I'm a big fan of LDS. They've produced the truest sound to date for my DB. In a variety of comparisons, I've chosen the LDS over many other well respected cabinets. One of the few I've never tried, are the Epifani's. Why? I dunno. I think it's because I've been on this 8"-drivers-must-be-better kick. I've thought many times about trying Epi's especially since Anthony Jackson uses them. Now, we all know you can't trust endorsements alone - but Mr. Jackson may be one of the few you can. That's because as far as I can remember, he's sought the ultimate hi-fi bass rig like no one else. One of his recent rigs is indicative. If I remember correctly, in the wonderful documentary "Calle 54", he is shown playing his Fodera Contrabass (no preamp or controls other than a single volume) directly into a Krell power amp (Krell is one of the very top audiophile amps on the home hifi market and start at around $5K). The guy will stop at nothing for the purest tone! And yes, he uses Epi's.
I tested the Epi 110UL versus my LDS 1x8 3way and 2x8 3way. The 110UL is new and not broken in. The LDS's are broken in. All cabs were off the floor about 20" on steel stands. The basses were a Schnitzer & DeSola DB with a Fishman FC and a Steinberger XQ 5 string BG. I ran a WW Super with Monster Cables. I did the tests in a 10x12' room and a 20x30' room, playing solo. I tested with DB first then BG.
Epi 110UL vs LDS 1x8 3way
First off, the 110UL is a 2way with a 10" bass driver. Second, it weighs just over 20lbs on my scale. The LDS weighs just under 25 lbs. The Epi is a tad bigger. Both use neo drivers. Both cabinets sound very good and rich. But after a few seconds, differences show up. The first and most significant impression is that the Epi is more even sounding from top to bottom. This is actually a big deal. The LDS sounds different on the DB's top 2 strings than on the bottom in comparison to the Epi. The Epi is the same sound all over the bass. Paying close attention to this I realized that the LDS compresses the 'A' and 'E' strings. This kind of makes sense - it's only an 8" driver. The low string 'chuffing' sound reported on the LDS is also much more apparent in comparion to the Epi. I'd also say that the Epi was more natural sounding, more like the bass itself. I'm very surprised. I didn't think I'd find a more natural sound than the 1x8 - but there it was. All the clarity, all the inflection, and all the fullness - without 'sound shifting', no matter what note you played. The only place the LDS was maybe, maybe, more appealing was the middle positions on the 'G' string. It seemed dryer and cleaner - but maybe it was just brighter.
On BG, the LDS started out as my preference on the top 3 strings. Its livelier sound was appealing. But as you went lower, the compression and 'chuffing' became apparent. On the low 'B', it was no match for the Epi. In fact, the LDS couldn't reproduce some of the lowest notes. For example, it dropped out on the low 'C' and came back for the 'D'. Goofy! The Epi got them all with wonderful evenness. The Epi is slightly fuller or darker sounding, but able to reproduce all the notes. The slightly less lively sound is not really better or worse, just different. Of course, I could dial in the extra liveliness on right on the BG's active preamp. However, no eq would bring back what the LDS misses.
Conclusion: The Epi is more natural, more even sounding and can handle a 5 string bass. I would have not noticed any deficiencies in the LDS if it weren't for the Epi. Did I say, it also WEIGHS LESS! It's only 5 pounds less, but it is easier to carry. It also seems more balanced when you lug it around for some reason.
Epi 110UL vs LDS 2x8 3way
The LDS 2x8 is a fuller sounding, less bright cabinet than the 1x8. It's a terrific box. It's a good deal larger than the Epi and at 39lbs, twice the weight. Is it worth lugging around? Well, on DB, I call the sound comparison a draw. The differences are slight. Once again, the LDS's 8" drivers are compressing the lower notes in comparison to the Epi. Much less than the 1x8, but still a bit. The Epi matches the LDS tone for tone, but it seemed to disperse a bit better. Bass extension was equivalent, but the Epi may open up a bit more when pushed. I'd be happy with either. On BG, the LDS seemed a little muted in comparison to the Epi. The bigger advantages the Epi had over the 1x8 were much less with the 2x8, but still there.
Conclusion - It's a toss up. If anything, the Epi may be a little closer to the truth on DB and a little clearer overall on BG. BUT IT WEIGHS HAVE AS MUCH! I get the feeling it can play just about as loud too.
Notes: Clearly, I was not prepared for anything to outplay my LDS's. But the 20lb 110UL weight was too much for me to ignore at least a test run. What I didn't expect was to shave weight and improve my sound. I wonder if the simpler 2 way design contributes to the much more pleasurable evenness of the Epi? In the high-end audio speaker world, less drivers are usually better to my ears. For DB or doublers, the 110UL is a gem.
I tested the Epi 110UL versus my LDS 1x8 3way and 2x8 3way. The 110UL is new and not broken in. The LDS's are broken in. All cabs were off the floor about 20" on steel stands. The basses were a Schnitzer & DeSola DB with a Fishman FC and a Steinberger XQ 5 string BG. I ran a WW Super with Monster Cables. I did the tests in a 10x12' room and a 20x30' room, playing solo. I tested with DB first then BG.
Epi 110UL vs LDS 1x8 3way
First off, the 110UL is a 2way with a 10" bass driver. Second, it weighs just over 20lbs on my scale. The LDS weighs just under 25 lbs. The Epi is a tad bigger. Both use neo drivers. Both cabinets sound very good and rich. But after a few seconds, differences show up. The first and most significant impression is that the Epi is more even sounding from top to bottom. This is actually a big deal. The LDS sounds different on the DB's top 2 strings than on the bottom in comparison to the Epi. The Epi is the same sound all over the bass. Paying close attention to this I realized that the LDS compresses the 'A' and 'E' strings. This kind of makes sense - it's only an 8" driver. The low string 'chuffing' sound reported on the LDS is also much more apparent in comparion to the Epi. I'd also say that the Epi was more natural sounding, more like the bass itself. I'm very surprised. I didn't think I'd find a more natural sound than the 1x8 - but there it was. All the clarity, all the inflection, and all the fullness - without 'sound shifting', no matter what note you played. The only place the LDS was maybe, maybe, more appealing was the middle positions on the 'G' string. It seemed dryer and cleaner - but maybe it was just brighter.
On BG, the LDS started out as my preference on the top 3 strings. Its livelier sound was appealing. But as you went lower, the compression and 'chuffing' became apparent. On the low 'B', it was no match for the Epi. In fact, the LDS couldn't reproduce some of the lowest notes. For example, it dropped out on the low 'C' and came back for the 'D'. Goofy! The Epi got them all with wonderful evenness. The Epi is slightly fuller or darker sounding, but able to reproduce all the notes. The slightly less lively sound is not really better or worse, just different. Of course, I could dial in the extra liveliness on right on the BG's active preamp. However, no eq would bring back what the LDS misses.
Conclusion: The Epi is more natural, more even sounding and can handle a 5 string bass. I would have not noticed any deficiencies in the LDS if it weren't for the Epi. Did I say, it also WEIGHS LESS! It's only 5 pounds less, but it is easier to carry. It also seems more balanced when you lug it around for some reason.
Epi 110UL vs LDS 2x8 3way
The LDS 2x8 is a fuller sounding, less bright cabinet than the 1x8. It's a terrific box. It's a good deal larger than the Epi and at 39lbs, twice the weight. Is it worth lugging around? Well, on DB, I call the sound comparison a draw. The differences are slight. Once again, the LDS's 8" drivers are compressing the lower notes in comparison to the Epi. Much less than the 1x8, but still a bit. The Epi matches the LDS tone for tone, but it seemed to disperse a bit better. Bass extension was equivalent, but the Epi may open up a bit more when pushed. I'd be happy with either. On BG, the LDS seemed a little muted in comparison to the Epi. The bigger advantages the Epi had over the 1x8 were much less with the 2x8, but still there.
Conclusion - It's a toss up. If anything, the Epi may be a little closer to the truth on DB and a little clearer overall on BG. BUT IT WEIGHS HAVE AS MUCH! I get the feeling it can play just about as loud too.
Notes: Clearly, I was not prepared for anything to outplay my LDS's. But the 20lb 110UL weight was too much for me to ignore at least a test run. What I didn't expect was to shave weight and improve my sound. I wonder if the simpler 2 way design contributes to the much more pleasurable evenness of the Epi? In the high-end audio speaker world, less drivers are usually better to my ears. For DB or doublers, the 110UL is a gem.
