which GK cabinet to add as second

[WHR_CPA]

Love my MB800 and using a neo4 115 currently. going to play outdoors some and we dont have a great PA so i was going to add 2nd cabinet. while i love the 15" sound, i miss the mids from 12's. it must be 8ohm. so i was looking at either a 212 or a 112 neo iv. the cabinet will get 400 max watts. there are pro for each in my mind. what would you get if you were me?

112
less bulk and weight
better power balance per speaker (400 watts for each 115 & 112)
212
push more air but with same 400 watts (200 + 200) + the 400 going to 115
lots more room so not pushing cabinet as hard

 

[FRoss6788]

I recommend a 2nd 115.

These two will work perfectly together and you'll get plenty of mids.

 

[Wasnex]

Your best bet is two matching cabs.

If you insist on mixing cabs, try before you buy to make sure they work well together.

The MB800 is rated for 4 ohm minimum. If you want to run two cabs, they both need to be 8 ohms.

I would go with the 212 as it will be louder than the 115, and it will have a lot more headroom since it's rated at 800W.

NEO IV 212 comes in 4 or 8 ohms.

 

[WHR_CPA]

Thank you for the advise. I will look at the 212 or another 115. Maybe back in stock later in May I hope. Prob leaning to the 8ohm 212 (guess i just need to hit the gym). It's been a while ago but I dual amped the 1st Gen combos (115+212) and I thought the sound was good, no cancelation issues I could tell. A little different now as I was using a passive aby but maybe it will work as well.

 

[erigod23]

No reason not to look at a 210, too.
I paired a NEO115-III with a CX210 and it was glorious.

 

[WHR_CPA]

No reason not to look at a 210, too.
I paired a NEO115-III with a CX210 and it was glorious.

That's a great idea. I wrote off 10's bc I was thinking the 4ohm 410 wouldn't work but no reason not to look at the 8ohm 210. Ultimately I think if you want one cabinet then the 4ohm 212 is perfect. Since ive already gone down the 115 route bc I love 15's then the opposite extreme makes sense. I find 10's alone too bright and punchy for my taste but pairing with the 15 I think is a good idea.
Thanks for the thought.

 

[FRoss6788]

Don't get caught up in the idea that driver size alone imparts certain tone characteristics, it doesn't. 10's are not necessarily "bright" because they're only 10", or 15's lack highs because they're big drivers. It's all in how the cabinet is tuned, the complete system, not just driver size. I've played many cab's with 10's that went waaay deeper than some 15's I've played.

Listen with your ears, not your eyes.

 

[Doug Parent]

I rolled with the GK NeoIV 212 and 115 combination ended up selling the 212 to get a different cab for more lows. I kept the 115 (like yours) because of the mids and size factor, and the cabinet seems to go deeper to my ears. I acquired a series III 115 and stacked under the series IV115 and that stack hits hard. Good luck on your quest.

 

[recmont]

I acquired a series III 115 and stacked under the series IV115 and that stack hits hard.

Have you used them by themselves? How would you say the sound of the 115-III alone compares to that of the 115-IV alone?

 

[buldog5151bass]

If 2 15s aren't enough speaker air, you have other issues.

Blah blah best to have the same cabs.

What makes you think a 12 will give you more mids?

 

[Doug Parent]

Have you used them by themselves? How would you say the sound of the 115-III alone compares to that of the 115-IV alone?

By themselves yes, but rarely. I usually go out with a 212. The series IV is substantially less internal volume and the low end is tighter. I really like this cabinet. The series III is "tubbier" and has less a refined sound to my ears.
I'd consider matching that 115 IV personally.

 

[recmont]

By themselves yes, but rarely. I usually go out with a 212. The series IV is substantially less internal volume and the low end is tighter. I really like this cabinet. The series III is "tubbier" and has less a refined sound to my ears.
I'd consider matching that 115 IV personally.

Oh, that's interesting. I've read in many conversations here at TB that the Neo115-III is the highest-tuned cab of the (old) Neo family, that it's "upper mid city", as I read a poster write somewhere. That the 115 lacks deep lows and that even the 112 cab sounded more balanced, said another poster. So, that is why I avoided all the used 115-III's that I can find for sale over here.

Now, if the 115-IV has even less bottom end than the 115-III (albeit perhaps with more tamed mids), then I should probably scratch out the 1x15 from that new Neo series too...