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Stacking Mesa Subway Cabs Question

N4860

N4860

Mar 28, 2017
3,569
9,039
Waterloo, ON Canada
#1
Hey, I know the Subway cabs are quite popular here so I have a quick question. Has anyone tried using a Subway 2x15 with a Subway 1x15? The 2x15 is 4 ohm and the 1x15 is 8 ohm. Is there any reason why this wouldn't be a good match?

Also, I noticed the depth dimensions of the 2 cabs are slightly different (~.75") so I was wondering if anyone has experience trying to stack the 2 cabs and if that difference affects the balance much.

I want to have a rig that can accommodate playing with some pretty loud players but also something that can be flexible in terms of what I would need to bring to a gig if it were a smaller quiet gig. Being able to take either 1, 2, or 3 15" speakers seems pretty flexible to me.
 
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#5
2milehighspike said:
What amp are going to use. If your going with those cabs , I suggest getting a Mesa Subway amp to power them for best results.
Click to expand...

The amp is yet to be determined. I currently have Mesa M6 Carbine through a PH610 but would like to switch to something a little easier to move around, but still comparably powerful. Initial thoughts are a TT-800 or WD-800.
 
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#6
mmbongo said:
It's a perfect match, they are designed that way. Give you a 2.6 ohm 3x15 stack that will sound like pure bass heaven.

Don't think of it as a 4 ohm cab and an 8 ohm cab....think of it as three 8 ohm speakers.
Click to expand...

Thanks, and yes, that is basically how I had been thinking about it regarding the three 8 ohm speakers. I just wanted to make sure there wasn't anything I was missing. The only other thing is the slight difference in size. I used to have some GK 112 cabs and they were great for stacking as the corner brackets interlocked with each other but with the different sizes of the 215 and 115 subway cabs they won't be as stackable, unfortunately. I'll have to take a look and see what the price difference is for one 215 + one 115 compared to three 115's. The three 115's should certainly stack nicely I would imagine.
 
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#8
N4860 said:
The amp is yet to be determined. I currently have Mesa M6 Carbine through a PH610 but would like to switch to something a little easier to move around, but still comparably powerful. Initial thoughts are a TT-800 or WD-800.
Click to expand...
Can’t go wrong either way, but I highly recommend the WD. I know your a Ray guy and it’s a perfect match. I have a 112 and will be adding another soon, and may add another after that. ( I like 12s) and I like the form factor of 2 stacked vertically.
Y
 
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#10
2milehighspike said:
Can’t go wrong either way, but I highly recommend the WD. I know your a Ray guy and it’s a perfect match. I have a 112 and will be adding another soon, and may add another after that. ( I like 12s) and I like the form factor of 2 stacked vertically.
Y
Click to expand...

Indeed I am. Being in Canada, I'll have to do some searching to find a store that has some Mesa amps in stock but I'll be sure to bring one of mine to test with it. I honestly have no idea how each amp will sound compared to the carbine series. Even the D-800/800+ interests me so ideally I'd like to find a store with each of those to test to see which is the best fit for me. Have you tested any of the subway 112's against the 15's? I'd be curious to know how they sound compared to each other. I used to gig a pair of GK 112s so I am familiar with 12's but its been a long time since I've used a 15.
 
#11
N4860 said:
Indeed I am. Being in Canada, I'll have to do some searching to find a store that has some Mesa amps in stock but I'll be sure to bring one of mine to test with it. I honestly have no idea how each amp will sound compared to the carbine series. Even the D-800/800+ interests me so ideally I'd like to find a store with each of those to test to see which is the best fit for me. Have you tested any of the subway 112's against the 15's? I'd be curious to know how they sound compared to each other. I used to gig a pair of GK 112s so I am familiar with 12's but its been a long time since I've used a 15.
Click to expand...
I have not tried the 115, I was planning on getting the 115 at the time but none were available, so I bought the 112. I play in places that have tiny stages and I liked the ability to stack the 112 long side vertical. With the girth of the low end on the stingray special it is a very good match as I said with the WD800/ 112 and I very much look forward to getting another. But of course ymmv.
 
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#12
2milehighspike said:
I have not tried the 115, I was planning on getting the 115 at the time but none were available, so I bought the 112. I play in places that have tiny stages and I liked the ability to stack the 112 long side vertical. With the girth of the low end on the stingray special it is a very good match as I said with the WD800/ 112 and I very much look forward to getting another. But of course ymmv.
Click to expand...

Well, we are in lockdown here so I can't go to music stores to start trying things so I've got something to ponder but I am definitely excited to try some amps out when I can.
 
#14
N4860 said:
Indeed I am. Being in Canada, I'll have to do some searching to find a store that has some Mesa amps in stock but I'll be sure to bring one of mine to test with it. I honestly have no idea how each amp will sound compared to the carbine series. Even the D-800/800+ interests me so ideally I'd like to find a store with each of those to test to see which is the best fit for me. Have you tested any of the subway 112's against the 15's? I'd be curious to know how they sound compared to each other. I used to gig a pair of GK 112s so I am familiar with 12's but its been a long time since I've used a 15.
Click to expand...

In a nutshell:
Subway 112: Rounder sounding bottom end, thicker in the low mids. I call it 'old school'.
Subway 115: Deeper, snappier, more articulate. Sounds 'faster' if that makes sense.
Kinda think of the 112 as a P bass and the 115 as a Jazz bass.

I have both and much prefer the 115. The only time I use the 112 is when paired with a 115.
 
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#15
N4860 said:
Even the D-800/800+ interests me so ideally I'd like to find a store with each of those to test to see which is the best fit for me.
Click to expand...

I recommend the 800+ all day long (or the similar WD-800). Not that there is anything wrong with the regular 800, but the + has a :cool:HPF:cool: and that makes it the clear winner amongst :eek:ALL:rage: the similarly rated Class D heads (unless there is something new that has this feature that I haven't seen.) The HPF on the 800+ series allows you to dial in all the booty you want and then stuff it into the perfect tight jeans. Even the Ampeg snob in me bows to this feature.
 
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#17
I chose to upgrade my rig to the Subway series a year ago and am very fortunate that my local independent music store stocks Mesa gear. Between the 3 amps available at the time, I appreciated the D800 for its’ physical size, the D800+ for the HPF, and the WD for its’ goodness. I chose the D800+ for HPF plus value per dollar and it has done everything and more than I could ask. Similarly I was able to sample Subway 112, 212, and 115 cabinets. The 112 and 115 were in my price range. I really liked the 112 sound in the small room for basses in the store. I ultimately chose the 115 due to all the good reports here on TB. I suspected the 112 was sounding better to me as I auditioned the equipment due to the small room size I was in. I was parting ways with a 410 cabinet from another brand which I didn’t care for the sound where I typically used it and suspected it was too much cabinet for the typical venue size. The Subway 115 has exceeded my expectations and I see an additional 115 in my future.
 
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#18
mmbongo said:
It's a perfect match, they are designed that way. Give you a 2.6 ohm 3x15 stack that will sound like pure bass heaven.

Don't think of it as a 4 ohm cab and an 8 ohm cab....think of it as three 8 ohm speakers.
Click to expand...

Yep! Good way to conceptualize it.

OP, if you get one of the Subway heads, remember to put the switch on the back to the 2 ohm position.
 
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#19
N4860 said:
Well, we are in lockdown here so I can't go to music stores to start trying things so I've got something to ponder but I am definitely excited to try some amps out when I can.
Click to expand...

I have a Subway 800+ with a Subway 112 and Subway 115. Mmbongo describes each cabinet perfectly. When I was playing out, I’ve played through just the 112 or the just the 115, and I’ve also stacked the two. All sound incredible.

I’ve bought used all from Long And McQuade a few years ago. I think the one cab came from Calgary and the other from Halifax. The amp was from Hamilton. They brought in all of it and they cover shipping. I haven’t had a problem with any of this. L&M have a great return policy, and a great trade in policy if you want to trade later for something else. They even let me try it out in the store before I bought any of this. Now, you won’t be able to try anything out these days, but that will change. I’m certain that you won’t be disappointed.
 
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#20
N4860 said:
Hey, I know the Subway cabs are quite popular here so I have a quick question. Has anyone tried using a Subway 2x15 with a Subway 1x15? The 2x15 is 4 ohm and the 1x15 is 8 ohm. Is there any reason why this wouldn't be a good match?

Also, I noticed the depth dimensions of the 2 cabs are slightly different (~.75") so I was wondering if anyone has experience trying to stack the 2 cabs and if that difference affects the balance much.

I want to have a rig that can accommodate playing with some pretty loud players but also something that can be flexible in terms of what I would need to bring to a gig if it were a smaller quiet gig. Being able to take either 1, 2, or 3 15" speakers seems pretty flexible to me.
Click to expand...
I know there’s a long running “rule” on talkbass that mixing cabs isn’t a good thing. But the Mesa subway series is one of those situations where An exception should be made. They are designed to play nice with each other. For example, the 115 plus the 112 tends to be the most popular subway cab combo from what I’ve seen.
 
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