Genz-Benz NeoX 212T vs. Acme Sound Low B2?

I can only comment on the pair of NeoX 212T's that I own. I think they are wonderful with my Ampeg SVT-VR and can't imagine ever needing anything more. Finially, I think I have all of my bases covered.

 

you have a pm.

 

I, too, can only comment on my 212. It's a great cab. I use it for everything from jazz trios to big bands to my pop/rock cover band. My only complaint is that it is relatively large compared to other 212 cabs, but it is light and pretty easy to haul around.

I have a friend who has an Acme and he likes it a lot. I debated getting one or two of those before I went to my Genz Benz rig.

 

Large? I guess I can see that, regarding height at least, since it's got the speakers aligned vertically. But even though it's taller than some 212's, it's also narrower. That actually lets me haul it in some vehicles I wasn't able to fit the Eden D212XLT in, for example.

Cheers

 

I have had a pair of Acme Low B2s for the past several years as my main cabinets. I also borrowed a NeoX 212T for a week a few months ago in order to do my own compare and contrast.

You say you are familiar with the Acme's. I doubt there is anything I can tell you that you haven't already heard. They are fantastic cabinets with some very known and very obvious limitations. Efficiency being the biggest.

I took some notes when I gave back the Genz in order to make this comparison at a later date. The Genz is definitely quick/responsive, pushes through a mix with good grunt, is not overweighted in the high mids (honky) and simply delivers a bass tone a lot of bass players love/need/want/can't live without. Obviously the Genz is significantly more efficient. In comparison to the Acmes, the Genz sounds "dark." In comparison to the Genz, the Acmes sound thin. The biggest difference I hear is in the low mids. There are more low mids in the Genz and the low mid response sounds smoother in the Acme.

That's what my notes tell me. Let me know if you have any questions though.

 

Yes, I believe the Acmes are significantly clearer through the upper midrange and into the treble, as well as clearer in the lows.

The Genz is much more strongly weighting towards the low mids. You can certainly EQ the Acme to have the same response, it's just not there without some EQ.

Phat is the term I'd use to describe the Genz. Even is the term I'd use to describe the Acme.

The Acmes are significantly more balanced. This is extremely apparent when running cds through each speaker. The Acme sounds great, the Genz less so.

If you are the kind of guy that thinks P basses put out more "bass" than a J bass, the Genz has more bass. If you think the opposite, the Acmes have more bass. The reality is the Acmes go lower (just like the J bass) and can be EQed to make up for any difference.

What I thought after spending time with the Genz was "this is how an Acme user might EQ his cabinet to sound to fit perfectly in a rock setting. This Genz tone seems to be inherently voiced perfectly for that purpose. On the other hand, the Acme is a chameleon that is more easily adapted to fit in any mix."

I guess I would say the Genz is more of a plug and play kind of cabinet. Hopefully that helps.

If it matters at all for sifting my bias (I attempt to have none, but I think everyone does), I don't like the Genz for myself, but often recommend them to players I know that are looking for "that" tone. I think they are extremely well made and a very thoughtful design, just not my thing personally.

 

Word, if I were to get a 212 right now it would probably be the GB Neo 212 because it's stacked like a two 112 cabinets, which is my current setup, and two 112s is as big as I can get with my car. Kindness is pretty spot on I think in his regards to the two. I'd love two have a pair of Low B 2's for the versatility.

 

To my ears, the Neox 212 is an articulate cab with a traditional leaning. It's not ultra hi-fi, nor it is mushy and wooly sounding. It has enough low-mid presence to make it sound like a bass cab, but enough high end response to let it sparkle a bit.

 

That's a very succinct way of saying exactly what I think.