I don't see how? The MB210 and the MB212 have the same power amp, both 350w @8ohms and 500watts @4ohms. I believe 500watts will push 6x10's without any problems.
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GK Combo Shootout...MB210 vs. MB212
- Thread starter tallboybass
- Start date
I don't see how? The MB210 and the MB212 have the same power amp, both 350w @8ohms and 500watts @4ohms. I believe 500watts will push 6x10's without any problems.
+1 It's more about speaker cone area than watts IMO.
Only downside I see is that each speaker in the combo would see 125 watts, whereas each speaker in the 410 would see 62.5 watts. A 210 would theoretically be more even distribution of power, but I wouldn't worry too much about it.
Same power amp. The MB500 has a few whistles and bells:
dual channels and a foot switch
XLR out can go pre or post with a ground lift
contour in the MB500 is variable (pot) vs on /off switch in combo
line out
effects loop
But outside of a few whistles and bells, they are the same basic amp. I personally like the post EQ XLR out from the MB500. I use it as a preamp at church where we do the in air thing. It sounds great feeding into a large PA.
Except you're actually driving 2x10s with 250W, and 4x10s with 250W. Hardly an optimal setup. You'd be better off with another matching 8-ohm 210.
-jb
I just got the mb210 & the mb115 in my store today so I fired em both up to hear what's up with them & the both sound great. The 210 was super crisp & clean, but didn't get that "oomph" that i like. I played both amps using the same bass & cable (Squier SV Jazz, standard monster cable). I'll get to my point - I found that the 210 was great in producing a tight, punch & clean sound, but lacked the roundness i was looking for - so I sat it on top of an Acoustic neo115, and it became a Godsend. Haven't heard the 212 yet, but when the 210 was paired with the 115 it moved some SERIOUS air & sounded great IMO. If you're in the north Chicago area & want to try these out, send me a PM.
Jeremy
Jeremy
butchblack
Life is short. Do good. Find and do what you love.
One thing to keep in mind. As others have mentioned in this and other threads The MB210 (and possibly the 212) do seem to "break in" after a few hours of playing through them and the tone changes noticeably, seems to get deeper.
I had some buddies come over tonight to help break in the speakers. The drummer had a hard day at work and was ready to 'release the demons'. He's maybe one of the loudest drummers I've ever played with. We usually end up at volumes that are louder than gig levels, so it's a great test for an amp.
The MB212 passed this test...barely. I still had the controls set at noon and was playing hard. There were some points where I thought I heard the amp getting ready to give up, but it kept going, staying with the frustrated stick slinger all the way and sounding great. With the JO5 blend fudged ever so slightly toward the bridge pickup and me clawing away furiously on top of the bridge pickup it sounded heavenly to me. The 'boost' really had some sweet grind going on.
Then the guitar player showed up. Luckily, he doesn't play loud and brought the overall level of things down to a more reasonable volume. I just backed off the volume on the bass and was able to concentrate more on the tone than survival. I really like the way this amp sounds, a bit thinner than the MB210 for sure.
So I'm surprised at the tone not being huge like the MB210 but still wondering how much the break-in will change things. The MB210 has a certain sound in the lows that is hard to describe, but my best description would be kind of 'un-natural' or a little 'smeared' when compared to the MB212.
Still to come.....MB212 vs. MB210 + 115. I'm pretty sure the 210+115 will win the volume race, don't know about tone however.
The MB212 passed this test...barely. I still had the controls set at noon and was playing hard. There were some points where I thought I heard the amp getting ready to give up, but it kept going, staying with the frustrated stick slinger all the way and sounding great. With the JO5 blend fudged ever so slightly toward the bridge pickup and me clawing away furiously on top of the bridge pickup it sounded heavenly to me. The 'boost' really had some sweet grind going on.
Then the guitar player showed up. Luckily, he doesn't play loud and brought the overall level of things down to a more reasonable volume. I just backed off the volume on the bass and was able to concentrate more on the tone than survival. I really like the way this amp sounds, a bit thinner than the MB210 for sure.
So I'm surprised at the tone not being huge like the MB210 but still wondering how much the break-in will change things. The MB210 has a certain sound in the lows that is hard to describe, but my best description would be kind of 'un-natural' or a little 'smeared' when compared to the MB212.
Still to come.....MB212 vs. MB210 + 115. I'm pretty sure the 210+115 will win the volume race, don't know about tone however.
Up until 10 days ago I was running a bi-amped rig using an ABY splitter: clean signal into an MB210 and effects into an Acoustic 260 "mini stack" (100w head w/ 10" cab). Then I blew the speaker on the Acoustic.
So, today I bought an MB115 at GC using a 10% dicsount coupon.
Haven't had a chance yet to do more than make sure the 115 is working okay. I'm looking forward to comparing the sounds of the 115 and the 210 and deciding which one I'll use for clean and which for effects.
So, today I bought an MB115 at GC using a 10% dicsount coupon.
Haven't had a chance yet to do more than make sure the 115 is working okay. I'm looking forward to comparing the sounds of the 115 and the 210 and deciding which one I'll use for clean and which for effects.
See, this is what I've heard from several people. Can you explain why an 8 ohm 210 would be better than an 8 ohm 410?
I mean, ok, so the 410s might not be getting as many watts as the 210s but why does that matter so much? Wouldnt the overall volume still be louder and more powerful with 6 10s instead of 4 10s? and if all of the speakers (as in, all 6 10inch speakers) are the same brand/type, then they will all sound the same in theory (except obviously the ones in the 410 would be slightly lower in volume)? The difference in watts wouldn't effect the sound, just the volume distribution right?
This is what confuses me: How would I be better running an 8 ohm 210 cab instead of an 8 ohm 410 cab?
Do you think the volume difference between running a total of 410 instead of 610 wouldn't be that huge?
I have this guitar player who has a huge monstrous stack and can make me seem like I'm not even in the room sometimes. I use that as like a "worst case scenario" situation where if I can hold up to his amp, then I'll be able to hold up to any situation I might realistically find myself in.
I'm in a similar situation except it's the guitar players in my bands, not the drummers that seem to be really god damn loud. Last time I ended up blowing the horn in my Carvin cab trying to keep up.
Sigh... friggin guitar players. Seems to me like the MB212 probably should've been what I had gotten but... I got the MB210 so I gotta work with that for a bit I suppose. I really wanna add an extension cab to it and I"m sure all my problems will be solved. Just trying to figure out if a 4x10 would be a good idea or if I should stick to the 210MBE which is meant to be the extension for the MB210.
For $50 more, the 410MBX just looks so nice though. Perhaps too good to be true?
Also, don't you run into the same problem (in terms of wattage/volume distribution) if you add anything other than another 210 to the 210 combo? How does this same problem not exist if adding a 115 or a 118?
Sigh... friggin guitar players. Seems to me like the MB212 probably should've been what I had gotten but... I got the MB210 so I gotta work with that for a bit I suppose. I really wanna add an extension cab to it and I"m sure all my problems will be solved. Just trying to figure out if a 4x10 would be a good idea or if I should stick to the 210MBE which is meant to be the extension for the MB210.
For $50 more, the 410MBX just looks so nice though. Perhaps too good to be true?
Also, don't you run into the same problem (in terms of wattage/volume distribution) if you add anything other than another 210 to the 210 combo? How does this same problem not exist if adding a 115 or a 118?
Definitely keep this in mind. I have two G-K Neo112 cabs. When I bought the first one, I was disappointed in the slightly harsh, almost brittle tone. I almost returned it. Within a few days, I couldn't believe how much it had changed. The tone got deeper, thicker, and warmer. It's an amazing cab, so I ditched my 4x10 and bought another. I wouldn't be surprised at all if these G-K Neo combos behave similarly.
butchblack
Life is short. Do good. Find and do what you love.
Yes it does. The trick so to speak seems to be the closer the speaker area is the less trouble. That's why certain combinations like a 210 with a 115 are popular. My guess is that the 410 MBX which is rated at 400W should work OK with the combo, a 410 rated for 1000W might not work as well. On the mbx each speaker is getting 63.3W and they're probably rated for 100W, not a lot of difference. On the 1000W cab each speaker would be rated 250W a much bigger difference. There are other variables like efficiency but the MBX would probably work OK and I'd be surprised if the combo didn't have enough horsepower to drive it. Like anything else, if you can, try it before you buy it.
that's very helpful! thanks!
I just got my MB210 today!!!!
I wouldn't say I'm completely in love with it yet but I'm certainly very happy. The thing can push some air! that's for sure. my apartment is rumbling! My neighbors are going to hate me!
Ok, already wasted too much time writing this post, must get back to my new baby.
I just got my MB210 today!!!!
I wouldn't say I'm completely in love with it yet but I'm certainly very happy. The thing can push some air! that's for sure. my apartment is rumbling! My neighbors are going to hate me!
Ok, already wasted too much time writing this post, must get back to my new baby.
Can you explain what you think the difference would be between adding a 210 as opposed to a 410 to the combo? obviously you get 2 more speakers but why would some people advise me to just get another 210 instead of a 410?
I guess this was a bit of a no-brainer but....the 210-115 stack killed the MB212 volume-wise, bottom-wise, hugeness-wise. This was a Trace-Elliot 1518C cab with no tweeter. If you look at the difference in cab volume (not to mention speaker cone area) it makes total sense.
I've got to say again...the MB212 is not broken in yet, although I can't see it keeping up with SO much more cone area, etc. The beauty of the MB212 is, it's one little unit that weighs 38 lbs.!!! If you have an MB210 and occasionally need to get louder than it'll go, and don't mind hauling two things, the extension cab route is a good one.
Me? I like the tone of the MB212 more than the stack. It has a growl that the 210+15 didn't have. The stack is more of a low-end WHUMP vs. the well-defined grind of the MB212.
I'll keep checking in as the MB212 breaks in and let you know. Anyone else have an MB212 with 'break-in' stories?
Alan
I've got to say again...the MB212 is not broken in yet, although I can't see it keeping up with SO much more cone area, etc. The beauty of the MB212 is, it's one little unit that weighs 38 lbs.!!! If you have an MB210 and occasionally need to get louder than it'll go, and don't mind hauling two things, the extension cab route is a good one.
Me? I like the tone of the MB212 more than the stack. It has a growl that the 210+15 didn't have. The stack is more of a low-end WHUMP vs. the well-defined grind of the MB212.
I'll keep checking in as the MB212 breaks in and let you know. Anyone else have an MB212 with 'break-in' stories?
Alan
Attachments
wow, so you really like the mb212 that much more?
i haven't gotten to play it unfortunately but unless it's immensely louder than the mb210, then I don't think it would have been enough for me. Unfortunately I play in some loud bands (NOT metal).
I tried the MB210 today hooked up to a Hartke 410 cab and it sounded like the heavens had opened up (or maybe it was hell) and unleashed all of its fury upon the stoor. I got a lot of power out of that.
No looking back now. I like the MB210. Perhaps best I don't even play out of the MB212 so I'll never know what I'm missing
I'm surprised that you prefer the MB212 even to the stacked MB210 + 115
i haven't gotten to play it unfortunately but unless it's immensely louder than the mb210, then I don't think it would have been enough for me. Unfortunately I play in some loud bands (NOT metal).
I tried the MB210 today hooked up to a Hartke 410 cab and it sounded like the heavens had opened up (or maybe it was hell) and unleashed all of its fury upon the stoor. I got a lot of power out of that.
No looking back now. I like the MB210. Perhaps best I don't even play out of the MB212 so I'll never know what I'm missing
I'm surprised that you prefer the MB212 even to the stacked MB210 + 115
wow, so you really like the mb212 that much more?
i haven't gotten to play it unfortunately but unless it's immensely louder than the mb210, then I don't think it would have been enough for me. Unfortunately I play in some loud bands (NOT metal).
I tried the MB210 today hooked up to a Hartke 410 cab and it sounded like the heavens had opened up (or maybe it was hell) and unleashed all of its fury upon the stoor. I got a lot of power out of that.
No looking back now. I like the MB210. Perhaps best I don't even play out of the MB212 so I'll never know what I'm missing
I'm surprised that you prefer the MB212 even to the stacked MB210 + 115
If I was playing in a really loud band it would be the MB210+8ohmcab by a mile. Actually, it would be GK 2001 RB Preamp + 1800 watt power amp + AE410 + GB NeoX-212T!!
I'm glad the 410 is working out for you! Sounds like you got the right one.
My budget is much much much too tight for that.
Also, I got the MB210. I don't have the 410 yet. I just happened to plug it in for a quick minute at the music store. I definitely want to A/B the 210MBE and 410MBX. Don't know where I'd find both of them but... that would be nice.
