Eminence Kappalite 3015 vs EVM-15L (Mesa 2x15)

[snowblinder]

So I have a Mesa Boogie Roadready 2x15 cabinet that I love dearly. However, I have a tendency to blow the 400 watt EVM-15L speakers that come in these. They may be my favorite bass speaker ever soundwise, but I'm tired of blowing them up. Recently I swapped one of the blown EV's out for an Eminence Delta Pro 15A and have been running that combination happily for a short while. But that one EV still in there makes me nervous about high volume playing. Anyway, I stumbled on a used Eminence Kappalite 3015 today, and I'm thinking of replacing the EV with that, running in with the Delta Pro. Wondering how the 3015 and the 15L compare tonally and if it'll pair up well with the Delta Pro, if anyone here has any experience with that.

 

[Downunderwonder]

You will need extremely good luck to find anyone running that exact combination. Even if you did you would have to have blind faith in their ears.

I believe 3015 tolerate a fairly wide range of tunings so it might do ok but it could also push the other driver around creating sonic hell unless they have their own compartments and ports.

 

[agedhorse]

What amp are you using?

The 400 watt EVM-15L's aren't really 400 watts "RMS" in real world applications. There is no difference other than an anti-scuff adhesive coating on the voice coil between the Series 2 (200 watts "RMS") and the ProLine (400 watts "RMS") Many manufacturers discovered that the 400 watt rating did not apply in the real world under MI conditions.

The KappaLite 3015HO would be the closest driver to the voicing of the EVM-15L, and will handle 400 watts "RMS" in real world applications. I believe there will need to be a small change in the porting to tune the cabinet better to the driver. If you can provide the internal dimensions and porting information (number, size and depth) I can check my database to see if I have run that combination. I don't have it listed by cabinet model so I can't go backwards easily and I don't have a cabinet in my R&D lab to measure.

 

[JRA]

OP: jump on it! good luck!

 

[snowblinder]

I think the Roadready/Diesel Mesa 2x15 is just two TL-606 cabs combined into one. I don't know if each speaker has it's own compartment or if the whole cab is open on the inside.

The amp I've been using with it is a GK 800RB, but I recently switched to a 500 watt Orange Terror Bass (didn't get rid of the GK though....it's awesome).

 

[agedhorse]

I still need the information, guessing isn't going to get anywhere in this.

 

[mikeswals]

Yes the old diesel/roadready 215 is two separate chambers and separate ports.

 

[mikeswals]

I have not seen anyone here mix two different Eminence 15's in that cab, but several people here have replaced the 15L's with regular 3015's if you do a search.

 

[Downunderwonder]

I have not seen anyone here mix two different Eminence 15's in that cab, but several people here have replaced the 15L's with regular 3015's if you do a search.

As opposed to HO.

 

[mikeswals]

Huh?

Its either 3015 or 3015LF, isn't it?
Of course the LF isn't what we want in a full range cab

 

[Downunderwonder]

Huh?

Its either 3015 or 3015LF, isn't it?
Of course the LF isn't what we want in a full range cab

Looking at USSpeaker there doesn't seem to be a 3015HO as such. The choices might be the KappaPro 15 heavy or Kappalite 3015 neo.

 

[mikeswals]

I have heard it called the HO, what id consider it being the "standard" or "regular" 3015. But too have never seen on the Eminince website it being called the HO.

 

[agedhorse]

It used to be called the KappaLite 3015HO, it has the EV style Ribbed curvilinear cone and is voiced much closer to the EV than the LF version.

When using the HO version for bass, there's a derating factor that needs to be used. Of course, nobody in engineering would propose that this is a 900 watt driver, and upon reading the details it appears that the marketing guys won out when writing ad copy and used the PROGRAM power rating which is 2x the "RMS" rating.

My experience is that this driver can handle 350-400 watts RMS in a properly tuned cabinet, with a highpass filter set to the F6 point.

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[jnewmark]

It used to be called the KappaLite 3015HO, it has the EV style Ribbed curvilinear cone and is voiced much closer to the EV than the LF version.

When using the HO version for bass, there's a derating factor that needs to be used. Of course, nobody in engineering would propose that this is a 900 watt driver, and upon reading the details it appears that the marketing guys won out when writing ad copy and used the PROGRAM power rating which is 2x the "RMS" rating.

My experience is that this driver can handle 350-400 watts RMS in a properly tuned cabinet, with a highpass filter set to the F6 point.

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Better be sure its the right one for the design. I notice its a special order driver that can't be canceled once ordered or returned if it doesn't work out. I used the 3012HO drivers in a 212 ported cab for many years.

 

[Rick James]

upon reading the details it appears that the marketing guys won out when writing ad copy and used the PROGRAM power rating which is 2x the "RMS" rating.

That's on the retailer, not Eminence. Could be worse, it's probably at least 1800 TC watts and 3600 Behringer watts.

 

[Rick James]

I forget about tube watts. That would be 7200.

 

[Blind owl bass]

I'm selling that exact setup now. It rocks, you won't be disappointed by the 3015 (non lf) in that cabinet. I have toured for a few years with those speakers and they still sound great. I play upright bass and the.cab sees it's limits with that, but with electric bass this cab is perfect. I have never blown a 3015 for what it's worth. And if you use a high pass filter, you never should

 

[agedhorse]

The LF version is really dark by comparison, nothing like the EVM-15L. The standard version or HO for us older folks is much closer.

 

[Chickenwheels]

So I have a Mesa Boogie Roadready 2x15 cabinet that I love dearly. However, I have a tendency to blow the 400 watt EVM-15L speakers that come in these. They may be my favorite bass speaker ever soundwise, but I'm tired of blowing them up. Recently I swapped one of the blown EV's out for an Eminence Delta Pro 15A and have been running that combination happily for a short while. But that one EV still in there makes me nervous about high volume playing. Anyway, I stumbled on a used Eminence Kappalite 3015 today, and I'm thinking of replacing the EV with that, running in with the Delta Pro. Wondering how the 3015 and the 15L compare tonally and if it'll pair up well with the Delta Pro, if anyone here has any experience with that.

I use a 800RB into a pair of TL606 bins loaded with original EVM 15 drivers (B & L). I gig this rig loud every week, it's awesome!
My question OP is how do you set your GK800RB's volume and tone to manage to blow up these drivers? Do you use external pedals also? I'd like to avoid this myself.
Tah!

 

[snowblinder]

I usually run a VT Bass into my GK, set to the "SVT" settings in the manual. I also use a Joyo Vintage Overdrive as an always-on pedal for just a hint of extra dirt/mids and to cut some of the really deep lows. It sounds great.

To be fair, two of the 15L's I've blown were when I had an old SVT going into the 2x15. Both speakers went at the same time. Just shredded themselves.