Subthumper Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 As the title suggests really, it's what I'm using and was wondering if anyone's got the amp to push the driver to its limits? I know it's rated at 450 watts but it's frequency and sheer grunt and im wondering if the amp is pushing the cone too far. Anyone else had a similar experience? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1970 Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 I used a BF compact (1x15) with a matamp GT200 for quite a while - but I wasn't impressed, it just didn't do the amp justice. Moved on to a matamp 2x12 and haven't looked back. I've heard good things about the 2x15s though. But there's definitely something about the one-handed lift at the end of a big night - it's a lifesaver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1970 Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 And yes I did feel that the cone was being pushed too much - it was flappy and woofy at higher volumes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 (edited) Never got close to 200W of valves, just my 50-watt Selmer. The output valves were cooking but the speaker wasn't even breaking sweat. EDIT: I thought the Compact and Midget were both rated at 600W? Edited March 9, 2015 by JapanAxe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subthumper Posted March 9, 2015 Author Share Posted March 9, 2015 It's the old compact 15. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1970 Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 Same with mine - older compact 1x15. Series 2 I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 [quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1425930451' post='2712464'] Never got close to 200W of valves, just my 50-watt Selmer. The output valves were cooking but the speaker wasn't even breaking sweat. EDIT: I thought the Compact and Midget were both rated at 600W? [/quote] The thermal rating is 450W RMS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexclaber Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 [quote name='1970' timestamp='1425928453' post='2712430']And yes I did feel that the cone was being pushed too much - it was flappy and woofy at higher volumes.[/quote] It wasn't the speaker not being able to handle the amp, it was the amp not having enough oomph to get the speaker loud enough. A 200W valve amp is only a 200W amp however you dress it up - it you want loud without lots of distortion then you need big cabs and plenty of cone area. A single 15" won't be enough unless you're happy with a very overdriven sound or not being so loud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noisyjon Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 I used to run a Mesa Boogie Bass 400+ through my 2 Mk.1 Compacts with no issues at all and plenty of everything you would expect sound wise, Guess the 2nd cab made the difference? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillento Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 I played my Sadowksy SA200 thru a BB2 and it sounded great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subthumper Posted March 12, 2015 Author Share Posted March 12, 2015 It's a fantastic cab and I'm totally impressed with it. I'm just trying to determine if I'm pushing it too far or if I have an amp or valve problem. I have access to a 1kw 8x10 so I'm going to see how far I can push the amp before meltdown. Looking like two cabs will be the answer...how awful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 < Obligatory EBS_Freak comment in a Barefaced cab thread. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 (edited) I've heard and played through Noisyjon's 2 Compact rig. It sounded huge and loud with no issues. There are too many unknown variable to comment on the OP, but 212 cabs will usually outperform a 115 and 215's will usually outperform a 212. Always try to compare apples and apples. Edited March 13, 2015 by chris_b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brensabre79 Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 I'll just chime in and add to the above really. My 2x12 Barefaced works great with a valve amp up to a point - then it starts to distort (the amp, not the cab) if you go any louder. When I used the amp with a 1x15 it would reach this point far sooner, but it was less noticable. Some cabs don't have such definition, so the distortion isn't as obvious. I guess that's why the classic Ampeg fridge is so popular with valve amps, lots of cone area and not so much of the hi-fi definition to give the game away. I also believe valve bass amps seem to work better with sealed (rather than ported) cabs - although thats only my experience and certainly not based on any scientific fact at all! So I won't be offended if someone explains why it's the complete opposite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 I think brensabre's right. A clean sounding cab will give the game away when the amp stats to run out of steam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funky8884 Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 I used my Buster 200 with a Gen 2 Compact and it was ok for a few gigs but the Buster needs lots of speaker area to be loud. Most of the time I would run the Master flat out. Even my Walkabout would struggle with the Compact with or without FOH and we were not a loud band. 2 Compacts would be fine and can be bought for a good price secondhand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 [quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1426240482' post='2715948'] < Obligatory EBS_Freak comment in a Barefaced cab thread. > [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 [quote name='funky8884' timestamp='1426362088' post='2717393'] I used my Buster 200 with a Gen 2 Compact and it was ok for a few gigs but the Buster needs lots of speaker area to be loud. Most of the time I would run the Master flat out. Even my Walkabout would struggle with the Compact with or without FOH and we were not a loud band. 2 Compacts would be fine and can be bought for a good price secondhand. [/quote] This is odd thinking, IMO.. Speaker is supposed to be able to be pushed very hard/loud, yet some amps struggle to do that so you have to buy two cabs to do the job that one should be able to do..??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
machinehead Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 JTUK. "Quote won't work on my PC?" It's because with more speakers you need less amp power. Frank,. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.