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Double Bass LDS 2x8 3-way and EA VL208 comparison

#121
jmain said:
Tom,
Are these basically the same configuration of cabs that you were loving on previously? Have you done a VL208 x Patterson 208 A/B shootout yet, or is it in the works? I think I remember reading that you brought the VL108 during your visit.
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These are the actual cabs! I bought them from TBer Vision, who was the guy who had them on hold when I first heard them. As to a comparison, I have not done an extensive test, but my initial thoughts are that the Patterson cabs have notably more low end, the VL-208's have a more full and consistent midrange, and the highs are quite similar.

More to come...


jmain said:
Might be psychoacoustics, but would be sweet for those funk numbers!
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When I finally get around to replacing the carpeting in my basement, maybe I'll keep some scraps... :p
 
#122
So Adrian,
I got the 1x8 at about the same time as you but Don didn't tell me about a cart option. I suspect he made both of ours in the same run and I am hoping he will send mine out this week too. But whats The cart? And whats Dons cell so I can call him up and find out before he sends it out...
Thanks,
Piro
 
#123
Don just put up a picture of this cool little cab on his website, if anyone wants to get a better idea of what they look like. I know a couple of you TBers ordered them, and I assume you have them by now. Very cool! I happened to be down at LDS when Don was finishing up the one in the picture... I can assure you that Don makes them by hand with lot's of loving care. He has some new Neo 8 drivers that he is testing out that look very interesting. Even though I'm an EB player, I am totally into getting the smallest, good sounding gear I can find... so I hope you guys don't mind a 'slabber' posting every once in a while :bassist:
 
#124
Adrian Cho said:
Don called me today to say he would be testing my cab on the weekend and sending it out on Monday. This will be the 3-way 1x8 with a compartment in the top for holding the Focus, AMT, and Vektor preamps, a powerboard and whatever else. I also got the removal cart option. My B-1 arrived today and I'm just about to take it for a spin...
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Maybe we'll be getting a review pretty soon.
 
#125
Yeah I hope that's not mine in the photo as I ordered the black baffle. Mine is with FedEx and I will hopefully be picking it up tomorrow unless customs decides to hold it for some reason. One bad thing for me so far - the cab itself was USD 375, shipping by FedEx Economy was about USD 120 which was insane. I wanted USPS trackable and insured or FedEx ground but they couldn't seem to make it happen. Interestingly, when I checked the FedEx site, the package is 38 lbs. The cabinet is only supposed to be 24 lbs. 14 lbs of packaging?
 
#126
Adrian Cho said:
Interestingly, when I checked the FedEx site, the package is 38 lbs. The cabinet is only supposed to be 24 lbs. 14 lbs of packaging?
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Those weight numbers can be kinda scary. I recently rec'd a BG that was listed as 30lbs on the UPS tracking website. I thought I might be getting a log w/strings. (which some DBers may argue as true.) :) Even though it was in the case, it wasn't really that heavy.

Bummer about the customs and shipping charges too. From all the raves around here, it should be worth it though. These charges made me miss out on a VL-110 from a fellow TBer in Canada; plus the distance made him a little squemish. (I'm in Florida)

But all turned out well, because I grabbed a VL-208 off the 'bay from a fellow TBer. :ninja: Who, incidentally, just so happened to be the same guy who sold me the VL-110. (small-bass-world) So as Tombowlus says, I got "the makings of a great mini-stack". And he should know, since he's on the cover of the iamp800 manual (thanks David Wilson) and is curator emeritus of the EA museum. :p

So prolly won't be getting a LDS 1x8 after all. Hmm, maybe I'll get one of Don's 1x10 or 1x12...
 
#127
I checked tonight and the package is being held for customs. Hopefully it won't be much or nothing. My B-1 came over the border and I paid nothing.

As far as shipping used stuff over the border from Canada, I've done it countless times and I always mark it as used equipment and I send it by the postal service (trackable and insured) rather than one of the expensive couriers. I've never had anyone yet have to pay charges in the US. Actually I recently sent the Pub (by postal service) and the D-TAR units (by UPS) over the border with no problems.
 
#128
jmain said:
But all turned out well, because I grabbed a VL-208 off the 'bay from a fellow TBer. :ninja: Who, incidentally, just so happened to be the same guy who sold me the VL-110. (small-bass-world) So as Tombowlus says, I got "the makings of a great mini-stack". And he should know, since he's on the cover of the iamp800 manual (thanks David Wilson) and is curator emeritus of the EA museum. :p
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You bought from a quality fellow, and yes, you've got something nice a'brewin! :D

Tom.
 
#129
tombowlus said:
You bought from a quality fellow, and yes, you've got something nice a'brewin! :D

Tom.
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Fully stoked!

He's been a straight-shooter w/me, and provided some valuable information w/posting and PM. Think I've said this before, but I appreciate you answering my questions; and your posts in general.

Hey, I believe you guys have the same day job?!
 
#130
Adrian Cho said:
Yeah I hope that's not mine in the photo as I ordered the black baffle. ?
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FYI.....Those photo's showing the blue baffle material are really mis-leading... the camera flash really makes them look BLUE! On mine, in normal light, you would have a hard time telling if it was blue or black.
 
#131
FWIW:

this has been an interesting thread. Not much interest in 8" speakers these days it seems - although seems everybody wants micro system setups. Go figure. But it may be on the upswing again.

I've been looking into some tube amp experimentation with small speakers in a demeter-like silent cab so it caught my eye.

Some good stuff. You never know what tid bit will be of use so big fat juicy threads like this are a treat to run across.

Thanks to all
 
#134
I got my LDS 3x8 3way last week. I've used it with DB in rehearsals and on a job in a very large hall. In the hall, it was with a 5 string EUB and it was absolutely awesome. BUT! I didn't have time to do a long comparison yet between it and my 1x8 or 2x8 3ways. I'll venture a preliminary opinion based on the short comparisons I was able to get to: as you add more of the 8" Neo bass drivers, the cabinets get mellower sounding. Of course, that's in addition to the extra bass and power handling (and weight!). Yes, the 3x8 is the most mellow cab I've gotten from Don. Still clear as a bell though. Is it because the extra bass drivers shift the apparent balance away from the top end? I'm sure that's part of it.

Looking back, the 1x8 was really the preferred cab over the 2x8 in a small damped studio about 275 sq ft playing DB. In a hard surfaced 500 sq ft practice room, the 2x8 was preferable over the 1x8 or 3x8 with DB. I got the 3x8 to handle big rooms when I'm running DB or more likely 5 string EUB. If it turns out that it sounds close to the 2x8, which IMHO, is the best cab I've ever used for DB, I'd be thrilled. I'll have to run this comparison when I can.

Note, my 2x8 and 3x8 are vertical cabs, with staggered drivers - this is not how Don usually builds them, but how I wanted them.
 
#135
Adrian Cho said:
I am thinking about getting a 2x8 made but I'm thinking about dropping one or both neo 8s and going for long-throws instead.
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Not a bad idea. Even with the ceramic drivers, these cabs aren't that heavy, and you do get more low end, IME, from the ceramic drivers. My two Patterson Audio 2x8's are some of the nicest cabs I've heard, and they have a good deal of low end from a cab that small.

Tom.
 
#140
Ben Rose said:
Does anyone have experience using the LDS 2x8 (or EA or Patterson) with a C extension?
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I did a bunch of testing tonight (both pizz and arco) and I've concluded that my LDS 1x8 Neo is not really all that good below E. The E is strong but it falls off pretty quickly after that. In addition at loud volumes, there is distortion from the woofer at those frequencies and also port noise.
 

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