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Tiny Head, Same Big Speaker Cabs: What's the Point?

A problem that I had when running the light-weight, semi-tiny Class D powered heads was with cabinets that vibrated enough to "bounce" the head off the cabinet (higher-end commercial light-weight cabs). Tried various types foam under the head, but the cabs had a duratex-style of exterior finish. The head simply wasn't heavy enough...the foam and the head would scoot around.
A common fix for that if you have a rat fur covered cab is a length of velcro (hook side) that straddles the head and fastens to the cab. There are plenty of easy variations on that method.

Which brings back to mind a question I've had for decades: why is the head required to sit on top of the cab? It makes sense for a sales brochure photo but not so much for gigging. That's particularly relevant with the tiny heads now available. I'm considering getting a Trace Elliott Elf or Traynor SB200H for small-medium gigs because I can cobble up a nice mount for my mike stand that will hold the iPad on the left and the head on the right so I can tweak the amp settings without turning my back to the audience or climbing around a tiny stage.
 
I am aware of the trend toward tiny, lightweight bass heads. That's all well and good, but what's the point if most speaker cabinets are just as large and heavy as they've always been. I am genuinely perplexed. Other than perhaps using a tiny bass head for practice (with headphones) or maybe the studio, what's the point of having it in a live setting?
Lots of good lightweight speaker cabs.

Designs are smarter and well tested.
I owned a 360 in the late 70’s—-I wouldn’t want it back for free.
 
I have two 1x8 Michael Arnopol cabs that each weigh around 20 pounds each that sound amazing and can complete against 1x12s.

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Physics are what they are. Power amplifiers have changed in design and components. Speakers, (although materials and power handling have improved), not so much... although as PA systems have improved, less people rely on stage amps and are fine with more of a stage monitor approach. I tried many small/ light cabs, spent dumb money, was never satisfied. My 4 lb. head is great though!
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I am aware of the trend toward tiny, lightweight bass heads. That's all well and good, but what's the point if most speaker cabinets are just as large and heavy as they've always been. I am genuinely perplexed. Other than perhaps using a tiny bass head for practice (with headphones) or maybe the studio, what's the point of having it in a live setting?

What's most interesting is that you appear to have no GAS. That's a good thing because you will save a lot of money! The "trend toward tiny bass heads" has been going on for longer than I can remember - 15 years? And as mentioned, most speaker cabs are NOT just as large and heavy as they used to be. Look at the Trace Elliot Elf and 2x8 cab and all of the light neo 112's that are out there. Walter Woods was making switch mode power supply micro amps since the late 70s / early 80s. Those of us with GAS - and I'm guessing that 90% of us here on TB are always aware of the latest and greatest gear. My long story short - I've been going to NAMM in Anaheim since the mid 80s and that's the worst place to go if you like to buy bass gear. BUT, I discovered Walter Woods by seeing Jimmy Johnson at the Baked Potato jazz club in Studio City - he was playing through a pair of 112 ported cabs and sounded amazing with that Alembic bass - this was in the mid-80s! So Jimmy had the micro rig thing figured out long before all this current gear today! I bought my first Woods amp around 1995 and I had been using a heavy SWR 410 cab - something like 80#. Then I figured, why not get a pair of 210 cabs and make the cartage easier - 60# vs 80# made a huge difference. And I stacked them vertically for a smaller footprint and I could hear them better than that 410 anyway. Fast forward to all the other companies catching up to Walter Woods (IMO) - and now we have many light weight options. I'm currently using a Genzler 800 and a pair of 12-3 cabs, but I'm also picked up a Mesa Subway 115 and 12 used right here on TB, along with a Mesa 800+ that I bought new - currently A / B-ing both rigs to see which I like better. The only reason I got rid of the Walter Woods is because when he retires - and that might be soon - there's no way to get them serviced as far as I know. So - yeah, get a micro head and a pair of light weight neo cabs and sell your old heavy gear!
 
I am aware of the trend toward tiny, lightweight bass heads. That's all well and good, but what's the point if most speaker cabinets are just as large and heavy as they've always been. I am genuinely perplexed. Other than perhaps using a tiny bass head for practice (with headphones) or maybe the studio, what's the point of having it in a live setting?

I'm willing to bet money that you're more than just perplexed.
 
Guess you haven't seen Specs on Neo Cabs that are powerful, full frequency, and light weight. There many are more choices than an Ampeg Fridge these days.

Top cab 12" driver 102 db SPL - weighs 28 lbs (20.5"x15"x15")
Bottom cab dual 12" drivers 103 db SPL - weighs 38 lbs (24"x16"x16")
So what was this question all about in the 1st place??????
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OP, count me as with you on this.

If a speaker or two is constructed with a sturdy steel frame and suitable-size magnet to make music alongside a drummer, PA, etc, then it's gonna weigh much more than a loaf of bread. If that same speaker or two is gonna hold its place on a stage or rehearsal-space floor, then it needs a cabinet of sufficient footprint and weight to stay still - after sufficient air volume to "breathe" and sound right. This means that size and - along with it - weight can only be reduced so much before you compromise a cabinet's overall value to a bassist.

When I look at my Ashdown MAG 300 head, it is clear to me that it could be smaller and lighter. But it sits perfectly atop the cabinet I've paired it with.

I'd be concerned about one of those little lightweight heads shimmying off and hitting the floor.

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well..your profile says you are 48 years of age..so in the 80's..you must have been a very young boy with a bass rig that was seperate cab and head..?..
Lol. I'm 49 and in the 80's I was playing through my sisters stereo and a speaker from one of those old console TV's, which for some reason were 15"s. Of course at the time, I also thought that the speaker magnet was for sticking it to your trunk.
 
I can understand the OP's original question. For example, I have a head and cabinet (Carvin BX1200 and CRX4x10 Neo) that are probably 8-10 years old. The head is one of the last ones before all the class D heads came out, so it's about 35 pounds. The Cabinet, because it has the neo speakers in it, is about 75 pounds. I could get a class D head and lose at least 20-25 pounds in head of my rig. However, I would still have to move the 75 pound cabinet, so I haven't bothered to make the change. Additionally, a lot of the neo options out there are disappearing as the price of magnets has increased, so in many cases, cabinets are getting heavier again. My cabinet would weigh about 20 pounds more if it didn't have the neo speakers in it. I have experimented with smaller cabs, but they haven't sounded as deep as my 4x10, so I literally carry on.
I am with you!
I bought & use 2 Accoutic 210 neo's to replace my heavy 410. Which weigh about 45 lbs each.
My GK700 in a rack weighs about 35lbs & sounds better, well different than my Puma 900, IMO.
So carrying in one more 35 lbs item doesn't matter to me.
 
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I am aware of the trend toward tiny, lightweight bass heads. That's all well and good, but what's the point if most speaker cabinets are just as large and heavy as they've always been. I am genuinely perplexed. Other than perhaps using a tiny bass head for practice (with headphones) or maybe the studio, what's the point of having it in a live setting?
Ever hear of neodymium?
 
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I am aware of the trend toward tiny, lightweight bass heads. That's all well and good, but what's the point if most speaker cabinets are just as large and heavy as they've always been. I am genuinely perplexed. Other than perhaps using a tiny bass head for practice (with headphones) or maybe the studio, what's the point of having it in a live setting?

I have a mesa d800 and a pair of epifany UL2 1x15 cabs.

Light, killer sound, and can cover any gig.

Not my fault if you settle or dont get the point.
 

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