New mesa subway amps and cabs!

[tombowlus]

Is it easy to move around with the wheels on the back?
I was thinking of getting the 2x12, but that 2x15 cab has more of the sound I’m looking for.

Thanks,
-ScottM

Yes, it is. If anything, it's a bit light for the tilt back and roll (in that it responds to bumps/cracks/etc more so than a heavy cab), but once you adjust to it, it rolls pretty well. And of course, as light as it is, you can also easily pick it up and carry it.

 

[scottm]

Yes, it is. If anything, it's a bit light for the tilt back and roll (in that it responds to bumps/cracks/etc more so than a heavy cab), but once you adjust to it, it rolls pretty well. And of course, as light as it is, you can also easily pick it up and carry it.

Awesome, thanks.

-ScottM

 

[pfschim]

Yes, it is. If anything, it's a bit light for the tilt back and roll (in that it responds to bumps/cracks/etc more so than a heavy cab), but once you adjust to it, it rolls pretty well. And of course, as light as it is, you can also easily pick it up and carry it.

I don't really need another cab, but I have been looking at the Subway 2x15 with some interest, thinking that it would match up well with my WD800.

I'm very attached to 12" cabs (my go-to gig cab for the past 10 years or so has been the excellent Berg CN212), and I'm wondering what you would get with the 2x15 that you don't get with the 2x12. I have listened to the Youtube demos thru a reasonably high quality audio system, and I did hear some differences .. the 2x15 was perhaps a bit deeper, and had maybe a bit more pronounced low mid bump .. but really the differences I heard in the demo's were pretty modest.

 

[tombowlus]

I don't really need another cab, but I have been looking at the Subway 2x15 with some interest, thinking that it would match up well with my WD800.

I'm very attached to 12" cabs (my go-to gig cab for the past 10 years or so has been the excellent Berg CN212), and I'm wondering what you would get with the 2x15 that you don't get with the 2x12. I have listened to the Youtube demos thru a reasonably high quality audio system, and I did hear some differences .. the 2x15 was perhaps a bit deeper, and had maybe a bit more pronounced low mid bump .. but really the differences I heard in the demo's were pretty modest.

I don't have a SW212 to compare it to, but I do have multiple SW112's, so I can make that comparison (at some point...).

 

[pfschim]

I don't have a SW212 to compare it to, but I do have multiple SW112's, so I can make that comparison (at some point...).

it would be a good thing to know whenever you get the opportunity to compare.
Looking at just dimensions/weight, the Subway 2x15 would appear to be a bit larger than the Berg 2x12's (CN, HDN and NV), and certainly a bit heavier (13lbs heavier than the CN212 for example) ... so if the Subway 2x15 delivered meaningfully more SPL for the modest size and weight gain, and delivered great sound, it would be interesting to know that.

 

[tombowlus]

it would be a good thing to know whenever you get the opportunity to compare.
Looking at just dimensions/weight, the Subway 2x15 would appear to be a bit larger than the Berg 2x12's (CN, HDN and NV), and certainly a bit heavier (13lbs heavier than the CN212 for example) ... so if the Subway 2x15 delivered meaningfully more SPL for the modest size and weight gain, and delivered great sound, it would be interesting to know that.

Here it is next to the Berg HG412, NV412 and a couple of 8x10's behind it.

 

[pfschim]

Here it is next to the Berg HG412, NV412 and a couple of 8x10's behind it.

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ha, geez ! nice gear pile ya got there Tom (and I'm sure that's just a part of it).

the Subway is definitely a smaller footprint 2x15 cab compared to some.
Kind of hard to really compare specs between the Berg cabs. Jim B does provide good info on his cabs, but it does not quite line up with what Mesa provides as far as making a compare (eg. Bergantino shows sensitivity of 104dB @ 2.83v/1m where Mesa shows Average Sensitivity RMS (50hz-1000hz @ 100.4/1w/1m)

 

[tombowlus]

ha, geez ! nice gear pile ya got there Tom (and I'm sure that's just a part of it).

the Subway is definitely a smaller footprint 2x15 cab compared to some.

Yes, it's definitely on the small side, and extremely easy to transport for a 2x15. I am highly impressed with this cab!

 

[bucephylus]

Ahhh, they’ve also got the matching 115. So, you could do a modular 315 covering a heckuva lot of gigs staying under 100 pounds. Pretty hip. Go Mesa!

 

[keto]

Ahhh, they’ve also got the matching 115. So, you could do a modular 315 covering a heckuva lot of gigs staying under 100 pounds. Pretty hip. Go Mesa!

Yeah, my 215 should drop any day, and first thing (OK maybe second) is put my 115 up top and fire away

 

[agedhorse]

ha, geez ! nice gear pile ya got there Tom (and I'm sure that's just a part of it).

the Subway is definitely a smaller footprint 2x15 cab compared to some.
Kind of hard to really compare specs between the Berg cabs. Jim B does provide good info on his cabs, but it does not quite line up with what Mesa provides as far as making a compare (eg. Bergantino shows sensitivity of 104dB @ 2.83v/1m where Mesa shows Average Sensitivity RMS (50hz-1000hz @ 100.4/1w/1m)

If the cabinet is 8 ohms, 2.83V is close enough to 1W, but if it's ~4 ohms, than you need to subtract 3dB from the spec to correct the power back to 1W, because 2.83V into 4 ohms is ~2W.

We use average sensitivity because there's too much confusion over selecting a peak in the response as the representative data point. For example, in a cabinet that has an under-damped response peak of 3dB, that would add ~3dB to the average spec.

 

[pfschim]

If the cabinet is 8 ohms, 2.83V is close enough to 1W, but if it's ~4 ohms, than you need to subtract 3dB from the spec to correct the power back to 1W, because 2.83V into 4 ohms is ~2W.

We use average sensitivity because there's too much confusion over selecting a peak in the response as the representative data point. For example, in a cabinet that has an under-damped response peak of 3dB, that would add ~3dB to the average spec.

yeah Andy, my comment was not meant to be critical in any way, but just a reflection on the limited opportunity to compare the cabs, even from 2 manufacturers who do provide solid specs.

The Berg CN212 is 4ohms, so I guess, using your example, its "real" sensitivity is closer to 101dB ... very close to the Subway 2x15.

 

[agedhorse]

yeah Andy, my comment was not meant to be critical in any way, but just a reflection on the limited opportunity to compare the cabs, even from 2 manufacturers who do provide solid specs.

The Berg CN212 is 4ohms, so I guess, using your example, its "real" sensitivity is closer to 101dB ... very close to the Subway 2x15.

Agreed, it's very hard for the average user to compare anything these days, especially if they are unwilling to put forth the effort to learn about what they are comparing.

 

[bucephylus]

Agreed, it's very hard for the average user to compare anything these days, especially if they are unwilling to put forth the effort to learn about what they are comparing.

For most of us, effort = $.

Just sayin.

 

[bucephylus]

Yeah, my 215 should drop any day, and first thing (OK maybe second) is put my 115 up top and fire away

FWIW, I’ve gigged the Bergantino 312 version; and for whatever reason, Jim recommends putting the 112 on the bottom. Which, I know sounds a little counter intuitive; but I think it has something to do with balancing the bigger lows from the 212. Could be the same deal with these 15’s. Worth the experiment, in any case.

 

[pfschim]

FWIW, I’ve gigged the Bergantino 312 version; and for whatever reason, Jim recommends putting the 112 on the bottom. Which, I know sounds a little counter intuitive; but I think it has something to do with balancing the bigger lows from the 212. Could be the same deal with these 15’s. Worth the experiment, in any case.

interesting, I did not know that. I don't haul out my "CN312" very often, but next time I do, I'll try the 112 on the bottom.

 

[jnewmark]

Yes, it's definitely on the small side, and extremely easy to transport for a 2x15. I am highly impressed with this cab!

As someone who spent 30+ years hauling around a 215, that has to be the smallest one I've ever seen !

 

[pfschim]

As someone who spent 30+ years hauling around a 215, that has to be the smallest one I've ever seen !

yep! back in the early 70's I played through 1 Kustom 2x15 (JBL D140 loaded) cab, sometimes 2, with a matching Kustom 200 head ... all in that blue/green sparkle tuck and roll vinyl ... the ones with the chrome portholes. Those were big, unwieldy cabs.

that Subway 215 is just a bit bigger and heavier than my already small and light Berg CN212. Amazing!

 

[ezstep]

I'm very attached to 12" cabs (my go-to gig cab for the past 10 years or so has been the excellent Berg CN212), and I'm wondering what you would get with the 2x15 that you don't get with the 2x12....

I have a Subway 2x12, and I have two Subway 1x15's. What you get out of the two 15's is more volume (obviously), more bottom end but very tight and focused, and plenty of mids and highs. My favorite sound so far (in a 50+ year search). But, what you get with the 2x12's that you do not get with the two 15's is much more, "natural" mids and high mids. Not "honkey" by any means, but plenty of mids. When I use the 2x12 alone, I usually add a little bass or turn on the DEEP switch and add more HPF to the mix, and I generally bump down the mids just a bit. Even so, when you get to those funky, slapping-n-popping songs, the cab really shines.

I use the two 15's with my classic rock band, and I use the smaller cab with a smaller, more acoustic group, although this weekend I used the little cab with the full band and it did extremely well! At first the guitarist commented on how small the cab was, and afterward he commented again on how good (and how loud) it sounded. I use the 2x12 rather than using a single 15 nowadays. I just prefer it - but I do not prefer it over two 1x15's.

You cannot use the same amp settings for both cabs - too mid-rangy, not enough bottom, or too much bottom and needs more mid-range, depending on the cab(s) used. But, both (2x12 and/or two 1x15's) cabs are excellent! I have no complaints.

Oops. Forgot. D800+ head.

 

[scottm]

I have a Subway 2x12, and I have two Subway 1x15's. What you get out of the two 15's is more volume (obviously), more bottom end but very tight and focused, and plenty of mids and highs. My favorite sound so far (in a 50+ year search). But, what you get with the 2x12's that you do not get with the two 15's is much more, "natural" mids and high mids. Not "honkey" by any means, but plenty of mids. When I use the 2x12 alone, I usually add a little bass or turn on the DEEP switch and add more HPF to the mix, and I generally bump down the mids just a bit. Even so, when you get to those funky, slapping-n-popping songs, the cab really shines.

I use the two 15's with my classic rock band, and I use the smaller cab with a smaller, more acoustic group, although this weekend I used the little cab with the full band and it did extremely well! At first the guitarist commented on how small the cab was, and afterward he commented again on how good (and how loud) it sounded. I use the 2x12 rather than using a single 15 nowadays. I just prefer it - but I do not prefer it over two 1x15's.

You cannot use the same amp settings for both cabs - too mid-rangy, not enough bottom, or too much bottom and needs more mid-range, depending on the cab(s) used. But, both (2x12 and/or two 1x15's) cabs are excellent! I have no complaints.

Oops. Forgot. D800+ head.

Great info, thanks for sharing!

-ScottM