Your Opinion on 8x10's

[Mark Reccord]

If I've done my reading right, fearful are more for people that either move around a lot on a large stage or need to be able to do a gig without any PA support. In either case, you would want the better dispersion and more "PA-like" characteristics (sound uncoloured by the cab). If you plan on staying within a 45 degree angle of the cab and have PA support, then the dispersion won't matter as much and an 810 may be the better option.

Essentially.

I have had the experience where using a wide-dispersion, flat response rig on stage (a pair of Meyer MSL2s on a pair of 650 subs) was troublesome to the other band members. When I was as loud as I liked to be on axis with an 810 cab, they found me too loud for them. But at the same on-axis volume with the 810, they didn't complain.

 

[CL400Peavey]

Essentially.

I have had the experience where using a wide-dispersion, flat response rig on stage (a pair of Meyer MSL2s on a pair of 650 subs) was troublesome to the other band members. When I was as loud as I liked to be on axis with an 810 cab, they found me too loud for them. But at the same on-axis volume with the 810, they didn't complain.

See I found the exact opposite. I could hear myself better off axis with my cab, so I could turn down.

 

[bassboysam]

See I found the exact opposite. I could hear myself better off axis with my cab, so I could turn down.

turn down!!!!?? not cool

 

[Mark Reccord]

See I found the exact opposite. I could hear myself better off axis with my cab, so I could turn down.

You must spend a lot of time off axis? I don't tend to move off axis enough that it bothers me very much as I'm typically tied to a mic stand. I also can't remember the last time I played with no PA support. The MSL2/650 rig was stupefyingly awesome driven with an Amek channel strip and a Summit compressor, though.

turn down!!!!?? not cool

Turn down? Does not compute!

 

[JBNeedsBeer]

You must spend a lot of time off axis? I don't tend to move off axis enough that it bothers me very much as I'm typically tied to a mic stand. I also can't remember the last time I played with no PA support. The MSL2/650 rig was stupefyingly awesome driven with an Amek channel strip and a Summit compressor, though.



Turn down? Does not compute!

I hate to admit it, but it is after playing a couple of outdoor gigs with no PA support that has made me want to go fearful (or at least a dually) from a 4x10. An 8x10 sounds like a cool idea, but I play too many NYC gigs to want to deal with the weight of one for all of our crazy load ins at different venues. Plus a lot of sound guys get scared when they see an 8x10.

 

[CL400Peavey]

turn down!!!!?? not cool

Could... doesnt mean I do.

You must spend a lot of time off axis? I don't tend to move off axis enough that it bothers me very much as I'm typically tied to a mic stand. I also can't remember the last time I played with no PA support. The MSL2/650 rig was stupefyingly awesome driven with an Amek channel strip and a Summit compressor, though.

Yes and no. There is a LOT more content through the upper mids (2k-5k) even on axis with the mid driver. That works for my sound, and gives me a lot more presence. Also my rig carries the house on most of my gigs.

Turn down? Does not compute!

Yeah I dont really turn down. Last practice was pretty loud. One of my coworkers lives a few blocks from the studio. She can hear us playing if our/her windows are open.

 

[will33]

Essentially.

I have had the experience where using a wide-dispersion, flat response rig on stage (a pair of Meyer MSL2s on a pair of 650 subs) was troublesome to the other band members. When I was as loud as I liked to be on axis with an 810 cab, they found me too loud for them. But at the same on-axis volume with the 810, they didn't complain.

I play a DIY 1212/6 that does not have the subwoofer bass of a fEarful. It's working pretty well. Faced forward, it gets a nice even sound across the room when driving smaller bar rooms and stuff with the rig alone.

When I run us all in the PA, I angle it more sideways to play to the band. This puts me quite a ways off axis at my mic position (stage left), but I can still hear it fine and it doesn't seem to interfere much out front.

That said, in some stage setups, a rig that beams can have it's advantages when it comes to louder stage volumes, mic bleed, levels needed in vocal wedges, etc.

 

[slade]

most honest post I've seen regarding GB stuff.... nice review and comparison. Makes me want to buy one

Well I am almost afraid to venture on this ground, but what the heck why not. As someone who has owned a SWR megoliath 810 and now has a 1515/66/1, i have done a side by side before, And i have to Say they are Both amazing Cabs!! I loved my 810 and if i was to recommend one to someone i would recommend Megoliath 810, It is one hell of a cab and can Leave you vision blurred and you pants soiled When it come to overall volume, wouldn't say my "66" burrys the 810 in Max SPLs, But it does get stupid Loud!! At the same time my 810 could not even come close to handling a low B with a good amount of Bass and sub bass eqing at loud volumes without farting all over the place. With the 66 I can lay into a Low B at loud volumes with a massive amount of Low End EQing and not get it to burp!!

......... NOW FOR THE CATCHER!!......

In a real life setting on a large stage, I am not eqing the snot out of my lowend due to the fact that i would get nothing but a blurry mess of mud. Yes The 66 is more clean and clear than any 810 cab i have played through when it comes to eqing it low, but things still will get muddy. As someone who eqs my rig Flat across the board (i know so exciting) there is really not much of a difference between the 2, say for the Off Axis dispersion of sound from the 1515/66/1 and compared to the 810. The 66 i find to be more balanced no matter where i am on stage, and there is not much change in sound no matter where i am at which is great. Whereas the 810 had more hot and Dead spots when moving about on stage. But really in the end i stand in front of my cab most all the time anyways so that really does not affect me as much as it did my band mates.

All And All Both Cabs are Killers in their own right. For me i prefer my fEARful, and most everyone that has played through it has LOVED it...esp sound guys, but they are not for everyone the same way an 810 or a 310 or an X10 or X whatever cab is not for everyone ether! For me if there was No Such thing as a fEARful or any other such said type of Hifi 2 and 3 way cabs, I would have another 810 In a heartBeat !! hope i did not muddy the waters even more, just want to give a real world perspective on it! Cheers All ~Elliot

 

[will33]

most honest post I've seen regarding GB stuff.... nice review and comparison. Makes me want to buy one

Agreed.

Some of this "my 15 is as loud as a 610" stuff just doesn't stand to reason....heat is going to hold you back.

But, I could see one replacing a typical 410 in overall output potential, and beating it in the very lows and off axis response, which is a pretry impressive feat for something with a single woofer in it. Greenboy has a helluva good design there, but I think some of the users get a little carried away with it sometimes. Same could be said for a lot of stuff though.

 

[butcher]

If I've done my reading right, fearful are more for people that either move around a lot on a large stage or need to be able to do a gig without any PA support. In either case, you would want the better dispersion and more "PA-like" characteristics (sound uncoloured by the cab). If you plan on staying within a 45 degree angle of the cab and have PA support, then the dispersion won't matter as much and an 810 may be the better option.

Also to note that in general without PA support dispersion on stage also translates to dispersion (as well as sonic behaviors such as beaming etc.) in the audience.

 

[JimmyM]

Ya, well if I wasn't getting the sound I love in the audience when I use an 810, I wouldn't use it. I know it beams...don't care.

 

[slade]

Ya, well if I wasn't getting the sound I love in the audience when I use an 810, I wouldn't use it. I know it beams...don't care.

roger that. I've played maybe 100 shows with an 810 and always been pleased with stage and house sound, regardless of FOH or no FOH. They work.

 

[will33]

The beaming is most obvious when you are either very close or when you are driving it outdoors and are still not in the PA aside from some mic bleed.

Inside, the further you are away from the rig, the more you hear reflected sound off the walls and things and less directly off the speaker. This helps bounce things around and fill in. It's still susceptable to the usual hotspots/deadspots, etc. and those are more predictable or "even" around the room with a wide dispersion rig when not in the mains.

Bottom line is 810's just plain work. If they sucked all that bad people wouldn't use them.

 

[3star2nr]

overkill for any venue i play, and very impractical id only use something that large for a festival with no pa support

 

[butcher]

I see. So maybe there should be a sticky in the amps section not to discuss things like dispersion, beaming, etc. since they don't seem to matter in any venue that should matter.

And apparently, if the crowd doesn't like it you can just show them the door because it only matters what the bass player hears several feet in front of their cab.

And the true test of performance is widespread use and acceptance. That's why 410s over 15s sound so great, it's because so many folks that play lots of gigs use them.

I hear you loud and clear, thank you for setting me straight.

I am beginning to remember why I haven't been here in so long.

 

[JimmyM]

I see. So maybe there should be a sticky in the amps section not to discuss things like dispersion, beaming, etc. since they don't seem to matter in any venue that should matter.

And apparently, if the crowd doesn't like it you can just show them the door because it only matters what the bass player hears several feet in front of their cab.

And the true test of performance is widespread use and acceptance. That's why 410s over 15s sound so great, it's because so many folks that play lots of gigs use them.

I hear you loud and clear, thank you for setting me straight.

I am beginning to remember why I haven't been here in so long.

Sheesh! People are saying why they don't like 810's, we are saying why we do. If you extrapolate that to mean we're trying to shut down discussion of the merits and flaws of the different cabs, that is totally on you. I'll be the first to admit the 810 cab has the technical "flaw" of beaming. I'm saying why that's something I don't care about. I'm not supposed to say that because you don't agree? Don't think so.

And yes, if you come to my gig and complain about my rig, you can leave. I like my rig, my band likes my rig, soundmen I work with like my rig, and audiences love my band to the point where we draw thousands to some of our gigs when the rest of the bands that play there barely draw a few hundred if that. You want to come and bust balls, adios, muchacho. In the words of Sweet Brown, ain't nobody got time fo' dat.

 

[jason the fox]

Hey guys -

I've scanned through the posts, but I must have missed it..

Pardon my ignorance, but can someone explain what "beaming" is?

I'll be the first to admit that I don't have a lot of experience with 810s, but from the little experience I have, I like them.

 

[JBNeedsBeer]

When a speaker projects in a narrow direction rather than in all directions iirc.

 

[butcher]

Hmm, not quite. I think peoples opinions are the point of these threads. My issue was with discounting valid, known concepts time and time again.

Please notice in my posts that I did not say anything against 810s.

Drawing large crowds is not an indicator of the quality of their sound but rather the quality of the band, sounds like your band kicks some major @ss.

I have gone to see many bands that I love where the sound was pure sh!te. And I would go see them again, not because of their sound but because of their music. I have also seen bands with great sound and sh!te performance - they should spend more time shedding wood than shedding Benjamins.

I have several horrible recordings of great bands, doesn't make them the model for sound engineering but I still love listening to them.

Although I don't think that if someone didn't like my rig/sound I would lose sleep over it, I would be more interested why they didn't like it rather than simply being a doorman.

For the record, I've always wanted an 810. For my purposes they are impractical though.

 

[JimmyM]

Beaming is the principle where the bigger the driver it is, the more it forces higher frequencies toward the middle of the cab and cuts down on their dispersion throughout the room. This is why smaller drivers are used in PA systems for highs and mids. Putting two 10" speakers side by side in a cab like the 810 results in it beaming the equivalent of a 20" speaker. And that's why some folks like cabs like the fEarful, because it uses smaller speakers for mids and highs and increases dispersion. But this turns out to be an issue that I really don't care about because I'm not a big fan of too many highs anyway, and I dislike tweeters.