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Mesa Bass Cabinet Choices
- Thread starter Troy Allen
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- mesa subway speakers
Just compare it to the cost of an Alembic, and the number seems much smaller.
The 15 is awesome and it pairs well with every other Subway, I like the 15 so much I stack it on top of my 12 when I need to but the Subways are so good I get by with just the 12 in a 5 piece band...
I use to have a 2x10 1x15 powerhouse stack with a m-pulse 600 in a 5 piece hard rock/metal band with Marshal and triple rec guitar players and it cut very well. I had to turn down sometimes lol only ever got the amp cranked 1/2 way most of the time.
I've always been taught to avoid mixing speaker cab sizes when it can be avoided.
Over-simplified cliff notes, a 10" speaker will have different response pattern than a 15" speaker, so they don't 'fire' at the same rates
If it were me... well I'd get another fEarful. 15-6
BUT assuming you want an 'all-mesa' rig. I'd get another 2x10 to match the one you have now. This opens up lots of options with running a stereo rig on both sides of the stage. Combine that with a couple of angle stands... oh you're in business
If your band is lounder then this set up could go... well you guys need to play quieter
Over-simplified cliff notes, a 10" speaker will have different response pattern than a 15" speaker, so they don't 'fire' at the same rates
If it were me... well I'd get another fEarful. 15-6
BUT assuming you want an 'all-mesa' rig. I'd get another 2x10 to match the one you have now. This opens up lots of options with running a stereo rig on both sides of the stage. Combine that with a couple of angle stands... oh you're in business
If your band is lounder then this set up could go... well you guys need to play quieter
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,075
- 5
- 221,151
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Which is total BS based on old wives tales and not understanding the science.
The formulas that govern the acoustic performance of combined drivers do not even consider the diameter of the driver, just the electro-acoustic parameters.
Where the phase response of the drivers within their respective cabinets (as a system) are similar enough, the combinations are not an issue.
Of course there are plenty of dreadful examples of different driver sizes, but it's not the sizes themselves that are the root of the problem. There are also a significant number of mixed driver cabinet combinations that are as good or even "better" than same diameter driver cabinets.
Also, even different drivers of identical size, or identical drivers in different cabinet types can suffer from serious phase response issues.
For high performance speakers, the science and math behind the designs is what define the performance.
I know that is standard thinking, not to mix match cab sizes, but the Mesa Subway cabs are designed to pair together. I'm sure this debate can, has and will rage on forever. I am starting to lean toward getting a 1x15 to pair with the 2x10, that also gives the option of running either one alone, for different sounds at small venues or quieter gigs. The thought of running stereo for bass is lost on me, coming from a seasoned soundman, it's best to keep low frequency speakers coupled, and stereo image is lost anyway in low frequency ranges. Also it would require a second amp. The SW410 would be awesome (or 2 for that matter), but at some point I have to separate fantasy from reality, from a financial viewpoint. I do have to consider also that the Ampeg 4x10 does sound good on it's own and paired with the 2x10. It's just a bit of a beast to haul and set up at shows where we only play a 30-45 min set with 4-5 other bands. Grab and go is really nice at these shows. So, my focus now is more on how does the SW1x15 compare to the Ampeg4x10, and is it worth $400-500 to swap it out. And btw, the fEarful 15/6 is really an amazing speaker on it's own.
Thankfully when it comes to Mesa's Subway products, we have @agedhorse to set the record straight - talk about an amazing luxury.
first of all, I've never done the math on this. I trust other folks more qualified than I (like aged horse) to do that.
Let me ask this:
Is there a benefit in running multiple sized speaker cabinets assuming there's no crossover in play?
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To clarify, by stereo I simply meant running mono cabinets on opposite sides of the stage to propagate sound. I'm assuming if the OP is asking about additional cabinets for volume, their PA system isn't up to the task of running the bass.
Let me ask this:
Is there a benefit in running multiple sized speaker cabinets assuming there's no crossover in play?
—
To clarify, by stereo I simply meant running mono cabinets on opposite sides of the stage to propagate sound. I'm assuming if the OP is asking about additional cabinets for volume, their PA system isn't up to the task of running the bass.
As neat as it sounds (see what I did there?), if your Ampeg 410 was enough, adding a 410 will be overkill and $$$. I'd go 210, 115 or 112, depending on to what degree having 3 different sized rigs (including a small option) adds value for you.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,075
- 5
- 221,151
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Each cabinet in the series was designed with a little bit different voicing, especially mid voicing. The 115 is quite mid neutral and pairs well with the 210 which has a more aggressive mid character that couldn't be achieved with the 115 without giving up something critical to the 115's character. In the case of this combination, the whole solution is greater than sum of the parts.
The phase response in the low end is quite similar between the two cabinets.
It would be quite interesting to see a frequency spectrum analysis of the 2 combinations (115 + 210, and 210 + 210) and also the individual speakers for comparison.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,075
- 5
- 221,151
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Just try the combinations and choose what works best for you and your tastes. Nobody I know can select speakers based on FR graphs, and I work with some pretty experienced guys (especially on the road).
Otherwise, if you read player comments on the various combinations, you will quickly see the different players have different tastes and each combination has its followers (and those who don't care for it) including combinations of identical cabinets.
I'll try too (try them). There's only one Mesa dealer in my area, and his inventory is limited. Thanks
Well then, perhaps I should suggest the DNS-210 by DNA, which I have and use for outdoor venues and Festivals. My DNS-210 handles all indoor venues. The DNS-410 will handle 1400-watts rms and has a max SPL of 137db. It's clean, clear, articulate, loud, AND street price is $1149. See that? I just saved you $450!
I'm thinking you'd like the 2x10 with another 2x10. These cabs are quite tall with the diagonal configuration and that would bring it up a little closer to your ears. Plus it's a great cab!
Thanks for the tip. I already own the Mesa Subway 210, so I'm going to stick with that series.Well then, perhaps I should suggest the DNS-210 by DNA, which I have and use for outdoor venues and Festivals. My DNS-210 handles all indoor venues. The DNS-410 will handle 1400-watts rms and has a max SPL of 137db. It's clean, clear, articulate, loud, AND street price is $1149. See that? I just saved you $450!
I thought you were complaining about the price so it was a bit of a tongue in cheek post. Mesa Subway's are a great series.
I had the pleasure of trying a few of the combinations of Subway cabs when I got my 115. I played it with the 210 and the 112. They had two of the 112s and I was able to play those together. They only had one of the 115s so I really didn't get a chance to hear two of those together; they did not have the 215 or 212.
When people say they are just different flavors of awesome, they are correct. I preferred the 115–112 combination personally, on that day, anyway. If I do need to expand, I'm definitely going to listen again. I really dig the 115, and I have to think two of them together must be magnificent. I would really like to compare two 115s and the 112-115 combination before pulling the trigger. Truthfully, you can't go wrong with these cabs.
When people say they are just different flavors of awesome, they are correct. I preferred the 115–112 combination personally, on that day, anyway. If I do need to expand, I'm definitely going to listen again. I really dig the 115, and I have to think two of them together must be magnificent. I would really like to compare two 115s and the 112-115 combination before pulling the trigger. Truthfully, you can't go wrong with these cabs.
I was simply stating the 410 is out of my price range and it wasn't even one of the options of my original question. There was no complaint about the 410, Mesa or the cost. But I do appreciate any advice that may lead to a better solution to my problem.
