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Speaker Size

Shlogo

Shlogo

Dec 16, 2011
200
0
Chicago, Illinois
#1
I've been thinking about getting a new amp and cabs since the people I'm playing with lately have larger amps and I only have a 30w.
But I dont really need a big rig (to me) like a 4x10.
I was thinking getting either a 1x12 or 1x15 (each at 8ohms) then later get a larger cab when needed (like a 4x10 at 8 ohms) and combine them.

But I read somewhere that for speaker size you want 10s for the best sound.
I'm not sure what the guys experience was or where I read it so I dont have link to share.

So would getting a 1x15 not be a good idea?
And also, since all these cabs are at 8ohms imp. would there be a problem hooking up the 1x15 (or 1x12) with the 4x10?

And the amp I speak of is the Hartke LH500 and the HyDrive Cabs.

Thanks
 
#2
“Speaker Size” and “Mixing Cabs” can be heated topics on the TB amp board. So your thread could get long.

Shlogo said:
I've been thinking about getting a new amp and cabs since the people I'm playing with lately have larger amps and I only have a 30w.
But I dont really need a big rig (to me) like a 4x10.
I was thinking getting either a 1x12 or 1x15 (each at 8ohms) then later get a larger cab when needed (like a 4x10 at 8 ohms) and combine them.

But I read somewhere that for speaker size you want 10s for the best sound.
I'm not sure what the guys experience was or where I read it so I dont have link to share.

So would getting a 1x15 not be a good idea?
And also, since all these cabs are at 8ohms imp. would there be a problem hooking up the 1x15 (or 1x12) with the 4x10?

And the amp I speak of is the Hartke LH500 and the HyDrive Cabs.

Thanks
Click to expand...

But I read somewhere that for speaker size you want 10s for the best sound.
Click to expand...

Some people prefer 10s, others 12s, and others like 15s.

So would getting a 1x15 not be a good idea?
Click to expand...

Personally I think 15s Rule!!! So getting a good 8ohm 115 (1x15) now and adding a second identical 115 later if need be is a great idea.
 
#3
Speaker size is less important than a properly built/tuned cabinet.

You don't need 10s to get the proper sound. 10s, 12s and 15s sound different to people because they're using different speakers in different cabs, not because 10 inch speakers have a certain sound. (to paraphrasing smarter people than me)

Get an 8 ohm 115. You can add an identical 8 ohm 115 to it later to fully use your amps power. I don't know much about the Hydrive 115 but if I were buying a new 115 I would probably go with the Avatar TB153
 
#4
A VERY loose guideline: The smaller the speaker, the more dominant the high frequency sound.

I say very loose guideline because as Chris pointed out the individual tuning of each cabinet plays a huge role in how close this premise is to reality. But in general, the speaker size you want will depend on the tone that you're looking for. Guys that want really rumbly low-end love rocking the 15's while folks that like more bounce to their tone dig the 10's. 12's are often seen as a compromise between the two extremes. It really just depends on what you want to hear, the style of music you're playing, and the tone you feel best fits that style. (IE: I play in a 90's style pop-punk band that plays both fast and heavy and bouncy and light, often in the same song. My preferred rig is a 1x15 with a 2x10 on top which I feel gives me the bounce I'm looking for but also can rumble the floor when I need it to.)

Bottom line, the best advice for you is the same for anyone else that is looking for gear... go play a ton of combinations and see which one sounds best to you. (Sorry, but really it all boils down to that... every time.)
 
#9
Shlogo said:
I've been thinking about getting a new amp and cabs since the people I'm playing with lately have larger amps and I only have a 30w.
But I dont really need a big rig (to me) like a 4x10.
I was thinking getting either a 1x12 or 1x15 (each at 8ohms) then later get a larger cab when needed (like a 4x10 at 8 ohms) and combine them.

So would getting a 1x15 not be a good idea?
And also, since all these cabs are at 8ohms imp. would there be a problem hooking up the 1x15 (or 1x12) with the 4x10?

And the amp I speak of is the Hartke LH500 and the HyDrive Cabs.

Thanks
Click to expand...

I wont suggest any particular speaker size, but I would say that you have a good idea starting with an 8-ohm cab and then adding another 8-ohm cab if/when your need for more volume arises.

My only suggestion would be, whatever cab you decide to start with, get an identical cab for the add-on. Mixing cab sizes can be tricky...sometimes it works, sometimes it dont.
 
#10
I've found that mxing drivers didn't work for me, but what size of speakers doesn't matter so much either. At one rehearsal space I use 2 15's, but that doesn't seem to different tonewise from the 8x10" I use for outdoor stuff. For practical reasons I normally use 2 12" G.K.'s for electric, and the Phil Jones Briefcase for acoustic gigs. Fewer speakers & smaller sized ones to me simply means less weight to lug around ; )
 
#11
pmchenry said:
(IE: I play in a 90's style pop-punk band that plays both fast and heavy and bouncy and light, often in the same song.
Click to expand...

genre-win, do you have recordings?!

I love 90's pop-punk for fun and 90's emo for being awesome---so newer emo-revival bands like Multiplexor and Into It. Over It. that take elements of both and weave them together tend to be my favorite bands. I'ld love to check out somebody else who is doing something similar or just still making 90's pop-punk. (Also, I'm pretty Evan from Into It. Over It. played some pretty awesome bass with Damiera).
 
#12
For a single cab rig I prefer 1x15, for the big rig I add two 2x10 cabs (and another 1x15)
If I use a medium sized rig I prefer 1x15 and 2x10, best of both worlds and best sounding imho.
I have the old Mesa Diesel series cabs (all EVM loaded) not sure if you would get the same result with the Hartkes/other brands though...
 
#13
skychief said:
My only suggestion would be, whatever cab you decide to start with, get an identical cab for the add-on. Mixing cab sizes can be tricky...sometimes it works, sometimes it dont.
Click to expand...

The reason for the identical cab is two-fold: Different cabinets accentuate different frequencies and when you make low notes these differences can lead to the sound being completely cancelled out in certain areas of the room. The other, more instantly noticeable, problem with mixed drivers/cabs is that depending on the sensitivity of the speakers inside, one cabinet may end up being quite a bit louder than another. Not a "problem" really but it will completely negate any difference in sound you might be trying get from the quieter speaker.

If you really did WANT to use two different types of speakers, you could do it with a crossover (a device that sends certain frequencies to certain speakers.) Either a Bi-ampable head (like a GK 800RB---IMO you can never, ever go wrong with an 800RB) that will send highs to one cab and lows to another or a cabinet with a crossover (like in a [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]l cabinet.) But you don't need different types of speakers.
 
#15
FC Bass said:
I don't use a crossover in my rig (though I use separate amps) and get much better result (sound) with the 1x15 + 2x10 cabs compared to two 1x15's or two 2x10's :smug:
Click to expand...
that's pretty unusual;

are the two amps involved different from each other?

the idea is that with one amp, matched boxes will usually work better.

also, the cab itself has to be one you actually like!

a 2x10 you like on top of a 15 you kinda don't would probably be better than two 15s you don't like. better still would be two 2x10s (or whatever) you did like.
 
#17
pmchenry said:
A VERY loose guideline: The smaller the speaker, the more dominant the high frequency sound.

Guys that want really rumbly low-end love rocking the 15's while folks that like more bounce to their tone dig the 10's.
Click to expand...
except that typical 4x10s have more lows, not less, than typical 15 boxes.

so not a guideline at all, unfortunately.
 
#18
FC Bass said:
I don't use a crossover in my rig (though I use separate amps) and get much better result (sound) with the 1x15 + 2x10 cabs compared to two 1x15's or two 2x10's :smug:

(again that's my experience with my cabs, can be completely different with other cabs)
Click to expand...


Lol. I will be unsubscribing if this turns into one of those threads. I hope you stack them vertically at least.:D
(This next part isn't directed at you FC Bass---I have 115/210 that sound pretty good together too.)

If this does turn into a ridiculous thread, let me say before everyone jumps in:

The plural of anecdote is NOT fact.
(despite what I may have said on a recent monster-cables-sound better thread)
 
#20
walterw said:
that's pretty unusual;

are the two amps involved different from each other?
Click to expand...

Come to think of it, when I use the 1x15 2x10 combi I only use one amp (Mesa Bass 400)
My full rig is: Mesa Bass 400 with two 1x15's and Mesa Strategy 400 with two 2x10's (one per channel)
The Strategy connects to the slave out (post poweramp) of the Bass 400.
So that's one "master" preamp and basically the same power section for each individual speaker; six 6550's for the two 1x15 cabs and six 6l6's for the 2x10 cabs (per channel)

I had my rig at home a couple of weeks ago and experimented with the different setups (after reading those "grab yer beer and chips" threads here)

Two 1x15 cabs (EVM 15L) through Bass 400: To deep sounding for me, kind of sounded like the cabs were further away then they really are (hard to explain)

Two 2x10 cabs (EVM 10M) through Bass 400: Too harsh sounding, not quite the "Icepick in brains" but definitely too much highs (note: I mainly use an almost all Maple Alembic)

When combined it sounded a lot better to me, as said above "Best of both worlds"
All speakers are 8 ohm and connected correctly (9v battery test)

Here's a video of the Bass 400 and 1x15 + 2x10 combi: Youtube link Not the best example, but for now the only one I've got.
You can hear the full rig alone in this vid: another Youtube link (also not a very good example because of all the Fuzz/effects/sloppy playing)

I might also add: we play extremely loud :p

Comes down to best advice for the OP: Try and if you like what you hear it's good :)
 

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