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Does anybody else dislike Neo speakers?

#204
I like both types. I dig my Bagends even though they are tanks and I like my Acoustic Neo 2x10.

I didn't like my Markbass neo cabs. Those suckers would jump like crazy! I used a presonus bluemax to try and tame them down, but to me they couldn't ever keep up with a drummer.

The Acoustics at less than half the price can hang with a loud drummer nicely. And the BagEnds, well they can hang with just about any loud bandmates I may come across.

yeah, didn't like my Markbass cabinets but do enjoy my LMIII head.
 
#206
thepontif said:
Oh, and I'm not saying I don't like neo cabs. But they do NOT sound the same as ceramic-based speaker systems at all...I'm willing to deal with the shortcomings of neo cabs because the alternative is to carry an 80 or 90 lb cab around and I'm not doing that...
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One thing I noticed when prototyping several drivers from Eminence is that many of the samples were referred to as "bass flavored" versions of this model, or that. What these "bass flavored" drivers had over their stock counterparts, was an inherent low mid bump around 100Hz, when modeled in a cabinet. I think this hump tends to show up more in the ceramic drivers vs. their neo drivers. Of course, if you have the capability to dial in a little 100Hz with your amp, then you can certainly add that back in with EQ. Problem is, many amps with just a BASS control will leave you boosting much lower down than that. Next time you try a neo that isn't quite working for you, try dialing in a little around 100Hz and see if that doesn't help.

There's also a bit of difference, IMO, in the sound of the distortion between these drivers when you are pushing them very hard. I would imagine this is why we haven't seen the guitar crowd so eagerly adopt the neo drivers. It's all about speaker breakup for those guys. Also, I've noticed that on most of these threads discussing neo vs. ceramic, there is rarely any mention of just how important the crossover design is to the overall sound of a cabinet. In prototyping the ML112, we were able to make quite dramatic changes to how that cab sits in the mix with nothing more than slight tweaks to the crossover.
 
#207
billfitzmaurice said:
Two of the most well received new cabs in recent memory are Duke's Thunderchild and the Baer 112. Both are well engineered, both use neo drivers. It ain't so much what you make it out of, it's how you make it. :smug:
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I sure hope I don't get in trouble (commercial user policy and such) but the 2-112 neo's I use are in cabs that Duke designed. Like....Thunderchild's big brother. ;)
 
#208
I like it both ways ;)

To me, it's the sound/tone etc of the cab.
I don't care what the magnet's made of, as long as it SOUNDS good!
I've got both neo & ceramic driver loaded cabs & I don't favour one over the other (except for weight) .
The ONLY time weight actually PLAYS a part, is if I'm supplying our PA & I've a lotta gear to schlep. Then I sometimes favour the neo's.
But,99% of the time, I make my choice by which cab will suit the gig/venue etc..
 
#209
Well I wish they would design cabs the way they use to! Most of the neo cabs I've tried have that slightly brittle, less warm sound, and as someone mentioned, the breakup is different. Some are worse than others. That said, I happen to be really satisfied with the neo cab I have especially considering the weight.
 
#210
I have ceramic Bergantino HS410 now sitting on its spot in the rehearsal room and use neo Genz-Benz NeoX212 for gigs. Could not be happier.

The Berg is soundwise like a studio monitor, while GB has more coloured sound which helps to be heard on the stage (very slight bump in the bass mid-bass area, "honey-like" as described by our guitarist, definitely not brittle, I hate brittle cabs).

Both are excellent and the difference is mode due to the drivers diameter and construction of the cab than due to the driver type, IMO.
I can take the GB NeoX 212 up the stairs by myself easily, if necessary. And it sounds massive. Lovely cab.
 
#212
superbassman2000 said:
I don't dislike neo speakers, however I have yet to find a neo that sounds like my beloved bp102s! Granted I haven't been looking that hard but if I can ever find one, I'll probably make the switch.
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There are no equivalents to the BP102 at this time. The 3010LF has similar response, and considerably higher output, but that driver's on the back burner until the neo supply situation gets sorted out.
 
#213
raymondl3 said:
Well I wish they would design cabs the way they use to! Most of the neo cabs I've tried have that slightly brittle, less warm sound, and as someone mentioned, the breakup is different. Some are worse than others. That said, I happen to be really satisfied with the neo cab I have especially considering the weight.
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Well, as much as I hear that neo cabs sound brittle, I can be a witness to the fact that my Markbass 151P sounds that way only if I don't eq to accomodate my fingernail noise. Some say all the markbass cabs sound thin, or brittle. But, to me I have found the most amazing tone I have ever had in the 23 years I've been a full-time bassist. Just the other night the tone of my 151P was outstanding in the mix. I had only dialed out just a tad of high mids. Alone, the high mids could be heard more than I liked, but in the mix it was just right. Best tone I've ever had, period. I think the eq and player's technique has a lot to do with making a cab sound good.

Go figure.
 
#215
The only thing I dislike about neo speakers is the price! Even before the recent astronomical increase, it seemed to me that neo speakers were priced higher than their ceramic counterparts. I don't know if that's because the magnets were more expensive even at that time, or if the manufacturers were taking advantage of higher demand for lower weight gear.
 
#217
Russell L said:
Well, as much as I hear that neo cabs sound brittle, I can be a witness to the fact that my Markbass 151P sounds that way only if I don't eq to accomodate my fingernail noise. Some say all the markbass cabs sound thin, or brittle. But, to me I have found the most amazing tone I have ever had in the 23 years I've been a full-time bassist. Just the other night the tone of my 151P was outstanding in the mix. I had only dialed out just of high mids. Alone, the high mids could be heard more than I liked, but in the mix it was just right. Best tone I've ever had, period. I think the eq and player's technique has a lot to do with making a cab sound good.

Go figure.
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I hear you and don't necessarily disagree. I just know there is something different about these neo cabs that bothers me a little. I have only checked out EA, GK, Markbass, Eden, and Genz Benz neo cabs. There just seems to be a harshness that makes it slightly harder for me to solo (I play a lot of Jazz) where I find myself rolling off more highs to eliminate that. I'm no expert and don't know what to call it, but after playing through many cabs over 20 years, I know it's there when I'm playing through it, and it seems to be present in every neo I've played through. Probably no coincidence that the cab I like the most (EA Wizzy) doesn't have a tweeter. Not to say there aren't ceramic cabs that don't sound harsh, but then I would try to avoid them too.
 
#218
bobcruz said:
The only thing I dislike about neo speakers is the price! Even before the recent astronomical increase, it seemed to me that neo speakers were priced higher than their ceramic counterparts. .
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Compared to ceramic drivers with the same capabilities they were considerably less expensive. Now they're about the same.
 

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