Mesa Subway 112 vs. Barefaced Super Midget

[mmbongo]

Yep, here it is. I feel blessed to to able to test these cabs first hand, as they are some of the best out there. I have used the Subway cabs for about a year now, and was recently lucky enough to get a Super Midget for testing as I've always been curious about Barefaced cabs. And more importantly, I'm always looking to lighten the load.

So how do they sound???
Firstly, I'll just say it. I fully expected the Super Midget to be more efficient and have greater output than the Mesa but that is simply not the case. The Subway 112 has quite a bit more output, goes deeper, and sounds fuller overall. No, I'm not dissing on the Super Midget..in fact I really really like it. I think it will whoop up on most any other production 1x12 cabinet on the market. But the Subway just has 'that sound'. The Midget has a very clean, somewhat clinical sound but takes to EQ very well so you can shape it pretty well to your liking. The Subway has a deeper, more throaty sound with a wooliness that's just beautiful. The Subway just sings and has an overall warmer, thicker sound. The Midget has a cleaner, flatter sound that pretty much delivers what you put into it with no extra beef like the Subway, and I do believe that was one of the main design goals of the Barefaced 12" cabs so it definitely delivers there.

Do they fart???
Well I was able to make them both reach their limits at about the point on the volume knob of my Mesa Subway amp so that's pretty much a wash although the Subway was producing more output when it got it's limit. The Subway cab could also withstand just a hair more low end boost before fartation set it.

Which one is made better??
That's a tough question as there are other things to consider. The quick answer is that the Subway is constructed better. It's more solid. It's thicker. BUT it weighs more, it's bigger, and it's not as easy to carry. The Midget is much smaller, much lighter, and is nothing to carry. I think my lunch box weighs more and is harder to carry than the Super Midget. The Mesa is covered in tolex, the Midget in Duratex which can be sharp on the knuckles. The Mesa is solid as a rock, the Midget is made from a thinner wood which I can physically bend by pushing on it with my hand which gives me concerns about breakage in the unbraced corners where the ports are. So if you want rock solid and don't care about weight (although it's only like 30 pounds) and don't mind that the odd shape is kinda hard to carry....Subway wins. If you want super lightweight that your Granny can carry to the gig for you, Barefaced wins...just don't drop it on the corners. Also if I were to buy a BF cab I would get the steel grill, as the plastic logo glued to the cloth makes a fluttering sound when the air starts moving.

So which one should I get??
Again, tough question. BOTH would be ideal. The Subway gives that sound I have in my head for bass guitar right out of the box..thick, full, deep, but still quick and articulate. The Midget might take some EQing to get your sound but will never have that wooliness. If you want that, you may want to look at the Barefaced 10" cabinets. Overall the Subway is louder than the Midget. Both have fantastic tweeters. If you're in the USA, the Subway will run $750. The Super Midget is $975.

TLDR version please???
The Subway sounds better to me, is cheaper, and is more solid. But it's bigger, heavier, and odd to carry.
The Super Midget has amazing output for it's size and will kill just about any other 1x12 out there. It weighs almost literally nothing and is a pleasure to carry.
It's impossible to go wrong with either of these cabs, you just need to decide what factors are more important to you.

 

[agedhorse]

Did you try picking it up from the side with 1 hand? That's how I move what I have here in my lab, it's a pretty easy carry (by comparison to most 112's). Do it so the bottom faces away from you.

 

[moogieotter]

Wait.... you mean a BF is not a herald of angels singing you into bass player heaven?!

Jk

Nice review. Thanks for the info.

 

[SickAura]

The Subway 112 has quite a bit more output, goes deeper, and sounds fuller overall.
View attachment 2989636

Thanks for the review. I have found the Subway cabs pretty hard to beat. The last few years I've gone through or tested various Ampegs, fEARful, LDS, Mesa Powerhouse, Barefaced, Bergs among others - and while some of those cabs could've been keepers - none of them dethroned my 112/115 Subway's or caused me to regret moving on.

 

[Al Kraft]

What you highlighted as the strengths of the SW112 in your testing is what has kept me from moving away from my 112/115 set-up to a 2 X 115 configuration. IME the SW 115 is just so exceptional it tends to overshadow its little brother, but when you start comparing 112 cabs, that SW 112 more than holds its own against the competition.

The SW112 and 115 both are the first regular production cabs I've felt truly deserve to be thought of as equal to the current crop of boutique super cabs.

 

[jnewmark]

What you highlighted as the strengths of the SW112 in your testing is what has kept me from moving away from my 112/115 set-up to a 2 X 115 configuration. IME the SW 115 is just so exceptional it tends to overshadow its little brother, but when you start comparing 112 cabs, that SW 112 more than holds its own against the competition.

The SW112 and 115 both are the first regular production cabs I've felt truly deserve to be thought of as equal to the current crop of boutique super cabs.

Interesting, Al. What do you hear with that 112/115 combo, that you didn't hear in other 115x2 combos ? Has Agedhorse stated anything about these two cabs being designed to work together, as opposed to a regular 2x115 stack ?

 

[SickAura]

What you highlighted as the strengths of the SW112 in your testing is what has kept me from moving away from my 112/115 set-up to a 2 X 115 configuration. IME the SW 115 is just so exceptional it tends to overshadow its little brother, but when you start comparing 112 cabs, that SW 112 more than holds its own against the competition.

The SW112 and 115 both are the first regular production cabs I've felt truly deserve to be thought of as equal to the current crop of boutique super cabs.

I agree and have the same thoughts on adding another 115. I picked up a Quilter the other week and when I was first testing it with my 112/115 stack I didn't realize the 115 wasn't connected. So for a good 15 mins I was cranking the 112 LOUD on its own, testing various setting and my thoughts were....wow...this Quilter is tight, punchy and clear but still sounding full - and I was impressed.

Then I realized the 115 wasn't connected and had a good laugh at myself.

But after plugging in the 115 and running the full stack - a bunch of gear went up for sale about 5 mins later.

Right now I have no amp or cab gas....and I kind of don't know what to do on TB any more haha

 

[Pbassmanca]

Yep, here it is. I feel blessed to to able to test these cabs first hand, as they are some of the best out there. I have used the Subway cabs for about a year now, and was recently lucky enough to get a Super Midget for testing as I've always been curious about Barefaced cabs. And more importantly, I'm always looking to lighten the load.

So how do they sound???
Firstly, I'll just say it. I fully expected the Super Midget to be more efficient and have greater output than the Mesa but that is simply not the case. The Subway 112 has quite a bit more output, goes deeper, and sounds fuller overall. No, I'm not dissing on the Super Midget..in fact I really really like it. I think it will whoop up on most any other production 1x12 cabinet on the market. But the Subway just has 'that sound'. The Midget has a very clean, somewhat clinical sound but takes to EQ very well so you can shape it pretty well to your liking. The Subway has a deeper, more throaty sound with a wooliness that's just beautiful. The Subway just sings and has an overall warmer, thicker sound. The Midget has a cleaner, flatter sound that pretty much delivers what you put into it with no extra beef like the Subway, and I do believe that was one of the main design goals of the Barefaced 12" cabs so it definitely delivers there.

Do they fart???
Well I was able to make them both reach their limits at about the point on the volume knob of my Mesa Subway amp so that's pretty much a wash although the Subway was producing more output when it got it's limit. The Subway cab could also withstand just a hair more low end boost before fartation set it.

Which one is made better??
That's a tough question as there are other things to consider. The quick answer is that the Subway is constructed better. It's more solid. It's thicker. BUT it weighs more, it's bigger, and it's not as easy to carry. The Midget is much smaller, much lighter, and is nothing to carry. I think my lunch box weighs more and is harder to carry than the Super Midget. The Mesa is covered in tolex, the Midget in Duratex which can be sharp on the knuckles. The Mesa is solid as a rock, the Midget is made from a thinner wood which I can physically bend by pushing on it with my hand which gives me concerns about breakage in the unbraced corners where the ports are. So if you want rock solid and don't care about weight (although it's only like 30 pounds) and don't mind that the odd shape is kinda hard to carry....Subway wins. If you want super lightweight that your Granny can carry to the gig for you, Barefaced wins...just don't drop it on the corners. Also if I were to buy a BF cab I would get the steel grill, as the plastic logo glued to the cloth makes a fluttering sound when the air starts moving.

So which one should I get??
Again, tough question. BOTH would be ideal. The Subway gives that sound I have in my head for bass guitar right out of the box..thick, full, deep, but still quick and articulate. The Midget might take some EQing to get your sound but will never have that wooliness. If you want that, you may want to look at the Barefaced 10" cabinets. Overall the Subway is louder than the Midget. Both have fantastic tweeters. If you're in the USA, the Subway will run $750. The Super Midget is $975.

TLDR version please???
The Subway sounds better to me, is cheaper, and is more solid. But it's bigger, heavier, and odd to carry.
The Super Midget has amazing output for it's size and will kill just about any other 1x12 out there. It weighs almost literally nothing and is a pleasure to carry.
It's impossible to go wrong with either of these cabs, you just need to decide what factors are more important to you.

View attachment 2989636

What a great review! I've often wondered how those two cabinets would compare and I'm pleasantly surprised with your findings. No surprise on the construction as Mesa builds their products like M1 Abram tanks. This is got me thinking of how awesome it would be to have a triple stack of Subway cabinets with a 15 on the bottom and two Subway 112's. Now.....I just need to work on this money thing.....

 

[moogieotter]

Two 115s plus a 112 supa tower!

 

[Al Kraft]

Interesting, Al. What do you hear with that 112/115 combo, that you didn't hear in other 115x2 combos ? Has Agedhorse stated anything about these two cabs being designed to work together, as opposed to a regular 2x115 stack ?

Actually I like it for two reasons. First, for many of my needs the 115 has enough big bass and volume to carry the day. I find it to be an excellent full range cab with a very robust lower range and solid mids. However, a lot of times the 112 is more than sufficient for small venues, acoustic type work, etc. So having those two options is great and quite convenient.

Now comes the combined cab needs - and they were specifically designed and voiced to work together (actually all the SW cabs were). I like the way the 112 complements the 115 (as opposed to sort of doubling the same thing) by nicely filling out and projecting the mids. The 112 obviously adds to the total volume and contributes some to the deep/low bass content, but from low mids to high mids that 112 just seems to provide extra punch while adding a harmonic richness/dimension that is emphasized a bit differently than in the 115 presentation.

I may have said that poorly, but the bottom line is that with agedhorse's clever matching of the cabs to work well together in any combination, I get flexibility, convenience, and a chance to combine cab characteristics I like. Anyway, that's my best answer!

 

[AstroSonic]

Actually I like it for two reasons. First, for many of my needs the 115 has enough big bass and volume to carry the day. I find it to be an excellent full range cab with a very robust lower range and solid mids. However, a lot of times the 112 is more than sufficient for small venues, acoustic type work, etc. So having those two options is great and quite convenient.

Now comes the combined cab needs - and they were specifically designed and voiced to work together (actually all the SW cabs were). I like the way the 112 complements the 115 (as opposed to sort of doubling the same thing) by nicely filling out and projecting the mids. The 112 obviously adds to the total volume and contributes some to the deep/low bass content, but from low mids to high mids that 112 just seems to provide extra punch while adding a harmonic richness/dimension that is emphasized a bit differently than in the 115 presentation.

I may have said that poorly, but the bottom line is that with agedhorse's clever matching of the cabs to work well together in any combination, I get flexibility, convenience, and a chance to combine cab characteristics I like. Anyway, that's my best answer!

How would you characterize/compare the tone of the two (112 & 115)? If a person had to settle for just one of them, would the 112 produce the same tone as the 115, but just in a smaller package, and with more limited spl capability? Or might the 112 have less extended and robust bass, but with better mids definition?

 

[jnewmark]

Actually I like it for two reasons. First, for many of my needs the 115 has enough big bass and volume to carry the day. I find it to be an excellent full range cab with a very robust lower range and solid mids. However, a lot of times the 112 is more than sufficient for small venues, acoustic type work, etc. So having those two options is great and quite convenient.

Now comes the combined cab needs - and they were specifically designed and voiced to work together (actually all the SW cabs were). I like the way the 112 complements the 115 (as opposed to sort of doubling the same thing) by nicely filling out and projecting the mids. The 112 obviously adds to the total volume and contributes some to the deep/low bass content, but from low mids to high mids that 112 just seems to provide extra punch while adding a harmonic richness/dimension that is emphasized a bit differently than in the 115 presentation.

I may have said that poorly, but the bottom line is that with agedhorse's clever matching of the cabs to work well together in any combination, I get flexibility, convenience, and a chance to combine cab characteristics I like. Anyway, that's my best answer!

Fair enough. Where do you set the tweeters when you use both ?

 

[mmbongo]

How would you characterize/compare the tone of the two (112 & 115)? If a person had to settle for just one of them, would the 112 produce the same tone as the 115, but just in a smaller package, and with more limited spl capability? Or might the 112 have less extended and robust bass, but with better mids definition?

No, they are very different. The 115 is deeper and clearer sounding with (to me) much better mids because they are quicker....snappier.....crunchier.

The 112 is overall rounder sounding and has more going on in the low mids. It sounds 'fatter' and has less bottom end of course. It doesn't quite have that crispiness and quickness of the 115. If I had to choose one it would be the 115, but please don't take that to mean the 112 is any slouch. I just like the bigness and crispiness of the 115.

 

[Al Kraft]

How would you characterize/compare the tone of the two (112 & 115)? If a person had to settle for just one of them, would the 112 produce the same tone as the 115, but just in a smaller package, and with more limited spl capability? Or might the 112 have less extended and robust bass, but with better mids definition?

mmbongo nailed it...the 115 is phenomenal. Both share the same footprint and the 115 is just a little bigger and heavier, it's not a night and day difference. The 115 is as close to a 100% single driver/single cab solution I've ever run across. It speaks well enough in the mids to make you wonder how a 15" driver can do that, takes EQ well, and has a nice upper end with the same horn as the 112. While you can get the 112 to be pretty full down low, the 115 is a clear side by side winner in that category. I can always EQ out some deep lows, but I can't create them in a cabinet that doesn't go there.

The 115 is noticeably louder than the 112 at the same settings. Once again it's not night and day, but it is obvious. Both cabs transition well (think Bergantino seamless) between mids and highs, but I think the 112 is a little more present harmonically and tonally in the mids which causes it to sound very round and balanced. Both cabs sound quick and tight with no flab, boom, or bloom. The trick with the 112 is to not be afraid to EQ it and feed it some power to get the performance you want.

Fair enough. Where do you set the tweeters when you use both ?

I usually dial them back about 1/2 way between normal and -2dB (so kind of 10 o'clock). Since I use the D-800 (not the 800+) with these cabs there really isn't a lot of top end to dial back.

 

[agedhorse]

Yes, the entire Subway cabinet was designed to work together from the very beginning. I have addressed this in detail.

 

[briandavismurph]

Yep, here it is. I feel blessed to to able to test these cabs first hand, as they are some of the best out there. I have used the Subway cabs for about a year now, and was recently lucky enough to get a Super Midget for testing as I've always been curious about Barefaced cabs. And more importantly, I'm always looking to lighten the load.

So how do they sound???
Firstly, I'll just say it. I fully expected the Super Midget to be more efficient and have greater output than the Mesa but that is simply not the case. The Subway 112 has quite a bit more output, goes deeper, and sounds fuller overall. No, I'm not dissing on the Super Midget..in fact I really really like it. I think it will whoop up on most any other production 1x12 cabinet on the market. But the Subway just has 'that sound'. The Midget has a very clean, somewhat clinical sound but takes to EQ very well so you can shape it pretty well to your liking. The Subway has a deeper, more throaty sound with a wooliness that's just beautiful. The Subway just sings and has an overall warmer, thicker sound. The Midget has a cleaner, flatter sound that pretty much delivers what you put into it with no extra beef like the Subway, and I do believe that was one of the main design goals of the Barefaced 12" cabs so it definitely delivers there.

Do they fart???
Well I was able to make them both reach their limits at about the point on the volume knob of my Mesa Subway amp so that's pretty much a wash although the Subway was producing more output when it got it's limit. The Subway cab could also withstand just a hair more low end boost before fartation set it.

Which one is made better??
That's a tough question as there are other things to consider. The quick answer is that the Subway is constructed better. It's more solid. It's thicker. BUT it weighs more, it's bigger, and it's not as easy to carry. The Midget is much smaller, much lighter, and is nothing to carry. I think my lunch box weighs more and is harder to carry than the Super Midget. The Mesa is covered in tolex, the Midget in Duratex which can be sharp on the knuckles. The Mesa is solid as a rock, the Midget is made from a thinner wood which I can physically bend by pushing on it with my hand which gives me concerns about breakage in the unbraced corners where the ports are. So if you want rock solid and don't care about weight (although it's only like 30 pounds) and don't mind that the odd shape is kinda hard to carry....Subway wins. If you want super lightweight that your Granny can carry to the gig for you, Barefaced wins...just don't drop it on the corners. Also if I were to buy a BF cab I would get the steel grill, as the plastic logo glued to the cloth makes a fluttering sound when the air starts moving.

So which one should I get??
Again, tough question. BOTH would be ideal. The Subway gives that sound I have in my head for bass guitar right out of the box..thick, full, deep, but still quick and articulate. The Midget might take some EQing to get your sound but will never have that wooliness. If you want that, you may want to look at the Barefaced 10" cabinets. Overall the Subway is louder than the Midget. Both have fantastic tweeters. If you're in the USA, the Subway will run $750. The Super Midget is $975.

TLDR version please???
The Subway sounds better to me, is cheaper, and is more solid. But it's bigger, heavier, and odd to carry.
The Super Midget has amazing output for it's size and will kill just about any other 1x12 out there. It weighs almost literally nothing and is a pleasure to carry.
It's impossible to go wrong with either of these cabs, you just need to decide what factors are more important to you.

View attachment 2989636

I am starting to hear "sounds wooly" a lot now to describe tone. Can you help me with this? Not sure what this means.

 

[mmbongo]

I am starting to hear "sounds wooly" a lot now to describe tone. Can you help me with this? Not sure what this means.

Allright, here's what I'm hearing and why I said it. When I said the Mesa cab is more 'wooly' than the other, I just mean that overall the entire spectrum has a thicker, almost 3-dimensional sound to it. The BF cab is completely clean, the Mesa has just a bit of hair to it.

 

[briandavismurph]

Allright, here's what I'm hearing and why I said it. When I said the Mesa cab is more 'wooly' than the other, I just mean that overall the entire spectrum has a thicker, almost 3-dimensional sound to it. The BF cab is completely clean, the Mesa has just a bit of hair to it.

thank you

 

[agedhorse]

I wouldn't describe the cabinets as wooly, but if driven by an amp or preamp that's wooly, it will certainly reproduce it.

 

[sstillwell]

I sometimes wish I had one of the 115s...but then I just crank the 2 112s I have a little harder for a minute and it goes away...

Even a single 112 has MORE enough grunt with the D-800+ to handle most gigs I do with even modest PA support. But I take two anyway.

Someone was asking about tweeter settings...for me I run mine at around -2 dB and it sounds plenty present without getting too crispy/crunchy...I play roundwounds with a pick and it can get pretty in-your-face.