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Crazy idea or not? Using Four 2x10's

BasslineFrenzy

BasslineFrenzy

Oct 20, 2007
76
0
West Newton, PA
www.facebook.com
#1
I used to own a Hartke HA5000 and liked it... and now I got a good offer on one so I can once again own one.
Specs...
2 Power amps
250 Watts per side @ 4 ohms
170 Watts per side @ 8 ohms

On my old setup, I ran a 4.5XL and a TP410 to each power amp. Both are 8 ohms, so I was getting 340 watts. This time, I'd like to get all 500 watts.

The kicker is that I do not want to lug around two large 4-ohm 4x10s. So I thought... I could use four 2x10s! (8 ohms each, of course) I know that it would be obviously more expensive than 2 4x10s, but in the end, it would be a lot easier on my back and I am getting all 500 watts.

Is this a crazy idea? I know that my rig would look absolutely ridiculous, but I guess that would make me unique in some quirky way.

So... unrealistic idea or good idea?
 
#3
I'd like to stick with Hartke speakers... which I forgot to mention. That is why I mentioned "heavy", because those XL 4x10 cabs are exactly that... and they would turn me off even if I rewired them to 4 ohms.

Another reason is because of the car that I drive. With 4 2x10s, I could spread them out throughout my car so they fit. Try that with a 4.5XL! PS - I drive a 96 Cutlass and I need to haul around a bass which requires a large case (eats up my space very quickly)
 
#5
I have 2 of the 4.5XL cabs and I believe the tone and low end you get from them is better than you will get from using a combination of 2.5XL cabs, plus you are gonna end up with more "tweeters"

Believe me, I know what you mean about the weight and size of the 4.5XL cabs... fitting those guys in my VW golf 3 is a serious mission! And the handle placement isn't balanced very well for lifting them...

I suppose the 210 stack could work quite effectively and would still sound pretty darn good IMO
 
#8
That's a lot of speakers for a relatively low powered amp to push, and as has been mentioned, lot's of size and weight. I would highly recommend two 4ohm 210's by different manufacturer.... if you have the cash, the Epifani210UL's are nice... loud, efficient, and they come in 4ohms. I assume Avatar makes a neo 210 4ohm cab that would also sound great and not be as expensive as the Epi.
 
#9
It's not the sort of rig I'd choose, but I agree with the logic that moving 4 210's can be a lot easier, especially getting them in and out of a car. 4x10's are a huge pain to move because they're an awkward shape.

[rant]Buy a removalist or folding hand truck, and a couple of ratcheted webbing straps. Then you only have to lift in and out of the vehicle. Paint it black and use black strap and you can leave it on the truck all gig. Bass in a gigbag on your shoulders and it's a one trip load in/out. Carrying heavy audio gear is for fools.[/rant]
 
#11
When I had a 4X10 back in the day it was a bitch to fit in the car. The 4 by 2X10s would seem a nice solution but I wager if you start doing that, chances are you would probably not use less than 4 eventually.

Nothing wrong with modular speaker set ups, v large arena PAs have to use multiple small cabs.
 
#13
Sort of hijacking, but not OT -
I've been looking at cabinets lately thinking of a similiar modular, mix-n-match approach.

I've seen discussions here in the past about using car audio subs (Wait, before anyone jumps on me I know the speakers won't hold up to live bass)

But I was thinking about taking some sub boxes & loading them with some bass-appropriate speakers.

Something like this:

http://www.cardiscountstereos.com/catalog%20page.asp?Product+%23=QBASS10

or a mix with something like 1 of these on the bottom:

http://www.cardiscountstereos.com/catalog%20page.asp?Product+%23=QBP12

or maybe just a bunch of these:
http://www.cardiscountstereos.com/catalog%20page.asp?Product+%23=QSBASS12

OK, let the onslaught begin...
 
#15
Son of Bovril said:
If you're gonna put bass speakers in a box, then you should tune the box size and shape to suit the speaker that you are putting in, you can't just drop them into any old box and expect them to sound good...
Click to expand...

+1 on this post!

As for the OP, I own Acme B2's, I have four of them. I bought the 2x10 because I prefer to make more but lighter trips. I usually only use a pair at a time and I stack them vertically. I did make a dolly and most times this means one trip.

Paul
 
#17
spamnebula said:
I thought about 2 210's for the same reason, (small car VW bug). I'm considering the avatar one 210 in combination with a 112. The cabinets the same size or close to it, that way you'll get the low end. Otherwise it's the Eden 210XST
Click to expand...

I have also gotten myself down to small cabs. I have (2) yamaha BBT110s that I hook up with a serial box to basically make them into a 2x10 8 ohms cab and have them on top of a GS112.
 
#18
unless you carry cabs on a dolly:

4 2x10s = 4 trips to and from your car + (2 heads to carry) + (2 instruments and connectors) =
8 round trips to load-in and 8 to load out.

How early do you want to arrive? Are you always going to find rock star parking right in front of the gig?
 

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