Last weekend, I had some rehearsals and a gig in a medium sized venue (capacity of approx. 500).
The problem is that I did not really have a Benchmark because I sold my Aguilar GS410 + GS210 more than 2 years ago... After that I used a Barefaced Super12T + Compact (gen 2) for about 2 years. Then I bought a full tube head that could not take the 2.66 ohm load of that combination. This is what made me buy the new Retro six10. But I sold my previous Barefaced rig more than 3 months ago and I was borrowing a cheap (and terrible sounding) Hartke 410 since then.... So I have to compare from memory. And to make that even less objective did I have to play with a different amp because mine had a blown end tube . Luckily, I could borrow a friends Tonehammer 500 (which Is not bad at all) for the weekend. Still not the depth, air, power or mojo of a real 200W tube amp, but a breeze to carry ....
Soundwize, while rehearsing, I noticed a strong low mid hump in the spectrum of the six10. I had to cut the mids quite a bit to make it work in our rehearsal room. This might also have to do with the sound of the tonehammer 500 which is not low-mid shy.
I was definitely not immediately blown away by the six10. It was loud but it sounded a bit uncontrolled to my ears. Some notes peaked a lot (around the A on the E string) ant this occurred with different basses. It did not have the low-end or the punch that I remembered from the Aguilar 610 rig... I was actually doubting If I had made the right choice by ordering a cab that nobody ever heard before...
I also think It had to do with the placement of the speaker cab in the rehearsing room because the hump was a lot less audible the next day at the venue. It also could be that by than the speakers started to break in properly...
Because then I had the gig..... WOW! The cab came to life! The stage was about 12 meters wide and 5 meters deep. I was standing right in front of my speaker and man! It was great
Loud, articulate, punchy, lots of low-end but not to much (like the Aguilar rig had with full PA Support) and great with drive pedals. I got lots of compliments about the bass sound from band members and the sound engineer! No more exaggerated mid hump and I actually ended up leaving the mids flat on the Tonehammer.
Now I am just curious how the Six10 is going to perform with my Mywatt 200 all-tube head. I will know by Friday cause I should have the amp back by than... I might have to move the speaker around our rehearsal room a bit just to get the best sound out of it... We'll see (and listen). I will keep you informed!
Cheers! Arn