In the last few days I have spent countless hours in multiple sessions testing both of these cabs. I've not yet had a chance to play any sessions with them although I will have three opportunities this week to put them through their paces in the mix. Despite that, I thought I would post some initial thoughts now and provide updates later on.
Firstly, the LDS 3-way 1x8 and Acme B-1 are both great cabinets each with their own unique characteristics. I really hope that I am not getting even an acute case of Tombowlus Syndrome but already I feel that if I had to give up one of these cabinets that it would be a very hard decision.
The most important point is that the two cabs are voiced very differently. IMO, the B-1 is definitely the more accurate of the two cabs although that doesnt necessarily mean it would be the cab of choice.
I began with some non-bass tests. With flat EQ through the Focus, I put each cab through its paces playing a variety of CD tracks via the digital studio setup from my PC listening both up-close and from across the room (about 20 away). I then played Steinway piano samples from my Roland keyboard again listening both up-close and from across the room (obviously I had the computer controlling the keyboard in that case). In each case, the B-1 sounded great with pleasing depth, warmth, detail, and apparently quite a flat response. I decided to test the claim about the Acmes being like a studio monitor by comparing output of CD samples through both the B-1 and a single Alesis M1 Active Mk2 near-field monitor. The sound from the B-1 both up-close and from across the room was impressive. I think it also works very well as a keyboard speaker and would probably be nice as a PA. With the same tests, the LDS sounded very harsh, boxy, and lacked depth and warmth. However as Ill explain later, this doesnt necessarily mean that it will sound bad with the bass. I believe that the LDS is voiced for bass instruments and expects bass-heavy input typical of many pickups not to mention electric bass guitar. Given the right inputs and the right EQ, it can sound just as accurate as the B-1.
All testing with the bass was with the AMT mic and the Vektor pickup. The bass is my modern Italian with unwound gut on the top two strings and Permanent A and E (extension). I didn't play any arco for these tests but that's something I definitely plan to to do. The AMT mic was plugged into the Focus mic channel via the XLR output from the AMT super preamp. The Vektor was plugged into the low-Z input of the Focus instrument channel via an LR Baggs GigPro preamp. The LDS high-end was fully attenuated (-2 dB). The attenuation controls on the B-1 were flat. My aim generally was to get the most transparent sound I could get with various combinations of the mic and pickup with each cab. Transparency was measured by me as a sound coming from the speaker that was very close to the acoustic sound of the bass, to the point where it was difficult to discern the two. To maintain this transparency, I found myself having to EQ in various ways as I increased volume.
As a side note, the Vektor really is a great sounding pickup but its definitely very bass-heavy on my bass. With the bass rolled off appropriately, the Vektor sounds so good that I can really get away with a lot less of the mic. In fact with the new setup, I find myself using only a very small amount of the mic in the mix just enough to give it some presence and some air. However even without the mic in the mix at all, Im pretty happy.
The AMT simply sounds better with the B-1. In fact using the AMT by itself, the point at which it starts to sound hollow, nasal, and boxy with the LDS is quite low. At lower volumes, the B-1 has the preferred sound for me either regardless of what combination of mic and pickup I use. Its just more natural with more depth and warmth, less harshness, and more gentle transitions between the notes. The LDS is a bit more aggressive sounding. One thing I found with the B-1 is that as the volume increases, the bass needs to be rolled off more and more. I believe this is a combination of both the B-1 being very so slightly bass-heavy and the Vektor being very bass-heavy. At the higher volumes, the LDS requires less EQ adjustment to maintain transparency. However I could imagine the exaggerated bass at high volumes with the B-1 may not be as much of an issue with a different pickup. I would be very interested to know who else is using the LDS with a mic.
In terms of volume, I don't find either cab to be substantially louder than the other and both would be fine for the overwhelming majority of gigs I play. I also did a lot of testing with both speakers together and at low volumes they sound great - arguably better than either alone. I will need to get in a bigger room to really test them at higher volumes. I have a gig this week and another next week that are both in very large rooms and they should be good opportunities to test the two speakers together.
Because I had the LDS built with the top compartment, I am sure it will end up as my primary cab and I will only bring the B-1 out to supplement it. Perhaps that may change if I build a similar compartment designed to fit on top of the B-1 using the same interlocking corners. Despite the extra weight of the compartment (9 lbs), I suspect the reduced on-stage clutter and added convenience for transportation, setup, and teardown will definitely make it worth it. To minimise clutter I have been making various cables with custom lengths and using right angle connectors where appropriate. On a separate note, I must say that the Speakon connectors are wonderful things and require no soldering at all. Another thing I should add about the compartment. Don made it with a 1 1/2 inch hole (with a grommet) for the cables to pass through. I suspected this might be too small but went with his recommendation. Once the hole is filled with cables, getting some plugs through is a little tight but it works out fine as long as I do it in the right order (biggest connectors first). It also works because Im using a thinner speaker wire (14 gauge but without the usual rubber exterior).
Firstly, the LDS 3-way 1x8 and Acme B-1 are both great cabinets each with their own unique characteristics. I really hope that I am not getting even an acute case of Tombowlus Syndrome but already I feel that if I had to give up one of these cabinets that it would be a very hard decision.
The most important point is that the two cabs are voiced very differently. IMO, the B-1 is definitely the more accurate of the two cabs although that doesnt necessarily mean it would be the cab of choice.
I began with some non-bass tests. With flat EQ through the Focus, I put each cab through its paces playing a variety of CD tracks via the digital studio setup from my PC listening both up-close and from across the room (about 20 away). I then played Steinway piano samples from my Roland keyboard again listening both up-close and from across the room (obviously I had the computer controlling the keyboard in that case). In each case, the B-1 sounded great with pleasing depth, warmth, detail, and apparently quite a flat response. I decided to test the claim about the Acmes being like a studio monitor by comparing output of CD samples through both the B-1 and a single Alesis M1 Active Mk2 near-field monitor. The sound from the B-1 both up-close and from across the room was impressive. I think it also works very well as a keyboard speaker and would probably be nice as a PA. With the same tests, the LDS sounded very harsh, boxy, and lacked depth and warmth. However as Ill explain later, this doesnt necessarily mean that it will sound bad with the bass. I believe that the LDS is voiced for bass instruments and expects bass-heavy input typical of many pickups not to mention electric bass guitar. Given the right inputs and the right EQ, it can sound just as accurate as the B-1.
All testing with the bass was with the AMT mic and the Vektor pickup. The bass is my modern Italian with unwound gut on the top two strings and Permanent A and E (extension). I didn't play any arco for these tests but that's something I definitely plan to to do. The AMT mic was plugged into the Focus mic channel via the XLR output from the AMT super preamp. The Vektor was plugged into the low-Z input of the Focus instrument channel via an LR Baggs GigPro preamp. The LDS high-end was fully attenuated (-2 dB). The attenuation controls on the B-1 were flat. My aim generally was to get the most transparent sound I could get with various combinations of the mic and pickup with each cab. Transparency was measured by me as a sound coming from the speaker that was very close to the acoustic sound of the bass, to the point where it was difficult to discern the two. To maintain this transparency, I found myself having to EQ in various ways as I increased volume.
As a side note, the Vektor really is a great sounding pickup but its definitely very bass-heavy on my bass. With the bass rolled off appropriately, the Vektor sounds so good that I can really get away with a lot less of the mic. In fact with the new setup, I find myself using only a very small amount of the mic in the mix just enough to give it some presence and some air. However even without the mic in the mix at all, Im pretty happy.
The AMT simply sounds better with the B-1. In fact using the AMT by itself, the point at which it starts to sound hollow, nasal, and boxy with the LDS is quite low. At lower volumes, the B-1 has the preferred sound for me either regardless of what combination of mic and pickup I use. Its just more natural with more depth and warmth, less harshness, and more gentle transitions between the notes. The LDS is a bit more aggressive sounding. One thing I found with the B-1 is that as the volume increases, the bass needs to be rolled off more and more. I believe this is a combination of both the B-1 being very so slightly bass-heavy and the Vektor being very bass-heavy. At the higher volumes, the LDS requires less EQ adjustment to maintain transparency. However I could imagine the exaggerated bass at high volumes with the B-1 may not be as much of an issue with a different pickup. I would be very interested to know who else is using the LDS with a mic.
In terms of volume, I don't find either cab to be substantially louder than the other and both would be fine for the overwhelming majority of gigs I play. I also did a lot of testing with both speakers together and at low volumes they sound great - arguably better than either alone. I will need to get in a bigger room to really test them at higher volumes. I have a gig this week and another next week that are both in very large rooms and they should be good opportunities to test the two speakers together.
Because I had the LDS built with the top compartment, I am sure it will end up as my primary cab and I will only bring the B-1 out to supplement it. Perhaps that may change if I build a similar compartment designed to fit on top of the B-1 using the same interlocking corners. Despite the extra weight of the compartment (9 lbs), I suspect the reduced on-stage clutter and added convenience for transportation, setup, and teardown will definitely make it worth it. To minimise clutter I have been making various cables with custom lengths and using right angle connectors where appropriate. On a separate note, I must say that the Speakon connectors are wonderful things and require no soldering at all. Another thing I should add about the compartment. Don made it with a 1 1/2 inch hole (with a grommet) for the cables to pass through. I suspected this might be too small but went with his recommendation. Once the hole is filled with cables, getting some plugs through is a little tight but it works out fine as long as I do it in the right order (biggest connectors first). It also works because Im using a thinner speaker wire (14 gauge but without the usual rubber exterior).
