Disappointed with Ampeg PF-115HE.

[bftbassman]

I am pushing 1 or 2 PF115HE's with a PF800 in loud rock bands - never had it fart out - always loud enough - sorry your experience isn't as positive

I agree !!!!!!!!

 

[High Camp]

Well......ain't nothing wrong with my Pf800 / PF210HE / PF115HE rig!
It fills the room and I have been asked many a time to turn down the volume a bit.

YMMV, but my miles are doing fine

 

[bmax]

I own the same PF-115HE combo, w/ the 500w head.
Until you add a ported sub-cab to that rig - then it will always sound a little nasally, as it's a sealed design.
When I added the PF-115LF cab w/ rear shelf porting beneath, in keeping with matched gear - I was pleasantly floored!

First, your Portaflex 500 head is only going to run at 350w with the 115HE cab, by itself.
So, my first thought is signal distortion, more than speaker.
Drop another 8ohm ported sub-cab beneath and I'll bet your eyes will widen... The head will relax with less resistance.
Just thought I'd add my two cents.

I'm off - THUNDER TIME!
All my Best... Knobs to the Right!
Jas-

Are you still rocking the 115HE + 115LF? All posts I read about adding a cab suggest matching HE's with HE's and LF's with LF's, but the idea of buying one ported and one sealed w/ a horn seems attractive to me, both for the way they might mix and to diversify when I only want to use one. Any input?

 

[96tbird]

Well, I too broke that mold and have one of each, mainly because I got great deals on both and wanted to try it. They work perfectly together with my PF-800.

 

[High Camp]

Are you still rocking the 115HE + 115LF? All posts I read about adding a cab suggest matching HE's with HE's and LF's with LF's, but the idea of buying one ported and one sealed w/ a horn seems attractive to me, both for the way they might mix and to diversify when I only want to use one. Any input?

I can't imagine you would be disappointed with a 115HE and 115LF combination.
IMO, the PF210HE, PF115HE and PF115LF can be mixed without any problem.
The PF410HLF I would use as a standalone (or a matching pair of those if you want crazy loud).

 

[Blufishbass]

Hey group, Blufish here from Vancouver. I run a PF800 head into two identical PF210HE cabs with great results. I use a P bass and an Ibanez 5 string and both sound like they should. I have used a single cab in small restaurant/pub gigs and both cabs for larger venues like the Hyatt ballroom we just played and funny thing..., my pre & post volume knobs were set almost identicle in both settings.

I've considered using a 115 but in most cases when I've tried running my LF EQ up a bit thats all it takes. 40 Hz is the center freq. on the bass knob and that at about 2 o'clock is all it takes with no Ultralow button needed. I've been very, very pleased with this rig.

 

[kpc]

Hey group, Blufish here from Vancouver. I run a PF800 head into two identical PF210HE cabs with great results. I use a P bass and an Ibanez 5 string and both sound like they should. I have used a single cab in small restaurant/pub gigs and both cabs for larger venues like the Hyatt ballroom we just played and funny thing..., my pre & post volume knobs were set almost identicle in both settings.

I've considered using a 115 but in most cases when I've tried running my LF EQ up a bit thats all it takes. 40 Hz is the center freq. on the bass knob and that at about 2 o'clock is all it takes with no Ultralow button needed. I've been very, very pleased with this rig.

I use the 115lf with the PF800 head and love it.

 

[bass wood]

Another thing to know about the PF115, is that when the horn selector is set at the "OFF" position, the internal crossover is not bypassed so that the 15" receives a full range signal. The 15" is still being crossed over - and the horn is simply "turned off".

Hi stiles72!
Could you please elaborate on this for me for better understanding?
Does that mean, that even with the crossover turned off, the speaker does not receive the full range signal as it would if the speaker is directly connected to the input jack?
Many thanks in advance, I know it is almost a 14-year-old post from you.

 

[WRM]

Hi stiles72!
Could you please elaborate on this for me for better understanding?
Does that mean, that even with the crossover turned off, the speaker does not receive the full range signal as it would if the speaker is directly connected to the input jack?
Many thanks in advance, I know it is almost a 14-year-old post from you.

Yes, it means that the LF driver will not get the full frequency signal sent to it - it will only receive the frequencies below the cross-over cut off.

 

[AlBass]

I have a Celestion Kappa LF 15 (in a GK goldline cab) that I've never been able to max it out, 700w no problem, and I doubt I could use it in those little Ampeg cabs.

Why not?

 

[BassBrass]

Why not?

I don't remember this. Maybe because the standing freq of a small cab (?) won't allow a LF speaker do it's LF thing? That's my best guess, Hal.

 

[AlBass]

Yeh sorry, didn't realise how old this thread was until Is posted the question. Thanks for the input

 

[tvbop]

Well its an old thread but still relevant I bet. For me Peg stuff is mid focused so he probably cranked the bass to compensate... its not what they're about. Ive had different Ampeg gear and that dry baked in mid range is where its at. If you push the bass you loose the vibe and the speakers dont really like it. Back off the bass and try again.

 

[AlBass]

Well its an old thread but still relevant I bet. For me Peg stuff is mid focused so he probably cranked the bass to compensate... its not what they're about. Ive had different Ampeg gear and that dry baked in mid range is where its at. If you push the bass you loose the vibe and the speakers dont really like it. Back off the bass and try again.

That's super interesting info for me. Thank you. I previously had the original R200 Rocket combo (I had a reliable one) and always expected way more low end than ever came from it.
I've been looking at a used Fliptop 115 with the 500w head, and thinking it would cure this, but sounds like my expectation is in the wrong direction