Speaker size 10" vs 12"

[Fynn]

As others have said, it depends on the design of the speaker, and probably more importantly, the cab.
That being said, I often find that 12" actually have less low end than most 210s for example. So bigger doesn't necessarily mean that it gives more low end. When you compare a 110 to a 112, then the 112 probably gets lower. But you could still design a 110 to go way lower, than a 112.
What you need to do is figure out how much low end you want, and then compare individiual options to figure out which suits you the best

 

[bigdaddybass12]

A loaded question,,,A single 10 may not be as good as a single 12. Depends on what you want to do with it. Practice? don't matter, use at a gig? yeah, go with a 12. But then it will depend on the cabinet. I have a SWR Pro 12 cabinet, it’s pretty old but sounds great. The original SWR pro cabs were designed by Steve Rabe and came with Bag End speakers. Some of the best sounding cabs in its time,

 

[agedhorse]

I tried several 12s on their own and they all sounded the same. My experience with different brand 10s is similar. IMHO 10s are more in your face and 12s have more a of vintage tone. I'm sure there are exceptions, but this has been my experience. If I use just one of my cabs on its own, it is always the 210 rather than the 112.

That’d not been my experience.

the only thing the size of the driver tells you is literally -- the size of the driver. the size of the driver alone does not tell you anything about frequency response or how much air it moves. what's the x-max? what's the speaker sensitivity rating? what box is the speaker in? etc.

There’s a whole lot more that make a difference, including mid voicing.

 

[frankie5string]

Don't worry so much about the size of the cone. You ultimately have to plug in and listen to the cab. Can it get to the volume you want? Does it have the dryness or warmth you like? How does it feel with your amp? Is it easy for you to transport - are you going to want to use it?

Far more important than just cone size.

 

[tvbop]

There's another variable here that people never discuss...ur technique. I can get the flabbiest speaker array to sound ok by the way I play. No amount of hyper designed speaker or size will make up for poor technique.

 

[Johnny Fingers]

I’m waiting for oddball amp company to make 11” and 13.5” speakers to fill in the gap.

 

[agedhorse]

I’m waiting for oddball amp company to make 11” and 13.5” speakers to fill in the gap.

JBL made a 14" pro audio driver at one time...

 

[Passinwind]

I’m waiting for oddball amp company to make 11” and 13.5” speakers to fill in the gap.

All they have to do is change the measuring convention and we're already there...

 

[MarshallAC50Stack]

There's another variable here that people never discuss...ur technique. I can get the flabbiest speaker array to sound ok by the way I play. No amount of hyper designed speaker or size will make up for poor technique.

Damn!

 

[Wasnex]

Something to keep in mind is volume capabilities are determined by two factors, 1. usable power and 2. speaker efficiency.

I think most decent companies post these specs for their amps and speakers, which you can use for a ballpark estimate of how loud a cab can play.

This type of comparison is most valid when you are comparing a company's cabs in the same series. The way the specs are determined is not standardized, so the efficacy goes down if if you are comparing cabs from different product lines, and especially if you are comparing cabs from different manufacturers.

First figure out the usable power. This is the lower number between how much the amp can make at the impedance of the cab, and how much power the cab can handle. Use RMS or AES ratings. For example if you have an 8 ohm cab with a 300W RMS power rating and an amp that is rated for 400W RMS at 8 ohms, the usable power is 300W.

Next you need the sensitivity rating of the cab expressed in terms of decibels measured at 1 meter with 1 Watt is applied. For example the rating might look like this 97dB 1W/1m.

The formula you use is

Calculated SPL = [Log(Usable Power) x 10] + Sensitivity Rating​

So let's compare the calculated SPL of a GR Bass AT 110 to an AT Cube 112

Let's assume our amp makes 400W RMS. Note that both speakers are rated for less power than the amp can provide...so we will use the speaker power rating for usable power.

AT 110

Power Rating 300W AES
Sensitivity 98dB 1W/1m
Calculated SPL = [Log(300) x 10] + 98 = 122.8dB​

AT Cube 112

Power Rating 350W AES
Sensitivity 99dB 1W/1m
Calculated SPL = [Log(350) x 10] + 99 = 124.4dB
​

The volume difference is only 1.6dB. Normally we assume you need a 3dB change to hear a clear difference. However, you may hear a noticeable difference in tonal balance. Also, in my experience a rig rated to produce a calculated 124dB is pretty much the minimum I would want. Your target SPL requirement may be lower or higher.

 

[Gurnmagic]

Speakers sound vastly different, depending on drivers, configurations, manufacturers, etc. Years ago I tried downsizing from a 4x10 to a 2x10 and couldn’t make it work. And tried neos when they first came out and couldn’t live with them. Then discovered the Bergie ENXT 12”. That’s a great sounding speaker and only 29lbs.
Listen to a lot of em and find out what you like, it might take a minute to get there.

 

[Killing Floor]

What color is better? Blue, or red?

Depends. Daphne blue is better than fire engine red.

 

[J Wilson]

It all depends on the 10" or 12" driver used coupled with the design and build quality of the cabinet it's mounted in. You have to think of bass cabinets and their speakers as a single device. The highest tech and spec 10 or 12 will simply suck in a crappola cabinet, while a more pedestrian driver in a smartly designed and built cabinet might sound and perform noticeably better.

I've heard both.

 

[ashtray]

The only thing I can add, with about 1,000 possible exceptions, is that “in many cases” a particular company’s 1x12 cab will likely be slightly louder than that same company’s 1x10 cab from the same cab series.

And, strictly from my own personal experience, there seems to be a bigger selection of 1x12 cabs out there than 1x10. If shopping for a single small cab, I’d probably look at 1x12’s only because there (possibly) more to choose from. (but now that I say that, someone will link to 50,000 different 1x10 cabs to prove me wrong)

 

[agedhorse]

Something to keep in mind is volume capabilities are determined by two factors, 1. usable power and 2. speaker efficiency.

I think most decent companies post these specs for their amps and speakers, which you can use for a ballpark estimate of how loud a cab can play.

This type of comparison is most valid when you are comparing a company's cabs in the same series. The way the specs are determined is not standardized, so the efficacy goes down if if you are comparing cabs from different product lines, and especially if you are comparing cabs from different manufacturers.

First figure out the usable power. This is the lower number between how much the amp can make at the impedance of the cab, and how much power the cab can handle. Use RMS or AES ratings. For example if you have an 8 ohm cab with a 300W RMS power rating and an amp that is rated for 400W RMS at 8 ohms, the usable power is 300W.

Next you need the sensitivity rating of the cab expressed in terms of decibels measured at 1 meter with 1 Watt is applied. For example the rating might look like this 97dB 1W/1m.

The formula you use is

Calculated SPL = [Log(Usable Power) x 10] + Sensitivity Rating​

So let's compare the calculated SPL of a GR Bass AT 110 to an AT Cube 112

Let's assume our amp makes 400W RMS. Note that both speakers are rated for less power than the amp can provide...so we will use the speaker power rating for usable power.

AT 110

Power Rating 300W AES
Sensitivity 98dB 1W/1m
Calculated SPL = [Log(300) x 10] + 98 = 122.8dB​

AT Cube 112

Power Rating 350W AES
Sensitivity 99dB 1W/1m
Calculated SPL = [Log(350) x 10] + 99 = 124.4dB
​

The volume difference is only 1.6dB. Normally we assume you need a 3dB change to hear a clear difference. However, you may hear a noticeable difference in tonal balance. Also, in my experience a rig rated to produce a calculated 124dB is pretty much the minimum I would want. Your target SPL requirement may be lower or higher.

It also depends on how sensitivity and power handling is defined.

 

[yberwaffe]

All they have to do is change the measuring convention and we're already there...

If they start using the metric system all hell will break loose.
Well, not in europe but still.

 

[agedhorse]

If they start using the metric system all hell will break loose.
Well, not in europe but still.

I have to design in both sets of units, grrrr.

 

[Doctor Morbius]

What color is better? Blue, or red?

Of course, red is faster. It's science!

 

[gtirard]

If they start using the metric system all hell will break loose.
Well, not in europe but still.

If they start using the metric system all hell will break loose.
Well, not in europe but still.

Do you know how many countries in the world are still using the good old imperial system?

3

"The U.S., Myanmar and Liberia are the only countries that still use the imperial system day to day"

How many countries are using the metric system?

All other countries in the world.

 

[Wasnex]

Do you know how many countries in the world are still using the good old imperial system?

3

"The U.S., Myanmar and Liberia are the only countries that still use the imperial system day to day"

How many countries are using the metric system?

All other countries in the world.

Pretty sure Great Britain is still partially imperial.