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Does putting a cab on its side make a difference on the sound?
- Thread starter drewphishesp
- Start date
It probably won't in an anachoic chamber.
It probably won't, or at least won't very much otherwise.
But it can depend on the cabinet configuration and the environment it is in.
I would expect a symmetrical cab, 1x, 4x in a 2x2 config. to be less affected by flipping it 90 degrees.
A non-symetrical cab such as a 2x or an eight driver 'fridge could sound different because it can interact differently in the room or relative to where you stand when flipped.
But I really wouldn't be too concerned about it.
If the amp fits better with the cab on it's side, then use it that way.
You may want to consider getting it up off the ground though.
I think it is a good question because I don't believe there is an obvious answer.
Try tilting your head sideways at your next gig to see if it sounds different. 
Getting it off the floor makes the biggest difference. in some venues i have aimed my cabinet into a wall behind the band for better sound.
A couple of years ago I ordered a Carvin MB15, when it arrived, it had feet on the bottom and the side. Being it's a one speaker almost square box, they obviously made it to sit in either position, though I always keep it upright to make it easier to get to the controls on top, rather than the side.
Yes, in theory, but in practice it totally depends on the cab and driver configuration. If there's more than one driver in the cabinet, and especially if it's a two, three way, or 2x driver cab it'll change the dispersion pattern in front of it. Depending on thet room and how close you are to adjacent walls, you may find one position works better for you than others. With a 2x cabinet, having the drivers vertical will generally give you the widest dispersion out in front of the cab.
In any cabinet if a driver is placed closer to one edge on the baffle, you should notice a difference in how it sounds if you rotate the cab so it's closer or further away from the floor, as the sound interacts with nearby surfaces. Better or worse? Up to you and anyone else listening to you. Many find getting the driver's up away from the floor helps them hear themselves, but you'll lose some low end the further away from the floor you go. I prefer to tilt the cab and aim lit at my head if I'm having trouble hearing myself.
In any cabinet if a driver is placed closer to one edge on the baffle, you should notice a difference in how it sounds if you rotate the cab so it's closer or further away from the floor, as the sound interacts with nearby surfaces. Better or worse? Up to you and anyone else listening to you. Many find getting the driver's up away from the floor helps them hear themselves, but you'll lose some low end the further away from the floor you go. I prefer to tilt the cab and aim lit at my head if I'm having trouble hearing myself.
Doubt it. Multidriver cabs would likely exhibit more of a difference.
I turned my Hartke 4x10 on it's side. I got a slightly more linear sound, but not a vast difference.
You know those sub-kicky things we use in the studio as pictured? Why the hell don't we use them for EVERY application?!
Oooo. As opposed to that, wouldn't be better to straight up remove the back? An impromptu open-back if you will?
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