Tube Heads and Cabs

[joeydavidson]

I'm not a tube amp owner but is it the lower damping factor of some tube amps that makes them work well with sealed cabs?

 

[hasbeen]

I think what James Hart said has a lot of merit. Plus, it depends on how hard you want to push the amp and the cab.

I think of cabs like a fine acoustic guitar: i.e. different cabs open up differently at different SPL's.

For example, a cabinet rated at 1000 watts may sound and more importantly, "feel" stiff at low volumes. When it is pushed hard though, it will enter a sweet spot of sorts and open up.

When I'm on my soap box, I frequently state that amps and cabinets are "application specific". Man....I REALLY think cabs are in particular:
* How hard are you going to push it?
* What tone are you looking for?
* What is the "mix" of the band with which you are playing?
* What amp and bass are you putting through it?
* Is the bass "extended range" or standard four string?
....you get the point.

 

[Wesley R]

I;ve read on some manufacturer's website, can't remember whose, that tube amps went better with sealed cabs. This was for a cab with opening and closing vents so you could go between sealed and ported.
Of course, maybe 1% if not less of what manufacturers say is true, and this is a rampant generalization.
Still, YMMV

in Minneapolis that made a heck of a good sounding 2x15 JBL cab. It used something called a billow port. Kinda like a swinging flap on a hinge. The thought (I hesitate to say theory) was to change the port size as needed and of course have the cab sealed when needed. I believe Bill FM explained that the port could not react quick enough to work well.

The cabs were covered in that case looking stuff and a cover was strapped unto the front. I loved hearing them, they could really fill an auditorium or armory.

 

[LowDownWays]

Hi LOW, I've got the same 2 NV cabs. A NV610 & a NV215. I use either with -usually - either my Ampeg V4BH or my SVTII & sometimes I use my Mark Bass LMII usually with the NV215( I find the LMII loves the 215 but I don't like it so much w/ the NV610)
Both these cabs are simply awesome. & they're pretty much as U can imagine. The 610's ALL punch!! Simply a punch in the guts!!! Apparently it's meant to be a new take on the old straight back Ampeg 810 cab. I've never heard one of those, but from what I've heard/read, the NV610 does this superbly. It is MUCH easier to move than my old cab- an Ampeg 410HLF - & it's 15lbs lighter too & SO much more articulate. Myself AND the band members were astonished with the clarity- w/ many of my band commenting on my bass playing- saying that they realised I wasn't PLAYING anything much differently than the week B4, but NOW they could pick out every note. & in doing this- it does it with a 'vintage' class. It never sounds 'modern', but sounds 'old school' & pristine at the same time. Remarkable. Overdrive sounds teriffic thru it, & it certainly does slap sounds fine too. There's NOTHING I can really say that AINT GOOD about it. I s'pose simply coz it';s a 610- it aint small- is THAT negative Nup!!!
The NV215 is all the above too- vintage sounding, clear but NOT modern or sizzly, EZ to shift.... BUT as it's a 215- the punch from this is more in the BUTT.... rather than the chest. The 215's give a deep round sound, but it is very tight also. The 6" mid driver handles the hi's well too, & again this cab handles distortion superbly- & the Hi freq driver(or MIDfreq driver) doesn't make it crisp or sizzly- just sweet SMOOOOTH bass!
I USUALLY take the 215 for our soul/funk band- altho the 610 will do it wonderfully- & I use the 610 with my ROCK band. The 610 is a li'l more sensitive & therefore slightly LOUDER, & I find this cab works well w/ the V4BH. BUT the 215 works well with that amp IF I don't need to be LOUD as... In fact I can run the V4BH at the 'break-up' point just nicely with the 215, where the 610 it can be a bit loud for the rest of the band at thispoint on the amps dial.
Basically BOTH cabs are excellent. I'd PROBABLY pick the 610 IF I had to choose one, But then...... the 215 works better with the LMII so..... I wouldn't wanna decide!!!!!!!! Good luck

Thanks for the review! I gotta find one of those around here to try out.

 

[Tim1]

Low, I think Rod pretty well nails the difference between the NV215 and the NV610. They are both great cabs. Currently I use the 215 at band practice and the 610 for gigs, although I am starting to favour the 215 at the moment. The volume difference is marginal but noticeable. Also it is nice to be able to pick a cab to suit the acoustics of the venue.

 

[Spencer!]

I prefer ported cabs with my Sadowsky, and sealed cabs with my SVT. Unfortunately I don't own any sealed cabs at the moment....

 

[RFord04]

I just got an SVT-CL, and I ran it through my SVT410-HLF (ported) and I didn't liek it much.... too much low end, got muddy quick, so I found an Ampeg 810 near me for $450 and I'm never lookin back. Seems the SVT-CL sounds better with sealed ampeg cabs, but it's like everyone has said, it all just depends on the amp/cab. Whatever sounds good to you is whats best.

 

[Bassmec]

Trace Elliot used to do you a ported cab + two rather large bath plugs.