My new SWR Golight. First Impressions.

[Red Planet]

If you get the GB shuttle 12 let me know how you like it. I was giving that a look as well.
24/7 gas!

If I get the Shuttle 12 I'll let you know how the divorce goes.

Purchased a second Bass a short while ago. I mentioned it to the Boss Lady and she did not have a violent reaction so I twas thinking that was OK. Wrong. After I placed a Bid on Ebay I got this " what the heck are you doing". I was like Honey I told you about it and you did't say no.

 

[low2groove]

I've been using Avatar cabs for over 4 years now with neo 4 x 10 speakers. They hold 1000 rms at 8 or 4 ohms depending on the model you purchase. They sound as good or better than the SWR and cost half as much $439 plus $48 to ship. I pump an SWR 750X through them and they're scary good. I've got two Avatar 4X10's one 2X12 and one 2X10. The 2X12 is an amazing cab and makes any 1x18 sound like mud. At 65lbs. for a 4x10, made in America, Eminence deltalights, foster horn, 13 ply baltic birch, rabbit and dado construction, a variety of coverings and grill options, speakon and 1/4 in. inputs, 1000 wts rms, 4 or 8 ohms, they are hard to beat. See them at www.avatarspeakers.com I'm surprised it took SWR so long to get into the neo game, Steve

 

[mikeboth]

I've been using Avatar cabs for over 4 years now with neo 4 x 10 speakers. They hold 1000 rms at 8 or 4 ohms depending on the model you purchase. They sound as good or better than the SWR and cost half as much $439 plus $48 to ship.

If you are in the USA, which many of us on TB are not. The same cab runs AUS$1400, and is sold by an Avatar 'dealer' who also sells 4WD car parts on ebay, hardly making Avatar look as though they are serious about selling - and backing sales - of their cabs in my country. In Europe, they have a single dealer - in Holland - who doesn't actually list prices on their website. On the other hand SWR has a global presence; I can only speak for myself, but I don't like feeling like a second-class citizen just because I don't live in the USA.

Finally, tech specs on Avatar cabs seem to be lacking - I can't find any mention of frequency response or sensitivity on their website. It's almost like they haven't measured / calculated these figures at all. The sensitivity figures in particular are interesting, because it gives you an idea of the 'real world' volume you can extract from the rig.

I've been looking for an ultra-light cab to buy when in Europe, hence why this topic interests me.

 

[maurilio]

I've been using Avatar cabs for over 4 years now with neo 4 x 10 speakers. They hold 1000 rms at 8 or 4 ohms depending on the model you purchase. They sound as good or better than the SWR and cost half as much $439 plus $48 to ship. I pump an SWR 750X through them and they're scary good. I've got two Avatar 4X10's one 2X12 and one 2X10. The 2X12 is an amazing cab and makes any 1x18 sound like mud. At 65lbs. for a 4x10, made in America, Eminence deltalights, foster horn, 13 ply baltic birch, rabbit and dado construction, a variety of coverings and grill options, speakon and 1/4 in. inputs, 1000 wts rms, 4 or 8 ohms, they are hard to beat. See them at www.avatarspeakers.com I'm surprised it took SWR so long to get into the neo game, Steve

I owned an Avatar 410neo... sorry, but it didn't even get close to the SWR GIII. It's an ok sounding cab. The lows were tight and defined, but the mids were exactly the opposite. The highs kinda shrill.....
SWR, like EDEN, have waited to get the right neo drivers to sound good, before jumping on the new trend. I'm with them.... never liked any of the neo cabs I have previously tried, till now!

IME/IMO etc.....

M

 

[greenboy]

Finally, tech specs on Avatar cabs seem to be lacking - I can't find any mention of frequency response or sensitivity on their website. It's almost like they haven't measured / calculated these figures at all. The sensitivity figures in particular are interesting, because it gives you an idea of the 'real world' volume you can extract from the rig.

I am no special fan of either company, but Boy have you been drinking the koolaid. SWR's specs in the past have been some of the most bloated ridiculous impossible crap ever. Right up there with Eden's Cooked figures, as in cooking the books. The fact the Avatar doesn't even bother and just says in effect, "look at Eminence DeltaliteII drivers specs to get an idea of performance" actually comes out in their favor.

If you think any of these bass companies actually measure and produce referenced specs, you are one of the many consumers who has no idea how speakers work. And that's what the spec cookers have counted on. A few hours pouring over actual referenced specs from the SR and studio sectors, or in a respected cab sim program will have you aghast at what whoppers the companies producing bass cabs can tell without even winking or blinking.

Either that or Roswell New Mexico is the actual address of all these companies, and they've been sitting on something big ever since they were in diapers.

 

[greenboy]

SWR, like EDEN, have waited to get the right neo drivers to sound good, before jumping on the new trend.

It isn't like they were doing any neo R&D that entire time. They simply were slow to get with the program. Eden was clocked out for the most part, and so was SWR. Thank Jehovah³ they finally got with the program.

Odd too that your completely subjective impressions seem to relegate cabs loaded with neos as objectively not up to snuff when it's just as likely the crossover and tweeter design that could have led to those impressions. If those views were universal or nearly so, they would have more credence, but they merely are another opinion, and thus say nothing about neo drivers, really.

Anyway. What were other companies in the pro sound sector or even other guys like Jim Bergantino or Nick at Epifani or those nice people at Genz Benz thinking when electing to design around neos? Evidently subjective all around.

 

[Honk'n_down-low]

I've been using Avatar cabs for over 4 years now with neo 4 x 10 speakers. They hold 1000 rms at 8 or 4 ohms depending on the model you purchase. They sound as good or better than the SWR and cost half as much $439 plus $48 to ship. I pump an SWR 750X through them and they're scary good. I've got two Avatar 4X10's one 2X12 and one 2X10. The 2X12 is an amazing cab and makes any 1x18 sound like mud. At 65lbs. for a 4x10, made in America, Eminence deltalights, foster horn, 13 ply baltic birch, rabbit and dado construction, a variety of coverings and grill options, speakon and 1/4 in. inputs, 1000 wts rms, 4 or 8 ohms, they are hard to beat. See them at www.avatarspeakers.com I'm surprised it took SWR so long to get into the neo game, Steve

If I remember correctly David played Avatar's before this purchase - so it will be interesting to hear his comparison.

 

[lowfreq1]

I have the 4 ohm version ... and it sounds VERY good!

 

[low2groove]

I don't know what bass or head you were using but a friend of mine just bought the new SWR neo 4x10 cab and we tried them side by side with, Roscoes, F basses and pre- gibson tobias and they were actually pretty close in sound. The SWR's are way over priced as are the Edens. He now wishes he had bought the Avatar.
The Avatar cabs were run through the sound lab at Eminence and thats how they got the cab design. I couldn't care less about specs of a speaker cab (except wattage) as long as it performs and has the sound that I am looking for. Dave at Avatar isn't nearly as big as far as company size as SWR but I've been told they sell more 4X10 cabs than SWR. Dave at Avatar is the only buyer in the US that buys truckloads of speakers not pallets except Peavey. I know I've spoken with him when I bought my first cab years ago.
I used SWR cabs for 20 years before I switched and they were great but the Avatar has more of the sound I am looking for. I use an SWR 750X head to power them though.

I happy the little guy is making the cabs he does. Steve

 

[Red Planet]

I have the 4 ohm version ... and it sounds VERY good!

Nice Cab LF1.


I havent picked up the 4x10 how easy is it tome/carry?

 

[Scotius2001]

How much are these going for?

 

[DLM]

It has to be the best neo 410 cab that I have owned.

Curious as to what other neo cabs you owned, and how they contrast with the Golight?

 

[mikeboth]

If you think any of these bass companies actually measure and produce referenced specs, you are one of the many consumers who has no idea how speakers work.

Fortunately I always maintain a healthy amount of scepticism with respect to such specs, but that also applies to people who talk condescendingly to me. I figure that if there's a point to be made, it's enough to do it without being a dick about it.

Outside of the USA, Avatar have poor distribution, pricing and support. OTOH, with SWR I can actually go into a shop and try their speakers out and - having dealt with SWR / Fender directly in Australia - have some confidence there is pre and post-sales support.

Maybe the size of the market doesn't warrant an increased effort put into international distribution, however I suspect it's more that Avatar can't compete with other manufacturers on the 'cheap and cheerful' basis that they do within the USA. Certainly within Australia, they have practically no presence and no serious distributor to speak of.

 

[dsanders]

Dave at Avatar isn't nearly as big as far as company size as SWR but I've been told they sell more 4X10 cabs than SWR. Dave at Avatar is the only buyer in the US that buys truckloads of speakers not pallets except Peavey. I know I've spoken with him when I bought my first cab years ago.

Steve, not sure what this has to do with anything. Any company when they sell a cab at the prices that Avatar does will "sell more 4X10 cabs than SWR".

As for the Golight, I have used SWR GIII series cabs for 8 years, yes they are heavy but I would not use anything else if I had the choice. I currently haul around a Senior and Big Bertha, and on occassion pull out a pair of Goliath Juniors. Great product, pre-Fender the support was stellar as well. Mexico may be part of "America" but before the Fender takeover I could call SWR and talk to someone who had a clue. Go figure.

 

[greenboy]

Fortunately I always maintain a healthy amount of scepticism with respect to such specs, but that also applies to people who talk condescendingly to me. I figure that if there's a point to be made, it's enough to do it without being a dick about it.

I have every right to be frank about my distaste for companies that use marketing that really really lies. And you have every right to dislike me because I am frank about those companies. But why you think that me talking about those companies taking advantage of the uneducated consumer is worthy of feeling PERSONALLY insulted about, and then calling me a name, I have no idea.

 

[davidjbass]

If I remember correctly David played Avatar's before this purchase - so it will be interesting to hear his comparison.

IMO the SWR Golight 410 blows away the Avatar neo 410.
The SWR has much more bottom end. It much more defined.
And the tweeter is crispier. The Avatar in my opinion could not handle a low B well. The SWR is a deeper cab. It is 18" deep were as the Avatar is 15" deep. This probrably has something to do with the fact that the SWR gets better low end.

I owned the Avatar for about 6 months and was never please with it's sound. It was always lacking something. I loved the weight and it's portability. But it never had the kick that I needed.

And to Avatar's defense I have always been a long time SWR user and fan.

 

[davidjbass]

I have the 4 ohm version ... and it sounds VERY good!

How is the Fusion 550? I am really gasing for one of those.

 

[davidjbass]

How much are these going for?

I got mine from a store in CT for $879.00 shipped.

 

[davidjbass]

Curious as to what other neo cabs you owned, and how they contrast with the Golight?

I have owned the Mark Bass neo 410. Absolutelly did not like it. Returned it to G.C. after 2 days of owning it. The speakers could not handle my low B. They farted out.

I owned the Bergantino AE 410. I did not have enough low end for my needs. I loved it's size and weight but sound was more important to me.

I own the Avatar neo 410. You can see what I said about it in my last post.

I own the Epifani UL 410. It was way to high fi for me. Two much high end. Even with the tweeter turned off.

 

[gnasher1993]

I've been thinking about one of those SWR Goliaths since they came out. I want the 2 x 10 to replace my GK backline 210.