First Impression: Bergantino NXT

[Doug Parent]

I've had the NXT212 for a while now. It slams hard for its size and weight, that's for sure. But to me, the Bergantino gear has a sort of brightness and airiness about it that doesn't work well for me. I had a hard time dialing it out on the Forte HP as well, to where it would still sound good and full. I since traded the head for a Mesa Subway, and the cab will follow as soon as I can find one.

Great gear, don't get me wrong. But does not work for my funk band. Mesa's tone philosophy just more closely aligns with mine.

I ended up with a Subway 212. Just a better fit for me as well.

 

[Taustin Powers]

I ended up with a Subway 212. Just a better fit for me as well.

I bought a Subway 112 for my little practice rig at home. Also a much better fit for me. I have actually gigged with it, and it holds up well with a full band in a small bar. I may try to get a second one for our rehearsal space to replace the NXT212. And when I need a bigger cab, I'll just take those two together.

 

[Franz975]

I was able to tame the high mids but the frequency range that I cut was way up there around 2.5khz-3khz. One day as an experiment I turned the tweeter off and started cutting everything around 3khz. Had to go minus -9 on the EQ to get it where I felt it should have been at "0" or flat. Ended up selling it for that reason alone. Everything else was great though. For rock I would see no problem cutting all that glass but for funk it just wasn't my thing.

It depend on the bass to maybe
I was on Darkglass before (Dingwall/darkglass thing)
Sell my Darkglass amp for a Bergantino, it sound fuller and more define and push some air. I dont know if a Bergantino NXT212 will be more agressive than my Darkglass 210 that I actually use (the tweeter is at 2kHz)
Don't know if it is better to get a Darkglass 212 or a Bergantino (some says that the Bergantino was way better, louder and punchier)
I dont have the place for a 410, and it is less open than a 212 to me, more rock maybe
Have you other cabinet you suggest ? (Something that handle the power of a Bergantino Forte for sure)

 

[Franz975]

I was able to tame the high mids but the frequency range that I cut was way up there around 2.5khz-3khz. One day as an experiment I turned the tweeter off and started cutting everything around 3khz. Had to go minus -9 on the EQ to get it where I felt it should have been at "0" or flat. Ended up selling it for that reason alone. Everything else was great though. For rock I would see no problem cutting all that glass but for funk it just wasn't my thing.

The thing also is that the human hearing is more sensitive between 2-4kHz, so if the cab has more Midrange it will be more agressive I think

 

[Doug Parent]

The thing also is that the human hearing is more sensitive between 2-4kHz, so if the cab has more Midrange it will be more agressive I think

Very true. My hearing is impaired around that same freq range so the cabinet is probably brighter sounding to others perhaps. So many great choices out there. Bergantino, Gallien Kruger Neo IV is excellent, Genz Benz has a great line up, Subway/Mesa etc. Just have to find your preference.

 

[Doug Parent]

(Something that handle the power of a Bergantino Forte for sure)

Well thats a 700 watt amp and most premium 212 cabs out there handle 800 watts so I don't see that being much of a problem.

 

[J.Wolf]

Having gigged both the NXT212 and the Subway 212, I can see why each work for different types of players/gigs. They have a pretty different profile, all else being equal. but nothing else is usually equal. Different amps, basses, and player preferences makes it hard to see anything as objective. It's just what happens to work for ya with the stuff youre using.

 

[akukulich]

Having gigged both the NXT212 and the Subway 212, I can see why each work for different types of players/gigs. They have a pretty different profile, all else being equal. but nothing else is usually equal. Different amps, basses, and player preferences makes it hard to see anything as objective. It's just what happens to work for ya with the stuff youre using.

Hey J.Wolf. Can you go into this a little more. I’m trying to decide between the NXT212 and the Subway 212 without the benefit of hearing them together. I gigged with the CN212 for a long time, and now I’m mostly using a Ref 112.

I’d like a 212 that is similar to the Ref 112. Thanks for anything you can share.

 

[J.Wolf]

Sure. I cant speak to the REF112 as a reference point. But.. the Subway vs the NXT. I'd say the Subway is smoother and deeper, whereas the NXT has more of a grit and texture in the upper mids. So some might find the NXT to cut through a mix better, whereas the Mesa is a bit more thick and polite. I would say the nod would depend on your preferences, and what youre using for basses and amps. What head are you running? thats a good starting point. If you were using one of the amps I know has a relaxed upper midrange, I'd say the NXT is a good option. if its a mid forward amp, the Mesa might yin/yang up better.

 

[hennessybass]

I was a long time CN212 user, and now have a 2x ENXT112 rig.
Agree with Mr. Wolf that the NXT 112 has a pretty strong personality in the upper mids.
For a cab (mine) with no tweeter that rolls off at 3.5K, it is a pretty bright sounding cab. I'd describe it as a lot of treble content - but I've never used a tweeter, so my bright / treble is another man's mids. The NXT is very nice and smooth in the upper midrange - a lot of content there. Very cool yin/yang with flatwound strings.
By comparison, I thought the CN lived a little more in the low/mid-midrange. At higher volume, I thought the CN212 had a bit of a peak somewhere up in the upper-mid to treble range. No peaks in the NXT.
I find the NXT rig to be extremely responsive to EQ. Not a huge bottom end. Very good at the low-mid punch.

Never played the REF or Mesa cabs.

 

[Franz975]

I was a long time CN212 user, and now have a 2x ENXT112 rig.
Agree with Mr. Wolf that the NXT 112 has a pretty strong personality in the upper mids.
For a cab (mine) with no tweeter that rolls off at 3.5K, it is a pretty bright sounding cab. I'd describe it as a lot of treble content - but I've never used a tweeter, so my bright / treble is another man's mids. The NXT is very nice and smooth in the upper midrange - a lot of content there. Very cool yin/yang with flatwound strings.
By comparison, I thought the CN lived a little more in the low/mid-midrange. At higher volume, I thought the CN212 had a bit of a peak somewhere up in the upper-mid to treble range. No peaks in the NXT.
I find the NXT rig to be extremely responsive to EQ. Not a huge bottom end. Very good at the low-mid punch.

Never played the REF or Mesa cabs.

So the NXT have not a lot of low end ? Or just not boomy like some Ampeg have ?
Because I just sold my Darkglass 210Neo, it sound great but has not a lot of Low end extension so it work great for more modern metal or genre that use super Low tuning

 

[hennessybass]

So the NXT have not a lot of low end ? Or just not boomy like some Ampeg have ?
Because I just sold my Darkglass 210Neo, it sound great but has not a lot of Low end extension so it work great for more modern metal or genre that use super Low tuning

- NOT boomy like some Ampeg cabs for sure.
- plenty of low end, but not super deep / big low end.

If you are playing heavy music, with super low tuning, you probably need more than a 210, or 212 cab.

 

[Franz975]

- NOT boomy like some Ampeg cabs for sure.
- plenty of low end, but not super deep / big low end.

If you are playing heavy music, with super low tuning, you probably need more than a 210, or 212 cab.

Actually lot of peoples use no amp on stage, especially super modern metal genre I dont see a lot of amp on stage, lot of plugin and modelers

I dont personally use low tuning, don't like that. I have heard some people between F0 and G#0 playing on an 810 or 610, it is totally overkill, I can't hear anything other than boomy lows. But I have heard some guys with drop A/G# on smaller cabinet like 210+112 or 2x112 (sometimes 410) and that sounded just right, not super big and boomy but enough to support the band

I dont have the budget and the car to carry 2x212 or a 410 ahah

I think I don't really understand some things, because I am 20 and haven't play a lot of cabinet
But for me deep low end is more like a 15' speaker but the low end is not as responsive/direct as a 10' or 12' if I am correct ?
And plenty of low end is like an old 410 Ampeg ? But I found that overkill and kinda more of a "support" bass tone than a "present" bass tone in a band context

I was completely on Darkglass before with a 210 and 900W amp (that 210 completely drown a 410 and 115 Hartke imo), I just found the tone too cold After trying the Bergantino Forte (i have sold the Darkglass900 and keep the Forte I prefer the fullness and authentic tone it has, and now sold the 210neo and just got a 212 NXT that I will unbox soon and try so ahah)

Tell me I am not correct i am very curious about those thing

 

[Doug Parent]

I’m trying to decide between the NXT212 and the Subway 212 without the benefit of hearing them together. I gigged with the CN212 for a long time, and now I’m mostly using a Ref 112. I’d like a 212 that is similar to the Ref 112. Thanks for anything you can share.

I've had both. The Subway is much smoother in the mids and wider and deeper than the NXT. The form factor and sensitivity on the Berg was great but I was fighting the basic tone of the cabinet and gave up the fight for a Subway 212. For me, it's a better fit but in hindsight - different flavors of good. Very good.

 

[akukulich]

Sure. I cant speak to the REF112 as a reference point. But.. the Subway vs the NXT. I'd say the Subway is smoother and deeper, whereas the NXT has more of a grit and texture in the upper mids. So some might find the NXT to cut through a mix better, whereas the Mesa is a bit more thick and polite. I would say the nod would depend on your preferences, and what youre using for basses and amps. What head are you running? thats a good starting point. If you were using one of the amps I know has a relaxed upper midrange, I'd say the NXT is a good option. if its a mid forward amp, the Mesa might yin/yang up better.

Thanks for your response. Since you asked, I'm playing a Mesa D-800+ and mostly passive J-style basses. At the minute, I'm working with a contemporary jazz band, and most of the time, I'm playing on the bridge pickup with much of the neck pickup and treble rolled back. The challenge with playing that way, I find, is that you need just the right amount of high mids to keep it from sounding muddy. But a little too much there, and it sounds thin. That's the balance I'm after.

 

[J.Wolf]

Thanks for your response. Since you asked, I'm playing a Mesa D-800+ and mostly passive J-style basses. At the minute, I'm working with a contemporary jazz band, and most of the time, I'm playing on the bridge pickup with much of the neck pickup and treble rolled back. The challenge with playing that way, I find, is that you need just the right amount of high mids to keep it from sounding muddy. But a little too much there, and it sounds thin. That's the balance I'm after.

gotcha, one thing I will advocate for is making sure you have the right capacitor in your tone knob. I am not an expert in the different value numbers, but I know some tone caps keep a lot of the middle and upper mid intact and just roll off the high-end, which is my preference, over the ones that basically remove everything but low mids and bass.

but on topic, I know some people will default to keeping things consistent with brand, as the thinking is that those amps are designed to go with those cabs, but I have had the best results personally with mixing the right pieces from different brands. It’s also just more of a crapshoot that way..

But based on the music style, and what you’re doing with the instrument, I think I would be tempted to go with the subway

 

[galacticorgangrinder]

Has anyone tried an NXT212 with an NXT210?
I have the NXT212 and looking for the right cab to pair with it to for certain gigs to get some extra sub (deeper lows). I'm not sure the NXT210 would give me that as I know it's strong in the mids but thought maybe the combination of the two cabs might bring those deep lows out more. I really don't need more mids because the NXT212 I find already has very strong midrange. Curious if anyone has experience running these two cabs together?