Need opinions fast and in a hurry

[reggie hall]

Hi guys , im trying to complete my backup rig which is more lighter and portable than my ampeg 610hlf ,
i will be using my same amp which is a epifani ps 1000 to power my backup rig as well, so far i have a hartke 2.5xl that i paid 100$ used from a guy on cl and it sounds amazing and can handle the open B on my fiver, im not trying to spend alot of money on my backup rig so im trying to shop around for deals 100-175$$ , i want to stay with matching hartke gear and i was thinking of pairing a 15 inch with the 2.5xl but my problem is this......i can get a hartke transporter 115 for about 100$ or the xl series range used between 150-200$$ is there that big of a diff between the two as far as sound quality goes and being able to handle the open B???? LIKE I SAID BEFORE I DONT WANT TO SPEND ALOT ON BACKUP RIG here are the specs
1. hartke tp 115

• Special Dual Ported Cabinet Design
  
• Hartke 15" TP Aluminum-Cone Bass Driver
  
• Power Handling: 150 Watts @ 8 Ohms
  
• Frequency Response: 40 Hz To 2.5 kHz
  
• Sensitivity: 96 dB @ 1 W/1 M
  
• Voice Coil: 2"
  
• Magnet Weight: 60 Oz.
  
• Parallel 1/4" Input Jacks
  
• Dimensions: 24"(H) X 24"(W) X 15"(D)
  
• Weight: 51 lb.

2. hartke 115xl

• Specially tuned, duct-Vented cabinet design
• Precision Hartke XL 15" aluminum-cone bass driver
• Power Handling: 300 watts at 8 ohms
• Frequency Response: 30Hz-2.5kHz
• Sensitivity: 98dB at 1W/1M
• Voice Coil: 3"
• Magnet Weight: 100oz
• Parallel 1/4" inputs
• Dimensions: 24"(H) X 24"(W) X 15"(D)
• Weight: 63lb

 

[reggie hall]

i would like to give a shoutout to the user TFER he was very helpful , i just want more opinons before i make a purchase today/night

 

[birminghambass]

The Transporter series is garbage IMO, spend the extra $50.

 

[reggie hall]

The Transporter series is garbage IMO, spend the extra $50.

crazy thing is i called hartke customer service and talked to a rep and he kept saying the only diff is the magnet on the tp series is smaller which equals less weight and of course the watts and the xl series is louder but he kept saying the 115tp would work great with the 2.5xl but im a lil nervous on purchasing a tp series

 

[reggie hall]

i had a 410tp in the past and i just didnt care to much for it but one time i heard it paired with a 115tp and it didnt sound bad at all , not saying its as good as a xl

 

[reggie hall]

and do anyone know whats up with these xl 115 having paper cone speakers in them??? i keep finding them like that

 

[Downunderwonder]

and do anyone know whats up with these xl 115 having paper cone speakers in them??? i keep finding them like that

Originals getting blown under 410's?

 

[reggie hall]

Originals getting blown under 410's?

maybe so and its crazy cause the employees at gc didnt even know that the xl series has alu cone not paper smh

 

[Al Kraft]

The Transporter series is garbage IMO, spend the extra $50.

I used Hartke stuff for a while back in the late 90's/early 2000's and as I recall the XL series cabs were much better in all respects than the Transporter Series. I had a 4.5XL and a 2.5XL. They sounded great for what I was playing at the time and were as heavy as any cab I ever lifted of a similar configuration. I loved the way they projected, especially on humid days during outside gigs - it was like they punched at the air rather than trying to push it.

I would say XL is your better play if it's between that and a Transporter. It's like the difference between professional grade and home duty tools in my experience.

 

[reggie hall]

Originals getting blown under 410's?

maybe so and its crazy cause the employees at gc didnt even know that the xl series has alu cone not paper smh

 

[Downunderwonder]

maybe so and its crazy cause the employees at gc didnt even know that the xl series has alu cone not paper smh

for all I know they are correct.

 

[tfer]

for all I know they are correct.

They aren't.

The XLs have the original Hartke aluminum drivers.

 

[reggie hall]

this is how a xl looks

 

[reggie hall]

but the one i see looks similar to this

 

[reggie hall]

They aren't.

The XLs have the original Hartke aluminum drivers.

thats what i thought, maybe the ori speakers blow easy or something im not sure, because there are a bunch for sale but with black cone speakers

 

[tfer]

thats what i thought, maybe the ori speakers blow easy or something im not sure, because there are a bunch for sale but with black cone speakers

No. I'd blame it on people who bought the cabinets, then modded them.

 

[reggie hall]

No. I'd blame it on people who bought the cabinets, then modded them.

well i hope the mods are good sounding mods

 

[tfer]

I far prefer the sound of aluminum drivers over paper.

There is a crisp bite and bottom end that isn't available with paper.

 

[Nev375]

XLs have aluminum cones and are great.

If they have paper then they are replacement drivers and probably poorly matched to the cab.

Transporter stuff is junk. Avoid at all costs.

The best match to a 2.5xl is another 2.5xl.

 

[Al Kraft]

I was told by a speaker tech who does outstanding work at a high end repair shop that the aluminum cone speakers were not as bullet proof as they looked and that he saw a lot of instances of voice coil alignment problems. In fact my 2.5XL had been pushed a little too hard and handled roughly by someone who borrowed it and I decided to simply scrap the cab rather than repair it based on his advice. I moved on to mostly Mesa cabs from there and that was the end of my Hartke days.