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favorite or best cab with under 10" speakers?

B

bushy

Mar 8, 2018
347
50
#1
Do under 10" speakers actually move air or are we heading into a different era?

I'm not sure how new these cabs are but lately I've been seeing cabs with speakers smaller than a 10", such as this one:

Phil Jones Bass Cab 27 200W 2x7 Bass Speaker Cab:

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Phil-J...ss-Speaker-Cab-1500000222346.gc?source=4XBACR

I think a lot of kids these days just hate having to buy and haul a cab the size of an oven. I am that way as well. It's no wonder the GK Neo 212 I bought from Guitar Center store was on clearance because they said if they can't sell the product in certain amount of time (3-9 months on display), the price drops to clearance level. I bought the amp for about $350. The specs were good and so was the weight for its speaker size ratio. Although I'd eventually want something I can carry with one hand in the future (so I can get a pair!).
 
#4
ahc said:
Mike Arnopol Soundworks (MAS) makes some pretty potent 8" and 6" cabs.
Click to expand...
I have a MAS 46 (4x6" cab +mids+tweeter) that I'd guestimate as roughly equal in output to a first-rate 310 (Bergantino, etc.). It's louder and goes deeper than some 410s I've played, but I suspect that a really good 410 would eclipse it, volume-wise. I've gigged it to positive reviews, but usually take my MAS 112 instead - it'll go a little louder and is more in-line with my tonal preferences.

Mike's 8"-based cabs are where I would look for a sub-10" driver cab for electric bass. From what I heard when trying a couple of the protos, two are as loud as my 46 - maybe louder - while being more compact and "meatier" sounding.
 
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#7
I like the idea of having a tiny lightweight cab with a very small footprint for home and maybe log around to no-drum sessions.
But I don't get the PH 2x7 cab, it's not particularly small or light. For example both the footprint and the weight is about the same as a markbass NY121. Aguilar SL112 is lighter, a bit larger footprint.
Same for the new Trace 2x8; can get 2x10s instead.
I haven't tried it yet but the MAS 16 mentioned above does look very purposeful and interesting.
 
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#10
Turxile said:
I like the idea of having a tiny lightweight cab with a very small footprint for home and maybe log around to no-drum sessions.
But I don't get the PH 2x7 cab, it's not particularly small or light. For example both the footprint and the weight is about the same as a markbass NY121. Aguilar SL112 is lighter, a bit larger footprint.
Same for the new Trace 2x8; can get 2x10s instead.
I haven't tried it yet but the MAS 16 mentioned above does look very purposeful and interesting.
Click to expand...
The 16 is very capable for its size and sounds good, but if you want to play louder stuff, the 18 will go as loud as two 16s -- more sound per pound/schlep.
 
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#13
I built my own 4 x 6.5" quad + horn combo, tube preamp & DI out, 500 watt class D output.
Made the cab out of "Formply" a lightweight but dense composite ply and resin board.
It certainly keeps up with a loud rock drummer.

Gumtown's DIY 500 watt quad 6.5" bass combo

20150325_191444-jpg.jpg
 
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#14
In the early 90s I built a sealed cabinet with four 6.5 inch drivers. It was about 15 inches square, but also ran more than 24 inches DEEP, so it wasn't exactly light weight. It was however relatively compact, so I could fit it into the little sports cars I was driving back then. Gigged with that a lot, IIRC the (thermal) power handing was 75 WRMS per speaker...
 
#16
lowphatbass said:
Euphonic Audio VL208 is a great sounding cab. If I wasn’t old and lazy and broke I’d track down a couple more and gig em on the regular.
Click to expand...
I regularly gig an EA VL-208. It blows away any 4x10 I’ve played and when mated with an EA VL-110 it keeps up with an 8x10 with no problem. The key is to put massive power to them. But, granted, they’re not light.
 
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#18
bushy said:
Do under 10" speakers actually move air or are we heading into a different era?
Click to expand...

It depends, I think. I've owned a PJB rig that was a Suitcase combo plus an extension cab (350 claimed watts, 8 x 5" drivers). Though it was advertised as the best thing since sliced bread and "very loud" in their product demo video, it wasn't. It sounded great and "felt" great to play (tight, immediate response to my playing), but whether I was playing with a 4-piece rock band or an 8-piece funk band, I almost always had to dime the master volume to hear myself on stage. Even then it fell a bit short.

There are probably cabs with small drivers in the boutique category that truly deliver, but personally I'd try to rent/borrow and play through it at rehearsal before buying anything.

I'm sold on 12" "super cabs" now. I bought a 1x12" from AudioKinesis and it's probably all I'll ever need. Weighs 30 lbs, sounds like a dream and almost puts me in 4x10" territory in terms of loudness.
 
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