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THE Boutique Bass Cab Shootout

#142
Hey all, another brief delay: I need to fly to Chicago on very short notice for the weekend, so results from Round 1 will be delayed until Monday or Tuesday.

I updated the OP to reflect the current state of affairs, if you wouldn't mind adding a brief comment below (to bump the thread to the front page and get as many eyes on these incredible builder's works as possible) it would be much appreciated :thumbsup:
 
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#143
It does make me wonder a bit, how willing some of those other builders you reference in the new OP will be to send you cabs if you’re judging them primarily, unless I’m mistaken, on a flat response in this contest.

Some of those cabs likely sound incredible, but wouldn’t do very well on that type of test just by design.
 
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#144
Kro said:
It does make me wonder a bit, how willing some of those other builders you reference in the new OP will be to send you cabs if you’re judging them primarily, unless I’m mistaken, on a flat response in this contest.

Some of those cabs likely sound incredible, but wouldn’t do very well on that type of test just by design.
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Valid point.

I think this will still be useful regardless, as not every player will be looking for the same thing that I am: some, perhaps even most, will actually want a considerably colored response from their cabinet.

Even in the Audiokinesis line, the TC is designed to be a "true studio monitor" whereas the Changeling/Hathor is specifically "voiced for electric bass".

My hope is that this gives all of the builders a great platform to showcase their work, since the tone samples cover just about everything, many of the cabs include switches or attenuators for either tweeters, mid drivers or specific frequencies, and they will all include a DI reference as well.
 
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#145
I'd agree with you; no one is going to sound BAD, but there will be a whole lot of different.

I saw a shootout of 12" guitar drivers, and there were almost as many preferences cited as there were drivers in the test...

Everyone is looking for something different, and what sounds "accurate and truthful" to one listener will be "lifeless and uninspiring" to another...likewise, the "now THAT is a bass cab" offerings will be "too much color" for others.
 
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#146
MDBass said:
I think this will still be useful regardless, as not every player will be looking for the same thing that I am: some, perhaps even most, will actually want a considerably colored response from their cabinet.
Click to expand...

Oh, I completely agree - and I'm super excited to hear how this goes regardless of judging criteria - I was just making a point of how it might be perceived is all.

Holding my breath until... "Monday or Tuesday". ;)
 
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#147
groovaholic said:
I'd agree with you; no one is going to sound BAD, but there will be a whole lot of different.

I saw a shootout of 12" guitar drivers, and there were almost as many preferences cited as there were drivers in the test...

Everyone is looking for something different, and what sounds "accurate and truthful" to one listener will be "lifeless and uninspiring" to another...likewise, the "now THAT is a bass cab" offerings will be "too much color" for others.
Click to expand...

Very true.

Some people swear by the Ampeg 810: they're one of my least favorite cabs ;)
 
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#149
MDBass said:
Hey all, another brief delay: I need to fly to Chicago on very short notice for the weekend, so results from Round 1 will be delayed until Monday or Tuesday.

I updated the OP to reflect the current state of affairs, if you wouldn't mind adding a brief comment below (to bump the thread to the front page and get as many eyes on these incredible builder's works as possible) it would be much appreciated :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Don’t know if it can work out but while you’re in Chicago you could visit @Mike Arnopol and check out (possibly record) one of his cabs. He may even still have a Monique around.
 
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#150
groovaholic said:
The SVT810 will be usable and loud with just about any amp that you plug into it, but when I bought one, I returned it fairly quickly.

I could see what the hype was about, but it wasn't my flavor.
Click to expand...

I still use them fairly regularly as club/festival backline.

I don't mind them per say, but they are so colored that using one without mic'ing it makes no sense at all from an EQ perspective.
 
#151
kesslari said:
Don’t know if it can work out but while you’re in Chicago you could visit @Mike Arnopol and check out (possibly record) one of his cabs. He may even still have a Monique around.
Click to expand...

Under normal circumstances I'd definitely give that a shot, but I'll actually be out there for a funeral so that won't be possible.

I'm trying to keep the cabs as the only variable in the test; while I could easily bring the bass stems out with me to reamp, changing other things in the signal chain (as well as the room itself) wouldn't be ideal.
 
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#152
MDBass said:
Under normal circumstances I'd definitely give that a shot, but I'll actually be out there for a funeral so that won't be possible.
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Sorry to hear the reason for your trip. I’m surprised there aren’t any MAS cabs in the L.A. area. Maybe someone will pipe up.

Btw I think this shootout is very cool
 
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#155
Djadja said:
I too am looking forward to this... and I'm assuming that even those cabs that miss the mark as "flat response" will still get a review that helps us understand what they are and aren't. I'm curious to learn @MDBass's take on them.

And more warm thoughts with you, @MDBass as you head to Chicago
Click to expand...

Thanks for the kind words brother.

All of the cabs will have the same signal reamped through them, with the same amp settings and mic placement; the clips will all be play-listed together in SoundCloud (and one after each other on YouTube) starting with the DI signal taken from the amp as a reference.

I'll also probably include the stems themselves as downloadable as well, so anyone truly interested in diving into the rabbit hole (or REALLY testing their ears) can use a frequency analyzer to compare their responses in a truly objective way.

All of the cabs sound great in their own right, but it is very interesting how (in a field of 6 "high fidelity'/"flat response"/"full range" cabs) their tonalities are in some cases more different than they are similar.
 
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#157
12bass said:
Would be great if you could add a T3W fEARful to the mix. It should be even flatter than the Fearless.
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I would be more than happy to if someone in LA or OC owns one and would be willing to loan it out for a few days.

Do you know of anyone who does in the area?
 
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#159
12bass said:
I've sent an email off to Steve Clift (T3W designer) and will let you know what he says.
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Thanks my brother.

As I said above, I'm expecting there will be a second round with at least one cab from Bergantino after NAMM, hopefully a few others will join as well: seems like it would be a great resource for both the brands and the marketplace alike.
 
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