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Trying to Determine Specs for Dietz Cab

Marz Redd

Marz Redd

Dec 27, 2016
2
0
Austin, TX
#1
Howdy!

A 1x15 Dietz cabinet is for sale nearby at a price that's really tempting me. The current owner doesn't have the exact specifications, and I wanna try n figure out the ohm and wattage details. He believes this particular cab to be from the 80's or early 90's, and is loaded with an Electro-Voice SP15A speaker.

After doing some digging here in the forums, and elsewhere online, I found a PDF of specifications for Electra-Voice SP8C, SP12C, and SP15A Component Speakers. I've included screenshots of the cab and the PDF with the relevant details. Am I to understand that this Dietz should be 50W at 8Ω?

Thanks in advance for any insight you can offer, and taking the time to read this. I appreciate it!
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#2
Good question, but a little bit complicated answer.

In general, short answer, yes roughly 50 watts RMS down to about 50Hz in a largish box.

Specifically, there are different factors applied to power handling ratings today compared with how EV rated their speakers when that speaker was manufactured.

If using today’s methods, which are a little less conservative, that driver would be suitable for amps rated to about 100 watts rms (provided only very mild overdrive and distortion).

Why the difference? Because the listed power of amps at the time forced speaker designers to focus on sensitivity (~103dB/1W/1M) over power handling and low frequency extension. This driver is a perfect example of this trade off. Also, today’s power handling specs are based on a 2 hour must survive scenario. Ev’s must survive time period was much longer.

Also, the short term 10mS power handling doesn’t really apply to bass guitar speakers. Because that’s only 1/2 cycle at 50Hz.

IMO, this is a great sounding driver for bass when limited to low power applications.

Hope this helps.
 
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#3
For what it's worth, it's likely that driver isn't original to that cab; Dietz (Heart of Texas Music) typically sold those TL606 copies with much higher performance drivers like EVM-15s (both 'L' and 'B' models) and JBL E-140s and 2220s. The TL606 enclosure itself has a good reputation when it has a stout enough driver.
 
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#5
Thank you @agedhorse for all the info! When I was poking around for info before posting this I came across many of your other answers regarding these speakers, so it's a relief to have you helping me out here my questions! :D

And @Redbrangus that's good to know! I did see a lot about the -15L's and B's while I digging earlier. I'll take note of what ya listed, maybe I could just replace it later on?

Aaanyway, follow up question: I have a Mesa/Boogie Diesel 1x15 (also 8Ω) as well, and I'm curious if it'd be safe to run it in parallel with this Dietz cab from my Quilter Bass Block 800. With the Master at/around 10:00 (40W marker), and the Gain at 12:00, I get a pretty good stage volume when using only my Bergantino HT322 (2x10 and 1x12 in a single cab at 8Ω).

Do you think those same, or similar settings would translate well to the 2x15 parallel rig without damaging or pushing the Dietz too hard?
 
#9
Redbrangus said:
It entirely depends on the drivers, but I'd figure 150 - 200 watts per driver, so it's 300 - 400-watt cab. That 800 watt rating is a 'music power' or peak power rating. Seems like you should be fine.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply. So I'm assuming the 800 watt rating is essentially what it can take when it's being used as main?

It certainly sounds good. My Stingray through it is pretty intense. A Moog Subsequent 37 through it sounds like the house is under attack! :roflmao:
 
#11
Well, yes that is a clarification, of sorts. The drivers are most likely EVM-15L or 15B's. IIRC, there was a period of time when EV rated these at 400-watts, even though there was no significant change from when they had previously been rated as 200-watt drivers. That number should NOT be considered a "RMS" or continuous power rating -- it's more like a peak rating. I say this to warn you away from treating it as if it's an 800-watt cab -- it's a 400-watt cab as far as matching it to the continuous rated power of an amp is concerned. At best... in fact, I think @agedhorse might weigh in and say it should be rated even lower for bass guitar use -- he's got a lot more familiarity with EV drivers than I do. At any rate, I don't think you're presenting the speakers with any significant risk powering them with your 350-watts-at-4-ohms amplifier. Of course, LF signals from a synth can be pretty brutal -- I don't know that I would run that cab balls-to-the-wall with a 30-Hz signal for very long, even with the limited power.
 
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#13
All EVM-15L/B's are based on the 200 watt RMS mechanical platform, the "ProLine" which carried an advertised 400 watt rating was no different other than a coating on the VC that kept the wire from becoming unstable when it warmed up.

Within it's real world ratings (200 watts RMS), it's an excellent driver and with a 4th order HPF set to about 40Hz I think the driver would survive being powered by 300 watts RMS. The limitations are almost purely mechanical in nature because of the short (by modern standards) Xmax and Xlim.
 
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#14
Nostalgic. This won't be much help as I don't know the specific speaker it was loaded with but it was original to the cab. I played through one of those in the early - mid 80's. Amp was an Acoustic 370 into the Dietz box. It was massive. We also used 2 of the version with the horn as PA mains.
 
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#15
agedhorse said:
All EVM-15L/B's are based on the 200 watt RMS mechanical platform, the "ProLine" which carried an advertised 400 watt rating was no different other than a coating on the VC that kept the wire from becoming unstable when it warmed up.

Within it's real world ratings (200 watts RMS), it's an excellent driver and with a 4th order HPF set to about 40Hz I think the driver would survive being powered by 300 watts RMS. The limitations are almost purely mechanical in nature because of the short (by modern standards) Xmax and Xlim.
Click to expand...

Which Mesa head would you recommend using with this 2x15 Dietz cabinet? My goal is to use this as my “modern” rig*, which can variably consist of a Stingray 5HH, a Moog Subsequent 37, or a Chapman Stick, with things like chorus and distortion commonly used.


* My “old school” rig is P-Bass, Cali76, Noble, into effects return of my Mesa Walkabout Scout 15”. Pure thumpy bliss.
 
#16
Any of the Subways would be fine with reasonable expectations and a little common sense. You can run the amp in 2 ohm mode into 4 ohms to reduce the rated power from 800 to 600 watts, and I would recommend running the HPF around 40-45Hz as well.
 
#17
agedhorse said:
Any of the Subways would be fine with reasonable expectations and a little common sense. You can run the amp in 2 ohm mode into 4 ohms to reduce the rated power from 800 to 600 watts, and I would recommend running the HPF around 40-45Hz as well.
Click to expand...

Thanks! So at least the D-800+, I guess? (I don't see a HPF on the D-800.)

Also, I'm assuming I'd be bypassing the HPF if I ever went straight from my board preamp to the effects return on the D-800+?
 

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