Mesa ph... 1 2x15 or 2 1x15’s?

[JTacker]

So, I’ve been researching some new cabs and I’m a 5 string player. I’ve pretty much boiled it down to I want a Mesa Boogie cab, but I’m not sure if I should get one 2x15 cab or two 1x15 cabs. The obvious con of a 2x15 is the logistics of moving it all the time, but would I be losing low end or volume by buying 2 1x15 cabs? Is there a tonal difference?

 

[forrestlaw]

I played a Mesa M6 Carbine through 2x Traditional Powerhouse 115s at a local shop recently and it sounded FANTASTIC. In fact, it sounded so good that I think I may now be a convert to 15s from 10s. I would absolutely buy 2x 115s before I ever even thought about a single 215 just for the versatility. You can always lug both if you really need it, but at least have the option of going somewhat lighter if you want.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

If the single 2x15 cab is 8 Ohms and each of the 1x15s are 8 Ohms each.
Having two 1x15s will also give you some impedance flexibility.
Getting the extra power (assuming a solid state amp) from a 4 Ohm combination of two 1x15 vs one 8 Ohm 2x15 won’t give you a lot more loudness. But load in/out should be a lot easier.
If you might need to get stupid loud in the future, get the 2x15 now and add another later.
Get some ear plugs too.

 

[Paulabass]

Two single fifteens. Nobody is getting any younger!

 

[mmbongo]

Two Subway 115’s. Deeper, louder, much lighter.

 

[chris_b]

If you have the budget there is no reason to buy a 215 any more. 2 x 115's would sound no different and IMO these days modular always trumps big boxes.

 

[JTacker]

If the single 2x15 cab is 8 Ohms and each of the 1x15s are 8 Ohms each.
Having two 1x15s will also give you some impedance flexibility.
Getting the extra power (assuming a solid state amp) from a 4 Ohm combination of two 1x15 vs one 8 Ohm 2x15 won’t give you a lot more loudness. But load in/out should be a lot easier.
If you might need to get stupid loud in the future, get the 2x15 now and add another later.
Get some ear plugs too.

That fact hadn't even crossed my mind. That's a very good point. I was more worried about the size of the cab giving the speakers room to breathe and forgot about ohms.

 

[BadExample]

Just curious, what amp JT?

 

[JTacker]

Just curious, what amp JT?

I’m running through a Mesa M6 Carbine.

 

[forrestlaw]

I’m running through a Mesa M6 Carbine.

Mesa M6 through 2 Traditional Powerhouse 115s is the best sounding amp/cab combination I've ever heard.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

That fact hadn't even crossed my mind. That's a very good point. I was more worried about the size of the cab giving the speakers room to breathe and forgot about ohms.

I wouldn’t worry about the speakers “breathing.”
The Engineers at Mesa have their speakers/cabs figured out probably as well as anyone out there.
I think either way, you’re gonna be happy.

 

[walterw]

If the single 2x15 cab is 8 Ohms...

...then that would be a really weird cab!

2x15s are almost invariably 4Ω.

 

[mesaplayer83]

...then that would be a really weird cab!

2x15s are almost invariably 4Ω.

Not true in this case - Mesa actually made a fair amount of 8 ohm PH215s - in fact, when I shopped for my PH215, I turned down a few 8 ohm versions and ordered a 4 ohm PH215 - it took about 3 or 4 months before delivery, IIRC...

 

[mesaplayer83]

So, I’ve been researching some new cabs and I’m a 5 string player. I’ve pretty much boiled it down to I want a Mesa Boogie cab, but I’m not sure if I should get one 2x15 cab or two 1x15 cabs. The obvious con of a 2x15 is the logistics of moving it all the time, but would I be losing low end or volume by buying 2 1x15 cabs? Is there a tonal difference?

I actually owned a pair of PH115s and a PH215 at the same time - you would sacrifice nothing in tone or volume by going with the PH215, only modularity, IME/IMO...

 

[Al Kraft]

I actually owned a pair of PH115s and a PH215 at the same time - you would sacrifice nothing in tone or volume by going with the PH215, only modularity, IME/IMO...View attachment 3091502

...no better answer than from the guy who owned the cabs you're considering. As for enough power, the M6 and M9 Carbines have been accused of many things, but never running short on power to produce serious volume with that much PH cab speaker area.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

Not true in this case - Mesa actually made a fair amount of 8 ohm PH215s - in fact, when I shopped for my PH215, I turned down a few 8 ohm versions and ordered a 4 ohm PH215 - it took about 3 or 4 months before delivery, IIRC...

Always an exception to every rule. Except when there isn’t.

 

[mesaplayer83]

Two Subway 115’s. Deeper, louder, much lighter.

Despite the specs, I really don't see them as being deeper or louder - but definitely MUCH lighter... A pair of PH115s weigh 144lbs, whereas a pair of the SW115s weigh 74lbs...

FWIW, I traded in my last PH115 today, after owning 3 of them in the past - but am definitely keeping my pair of SW115s, and will probably be adding a SW112 in the future to go with them... I am keeping my PH215 also, though - it's tough to beat this for an old school rig:

I would also rather use the PH215 than a pair of the PH115s, since it's easier to move it around than it is to move the pair of 115s and stack and unstack them, if *I* were consistently using a pair of 15" speakers...

 

[mesaplayer83]

Two single fifteens. Nobody is getting any younger!

I flipped my last PH115 today because at 72lbs, it's not that fun a dead lift sometimes, whereas the 215 is tilt and slide loading... If I need modularity, I'll use a pair of SW115s instead...

 

[mesaplayer83]

Also, FWIW - I play 5ers a fair amount...

 

[walterw]

Not true in this case - Mesa actually made a fair amount of 8 ohm PH215s - in fact, when I shopped for my PH215, I turned down a few 8 ohm versions and ordered a 4 ohm PH215 - it took about 3 or 4 months before delivery, IIRC...

so weird!

maybe they were made for the tube heads?