 with a 5 in. midrange. All aluminum cones. Some people like 'em, some don't. Let your ears be the judge.

Another big bass 2x10 is the Eden D210XLT but I don't care for them.

There are others...Acme B2 has massive low end but is quite power hungry and has been described as flat sounding compared to an Ampeg cabinet.

Good luck!!!
Click to expand...


I love the cab in general, however I'm not too crazy about all the low end. My bass knob on my head never goes past 10 o'clock
 
#15

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