Bass Cab - 2x10 vs 1x15

[thetroy]

I want to get a cheapo bass and amp/cab to mess around with and need to decide between a 2x10 and a 1x15 cab. They're both about the same size and price so sound is the only real difference.

Anyone who knows anything about bass want to shed some light on the likely tonal differences?

[AlexL]

Surprisingly, a 2x12 cabinet can have a lower frequency response than a 1x15.

Case in point: 2x10 with 30Hz low end:

http://www.eden-electronics.com/products/cabs/indiv/d210xst.asp

1x15 with 48Hz low end:

http://www.eden-electronics.com/products/cabs/indiv/d115xlt.asp

Hell, the 2x10 even has the 1x18 beat; it only goes down to 42Hz:

http://www.eden-electronics.com/products/cabs/indiv/d118xl.asp

So, it all depends what you're looking for; low end, moving lots of air, portability, etc.

You've heard it before: It aint about the size, it's how you use it.

I have an Eden 4x10 (410XLT) cabinet. My buddy is building a 8x10 stack out of 4 Eden 2x10 units. We both prefer the tighter definition of the 10" drivers. You may not. Just don't think that a bigger cone gives you more low end; it's all about the cabinet design.

Listen to both and use your ears. Don't forget to look at sensitivity as well to get the most out of your amp. I find this more crucial with a bass, as you need all of the power from your amp you can get. No sense wasting it on inefficient speakers.

What do you like about bass? Low rumble, or the punchiness?

Enough rambling. Pick up the 2x10 and be done with it.

- E.

[Bryan]

I would go with 2 X 10. I started out with 15s when I first started playing. After a few years I switched to 10s and never went back. 15s are often hard to dial in because they're so much more "woofy" than 10s. Tens are more articulate to your tone. That comes from over 15 years of gigging.

Now if you could get both and put the 2 X 10 on top of the 15 you might like that too. But if I had to choose one I'd go with the 2 X 10.

[toejam]

Here's a 1x15 I got at the end of last year, and I play bass and guitar through it. The guy's got cheap prices on all kinds of cabs on ebay. He'll even go down 20% of his asking price.
http://stores.ebay.com/Seismic-Audio

[thetroy]

That's funny I was actually planning on getting the cab from Seismic. Maybe I first found it when you posted it before?

Good tip on the 20% - that will make the thing ridiculously cheap.

Perhaps I'll go with 10's to start and if I get serious I'll add the 15 later.

[toejam]

Yeah, I did post about them before, so maybe that is where you found it. He was very cool to deal with. I sent him an offer on his auction which was a little bit lower, and he wrote me back saying that he would go down only 20%, so an even better deal on his already good prices. The cab is covered in carpet, so it picks up pet hair very easily. If I could only get my cats to stop sleeping on top of it!