BluRay Posted December 28, 2013 Share Posted December 28, 2013 (edited) [color=#000000][font=monospace][size=3]Picked up a brace of ABM NEO 210 cabs (last month actually but [/size][/font][/color][color=#000000][font=monospace][size=3]I've run em through a few gigs before reporting back) [/size][/font][/color][color=#000000][font=monospace][size=3]and thought I'd post a quick review as I haven't seen much else about this range. Worth mentioning that Ashdown were very responsive and helpful with my pre-purchase questions. My local store had one in stock that I could muck about on for a while and that sealed it. Lead time for delivery was around 10 days.[/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=monospace][size=3]Aesthetically these cabs look great - taller than wide, with offset NEO 210s on a diagonal. Metal grill with Ashdown logo cutout pattern (same as most Ashdown cabs). Covered in black tolex but without the white piping that you normally see on the ABM range - which makes them look a bit evil by comparison. I like that. [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=monospace][size=3]Weight: "light enough" is probably a fair description @ 20kg. Ok there's lighter alternatives, but I particularly wanted a pair of 210s - as this arrangement works well for me, and these are fine for a (not-too-far) one hand lift. In particular its the "narrowness" of these cabs make them very easy to cart about. The top handle looks a little odd - suspiciously like a side handle (there is no handle underneath for carrying 2-handed) but its more than fine for moving it about. Its a "proper" metal handle - recessed and reassuringly sturdy - as opposed to a strap handle.[/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=monospace][size=3]Minor issue, hardly worth mentioning - but my cabs have different connectors. One has two combi inputs, the other has two jacks and a combi. No big deal - but it would be nice if they were the same.[/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=monospace][size=3]Once unpacked I started stacking them vertically as clearly intended, but as they are the exact width/depth of an abm 500 amp, 2 of the ABM NEO cabs stacked tall with amp on top just felt a little bit precarious for my liking. No way it would topple unless pushed, but some clumsy doofus (probably me) might knock it for six. Unlikely perhaps - but it's a risk I'm not taking! Most gigs I do involve crowded stages and several bands milling about - so [/size][/font][/color][color=#000000][font=monospace][size=3]after some experimenting - see pics - I've opted to stack them on side (on stage at least) - and bingo, that's the one!...this way the stack stands the same width as a 410 (but taller, for better projection) and no worries about it being knocked over. I popped some feet on the sides - which Ashdown should add as standard I think.[/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=monospace][size=3]I love the tone - tight, crisp and clear - but still very beefy. Big grins all round. [/size][/font][/color][color=#000000][font=monospace][size=3]Comparing the NEO against a regular ABM cab it is certainly different - seems a little bit less bassy (found myself bumping the bass and lower mid eq a bit to get back to my usual sound, which would have been overkill on regular abm). Or perhaps these ones just handle lower end a little better - I don't know. Also a little less inherent colour, more neutral maybe. No complaints at all about the sound. Sounds ace on stage with the volume cranked.[/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=monospace][size=3]Volume wise - headroom for miles using my abm 500 head. I'm very sure I could get away with one cab - but two looks so much better (I know I know) Gain and volume settings on my amp were same as usual (9 o'clock and 11 o'clock respectively). Small tweak to eq - and got "my sound". All was good. All in all, really neat, light, great sounding cabs. [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=monospace][size=3]Topped off with a set of covers from Roqsolid (highly recommended) and I'm well happy.[/size][/font][/color] [attachment=151061:IMG_0069.JPG] [attachment=151060:IMG_0071.JPG] ....and the winner is.... [attachment=151059:IMG_0074.JPG] Edited July 10, 2014 by BluRay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaytonaRik Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 Lovely! I was lucky enough to find a NEO 2x10 that had been factory fitted with blue-line drivers as an extension to my 15" ABM combo. Still giving serious consideration to a 1x15 cab and a rack head though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharkfinger Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 Old thread but very interesting, as there's still pretty much nothing out there about this range. How are they a couple of months down the line? The official specs claim they can go really deep, to 22Hz, I believe. How true is that in your opinion? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluRay Posted February 21, 2014 Author Share Posted February 21, 2014 [quote name='Sharkfinger' timestamp='1392911639' post='2374102'] Old thread but very interesting, as there's still pretty much nothing out there about this range. How are they a couple of months down the line? The official specs claim they can go really deep, to 22Hz, I believe. How true is that in your opinion? [/quote] Good question. A few months on I still think they sound great, look cool and easy to move. To be fair, I honestly couldn't say how true the tech specs are. But I haven't noticed any constraints in the context of normal playing - and I do tend to push pretty hard in a loud band. I didn't really know what to expect from neo drivers - but I'd say they're more than a match for any of the other cabs I've had in the last 7 years (admittedly all Ashdowns - Mag210+410, abm 410+115, abm 210x2 - so rather its limited comparison). No regrets so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Dean Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 So having two of these cabs , would that give you more depth or just a louder rig ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluRay Posted January 31, 2015 Author Share Posted January 31, 2015 Well IMO the cabs run very deep as it is (perhaps voiced a bit different to some others, but if you crank the amp eq the range is very wide indeed) but I think two together seem much more than the sum of the parts. At quiet (living room) volume, it sounds the same individually or together. But bumped to rocked-out band level, using two, its a much bigger, wider overall sound - more like you might expect from a 610 or bigger. I'm not sure if thats the same as depth (as you might mean it), but the upshot is impressive. Its a serious gig rig. These are utterly brilliant cabs for the money - not sure why they don't get more fuss here to be honest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 Doubling up on cabs is always pleasing, imo. Much more depth and "bigness" to the sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Dean Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 (edited) I'm going to try the vertical stacking as I'm quite tall , It should help me hear better definition . I've also just noticed What Blu Ray pointed out ,that the holes in the grill are the same shape as the badge , nice touch . Edited February 7, 2015 by Kevin Dean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Dean Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 Very Happy with this Set up , I like the height for clarity .[attachment=183503:New Ashdown Rig.jpg] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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