Large Bass Cabs

[warwickhunt]

On 24/09/2021 at 03:33, dangoose said:

I predict as cab offerings evolve, more manufacturers will offer single slightly larger 4 ohm cab solutions that may be a little heavier and physically larger but ultimately will suit players who no longer want to hump multiple 8 ohm cabs around, even if they are lightweight.

 

 

I predict that you are wrong.    

 

There have been examples in the past of physically larger cabs (sometimes with less drivers), BFMs cabs are 'designed' and are about as small as you'd want/can go.  Sadly 90% of bassists buy with their eyes not their ears or brains.  Little boxes with as many drivers crammed in, is what will sell and if the manufacturers (not often spending a bean on 'design') can do it with the least amount of cheap materials then guess what... you end up with 4x10 cabs with a frontal surface area 2" wider than the 2x10" drivers (and no deeper or higher).

[bassman7755]

On 24/09/2021 at 03:33, dangoose said:

And crucially, one bigger older and heavier MAG 4 ohm 2x10 that doesn't weigh a great deal more has replaced my two lightweight thin wall compact sealed cabs that weighed more together.  And all at a fraction of the cost of buying lighter modern stuff. 

 

Yes but with two light cabs vs one heavier one you can carry them one at a time, or maybe just use one for rehearsals or smaller gigs. Plus 2 vertically stacked smaller cabs will generally give better dispersion characteristics and auditability at ear level that a single cab on the floor.

 

Quote

  I predict as cab offerings evolve, more manufacturers will offer single slightly larger 4 ohm cab solutions that may be a little heavier and physically larger but ultimately will suit players who no longer want to hump multiple 8 ohm cabs around, even if they are lightweight😁 I think larger cabs are here to stay and folks could do worse than re-inventing existing cabs meantime with newer modern drivers to get a good single cab solution.  

 

Not convinced by this. Modern amps generally have a massive surplus of power so 8 vs 4 ohm is somewhat moot.

[Stub Mandrel]

56 minutes ago, bassman7755 said:

Plus 2 vertically stacked smaller cabs will generally give better dispersion characteristics and auditability at ear level that a single cab on the floor.

 

As someone with a vertical 2x12, my understanding is that this improves dispersion in the horizontal plane, and is actually worse in the vertical. Am I right @Bill Fitzmaurice?

 

59 minutes ago, bassman7755 said:

Not convinced by this. Modern amps generally have a massive surplus of power so 8 vs 4 ohm is somewhat moot.

 

I'm happy to have a bit more headroom and the amp not working as close to its limit. Plus if I need to fall back on my Elf, it's only 130W into 8R, but 200 into 4R, which combined with an efficient cab takes it into the 'practical option for any gig' territory.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Where what you're hearing is concerned the narrower vertical dispersion of two stacked cabs versus one on the floor is more than compensated for by the higher position of the upper cab.