They seem to strongly suggest that you use an intended GK product. But, the fact is, it "SHOULD" work with anything capable of feeding it a proper signal.
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Where are we with powered (active) bass cabs?
- Thread starter two fingers
- Start date
The ISP Bass Vector is light-years beyond average powered PA speakers -it's designed from the ground up to be a bass instrument....of destruction!
I thought about the same thing myself. But somewhere on TB I think I read that the input is tailored or designed for the output for a GK MB112 combo. It would be great if they could run straight out of the pre-out and daisy chain from one powered cab to another.
Doner Designs
Steve Doner
- Jun 2, 2012
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I must insist that these things aren't for everybody. That being said, a powered box is the cat's meow for "pre-brains" such as myself:
Not a "bass cab" per se, but I've been having a lot of fun with my QSC K12. I play in a couple of loud heavy metal bands, and it actually doesn't have any issues keeping up volume wise on stage in either of them, even down in drop A tuning. I'm fronting it with my Axe-Fx II or AX8 modeler. Super happy with that purchase.
I use them for their intended purpose (very easy to add/move for my older back) - I have three "pairs" of combos and powered extensions now (though the most I've ever used out in my limited playing is 2 of each). Do they add that much to the sound? I tend to think so. But I've never considered using them with something other than the combo...
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An all around utility powered enclosure designed not so much as a tone generator but an accurate reproduction box would be great...something horn-free would be ideal, as my needs include something suitable for electric guitar and console steel as well. The horns in small powered PA cabs can get REAL ugly real quick in those applications
i think the market for this is covered by powered p.a. speakers like the q.s.c. line. e-v and j.b.l. also have products in this area, and likely other manufacturers as well. it takes big bucks to get something that will work as a bass guitar cab, but they are out there; the qsc k12 is a favorite of many.
as an aside, i did look into the g-k powered cabs at one point. apparently, g-k is concerned bassists will plug passive guitars straight into them, or plug in from effects pedals that do not have a proper amount of gain. a professional preamp will drive them, however; whatever you would use for a rackmount power amp should work with the powered g-k cab. so sayeth the internet.
as an aside, i did look into the g-k powered cabs at one point. apparently, g-k is concerned bassists will plug passive guitars straight into them, or plug in from effects pedals that do not have a proper amount of gain. a professional preamp will drive them, however; whatever you would use for a rackmount power amp should work with the powered g-k cab. so sayeth the internet.
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popgadget
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- Sep 4, 2005
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A powered PA cab has the potential to be a good choice, but most lack the extended low end response that the current "full range" bass cabs using the 30xxLF or similar driver offer. The higher end PA cabs will go there, or add a subwoofer to the PRX or KW types.
The downside is that your either gonna spend (a lot) more money or carry more stuff to get the same performance.
The Acoustic 360head with the 361 cab is the first amp I can think of using powered cabinets (1969?). It was a cool idea...when you added multiple cabs you also upped the wattage. No worries about impedance matching!
When well designed, they can be. It allows the mfr to tune the amp to the enclosure, including baking in EQ, adding protective limiting, etc.
I emailed GK when these cabinets were first on the market asking them if they would work alongside a preamp ,the response I got was "no ,they will only work alongside their GK combo amp".......so they lost a sale as I was going to buy one if it would have been able to work in that configuration ........I wonder how many other bassists looking to run a pre/power amp set up would have preferred to buy a GK powered cab instead of buying a power amp and a passive cabinet to power their preamp signal
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The Amp I am leaning against is the Acoustic 360. I had an original 1970 360 and the picture shows the redesigned model with a new preamp and double the wattage built around 2013. The cabinets are powered so you never have to consider Ohm's just add another cabinet to the preamp. The sound levels are tremendous and even outdoors in 10-15,000 seat venues I did not need two cabinets. I carried one as a backup but never needed it.
You are looking for a powered cab, that sounds like what you hear through a monitor when you have PA support, yet you don't want a PA cab, of which there are many to choose from? Huh?
Yes they really only work properly being fed by a GK combo amp as designed. Very few preamps can feed it a hot enough signal, and even ones that do sound terrible as the cabinet apparently relies heavily on the GK preamp to make it sound right. Even my Mesa Subway DI or the GK Plex couldn't make the powered cabs sound good by themselves.
