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Does adding a cab to a Rumble improve tone or just volume?

W

willymotts

Aug 30, 2010
80
34
Upstate NY
#1
I've seen numerous similar posts but they all pretty much end up confusing me with ohms and air movement...
I have the Rumble 500 which has plenty of volume so improvement in that area is not needed.
Here is the question: Should I expect an improvement in the overall tone of the Rumble if I get the matching 2/10 cabinet? The dealer where I would get the 2/10 thinks it would be only volume.
Thanks.
 
#4
Ok so in order for the human ear to perceive a volume change you pretty much have to double the wattage, so yeah the volume would go up. You would have more head room for when you dig in compared to without the extension. More clarity at your current volume I suppose. I tend to go for more surface area to move air from my cabs so I go 4x10.
 
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#5
Overall tone won't change much, the two cabs are essentially the same. The extra cone area of the extension cab will give you more low end than the combo by itself. If you stack them, it will sound different to you when playing because the combo's speakers will be closer to ear level rather than firing into the back of your knees...it might sound a little brighter.
 
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#6
Tone difference is subjective. It really depends on what you are after. If you are stacking the two, you will hear a difference as a player near the amp simply because you have a set of speakers farther off the ground and closer to your head. If you are pushing the amp pretty hard and this allows you to not push as hard, then you might notice some difference. That said, I expect the inherent voice that your combo currently has will still be there.

Ultimately it really depends on what you are after. My expectation is that you just do not like the inherent tone of the amp and may be better served by a different amp. That said, I have no idea what you are after and what you do not like about the Rumble 500.

So what are you after and what are you using the amp for?

On the volume note... You will get a volume increase. It will be a perceivable increase, but not as much as you might think. +6db is about what you can expect (3 for doubling wattage and 3 for doubling speaker with comparable speaker). The way the human ear perceives +6db is a noticeable increase, but do not think of it as double the volume, because that is not what you will hear (even though you double speaker count and I assume also wattage since I expect the internal speakers on that combo are only using 250watts).
 
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#7
I'm using the Rumble for Top 40 Country and some Classic Rock. I'm looking for a rich, clear sound. Hard to describe but I'll know it when I hear it. I don't dislike the tone of the Rumble at all. I'm just looking for the best I can sound...
(The point is that if I'm just getting volume, I can't waste the money on the additional cabinet.)
 
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#8
In that case, I would say do not buy the additional cabinet. It will mostly get you additional volume. Assuming you are not driving your combo to the max, there is a good chance you do not need it.
 
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#12
willymotts said:
I've seen numerous similar posts but they all pretty much end up confusing me with ohms and air movement...
I have the Rumble 500 which has plenty of volume so improvement in that area is not needed.
Here is the question: Should I expect an improvement in the overall tone of the Rumble if I get the matching 2/10 cabinet? The dealer where I would get the 2/10 thinks it would be only volume.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

agedhorse can stop by and explain the physics of “coupling” , but from what I understand adding the right cab can give the effect of a fuller sound at the same decibel level.

A second consideration, is will the second cab be stacked or side by side? Have you ever noticed the difference in how your cab sounds in front and when you stand beside it? When you are in front of a cab you are on axis. When standing at the side you are off axis. If the are stacked or side beside, the effect will be different.
 
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#14
Adding another cab will make a huge difference. I had 2 of the same SVT 15Es. One never sounded as good, or anywhere near as loud( if you actually need to get louder). The stack is gone in favor of a 210 combo, I’m getting older and my band isn’t crazy loud
 
#15
willymotts said:
I would be stacking as some of our "stages" are not all that big...
Click to expand...

The higher cabwill be the one you will hear the most as it will be closer to your ears. The one on the ground will be less on axis and should give you that rounder-fuller sound. Think, punch on top, pillow on bottom. IMO, this is the magic behind the Ampeg “Fridge” SVT setup. I get the same effect stacking my Eden Cabs. I’m pretty sure you will enjoy the second cab effect.
 
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#17
I like amps playing on their lowest recommended Ohms. I think they sound better because there is less strain on the amp and they seem to have better response on each pre-amp knob.

If the 500 is only outputting half that into an internal 8oHm unit and then you run it on a 2nd cab at a total of 4 oHms, I bet it sounds more defined and more responsive on the controls. A big amp turned down is always better than a smaller one full up and straining to get there.
 
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#18
willymotts said:
I've seen numerous similar posts but they all pretty much end up confusing me with ohms and air movement...
I have the Rumble 500 which has plenty of volume so improvement in that area is not needed.
Here is the question: Should I expect an improvement in the overall tone of the Rumble if I get the matching 2/10 cabinet? The dealer where I would get the 2/10 thinks it would be only volume.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
I've done it. Volume goes up and tone gets deeper.
 
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