First always compare speaker cabinets with the continuous wattage rating.I've been looking at the Fender specs on the 115 vs the 500 cab re output and power, and I'm even more confused!
The 15" is warmer, 10s more punchy?
I'm just trying to establish if I'd be losing anything output wise going down the head/cab route.
Rumble 115: 300 watts continuous and 600 watts program. The program rating simply means it will handle short transient peaks of power.
Rumble 210: 350 watts continuous and 700 program. I chose the 210 as it is the same size box and exact same drivers as the Rumble 500 combo.
The Rumble 500 head will put out 350 clean continuous watts into any 8 ohm cabinet. Unless you are cranking the master volume all the way, you will be fine using a 115 cab.
As far as warmth goes, that comes from the amp itself and is the major reason some bass players will pay BIG BUCKS for a Fender Super Bassman all tube amp. The new V3 Rumbles are among the 'warmest' and most natural sounding solid state bass amps made at any price with the new Bassman 500 being the best of both worlds.
I'm a fan of 15's, and to me they have broader & smoother along with wider dispersion of the entire midrange especially the all important low mids. They move about the same amount of air as 210's.
'Punch' is a type of attack that really comes from the bass itself and the authority with which the bass player's style & technique presents itself to the amp. 10" woofers tend to react a little quicker due to smaller & lighter cones, but we are talking micro-seconds and is barely detectable by the musician.
I suggest you audition a Rumble 200 combo. At reasonable volume that will tell the tale. Same front end in the same size box as the 500. At practice volumes the difference in wattage is a moot point.


