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Mesa cab decision

CoreyI35

CoreyI35

Sep 23, 2012
66
148
Frisco, TX
#1
I play a lot at home, but right now I'm listening to myself through a pair of full range Yamaha HS8 monitors (highly recommended, btw). I have no amp. I'm wanting to find other people to play with though, which means I need to pick up some equipment. It sounds like the Mesa 800+ is a pretty safe bet for a head, so I'm pretty much convinced I'll be going with that. The decision now comes down to cabs, and I've settled on two choices which seem to have rave reviews here, both by Mesa (since it seems people usually recommend going with the same manufacturer). Option 1 is the 6x10 Standard Powerhouse. It's 143 pounds and 1500 bucks new down the street from me. Option 2 is the Subway series 2x10 and 1x15, at 43 and 38 pounds respectively, totaling 1680 new. The 6x10 has built-in wheels. I've got a small magna-cart I could use for the Subway cabinets. I'm completely torn. I think for portability, the Subways cabs are probably my best bet, even though they cost a little more. I've never been able to A/B them anywhere. Does anybody have any opinions on which sounds better? (Yeah, it's subjective.) I keep wondering if I get the Subway cabs I'll keep regretting not getting the 6x10 if it sounds better and was cheaper. Any thoughts? Am I headed down the wrong road entirely?

Also, it may sound snobbish but I don't want to risk it buying used. I'd rather take the hit on depreciation myself if I decide to bail out, but otherwise know I'm getting what I paid for.
 
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#2
Maybe you can test them. The Standard Powerhouse cabs are great, just a bit heavy. I've always wanted a 6x10 to go along with my 2 410's. I dream about building a d00m rig often but rarely do anything about it.
 
#3
I own a PH 410 and 2 of the PH 212 cabs which I use mainly with my Carbines. The PH cabs are high quality, sound great and built like tanks. To me the PH cabs and Carbines were the combination for rock. The 410 was as heavy a single cab as I was willing to move around and decided to go for a "modular PH 412"solution when I needed big gun sound. If you gig out a lot, I'm guessing the PH 610 will get old real fast, especially when you can have the modular convenience of the Subways. My heavy gear rarely leaves the house these days.

I also own a D-800 (a few less features than the "+" model you're looking at), and use it with the Subway 112 and 115. Those Subway cabs are exceptional and will probably cover most of your gigs with ease. On that rare occasion that the Subways might not carry the day without FOH support, they are more than adequate as monitors for any venue or stage I've ever played indoors or out.

If there was a huge sacrifice in tone/volume/etc. between the Subway line and the heavy gear, I'd say it's worth a second thought. In my case I own both options and the lightweight, modular gear sees most of my gigs. Since the D-800's are 2 Ohm capable, you can actually have a "modular" Mesa 610 (or 810) using the Subways. For me, the 115 cab hits the sweet spot, but there isn't a bad choice in the lot with the Subways or any Mesa product.

Good luck with your decision!
 
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#5
In this day and age, I don't know why anyone would buy a new 6-10 or 8-10 other than for looks. Unless you're in a couple of specific genres and never have FOH for gigs or want to make your ears bleed or substitute hauling gear for other forms of exercise/body abuse.

That said, the 2-10/1-15 combo will peel paint as well. And if you want to get serious, throw another 1-15 (or a 1-12) to the pile. The D800 will handle 3 cabs no problem.

Modularity ftw.
 
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#8
Can't go wrong either way for all the reasons mentioned above. It is nice to have two light boxes that you can handle easily. On the other hand there's nothing quite like a 6x10 (or 8x10, or 2 4x10's) box with some wattage going through it, especially if you don't mind handling heavier boxes.
 
#9
I own the 610 and the Subway cabs. The 610 really only sounds good when its LOUD, like when I play on festival stages. Club gigs the 610 doesn't sound as good. The subway cabs sound amazing. I use a prodigy head and also sometimes the d-800. So if you're just getting into playing with other people, by all means get the Subway cabs. Plus for smaller jam sessions you can just bring one cab!
 
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#10
I think you guys have sold me on the Subway cabs. It doesn't seem that they have a substantial tonal disadvantage to the 6x10, and it sounds like I may be able to get away with just one cab. (I have to point out that there are plenty of threads here where it seems people can barely be heard with a 4x10.) Thanks for the input.
 
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#11
CoreyI35 said:
I think you guys have sold me on the Subway cabs. It doesn't seem that they have a substantial tonal disadvantage to the 6x10, and it sounds like I may be able to get away with just one cab. (I have to point out that there are plenty of threads here where it seems people can barely be heard with a 4x10.) Thanks for the input.
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I play out quite a bit and can assure you that a good 212 (Mesa PH or Berg) or a Subway combo (10's, 12's, 15's, whatever) will be more than enough to be heard well even in larger venues. When you get to the place where you really need more than that, you'll want to use the excellent Mesa D-800+ DI and get some FOH support - carrying a 1000 person theater with the stage amp/cab only isn't a realistic requirement in my experience. I pretty much only use my big cabs outdoors and only because I already own them, but in almost all cases my lighter gear would do just as well.
 
#12
I bought my powerhouse 6x10 brand new and never looked back. Big $$$ but no regrets. Anything I've hooked up to it sounds amazing. I can put it on the backseat of my Toyota Camry by myself. Very easy once you get it on it's wheels.
My rig at a gig

My rig at a gig

  • Media owner Ellery
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My rig at a gig. SWR 750x head, Mesa Powerhouse 6x10 cab, Cartin Martin compressor/limiter pedal.
 
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#14
For what it is worth I just went through this, this past weekend. I ended up going big with a carbine M6 and a Berg NV610. The difference between the Subway line and the big unit, was just the sheer punch and overtones that could be heard. To me it's the sound of rock, and since I play in a 90's rock cover band and also carry the gear in a trailer size was not an issue. The Subway line sounded great as well, it just was missing some of the overtones (magic beef) that the larger amp had.
I don't think you could go wrong as the Subway 15 was a beast of a cab for the size, just didn't have he heft of the larger unit. You really have to try them out to see for yourself. I was set in buying a subway 15 and 210 combo with the d800+ and walked away with a more old school amp.
 
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#16
Al Kraft said:
Since the D-800's are 2 Ohm capable, you can actually have a "modular" Mesa 610 (or 810) using the Subways. For me, the 115 cab hits the sweet spot, but there isn't a bad choice in the lot with the Subways or any Mesa product.
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I'm a delighted user of the Subway gear; it's the first Mesa equipment I've owned, so I can't do the comparison to their earlier products. But I'm an old cat and been through a l-o-t of amps in the course of (gasp!) 50 years playing music for money--and I can tell you that this is the very best amplification I've ever gigged.

To Al's point above: the amp's 2 ohm capability means you can run one, two, three, or even four 8-ohm cabs. That kind of flexibility is gold, IMHO.

Uh, I've run three of the 15 Subway cabs, yup. Totes monster rig, def.
 
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#17
Ewo said:
Uh, I've run three of the 15 Subway cabs, yup. Totes monster rig, def.
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Yikes! 3 of the 115's? Did you need to wear diapers? That would do some serious bowel rearranging. 2 of them is enough to knock over a rhino, I would love to hear what 3 sounds like.
 
#18
gustobassman said:
Yikes! 3 of the 115's? Did you need to wear diapers? That would do some serious bowel rearranging. 2 of them is enough to knock over a rhino, I would love to hear what 3 sounds like.
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Well, I just cut down the master a little bit from when I run two of the cabs. And I like to keep the low register (B string) tight so it's in keeping with the higher registers. It's nice have plenty of paper cone area; gives a certain muscularity, shall we say.

But yeah, that rig is capable of bringing the fabled _brown note_, if someone wanted it to.
 

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