Cheers, all. It turns out the HT112 for sale that I was looking at isn't an ER, which has killed the GAS.
I still like the idea of the 112, for a different flavour - a little more 'round' and a little less 'bark'...
I owned the HS210 and HT112ER at the same time and did a lot of testing/A-B'ing at home and during rehearsals.
Amps used were a Shuttle 9.0 and a Demeter VTBP-201s
My tone lingo isn't great (also suffering New Year's Day soupy-brain), but here goes...
As you probably know, the HT-ER rig has a significant amount of inherent lower frequency. It seemed like a thickness I could feel in the floor and hear all around from the walls. Seemed like I could sense a small amount of pressure from the low end. (Before reading more about physics and driver sizes I thought this was just what happened with all 12" drivers.) To me it was a great sounding cab.
At home
Solo
At first I used it paired with the IP112ER and the Demeter. On most indoor stages the low-end was overkill, even with the Dem. and instrument
bass knobs set flat. (This was with a quieter 5-piece instrumental ensemble.)
With louder or aggressive bands the 12s didn't seem to fit.
Very clear, deep, not much happening in the midrange, pretty even mids-to-highs.
Then I got the HS210. That's when I learned I didn't care for the HT-ER tweeter. The HT tweeter sounded more separate from the driver (and what I would describe as thin or sharp), where the HS tweet sounds to me more like an extension of the driver and not so distinct/separate, a bit smoother/warmer.
I was happier with the more aggressive midrange of the HS210. It's definitely not nearly as deep and wide sounding in the low frequency (part of being more efficient/low excursion/mid tuned?). But I think the low-end of the HT-ER stuff is a bit excessive. The only time I felt it necessary was during an outdoor show with no PA support.
I think they sounded similar enough that the HS is a good transition for a person who appreciates the HT-ER sound but wants it a little meaner sounding, or for standing-out more in a busy/loud context. And probably vice-versa, if you want the clear studio-monitor effect with big bottom.
Comments from my (loud) bandmates after I started using the HS210 went something like, "I can finally hear you."
I tried the HS210/HT112ER with the Shuttle 9 a few times. It was a great sound in the living room. They complimented each other well. But live it never worked. The sound room-to-room was inconsistent and overall my playing was indistinct (part of why I stopped mixing driver sizes.)
I preferred the HT112ER/IP112ER stack to the IP/HS210 and the HT/HS210. I prefer the 1 or 2 HS210 config. to all the others.
The single HT112ER and Shuttle was loud enough on a small-ish stage w/ PA support, but the compliments on my tone started after the HS210 took over (great results micd or micd+DI, playing a custom semi-hollow mahogany 4-string w/ dual coils panned to the neck p/u, mids rolled-in hard).
Then I got a Walkabout.
Finally, the sound I was looking for. I think it's perfect for anyone who enjoys the Demeter pre stuff, but wants more EQ flexibility and grit. The warmth is there, but it's fuller/deeper, not so "glassy", and can get real mean.
It eventually won over the Shuttle, which in comparison sounded over-compressed and too thin/brittle, and...I know this sounds silly, but...digital.
The Walkabout and HS210 does it for me. There are situations where I feel like I need more, and I have started to bring-out the second HS210 for loud shows (the 4ohm Scout cab couldn't hang, and I didn't like the tone/feel nearly as much).
With the Walkabout, I could see the HT112ER being useful, especially for quieter upright gigs (vs. the HS210) or wanting a very clear sound for recording. I feel like the lows would be overkill (though easy to dial-out).
I think a downside is the efficiency. Pretty sure it's better to have more power to run the HT stuff, and the 185(?)@8 from the Walkabout wouldn't gel with the HT stuff like it does the HS. I am basing this on reading other opinions in these threads. Never used the WA with the HT.
Another reason I chose the HS210 over the HT112ER was speed. Staccato parts sounded more precise/tighter through the HS woofers/box. That's important to me as a companion to the WA, which I find a bit looser/slower than what I was used to with the Shuttle.
Hopefully this was at least semi-coherent and helpful. Please ask questions if I didn't get to the point here.
Also, regarding the Streamliner thing discussed earlier on this page, I agree with you guys. The day I tried the Walkabout, I also tried a Streamliner (don't remember if it was 600 or 900). I took my HS210 cab and my rude/ganky ASAT bass. The Streamliner sounded very warm, but muffled and indistinct. Set flat, it sounded like we rolled out all the mids/high-mids. There didn't seem to be any punch. Disappointing since I liked the Shuttle and read good things about the Streamliner. Saw another guy using a Streamliner 900 with a SWR 4x10 and a P-bass in a Meters-esque 4-piece, and he just wasnt there. I felt the bass but didnt hear him. Theyre way too polite for my taste.
So, much like many of us out there... if Mesa does a 600+watt WA, I will be in heaven.
