Epifani UL310 or UL410?

[KJung]

Actually this theory doesn't seem to stand up if you look at the cabinet measurements on the epifani web site. In actual fact the cabinet volume per driver is almost exactly the same with the ul310 and the ul410 (about 1% difference). The ul610 has a larger volume per driver than the ul310, about 7% more.

I think a major reason for the difference in the sound is the fact that as the cab has more drivers they are further from the floor. This reduces the boundary effect, resulting in less bass and a perception of a more pronounced midrange. To state the obvious, cabs are acoustic devices. Their response is heavily influenced by their surroundings, and with bass, particularly by close boundaries, ie the floor! FWIW I greatly prefer the sound of my ul410 on it's side, it gives me the more extended low end I'm looking for. The difference is pronounced to my ear.

Anyway that's my 2c theory and I'm sticking to it until Bill tells me I'm stoopid.

Interesting... I'm surely no EE. I was quoting some measurements that Alexclaber had done, and they seemed to match up pretty well to what I hear comparing the 310UL and 410UL. Interestingly, I prefer my 410UL upright and on wheels... there's just so much low end punch that comes out of that cab, I have no need for floor coupling.

I guess we all have our preferred sound. My strong desire in a cab is to have each note sound clearly, and not have that typical overextended low end that you hear with 90% of bassists out in the room IME.

 

[el_Kabong]

I guess we all have our preferred sound. My strong desire in a cab is to have each note sound clearly, and not have that typical overextended low end that you hear with 90% of bassists out in the room IME.

Me neither! Though I would make a distinction between low end extension (how low it goes before it rolls off) and a 'bloated' low end which may not actually be particularly low frequency. I think you need a very clear/clean sounding rig for extended low end to be useful or it's just mud. I've been interested to read Joker's recent comments about the voicing of the 502's bass control. He describes it as working right on the bottom, more wall shaking rather than filling out the lows/low mids like many bass controls. He's got me really interested in an epi amp now spit: to you Joker!) because for me, that sounds exactly like what the ul410 voicing needs. Along with the often mentioned clarity of those amps I reckon that it may make for a great rig. Who'd have guessed it??

Anyway, the end result is obviously influenced by everything in the signal chain, the instrument, the player and plain old likes and dislikes. Look at the divergent views on even the 'flat' IP boxes.

 

[jokerjkny]

How significant is the difference between a single UL610 and a pair of UL310s?

man,

that's really tough to say cause i havent heard a pair of UL310's yet.

but granted, i've heard many "pairs" like my UL112's, UL110's, and even a pair of UL210's, and a single integrated cab will always be punchier and more "together". the pairs diffuse the sound more, and tend to be somewhat bigger sounding, but on gig, i prefer the more direct sound of a single big cab.

 

[jokerjkny]

If I were to give up the extra volume of the 410 to get the 310, would the 310 fit in the back of an average sedan, or better in the trunk? Anyone have any experience with this? I cant fit my Berg 2x12 in the car and besides, I nearly break my back trying to lift it into the car (and I bench 280lbs!!).

nope,

unfortunately, the UL310 will not fit the trunk of my honda accord. but it does fit in the spacious trunk of a crown victoria cab.

 

[jokerjkny]

I've never actually A/B'd them directly - next time I have two 310's and a 610 here I will certainly do so though.

In the mean time, I can say from memory that the 610 feels like it has a little more mid push than a the pair of 310's does. The pair of 310's feels a bit more open and wider sounding. They're both really, really good rigs though with heaps of excess available volume.

+1

that's what i heard when nick let me blast thru a 610 he built for anthony jackson vs. a 410 he has at the shop. but bottom line, more drivers = more BIG.

 

[jokerjkny]

(...) spit: to you Joker!)

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