Sealed cab- replacement speaker question

[MikeBass]

I have a question for you "speaker guru's/experts/geeks".

I have a Ampeg PortaBass 112 combo (250 watt head BTW) that is a sealed cab.
The speaker is a stamped frame "Aura" 200 watt neo.

No, the thing sounds great (IMO) but the speaker has been worked pretty darn hard. Some beer/drinks dropped in front of it-getting a bit sprayed. Typical bar use, but the speaker doesn't have a warp or anything on the cone. Smooth as can be, just a few drop marks on it.
So I'm tossing around the idea of dropping another speaker in there to give the thing a new lease on life.

Thinking of getting one with more "gas in the tank"- higher wattage/better quality etc....

I've looked at the Eminence Delta Light 2512 as it has been recommended by a local Eminence dealer (actually the biggest dealer in the Detroit metro area- they do a LOT of repairs & sales).

Cab size is roughly 14.24"x11.25"x15" (the front actually angles back slightly towards the top of the cab). About 1.3 cu.ft. A little less actually as the slight angle to the front.

So, how does this look??? Thoughts??
Other speaker options???

 

[billfitzmaurice]

Your local Eminence dealer is a bit off the mark on this one. For a sealed box the recommended driver EBP is no higher than 75, preferably less. The EBP of the 2512 is 84, so, while not unusable, there are better choices.

 

[MikeBass]

Your local Eminence dealer is a bit off the mark on this one. For a sealed box the recommended driver EBP is no higher than 75, preferably less. The EBP of the 2512 is 84, so, while not unusable, there are better choices.

Cool!
I knew someone here would have a solid answer!

Any recommendations Bill???

 

[billfitzmaurice]

Cool!
I knew someone here would have a solid answer!

Any recommendations Bill???

The Alpha 12 has good specs for a sealed box, but the xmax is a bit shy, so it won't go to very high levels. The Gamma 12 was also a good sealed box driver, but is discontinued. The 2512 will take plenty of power but response isn't as good as the Alpha. A lot has to do with what's in there now, knowing that would allow a valid comparison to be made. It may well be an autosound driver, so even an Alpha 12 could be a major upgrade.

 

[MikeBass]

The Alpha 12 has good specs for a sealed box, but the xmax is a bit shy, so it won't go to very high levels. The Gamma 12 was also a good sealed box driver, but is discontinued. The 2512 will take plenty of power but response isn't as good as the Alpha. A lot has to do with what's in there now, knowing that would allow a valid comparison to be made. It may well be an autosound driver, so even an Alpha 12 could be a major upgrade.

All I know about the thing is that is is stamped "Aura" on the back, it's a neo stamped frame, and the "cab" is rated at 200 Watts (according to Ampeg).

 

[billfitzmaurice]

All I know about the thing is that is is stamped "Aura" on the back, it's a neo stamped frame, and the "cab" is rated at 200 Watts (according to Ampeg).

I very much doubt it's original. Aura does make a 200w hi-fi/autosound neo sub woofer with only 85dB sensitivity, totally unsuited to the task.

 

[greenboy]

As I recall, those had an OEM load derived from the first-generation Eminence Deltalite.

 

[MikeBass]

I very much doubt it's original. Aura does make a 200w hi-fi/autosound neo sub woofer with only 85dB sensitivity, totally unsuited to the task.

I disagree because Don at Low Down Sound (not the place I mentioned earlier) has an identical 12 out of a PoartBass 112 ext cab that he replaced.
So, maybe they switched to an "offshore" OEM replacement from the Eminence.

 

[62bass]

I very much doubt it's original. Aura does make a 200w hi-fi/autosound neo sub woofer with only 85dB sensitivity, totally unsuited to the task.

According to a Bass Player review on the first generation of these cabinets the stock speaker was made by Aura. The only reason I remember that data is because I was surprised that they went with a speaker from a company not noted for musical instrument speakers.

The 1x12 and 2x12 cabinets I tried out in the store back then had a good sound, warm yet well defined and the cabinets were indeed very light and portable. They were very inefficient however and would not play at a very loud volume cleanly. They'd have been good for jazz gigs, dance band, quiet country and the like.

I later heard that the speakers failed easily in live use, which is not at all surprising considering what I noticed when playing them. I was in the market for something that light at the time but I knew they wouldn't be up to the task.

I remember reading Ampeg's specs on those cabinets and all of them were 4 ohm cabinets-I guess to get the most out of the fairly low powered head Ampeg made as part of this series.

I wasn't surprised when they stopped production.

 

[JimmyM]

Another reason the once-great Ampeg name is going down the tubes.

 

[MikeBass]

Actually I'm quite surprised how loud this will get.
My experience with it has been pretty satisfying up to this point.

At one point I thought about getting the cab ported and spec'd with a big ol' powerful speaker, but I kinda like what it does.

 

[OldogNewTrick]

closest match from the Eminence stable...

not quite to Bill's specs, but good enough, I guess
(been looking at a 2x12 sealed cab for my old tube amp)

BassLite S2012, Small Sealed Bass Guitar Cabinet
By Jerry McNutt, Eminence Speaker LLC
Displacement Limited to 125 Watts. Slow Roll-off.
Great for Ultra Clean Bass. Can be made Ultra Light.

look [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[billfitzmaurice]

closest match from the Eminence stable...

not quite to Bill's specs, but good enough, I guess
(been looking at a 2x12 sealed cab for my old tube amp)



look [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

The 2012 has an EBP of 91, so it's even less appropriate for a sealed box. The main problem remains trying to match or improve upon the existing driver, but that means finding the specs. Ampeg is not likely to be any help there, Aura might.