Kappalite 15 or Basslite 15 replacement?

[freos]

I usually run a 100W tube amp into an old 2x15 cab. However, last weekend the bass player of the other band playing the same night got to use my 2x15 with his Hartke 500W. Bad idea. Now both speakers are scrap. The good news is that he paid me for new speakers. Maybe it won't cover all of it, but most of it.

So, a friend is helping me with the repairs, and when we removed the old speakers we found out that the cab was actually quite light, while the old speakers were about 20 lbs each! So, I'm going for Neo speakers to get a lightweight cab that's easier to haul around.

My friend teached me WinISD, and the last few days I've been looking at how different Eminence speakers would work in my cab (5.3 cu ft, 40 Hz). I know that Neo speakers are "brighter" than regular, but that doesn't matter to me. I play reggae and turn the treble and high mids all the way down. I also use an EQ pedal so I know my sound is all about the 80-200 Hz. Since my amp is only 100W I want speakers pushing out as much 80-200 Hz as possible so I don't have to push the amp as hard.

I've heard good things about the Kappalite 15 and 15LF. The regular Kappalite is cheaper and lighter, and it also seems to put out more SPL. However, I just found out about the Basslite 15. I can get it even cheaper than the Kappalite, and it weighs about 1/3 less!

At a first glance, it seemed like it would not put out as much SPL as the Kappalite when looking at the Eminence PDF files (Kappalite red, Basslite black):

I then tested it in WinISD, and then it was the other way around (Kappalite red, Basslite White):

The Eminence numbers say the Kappalite is around 3 dB better, but according to WinISD the Basslite is up to 2 dB better. How come, does the cab really change things that much - are the results reliable?

If they are, maybe I should go for the Basslite? Less weight, less money, more SPL from 80-200 Hz, just what I want. Sure, the Kappalite has a smoother response, but I want the hump around 80-200 Hz.

I know the Kappalite has more xmax and can handle more power without farting out, but I won't even get near xmax for the Basslite with my amp.

I also know the Basslite is 4 ohms and the Kappalite 8, but it doesn't matter since my amp will run 100W into 4 8 or 16 ohms.

The bottom line: What speaker gives the most SPL around 80-200 Hz? Are the WinISD numbers reliable?

 

[billfitzmaurice]

Are the WinISD numbers reliable?

They are. The datasheet charts are in a standard test baffle, not a cabinet, and do not reflect what the driver will do in a cabinet.

 

[greenboy]

Look at the max power and max SPL graphs and you'll see more of the real story. That takes into account the xmax/excursion capabilities.

 

[DukeLeJeune]

You have to tune the Kappalite a lot higher than the Basslite to get a similar "hump", and when you do the Kappalite has marginally more output averaged over 80-200 Hz. But they come out within 1/2 dB of one another.

Since you're only using a 100-watt amp to drive two woofers, I don't think the greater x-max of the Kappalite is a consideration - UNLESS you might one day move up to a bigger amp, in which case the Kappalite would make more sense.

Which would work best for that box might come down to what the tuning of the box is, as these two drivers have significantly different tuning requirements.