Which 2x10? Mesa vs Revsound vs Barefaced

[voided3]

I am considering picking up a higher power handling 2x10 to use as a standalone with my Mesa D800+. The three contenders I am interested in are:

• Mesa Subway 2x10
• Revsound RS210
• Barefaced Two 10

The Subway is an obvious option as it's designed to pair with the amp, though it's the heaviest (I have hard time saying 43 lbs. is "heavy" though) and most expensive of the bunch (albeit it comes with a cover). It's also the only 8 ohm cab of the three, which may be a good thing as I'm not sure sending more than 400 watts into a 2x10 is wise long-term.

The Revsound is the most affordable and has the highest power and sensitivity rating (though all three are very close on sensitivity ratings), plus it has the most cosmetic customization options.

The Barefaced is the lightest and seems to shoot for the tone I like: sealed Ampeg 10" cabs with no tweeter.

Thoughts?

 

[mmbongo]

I would be skeptical of RevSound's rating. Best thing to do is just realize that all three companies use different methods to arrive at their numbers, so don't buy just based on those numbers. Reality may be very different.

I know the drivers that Mesa and Barefaced use are very high quality USA made drivers. The Rev uses made in China Celestions, which I don't care for. They use the old accordion type surround instead of the modern double roll surround like the Mesa and BF drivers use.

I think if you want the best overall cabinet, and you need a tweeter, go with the Mesa.

If you want the lightest cab and don't need the tweeter, Barefaced.

 

[agedhorse]

The detailed ratings of the Subway cabinets are posted on the website, they include mechanical power handling in addition to the nominal thermal rating. These are conservative real world numbers, RMS based (not program or peak)

The Subway 210 is available in 8 ohms only because there is no 210 cabinet that I am aware of that I would recommend operating with the Subway amp at 4 ohms without jeopardizing the long term reliability of the speakers.

Yes, if you are very careful and always bring enough rig for the gig you might get away with it, but I see the results of poor judgement enough that I wouldn't recommend it.

If you have to use a 4 ohm 210, I would recommend operating the Subway amp in 2 ohm mode which reduces the rated power to about 600 watts RMS into 4 ohms.

 

[voided3]

The detailed ratings of the Subway cabinets are posted on the website, they include mechanical power handling in addition to the nominal thermal rating. These are conservative real world numbers, RMS based (not program or peak)

The Subway 210 is available in 8 ohms only because there is no 210 cabinet that I am aware of that I would recommend operating with the Subway amp at 4 ohms without jeopardizing the long term reliability of the speakers.

Yes, if you are very careful and always bring enough rig for the gig you might get away with it, but I see the results of poor judgement enough that I wouldn't recommend it.

If you have to use a 4 ohm 210, I would recommend operating the Subway amp in 2 ohm mode which reduces the rated power to about 600 watts RMS into 4 ohms.

And I have studied them in great detail! I like how transparent Mesa is with specifications on these cabinets so you actually know what you're buying. It almost makes it tough to comparison shop because then you second guess other manufacturer's specs, hence this thread asking for opinions of those who have played through or own these cabs. There are so many good options out there that it's tough to choose. A matching setup is appealing though........

 

[Rick James]

For maximum low end output there's no replacement for displacement, so that's what you need to compare. The displacement of the tens that Barefaced uses is 250cc each, which is equal to most twelves. The average ten displacement is 150cc. The displacement of the drivers that Mesa and Revsound use isn't listed.

 

[mmbongo]

For maximum low end output there's no replacement for displacement, so that's what you need to compare. The displacement of the tens that Barefaced uses is 250cc each, which is equal to most twelves. The average ten displacement is 150cc. The displacement of the drivers that Mesa and Revsound use isn't listed.

Again the 10” drivers that Barefaced and Mesa use are mechanically very similar. I’ll just leave it at that

 

[3rdcurve]

Modern tone Mesa - vintage Ampeg barefaced. For me the barefaced 10s have the best baked in tone I have ever heard and are way more capable than you would think. They are also switchable to 12 ohms which will tame your amps power output.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I have the Revsound 212, and really like it, but from what I have seen, should have gotten the 210 - lots of people have and love that cab. Almost as loud, and nice small cab.

 

[Jhass]

I am considering picking up a higher power handling 2x10 to use as a standalone with my Mesa D800+. The three contenders I am interested in are:

• Mesa Subway 2x10
• Revsound RS210
• Barefaced Two 10

I have a RevSound RS210 which is utterly fantastic. And David was a pleasure to deal with.

 

[TAZ]

There are probably another 20 companies offering this in the same class in quality and performance. What's my point? If you pick from that class of cab, any of them will perform. The only way you will ever know if it is hitting your goals is to actually get one and gig it. Buy with a return policy agreement and hear them.

 

[moogieotter]

Mesa is higher price? Are you sure? I thought them fancy barefaced ones are spensive af.

 

[Al Kraft]

I think the Mesa cab with the Mesa head would be hard to beat, but there are no losers on your list IMO. 210's often get pushed to do more than we should ask of them, and I think this is specifically where the Mesa design will allow you to safely go to the limit (matched head and cab). Mesa's 5 year transferable warranty also makes the Mesa price feel more comfortable for me.

 

[StayLow]

From the demos online the Mesa 2x10 seems to have a big & bloomy low end. Sounds great, but is not the Ampeg sound you're after.

OP, if you're in the States, Mesa seems the best bet from your list given the warranty and easy resale per the brand awareness.

Since you like Ampeg, what about a pair of the 2x10 AV cabs? They get good reviews, are small and light, relatively inexpensive, and have the right sound. I've heard them, they'll deliver well for what they are.

I agree with those who suggest not putting too much faith in specs you know deep down are far too good to be true. Too many builders just add together the highest watt handling claimed for each driver and multipy it by the number of drivers with no regard to how the cabinet will affect things much less the frequencies and transients that it'll need to handle.

People will post that they've had a cab for a few days, or minutes, trying it at a coffee shop gig or in their den with baby sleeping next to them, then proceed to breathlessly claim "it had no problem with my 1000w XYZ amp and this cab will easily handle anything you throw at it!".

What was the amp master at ... partway between 0 and 1? Output maybe 30w? Even if it was on "5" due to the taper of the knob that'd be maybe 150w output. Either way it's a total disservice, but it happens a lot and people eat it up.

Whomever wants to let me blast just a few hundred watts of *BASS*, maybe with preamp clipping, strings hitting pickup pole pieces, or pedal distortion as will happen in the real world, into pretty much any cab, even those rated at fantasy numbers like 1200w or whatever, please do and please be very ready to replace the drivers at your cost.

 

[GuitarJay]

Subscribed. I just bought a D800+ and next have to figure out which cab is best for me. The Mesa and Barefaced are high on my list.

 

[voided3]

From the demos online the Mesa 2x10 seems to have a big & bloomy low end. Sounds great, but is not the Ampeg sound you're after.

OP, if you're in the States, Mesa seems the best bet from your list given the warranty and easy resale per the brand awareness.

Since you like Ampeg, what about a pair of the 2x10 AV cabs? They get good reviews, are small and light, relatively inexpensive, and have the right sound. I've heard them, they'll deliver well for what they are.

I agree with those who suggest not putting too much faith in specs you know deep down are far too good to be true. Too many builders just add together the highest watt handling claimed for each driver and multipy it by the number of drivers with no regard to how the cabinet will affect things much less the frequencies and transients that it'll need to handle.

People will post that they've had a cab for a few days, or minutes, and run their 1000w amp into it at a coffee shop gig or in their den with baby sleeping next to them, and proceed to breathlessly claim "it had no problem with my 1000w XYZ amp and this cab will easily handle anything you throw at it!".

What was the amp master at ... partway between 0 and 1? Output maybe 30w? Even if it was on "5" due to the taper of the knob that be maybe 150w output. Either way it's a total disservice, but it happens a lot and people eat it up.

Whomever wants to let me blast a few hundred watts of *BASS*, maybe with clipping or distortion as will happen in the real world or with pedals, into pretty much any cab, even those rated at fantasy numbers like 1200w or whatever, please do and please be very ready to replace the drivers at your cost.

I actually wouldn’t mind the extra low end extension of a ported cab as the D800+ has the variable HPF so I can set the roll off point.

As for the Ampeg 210AV suggestion, I already have a 410HE loaded with Basslites that weighs only 57 pounds (and an 810E ). I like it a lot, but the numbers on the Mesa 2x10, for example, more or less match my sealed 4x10. Peak SPL on the Basslites is 127 dB as a set of four, Mesa 2x10 is 126 dB. Power on the Basslites is 400 mechanical, 600 thermal, while the Mesa is 425 minimum mechanical, 500 average, 600 thermal and exceeds the low end response while being smaller and lighter.

 

[agedhorse]

Note that on the Subway cabinets, the max SPL calculation is based on RMS numbers and is not peak. For peak SPL add either 3dB (or more likely 6dB) depending on how "peak" is defined. Some use program for +3dB and peak for an additional 3dB. We do not specify anything but RMS metrics.

 

[nostatic]

The Barefaced has a very baked-in tone. While I didn't demo one for very long, it felt like a one-trick pony. That said, it is a very good trick, so if you like that tone (much more towards the "vintage" side of things), then it'll work well. In fact, it is a cab I wouldn't mind owning for certain gigs. But I am in a minimizing gear mode, so I prefer something that I can push around a bit more tonally. The Mesa I think is a bit more flexible in that you can turn the tweeter down or off, and using the voicing control on the 800+ get closer to that vintage thing.

I've never played a Revsound so can't comment on that. I would be very careful about running a 4 ohm cab though.

 

[aproud1]

Played a Revsound RS210 driven by a D800 for a while. Great combo. Easy to carry, small footprint, even sound up and down the fretboard. Happily put out lots of volume.

Demoed a Mesa 210 in a shop last year. Nice cab, a bigger low end than the Rev (I like my low end pretty lean) and deeper foot print. Seemed liked it would be an awkward carry. Didn’t crank it to crazy volumes but it definitely seemed solid. I expect nothing less from Mesa. I’d be happy playing either one and they would be plenty for most of my gigs.

I considered the Barefaced but as Nostatic said they do have a pretty baked in tone. Though I usually go tweeterless anyway. I’m fine with a well executed tweeter.

Lots of great cabinets out there. I’ll add I thought the Mesa 15” cab was the bees knees. That’s probably what I would go for if I were in your shoes.

 

[Anhg77]

I have a Mesa Subway 2x10 that I pair with a Subway 1x15. It sounds excelent both alone and paired with the other cab. Its very light (I have not see the other cabs you are considering in person) and built like a tank.

 

[voided3]

I’ll add I thought the Mesa 15” cab was the bees knees. That’s probably what I would go for if I were in your shoes.

It is hard to ignore the praise this cabinet receives. Part of me feels that the 2x10 might be better for my needs due to the higher power handling and wider dispersion pattern from having two drivers, plus I liked the demos I have heard online.

The other part of me says the 1x15 is a little smaller, lighter, and less expensive while still being legitimately capable of taking 400 watts and has nothing but positive reactions documented everywhere. The demos I have heard of the 1x15 make it sound kind of bright, at least when mic'd on axis with the voice coil, which is only a concern as I use the light overdrive of the Subway's preamp to good effect.