Orange 500W/2x12 Combo... talk me off the ledge?

[Mr. Foxen]

I think people are missing the point. Whatever you think of isobaric cabs, the SP212 sounds awesome! That is all! On top of that, it looks sexy as hell. And, while it may be theoretically possible to get a 1x12 in a larger cab to sound the same, the point is that there aren't any other cabs on the market which do sound the same!

Must have taken you a long while to A/B them all.

 

[no2code]

whatever happened to the 300w bass terror combo

 

[atreyu2112]

I am thinking of this exact rig, but head and cab, not the combo. I think it sounds awesome.

 

[bassmachine2112]

I,ve just got the terror bass head and 2x12 cab for cheaper than the combo and gigged it last night.Good deal
Wow is the only word.
I was a little concerned about about the same output as a single 12 but that,s been put to bed.
Louder with a 2x12 -are you mad
How much louder do you need.
Comments from my listeners in the crowd were boy you were loud in the mix ,they could have turned you down on the mixer.
I wasn,t in the PA at all.
One person I trust who didn,t know that I had just got one said I could feel it hitting me in the stomach at the back so how loud do you need.
Gain was on 3 and volume with eq flat-ie 12 o clock bass middle and treble.
I didn,t have time to fiddle with settings as I just got and went straight to gig.
Oh almost forgot it sounds amazing,it,s the sound in my head I,ve been looking for.

 

[bassmachine2112]

It,s the sp 12 isobarbaric cab by the way.
It really moves the ground.
As previoud comment-doesn,t cut cut through the mix ,just bludgeons it,s way through.
I did have concerns about the cab but not now.
Heaven forbid what it would be like with 2 of these cabs running 4 ohm.
Here,s another thought what is the 1000 watt version like with 2 4x10 sp cabs.
More than pleased
The 2x 12 cab for this head works.
Oh previous post-gain and volume on 3 with eq flat-12 oclock.Now where did I put those earplugs.

 

[SolarMan]

This whole argument about getting just as loud with less weight for less money is silly.

Of course you can.

But go ahead and get your flyweight 1x12 or 2x12 with neo and composite; or even a 100 pounder 2x12 - and do a side by side with your favorite head.

The point of the isobaric is the sound that it puts out. Killer is the only word I can come up with.

Seriously, you worrying about -3 dB? Mike it. Low end extension? It is there.

Stop looking at graphs and clinical data.

And "out of phase"? Yeah, but just remember that your left ear is out of phase with your right.

Getting lost in numbers and stats is a total derail of what it sounds like.

 

[Mr. Foxen]

That works if you disregard both price and all the competing cabinets on the market. Along with volume, and can rely on a PA and sound engineer for sound.

 

[jasper383]

Used TB500 $500.
Used 212 cab (Avatar, for instance) $400.

All of the performance of that combo for a little more than half the price.

 

[Mr. Foxen]

Used TB500 $500.
Used 212 cab (Avatar, for instance) $400.

All of the performance of that combo for a little more than half the price.

*Performance of two of them, since in the Avatar, both speakers move air, so doubles up.

 

[midichlorine]

i had one for a minute and it was fat and loud!!

 

[lomo]

You could take 1 of the 2 drivers in the isobaric cab and place it in a larger boxed tuned to the same frequency and it would sound the same. There is no tonal magic inherent to isobaric design.....at all. I have heard the cab. It sounds good, but not better or even all that different than some other good 112s.

It cannot compete with a good 212 for volume, but it costs and weighs almost as much. That's the point some of us are making. If you really feel it produces a sound you cannot get in a good 112, then enjoy it

This whole argument about getting just as loud with less weight for less money is silly.

Of course you can.

But go ahead and get your flyweight 1x12 or 2x12 with neo and composite; or even a 100 pounder 2x12 - and do a side by side with your favorite head.

The point of the isobaric is the sound that it puts out. Killer is the only word I can come up with.

Seriously, you worrying about -3 dB? Mike it. Low end extension? It is there.

Stop looking at graphs and clinical data.

And "out of phase"? Yeah, but just remember that your left ear is out of phase with your right.

Getting lost in numbers and stats is a total derail of what it sounds like.

 

[Mr. Foxen]

You could take 1 of the 2 drivers in the isobaric cab and place it in a larger boxed tuned to the same frequency and it would sound the same. There is no tonal magic inherent to isobaric design.....at all. I have heard the cab. It sounds good, but not better or even all that different than some other good 112s.

It cannot compete with a good 212 for volume, but it costs and weighs almost as much. That's the point some of us are making. If you really feel it produces a sound you cannot get in a good 112, then enjoy it

There is a small difference from the distance between the drivers making a mess, its pretty high up. Probably a similar sort of deal to guitarists thinking lining their cabs messes up the sound, as it loses the reflection from the back, bit of 'character' goes. good if you don't like the sound of your playing/signal chain.

 

[rhopper]

Its not the sound, its the expense of the design. Its -3db compared to a normal 212 in sensitivity, it weighs more than other designs that achieve the same SPL out put, it weighs more than other designs that achieve the same SPL.

You can get the same sound from a properly designed 112 enclosure.

The point is, why pay for the extra driver, gain the added weight, and loose the sensitivity, just so you can have a slightly smaller box?

Because it sounds great.

 

[CL400Peavey]

Because it sounds great.

Right I get it that you like the tone. Good. As Mr.Foxen has pointed out you could get that same tone out of a 112 with the same driver, if it was properly tuned for it. You would also loose the weight and cost of the second driver.

There is nothing awesome about the tone of an Iso cab that can not be duplicated with the same speaker in a different box. The goal of the iso design is to shed a little size at the cost of a second driver.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Must have taken you a long while to A/B them all.

This comment should apply to everyone involved in this debate. Some folks clearly feel this is unnecessary.

 

[jeff7bass]

FYI, the Terror actually tested higher in power terms than 500w (rms), and bursts were above 900w (@ 4 ohms).
The Orange cabs are designed for a certain sound (thunderous, sits well with the kick drum) and if you like that sound, I say go for it.

 

[rodl2005]

The OP asked for opinions/thoughts......
Many given already.
If you, the OP, anyone, likes the Isobaric Orange 212, good for them, & go for it, if that's what you want.
Others are just expressing their (often) considerable knowledge re cab design. All good.
My 2c.....
The TB500's a great li'l amp. Having the selectable impedance switch is handy, not having a pre/post , versatile- DI isn't.
I only kept the TH500 over the Orange due to the DI & also the more versatile EQ in the Aggy.
So, if the op likes the TB500, I'd go for it as a separate amp head & get a nice 212 to go with it. Small enough to put both on a small hand-kart, & powerful & versatile enough for any gig.
That's gotta be 2c worth

 

[unkydimmy]

Hey all - contrary to the norm, the Orang Terror 500 combo was CHEAPER up here in Canada. I bought it on Sunday for about 1300 bucks including tax. Then returned it on Monday because the bloody thing rattled like crazy. Instead, I picked up the standalone head. Now I need to find a cab to pair with it. I'm thinking of the avatar 210 (700 w/8 ohms). Thoughts? U also have a line on Gk 212 neo for $400. Not a crazy deal, but it might be a good place to start.

Re: the combo - if it wasn't so rattley and buzzy, it would be perfect for anyone where size is the number one factor.

 

[rodl2005]

212 always better than a 210 imo. AS long as it's 8 ohm, so u can add another later if needed.

 

[CL400Peavey]

212 always better than a 210 imo. AS long as it's 8 ohm, so u can add another later if needed.

Except when the 212 is an iso and only has the output of a 112...