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smallest full range cab

#22
Groovin said:
I dont see the point. Why not use the berg 112.. going smaller than that just doesnt make sense. Its like wanting a smaller car than a Mini... Why arent headphones a good idea?
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You're right-- it doesn't make sense!

Headphones are a *great* idea-- I use them everyday. But still, there are times when I want out-loud practice at home. The Berg is way overkill for that, and since I really don't want or need another small combo, my thought (spurred by similar thoughts by other TB'ers in another thread) went something like this:

"While it probably doesn't make much sense, it sure would be cool to have an ultra-small cab that the Bass Buddy could power at 10 watts to an audible level for out-loud practice. You know, somewhere between headphones and a small combo amp?"

:D

Anyway, you're right...
 
#23
dunamis said:
Looks like I'm stuck with using the Berg IP112-- it sounds pretty good at low volume...:cool:
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My heart bleeds for you - stuck with the IP112.
Tell you what, send me the IP112 and I'll design and custom build you a small speaker for the 10 watt amp. What a deal! It will sound OK, really!
 
#25
I seem to remember, years ago, when SWR first came out with the original Baby Blue that they offered a 1x8"+horn cab as a companion to it. I'm probably wrong but it might be worth your time to research it.

The only "decent" (your definition might vary) current cabinet in the size your looking at I can find is the Epifani UL-110.
 
#27
Why not this

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Or this

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Or this

750-Reveal6_img_angle.jpg


I think any studio monitor would sound great for a low powered practice setup. And you can normally buy them in singles.:cool:
 
#28
OK, that last post caught my attention. Not a bad suggestion.

For you Bass Buddy lovers (and I know there are several who've been watching this thread):

I borrowed one of these "studio monitors" today to test the theory. In a nut shell-- it didn't work out well.

At only 10 watts, I didn't expect much volume, and it certainly was not loud. Even so, there was a lot distortion past 12 o'clock on the Bass Buddy's gain (and it was not "good distortion").

I think the main issue is the tweeter on this type of speaker. There's no way to turn off or attenuate the tweeter. Even using the BB's EQ to reduce the high's didn't help.

At *really* low volumes (think below human voices in conversation) it sounded good, but above that--:rollno:

I don't recommend this route for Bass Buddy-ists. Maybe Phil Jones can come up with the solution for the uber-compact Bass Buddy cab?

Back to using the IP112 for me...:D
 
#31
Buy a secondhand hifi speaker of decent efficiency and extension. Single speakers usually show up cheap (<$20). With 10W, providing you're not clipping the BB all the time, should give you what you want. If you're worried abut losing the HF driver, bypass the xover and wire directly to the midbass driver.
A cheap 'tower' speaker is a geat option; should have better extension at the bottom, but takes a small amount of floor area and will put the driver(s) closer to ear level.

EDIT: just read your comments about monitor speakers. With a cheapie, remove the xover as I suggested. I use some old Celestion floorstanders atm, and ignore the tone (remember practice speaker) but they have a clarity few bass rigs of any size can match, which shows up technique faults with alacrity.
 
#32
dunamis said:
OK, that last post caught my attention. Not a bad suggestion.

For you Bass Buddy lovers (and I know there are several who've been watching this thread):

I borrowed one of these "studio monitors" today to test the theory. In a nut shell-- it didn't work out well.

At only 10 watts, I didn't expect much volume, and it certainly was not loud. Even so, there was a lot distortion past 12 o'clock on the Bass Buddy's gain (and it was not "good distortion").

I think the main issue is the tweeter on this type of speaker. There's no way to turn off or attenuate the tweeter. Even using the BB's EQ to reduce the high's didn't help.

At *really* low volumes (think below human voices in conversation) it sounded good, but above that--:rollno:

I don't recommend this route for Bass Buddy-ists. Maybe Phil Jones can come up with the solution for the uber-compact Bass Buddy cab?

Back to using the IP112 for me...:D
Click to expand...

I tried:smug: Just for kicks what monitor speaker did you try out?
 
#33
Remember, we're talking 10 watts, maxed out. For a clean sound you will most likely be running 4 or 5 watts. That is going to be best suited for a 3 to 5 inch speaker with a very high efficiency. Tivoli Audio makes a 3 inch extension speaker for their little AM/FM table radio. If I don't find something in a small cheap bookshelf speaker, I may give one of these a try at $49. They also make a powered subwoofer for their radio, but it is a bit more money. Come on, guys. You are asking too much of your Buddy to drive a 10 or 12 inch cabinet. I'd never subject my Buddy to that sort of abuse and I hope you wouldn't either. :eyebrow: :rollno: :eek:
 
#34
Joe Beets said:
Remember, we're talking 10 watts, maxed out. For a clean sound you will most likely be running 4 or 5 watts. That is going to be best suited for a 3 to 5 inch speaker with a very high efficiency. .... Come on, guys. You are asking too much of your Buddy to drive a 10 or 12 inch cabinet. I'd never subject my Buddy to that sort of abuse and I hope you wouldn't either. :eyebrow: :rollno: :eek:
Click to expand...
Most <5" drivers are inefficient, mid to high 80's with a decently low Fs, so you'll be clipping the small amp trying to get decent SPL out of it. Something like an Audax PR170MO is mid 90's (ignore the 100dB spec and look at the curves) but has a 117 Fs. An efficient, but larger >10" driver enclosure could be much more efficient package.
Hoffman's Iron Law rules here too.
 
#35
Next time you're in a Circuit City or Best Buy, check out one of those Tivoli radios. Their little 3 inch speaker sounds deep for it's size. The Bose table radio seems to have good bottom to it as well. Can they handle a low "B", maybe not. Is it some sort of trick, whereby the human ear only "thinks" you are hearing the low frequencies, maybe. But I don't think I will find a 10 or 12 inch cabinet that I can put in my pocket or packpack. And that's the whole point of this thread. :eyebrow:
 
#36
I tried mine through a 10" Eminence guitar speaker and was able to get up to late night pratice volumes. With two 15" speakers it would be able to handle quiet acoustic gigs. I find it sounds best through full size bass cabs instead of car sized speakers.

I've also used it as the front end of a Tivoli and was surprised by it's output for it's size, but I wouldn't buy one specifically for this application.
 
#37
I'd go with this, in fact I went with this;)

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Extremely portable, surprisingly good built-in effects, handles even my six string basses fine. More than enough for personal practice.
I haven't been crazy about Roland bass amps... but I really like this one.
 

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