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Questions about Hartke XL & HyDrive series cabinets

wkargel

wkargel

Aug 14, 2008
23
3
Orlando, FL
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#1
Hi guys. I was not active musically for a number of years, and last year I finally got back into playing. I started out last year with a used Hartke A100 Combo Amplifier that was really cool. A few months ago, I was fortunate to become part of a band again, and I traded it in for a new Hartke HyDrive HD150 Combo Amplifier. This has been working OK for me during rehearsals, but I am having trouble competing with two guitarists each with 100 watt half stacks during rehearsals. That brings me to my next dilemma. We will be ready to begin playing out by the end of summer (all orginal music). I think I need to invest in a little bit more power, i.e. a bass amplifier/head and one or more bass speaker cabinets. I have been doing a bit of research, sticking with Hartke as I have been quite happy with them. With that in mind, I am having some difficulty trying to decide between two different lines of Hartke bass cabinets...the older tried and true XL series, and the newer HyDrive series. I have now played through both types using a combo amp (the aforementioned A100 and then the HD150), and both sounded great. What I am hoping to determine from this posting is some feedback from all of you about the differences between the two product lines, the pros and cons. Reliability. Experiences with them in gigging situations. Things like that.

Based on my own research, here are some pros and cons I have determined (YMMV):

Hartke XL series:

PROS: relatively inexpensive; proven design over the years; bright, punchy tone from aluminum cone drivers
CONS: quite heavy; no casters; no tweeter; lower power rating compared to HyDrives (less than half)

Hartke HyDrive series:

PROS: less weight (much like neo cabinets); has casters standard (on some); adjustable tweeter; high power rating; sweet tone from hybrid paper/aluminum cone drivers

CONS: more expensive (twice that of XL series)



I am looking to potentially bi-amp the new rig, so keep in mind I will need two cabinets. Music style is rock, even a bit metal. I play using both fingers and a pick as needed. I need the flexibility of a wide frequency range (tight defined bottem end as well as a clear high end). Hopefully lots of headroom.

Any insight, opinions and feedback appreciated!

Cheers,

Bill
 
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#3
If you are using a 5 string, and cost isn't a factor, I'd get a Hydrive 115 for the bottom end. The roll off point is 20hz, as compared to the 30hz roll off of the 410. I used the 410 and was extremely happy with the sound down to the low D. Nice and tight, with lots of punch. But below that, it started to lose control. By the low B, it was starting to fart out.

However, it can handle 1000 watts, where the 115 maxes out at 500.

If you aren't using a 5 string, or going below drop-D tuning, the 410 is a no brainer. And I probably wouldn't biamp. Get a head that can push a ton of wattage into 8 ohms, and stop worrying.

If you are using a 5er, I'd get the 115, and put a Hydrive 210 on top of it. The 115 is ported and the 210 is sealed. Porting allows the 115 to drive lower with greater efficiency, at the expense of a tight upper midrange. The 210 fills that gap. It rolls off smoothly at 42hz and supplies a great mid punch. Both cabs are rated at 500 watts, so they pair perfectly with the LH1000 head. Again, biamping isn't necessary.

If you really want to biamp, a pair of LH500 amps would do the trick, but with an 8ohm load, they are rated for 320 watts.

For the XL series, the same rules apply, but they can't take the power that the Hydrives can - the 115 is rated to 300 watts, while the 210 is a 200 watt box, but the design principles are the same. The roll off point of the 115XL is 30hz, so you'll lose a little of the bottom as compared to the Hydrive.

As for which cone is better, that's up to you. The Hydrives are still Hartkes and the aluminum provides a nice bite, but they are noticeably warmer than the all aluminum XL drivers.

After a bunch of experimentation, I've settled on a Hydrive 115 and either a 210XL or the 2.5XL (now discontinued).

I like the warmth of the Hydrive 115 on the bottom. It's a very rich sound with a ton of depth, while the XL tops provide me with that classic Hartke sound.
 
#6
I ran the Hydrive 410 with the LH1000 for a couple of years and thought it was a nice setup. The 410 sounded good and is very easy to move and the head had plenty of power. The EQ stack was somewhat polarizing due to how it worked but I thought it had a good tone. That may be an option worth looking in to.
 
#8
Pic for you.

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#9
they're all good. I ran the XL stuff for years, made the switch to Hydrive recently. I personally like the New Hydrive stuff better but would not be disappointed using a couple 410 XLs or even the 410 Transporters were decent, lighter and just a 100W less. The 4.5 and 2.5 XLs kick butt but are heavy..

The only ones I'd avoid are the 115 transporter cabs (too Farty) , and they 810XL (sealed and has weak low end). the 210XL is OK if you have a 15" under it.

Just my personal opinion, everyone has there own desired tone.. If your on a budget, go used HA3500 head (or HA7000 for bi-amping) and some XL cabs, if you got the cash, go Hydrive. a 210/115 Hydrive would be pretty sweet..

I've had great luck with a LH500 or HA3500 head thru 2 HX112 hydrive cabs. Newest rig for me is an LH1000 into an 810 Hydrive (test run at a gig next week)
 
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#10
I have an LH1000 with an HX410 which I think is fine for doing drop D etc. If you are mixing cabs some people would say actually get 2 410s as sonically this works better to cut through as the low end of the 115 can just get lost, although you will 'feel' it is there. I am not saying the earlier post is wrong, but it is obviously what works for them, and not everyone, except if you are after a real sub, heavy, air sucking out the room sound, then I would go 115, but I would probably have 2 amps and split the signal.
Having 2 410's is easier to transport and if you only need 1 cab for the venue, hey presto a smaller footprint but big sound.
 
#11
Cuzzie said:
I have an LH1000 with an HX410 which I think is fine for doing drop D etc. If you are mixing cabs some people would say actually get 2 410s as sonically this works better to cut through as the low end of the 115 can just get lost, although you will 'feel' it is there. I am not saying the earlier post is wrong, but it is obviously what works for them, and not everyone, except if you are after a real sub, heavy, air sucking out the room sound, then I would go 115, but I would probably have 2 amps and split the signal.
Having 2 410's is easier to transport and if you only need 1 cab for the venue, hey presto a smaller footprint but big sound.
Click to expand...
I brought my 6er in when I tested Hydrive cabs. When I played my low D, the HX410 sounded great, but any lower, and the cab started to fart out. The HX115 took the low B laughing, and when I checked the specs, I realized why: the 115 drives down to 20hz.

In short, if the lowest you go is drop D, get the HX410. If you are using a low B, get the 115.
 
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#12
Echo @tfer been fiddling with a Mantic beef bag sub pedal, and when I went for it on the low signal it sent my heart pumping on how hard the cones were working!
I looked briefly at at HX115 which are lovely as written above, and in the end realised I wasn't doing much past drop D so no need and dialled back the very low end a bit pushing the mids.

In short for my bearing in mind portability, sound etc the HX's are ones I would go for
 
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#16
Gotta agree with @tfer it pretty much says it all above, test drive 'em both and test drive your wallet and see what you come out with, none will disappoint, just see what you like best
 
#17
My last ownership experience with Hartke cabs was quite a while back. I had a 4.5XL and a 2.5XL, which at that time (the 90's) were at the top of the Hartke food-chain. They weighed a ton, but never gave me a problem in years of heavy gigging. A friend borrowed and over-powered the 2.5 XL which resulted in some voice coil problems, but operator abuse is not a product defect. For a number of reasons, I got rid of the cabs shortly thereafter and moved on to other stuff.

I always felt that despite being very heavily constructed the quality overall (specifically the speakers themselves and internal wiring) was not as high as brands like GK, Mesa, Ampeg, Eden and SWR. However, they never let me down, and I played them a lot!

I have a friend who still uses a 210XL alone and sometimes with a 115XL. For the all aluminum cone models, the XL cabs seem to the best sounding and most trouble free in my experience and anecdotally.
 

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