Are the hydrives that much better/different than the regular hartke cabs that it would be better to get the hydrive 210 over the 410xl? I'm in the $400ish range for a single cab and I like what I hear from hartke. Just trying to decide on what cab. It's gonna be a zzounds purchase so I can take advantage of the payment plan. I'm seeing the 210 is $100 more than the 410xl. Can't quite splurge for the 410 hydrive so it comes down to a 210 hydrive or 410xl. Any thoughts on this?
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Hartke 410xl Vs hd210 hydrive
- Thread starter versicolor
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When the hydrives came out a few years back I took my 410 and 115 XL cabs to a dealer to compare. In most respects there was very little sonic difference with my AH3500 head. However I did trade them in for hydrives because of the horns giving more top end, the weight savings and castors. The downside was the super fragile tolex. If you can handle the 99lbs of the 410XL I wouldn't bother to change. I miss my old XL cabs.
Would the 4x10xl be better than the 2x10 hydrive because of the two extra drivers alone? Or is the hydrive that much better that even the 2x10 would outperform 4 ten's.
I wouldn't go for either. If I was looking for a base first cab and wanted to expand, I'd start with a good 115 at 8 ohms. A good 115 can take you a long way and handle almost every situation except for medium sized gigs and bigger. I bet you can find a great one 15 on Craigslist or the classifieds here that will carry you for a long time. Once you have figured out what you think your needs are and you have more experience me personally, I would add a 210 or a 410 to the one 1:15 or another one 150 which some players like. You can't really move more air than 2 15s.
The 410XL will outperform the 115XL (and probably the new hd210). However, I used to take the 115XL on a lot of gigs where I didn't need the extra volume that the 410XL offered. The reason for considering the XL cabs is their low price secondhand. I wouldn't mix speaker sizes in the same rig. If 115 works for you, add another to expand your rig; if you like a 410, then add another to get the maximum from your rig. Likewise, if you get a 210 the adding another 210 will give you a rig that can handle all but the loudest gigs.
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I realize you said you wanted to do Zzounds to take advantage of the payment plan, but I see 410XL's floating around used in the under $200 price range, two local right now $150 range ... to me, tough to justify $400 new compared to that, and for what is actually an old technology cab ... with that said, the 410XL was a go-to years ago on lots of stages, and always held its own, but again, 90 lbs and 400 watt rating ...
I am very familiar with the XL line, played it for years, but not the HyDrive ... but keep in mind, you are also comparing a sealed cab vs a ported cab, 90 lbs vs 40 lbs, and $4-500 used will buy you a LOT of cabinet, probably two of each you are considering with some diligent hunting ...
With nothing in your profile, and no further information given on your situation, current gear, needs, etc., it is tough to fit one piece over another to your situation .. if your playing can be covered by a single 40lb 210 comfortably, I would have no interest in lugging a 90lb 410 that will lose 1/2 of its value the day you drive it off the lot just to save $100 ... check and see what used 210HD's are selling for, and you can then compare what kind of a hit you will take on that down the road as well, not to mention what you could get comparable for in the used market now ...
Again, I realize your desire to purchase new to allow payments, just pointing out another point of view ...
Your homework/legwork will likely give you the best answer for YOUR situation, not which cab works better for someone else in theirs ...
I am very familiar with the XL line, played it for years, but not the HyDrive ... but keep in mind, you are also comparing a sealed cab vs a ported cab, 90 lbs vs 40 lbs, and $4-500 used will buy you a LOT of cabinet, probably two of each you are considering with some diligent hunting ...
With nothing in your profile, and no further information given on your situation, current gear, needs, etc., it is tough to fit one piece over another to your situation .. if your playing can be covered by a single 40lb 210 comfortably, I would have no interest in lugging a 90lb 410 that will lose 1/2 of its value the day you drive it off the lot just to save $100 ... check and see what used 210HD's are selling for, and you can then compare what kind of a hit you will take on that down the road as well, not to mention what you could get comparable for in the used market now ...
Again, I realize your desire to purchase new to allow payments, just pointing out another point of view ...
Your homework/legwork will likely give you the best answer for YOUR situation, not which cab works better for someone else in theirs ...
I have both in a 410. The HyDrive is so much lighter and can handle roughly twice the power. I like them both, but if I had to choose I'd go with the HyDrive. I probably did about 150 gigs with it and it's held up well. I've used a variety of pre amps with a 1,000 watt bridged mono Crown amp as well as a GK MB500, 700RB and Genz-Benz ShuttleMax 9.2 to mention a few. I've also used both active and passive basses, but mostly Spector Euro 4LX. Sounded great with all of them. The HyDrive is a sealed cab, something I prefer, but it's not for everyone. I generally used a DI, so the amp was for stage volume. IIRC I did two outdoor (maybe more) gigs and it was plenty loud. It's probably the one constant in my gear rotation (I suffer from severe GAS).
Sorry about that. Weight is not a factor. I don't gig. Just wondered in general, weight aside, if the 210 hydrive would outperform the 410xlI realize you said you wanted to do Zzounds to take advantage of the payment plan, but I see 410XL's floating around used in the under $200 price range, two local right now $150 range ... to me, tough to justify $400 new compared to that, and for what is actually an old technology cab ... with that said, the 410XL was a go-to years ago on lots of stages, and always held its own, but again, 90 lbs and 400 watt rating ...
I am very familiar with the XL line, played it for years, but not the HyDrive ... but keep in mind, you are also comparing a sealed cab vs a ported cab, 90 lbs vs 40 lbs, and $4-500 used will buy you a LOT of cabinet, probably two of each you are considering with some diligent hunting ...
With nothing in your profile, and no further information given on your situation, current gear, needs, etc., it is tough to fit one piece over another to your situation .. if your playing can be covered by a single 40lb 210 comfortably, I would have no interest in lugging a 90lb 410 that will lose 1/2 of its value the day you drive it off the lot just to save $100 ... check and see what used 210HD's are selling for, and you can then compare what kind of a hit you will take on that down the road as well, not to mention what you could get comparable for in the used market now ...
Again, I realize your desire to purchase new to allow payments, just pointing out another point of view ...
Your homework/legwork will likely give you the best answer for YOUR situation, not which cab works better for someone else in theirs ...
if this is for jamming at home then either one would be more than enough. i'd get whichever one was cheaper. A hydrive 1X12 would do fine.
if i had even the slightest plans for playing out i'd get the hydrive 2x10; one by itself will get you by, and a second one down the road would make for a stack that smoked the old XL 4x10.
says who?
a 2x15 is just a little more speaker area than a 4x10 but only has half the voice coils driving it.
an equivalent 6x10 or 4x12 would very much "move more air" than a 2x15. an 8x10 is in another league entirely.
(that said i like my 2x15 stack)
The OP was stuck between a 2x10 and a 4x10. You quoted only the last sentence, and nothing about starting with only one cab. I was also keeping to mobile, known configurations that could be practical. Sure, you could move more air w a 4x12 or 8x10 but kinda hard moving those around. Anyway, tell me about your 2x15 setup!
how did it work for you ?I'm reading this post because I just bought a HD210, it's sitting in my studio now, haven't plugged it to my HA3500, that'll happen tomorrow night at rehearsal. Just wanted to learn more about it, I own two 4x10 cabs, a 410xl and a 4.5xl, they move lots of air, but they're heavy, 88 lbs. The hd210 weighs less than 37 lbs, I can carry it with one hand, but since it's a sealed cab I don't expect the same sound of a 410XL. I'll post my review tomorrow. Thanks
I have an older 410xl (1993 or so) and it is a great sounding cab, but it is really heavy. And I'm not sure about the newer ones, but I don't feel like it is very efficient. My gk 112 at least feels louder to me, all else being equal. Could just be something in the voicing or whatever.
Well, when I first tried the hd210 I thought it sucked, but then I noticed I had the compressor knob at max, wrong patch on my pedal,etc, i lowered the settings here and there and...
Beautiful sound! All I can say is I wish I had it before. My back is happy. I'm happy with it. Hydrive. Hartke. Period.
