Double Bass LDS 1x8 and 2x8 3ways vs. Epi UL110

[Barcza]

I find it hard to use the UL112 for upright bass. The low end
is so big that its hard to control. The UL110 is more even for
upright, without as much big booming lows. The UL10 has a
lot of lows for a 1x10 box, plus it will take all the power you
throw at it.
As much as I like the UL110, I tend to use the Berg HT112
much more often.

I olso never tryed Berg HT112, how sounds for Upright?

 

[Ric Vice]

Eight inch drivers sound so good for bass......to bad more cab makers don't make them easily available.

I guess the reason that you probably don't see more 2X8 Cabinets on the market is that, so far as I know, only two speaker companies build 8" Neo's designed for bass cabinets, B&C and Eminence. Don Oatman at LDS used the B&C's until of late when Eminince made their 8" available to builders.

I ordered a 2x8 from LDS. The owner is a great guy. I cancelled the order when it became clear that he wasn't sure about the final specs of the product he would be shipping.

Don's cabinets are custom builds each being a unique one off for the client. I guess for the most part they would be considered "prototypes"
to EA, Epifani, Acme, and Bergantino. et al. They aren't built with the idea of reproducing them for mass production runs . When Don built my LDS 2x8 Three Way there were so many different options that I had to consult with McMarkt. Don has a variety of tweeters, midrange drivers, crossovers, handles, and finishes to choose from. It was mind boggling.

The cab he was going to make me was way different than the one I read a review about in a major bass publication. The WET 2x8 I believe.

It took Bass Player quite a while to get around to reviewing that cabinet, by that time Don had moved on to a very different design for the 2X8. Don kind of had to chuckle a little when it finally came out, because he had newer cabinets that he prefered.

I was disappointed, but just not able to risk my money and time.

Perfectly understandable.

If the company was local, I might have taken the chance. But to risk losing the shipping costs back and forth (as well as the fossil fuel it would consume) seemed like folly.

Don's 2x8" sounds great. However, once he builds it he can't really go back and do to many modifications. I forgot to tell him I wanted recessed road handles on mine to it has a strap handle instead.

Meanwhile, even the little Yamaha powered 2x8 PA system I've been using for quiet gigs sounds great for acoustic and electric bass.

Ric

 

[robgrow]

The 8-inch low-frequency drivers used in the Euphonic Audio VL-208 were custom made by Eminence and were not off-the-shelf units such as LDS uses. Also the transmission line design used in the VL-208 along with the custom LF drivers has a great deal to do with this cabinet's sound and performance, and transmission lines are not easy to design and manufacture as witnessed by their almost complete absence beyond EA products. Personally I'd try to find a VL-208 if you are looking for a 2x8 cab. Not cheap, but nothing else compares IMO.

 

[Ric Vice]

The 8-inch low-frequency drivers used in the Euphonic Audio VL-208 were custom made by Eminence and were not off-the-shelf units such as LDS uses. Also the transmission line design used in the VL-208 along with the custom LF drivers has a great deal to do with this cabinet's sound and performance, and transmission lines are not easy to design and manufacture as witnessed by their almost complete absence beyond EA products. Personally I'd try to find a VL-208 if you are looking for a 2x8 cab. Not cheap, but nothing else compares IMO.

The VL 208 is my absolute favorite for Double Bass and it sounds great with Electric Bass. I like the LDS 2x8 for Electric Bass because it has a little better definition with my Lakland 55-94 Five String. However, If I could only have one cabinet it would be the VL 208 hands down. There just really hard to get a hold of. I got lucky two years ago when a TBer sold me his.

Ric

 

[Johnny Atomic]

Funny you all are talking so much about the the 3 way LDS cabs.
I remember well the sound of my LDS 2x8 WET (2 way) as one of the best little doubling cabs ever. I sold it- like a fool- thinking that the Bergantino HT112 was more natural sounding and louder. In retrospect after many experiences on many different stages with the Berg Ht112 and WWUltra combo I wonder if I made the right decision. That little LDS cab frequently was pushed harder than it should have been and took all of the Woods' power without blowing a speaker. Excellent tone for 5 string electric, too. In the same situation I find the berg to choke and to have too much prominence in the low mids when pushed. The only issue I really had with the LDS 2x8WET is that the tweeter seemed to run out of gas before the 8" drivers did- much the opposite of the Epifani UL110 and many other cabs. Sure, the LDS 2x8WET weighed in at a healthy 40LBS but the slim vertical design was a very easy, ergonomic schlep.
I also now own a series I Epifani UL110 the shlep factor is good, tone at low volumes is good, but it doesn't make it as a cab for mid sized rooms IMO. I'll keep it around for rehearsals and small low volume work to be sure
Next time I see an LDS2x8 WET used I'm buying it and I will play around with some mods for the Tweeter and Crossover. I've often thought about simply throwing in a Berg tweeter in the LDS cab just to see what happens...
For so much of what I think I hear everyone wanting in a cab the older LDS 2 way, rear-ported, non-neo design is a real winner, IMO. Try one, Tom and report! It's so small- it won't take up any room in your basement- "it is wafer-thin..."

WET?????? what's that?????

 

[bolo]

WET?????? what's that?????

That's a loaded question Johnny.

I remember the gear review in BP, but I hadn't thought about it until Ric mentioned it. Here it is.

 

[jmain]

The VL 208 is my absolute favorite for Double Bass and it sounds great with Electric Bass. I like the LDS 2x8 for Electric Bass because it has a little better definition with my Lakland 55-94 Five String. However, If I could only have one cabinet it would be the VL 208 hands down. There just really hard to get a hold of. I got lucky two years ago when a TBer sold me his.

Ric

Love you too, Ric.

Seriously, I'm SO glad it's in good hands - literally. Really a great cab for depth and definition.

I've only played a few of the new cabs briefly, but I think it's pretty obvious, at leat here on TB, that EA would do really well to make more of these cabs just as they did before. Even the couple extra pounds is a decent trade-off.

-Jesse

 

[Ric Vice]

That VL 208 is the real deal! Sure glad I got it from you. I think the problem with the new NM 208 is that they are trying to get it as close to the VL 208 as possible but lighter. As Robgrow pointed out to me one time in a PM since Neo's are relatively new compared to older speaker designs it will be some time before they match their ceramic counterparts in all applications and cost, sooner or later it will happen.

Ric

 

[gnergaard]

WET?????? what's that?????

Sorry I've been away- I believe it stands for "With Electro-static Tweeter" But I could be wrong.

 

[jmain]

That VL 208 is the real deal! Sure glad I got it from you. I think the problem with the new NM 208 is that they are trying to get it as close to the VL 208 as possible but lighter. As Robgrow pointed out to me one time in a PM since Neo's are relatively new compared to older speaker designs it will be some time before they match their ceramic counterparts in all applications and cost, sooner or later it will happen.

Ric

I'm very glad you're enjoying it, Ric!!
I agree that it's just a matter of time before they get it to match. They can sound good in their own right, but not just like the ceramic.

Jesse