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Double Bass Ideal powered speaker to pair w my Felix?

jimgray

jimgray

Jan 14, 2010
98
53
Sharon, MA
www.reverbnation.com
#1
Hi all-

Like everyone, I'm on the MBOL journey. I have an NS Cleveland, a Lifeline and a Neumann KM184 mounted with an H-clamp. They run into my Felix. All very good so far...

I have Genzler gear (Magellan 800 and a 12/3). Love em, but frankly they are more than I need (to hear or schlep) for my typical URB gigs. Perfect world, I think I'd buy a MAS powered speaker, either a crazy 8 or a MAS 16. Unfortunately, those appear to be unobtanium.

So - what options exist at this point, given my situation?

thanks!
Jim Gray
 
#2
Another option to consider would be a powered speaker designed for PA mains/monitors. I use a dynamic mic through a Yamaha DBR10, which my son uses for his keyboard monitor. It is an inexpensive one that gets the job done… For something with more accurate mids, I'm interested in getting my hands on a Yamaha DXR12 mkII. I have played through an older QSC K10, which sounded good, but the attack seemed pillowy. Perhaps with the flexibility of the Felix, you can bring the low end into focus with whatever you run through.
I really want to get my hands on a Felix!

The KM184 + pickup mixed with a Felix will likely sound good through anything!
 
#3
Thanks for the recommendations. Unfortunately, those cabs are 32-40lbs, which defeats the purpose for me. My Genzler 12-3 is 32lbs and my Magellan is 6lbs. I love the way the Genzler stuff sounds - the dispersion is great; I'd just like something in the 15-20lb range that gives me similar/better quality and less quantity of sound.

I can strongly recommend Felix. Really like it!
 
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#4
Other people may disagree but I went back to an amp and cab from a powered speaker + Felix. The options for powered speakers just aren't that great. MAS was great but a little heavy, especially the later models. I didn't make friends with any of the PA speakers I tried. The closest I got was a QSC CP8 but the frequency response made the E string disappear. Friends who drive to gigs have had success with powered 12s but like you noticed they're not light :(
 
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#7
#9
I've been having good luck with the Felix into a GSS "monster sumo" power amp. It is super clean & sounds good. I got a hard case that fits both the Felix and the power amp load in and out is great. I recently replaced my MAS4x5 with a barefaced big baby cab and it sounds spectacular. I was constantly running out of headroom on the low notes with the MAS when things got loud.

I looked at powered speaker options but nothing seemed as convent as a more modular solution. My load in and outs is two trips but they are light. I'd rather two light trips than one heavy cumbersome one.
 
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#10
crd said:
I've been having good luck with the Felix into a GSS "monster sumo" power amp. It is super clean & sounds good. I got a hard case that fits both the Felix and the power amp load in and out is great. I recently replaced my MAS4x5 with a barefaced big baby cab and it sounds spectacular. I was constantly running out of headroom on the low notes with the MAS when things got loud.

I looked at powered speaker options but nothing seemed as convent as a more modular solution. My load in and outs is two trips but they are light. I'd rather two light trips than one heavy cumbersome one.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice-
Did you consider their powered speaker? Barefaced Bass - FR800 high resolution active loudspeaker
 
#13
jimgray said:
THAT is really unfortunate.
Should the fact that what I think I need is not commercially available tell me something?
Click to expand...

I lean toward MBOL goals, and i have eyed powered cabinets over the past 10 years or so. When they do arrive on the market, the people who want them rejoice- in electric bass circles, Bergantino's IP cabinets were coveted, but the demand was so limited I imagine that it is difficult to sustain a profit in the amplification business.
The Acoustic Image Flex powered cabinet caught my attention when it was released- it was one of the lighter ones at the time at 32 lbs.
 
#14
jimgray said:
Thanks for the advice-
Did you consider their powered speaker? Barefaced Bass - FR800 high resolution active loudspeaker
Click to expand...

Like @Jim Dombrowski said, I think that is discontinued. The current Barefaced line-up is on there new site here. I was a little nervous to spend the money I did on a cab I had never heard so I made sure it was something I could resell easily if I didn't like it. I am new to working with a separate power amp/ pre amp so I also wanted the option of trying out different power-amps if need be. I have no doubt the MAS powered speakers sound great but I am super picky about each element of my signal chains so I think there will always be something to gain by having each component separate. Especially with the newer generation of lighter power amps available.
 
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#15
Recently I was also looking for a FRFR bass cab for my Félix, but finally I realized that it's just GAS and stayed with my 1988' GK 200MB combo. Why? It's indestructible, not so heavy, quite loud for its size. If the room is ok, then I'm just using return input of the combo and it sounds quite natural, if the room needs some EQ then I can go with regular input and use EQ section instead of tweaking with Félix. If I need to go louder than I'm just adding my EA Wizzy 12 M-Line cab and it's always enough - 99,9% of louder gigs provide stage monitors anyway so…
But starting to write this answer I forgot about MBOL - maybe just wait a bit for GR Bass FRFR cab? Should be available (hopefully) soon, probably it would be loud and light nasty piece of a cab:)
 
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#17
WynstonMinckler said:
I have the same weight concerns and went with barefaced. It seems like there were more options for small, light and accurate powered speakers or micro power amps before Covid but the barefaced super midget with a small head like genzler, grbass, or Eich is a solid option for the moment.
Click to expand...

Interestingly, I have been in touch w Alex at Barefaced who claims that they are working on powered speakers initially for guitar with bass to follow.

"we are working on some active cabs and I think an active double bass cab, or maybe two models one based on the One10T and another based on the Super Mini T would be a great idea."

I suspect a powered One10T would be a wonderful pairing for my Felix.
 
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#18
Eric Hochberg said:
Wait for a powered MAS to come on the used market if Mike isn't making them anymore. It will be worth waiting for.
Click to expand...
Two or three years ago I sent a MAS speaker to Mike concerned about a vibration and he NEVER RETURNED IT TO ME. I repeatedly emailed him and he made some excuses but ultimately never gave it back. I'm shocked people still seek him out. He basically stole my cabinet.
 
#19
Jason Sypher said:
Two or three years ago I sent a MAS speaker to Mike concerned about a vibration and he NEVER RETURNED IT TO ME. I repeatedly emailed him and he made some excuses but ultimately never gave it back. I'm shocked people still seek him out. He basically stole my cabinet.
Click to expand...

I've never met Mike and am surprised to hear that, but (FYI) he has retired at this point and sold his business, so that won't be a factor for me (or anyone else). That said, I have heard repeatedly that his cabs are luscious for UB.
 
#20
jimgray said:
I've never met Mike and am surprised to hear that, but (FYI) he has retired at this point and sold his business, so that won't be a factor for me (or anyone else). That said, I have heard repeatedly that his cabs are luscious for UB.
Click to expand...
Yeah. I bought the cab from a TBer and tried it and liked it. But something was buzzing so I boxed it up and sent it to him. I can't think of any other time I had been so ignored in a business setting. He just seemed to have no desire whatsoever to return my cabinet. It was truly bizarre. I finally just had to take the loss.
 
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