2 4-10s or 1 8-10 cab...What's better?

ben_brown · Post by **ben_brown** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 5:49 am

I have one 4-10 cab and I was pondering getting another but I was curious if it would be as good as an 8-10 cab.

leftyguitars · Post by **leftyguitars** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 5:51 am

An 8-10 is better for putting your back out!

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 6:04 am

I'd go with 2 410's. I would think that you would move just as much air, its more modular, and hey,,you already have one.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 6:14 am

I prefer 2 2x10 cabs ... scalable and easy to move ... for a bigger bang get an sm57 and mike it into a big pa with subwoofers ... that will give you more kick than a bunch of 8x10 cabs ...

edski · Post by **edski** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 6:15 am

just got to look at the impedance issue: if your 4x10 is a 4 ohm cab, adding another one will likely lower the effective load to a level where your amp is workin too hard. Unless your amp can handle a 2 ohm load...

And if the 2 4x10's are not the same impedance, you'll be putting twice the power through one of them, which will not get the results you are looking for...

But damn, 8x10's sound great, but as Peter said there's a price to pay from your back.

On a smaller scale, I have the same issue looking into maybe augmenting my 2x10 - but it's a 4 ohm design, so unless I upgrade to a power amp that can handle 2 ohms I'd be looking at getting 2 8 ohm 2x10's...so no matter what I try to do I'd be looking at having to get a new power amp or 2 new cabs. So I'll just be happy with my modest set up, which when augmented by my band's PA puts out quite a good sound.

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 6:16 am

I'd certainly stay with two smaller cabinets so just get another 4x10. Might I also suggest that you give a 1x15 a tryout as well before deciding. I love the 10's/15 combo.

Ed....if you upgrade your amp you can also get a stereo version that would allow you to run two 4 ohm cabinets independently. I love running a dirty signal to my 2x10 and using the 2-1x15's for some clarity.

pma · Post by **pma** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 6:44 am

Brian, I use a Mesa 4x10 and a 1x15 and bi-amp on stage. I also send a direct signal to the PA (two channels) which is also bi-amped with subwoofers. I let the PA do most of the work using the stage volume just to add some warmth.

Paul

ben_brown · Post by **ben_brown** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 7:15 am

My current Hartke 410 is 8 ohms and I set it on top of my GenzBenz 15 and it sounds pretty good pushed by my GK 800RB bi-amp but there's something about the looks of 8 10s...even 2 410 cabs stacked for that matter. The reason I asked is I thought there may be something about the 8-10 cab's internal volume(space) than the 2 410 cabs.

edski · Post by **edski** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 7:18 am

Brian - I hear you. But my main issue is that upgrading is sort of a dead issue right now!

I own a house in FLA...have you heard what's happening to home owners insurance rates down here lately?

That extra $1700 those larcenists want (and will get) would have gone a long way towards a new rig...

Fact is, however, that I'm waffled on what I might want. Been around the block on my wish list several time. Eden Nemesis 2x12? Real nice I want it. Carvin BRX 212? Real nice I want it. Power amp and a decent pre-amp like a BBE 383? Real nice I want it.

But lately I've been very pleased with the sound I'm getting out of my low end Behringer and Carvin 2x10, so the urge for a new rig is a bit less than a few months ago.

And it's nice to have all of my gear packed and ready to load in my Corolla a few minutes after we stop playing. One of the benefits of switching back to bass is the gear requirements are far less than the guitar, drums or band PA.

If you're content - like me - to keep it simple!

For the moment, at least. After the Holidays, when the band stands to bring in some good $$$ I might have the yen for new gear again.

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 7:32 am

I was just mentioning it Ed! I'm glad you are happy with your current setup. For the first time in 20 years I am content with my gear. The Ric 4004's with flats through my Ampeg SVP-Pro preamp, Ashly 2x500 power amp into 2 Mesa Diesel 1x15's and 1-2x10 suit my needs perfectly (with a few stomp boxes to liven things up). If I run wireless it is too much of a hassle splitting the signal so I just run the whole thing a little "dirty". It provides plenty of ear level stage volume and the PA handles the heavy work. It barely fits in my VW R32 and is modular so there is no major back surgery required.....just a few extra trips from the car to the stage.

Sorry about your insurance woes.....every area has negatives. You have high insurance, hurricanes, and too much heat (for me). I have winter and high heating bills to contend with. The New England area has the Kennedy's and California has Tom Cruise, Sean Penn, Alec Baldwin and Susan Sarandon to suffer through.

(I'll deal with the snow)

4stringnosing · Post by **4stringnosing** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 7:39 am

I mentioned to my guitar player I'm planning on getting an Ampeg 8 X 10 and he just looked at me and said "no you're not!" lol - I've got some health issues so the rest of the guys have to do the heavy lifting, so I can see his point!

My stage rig consists of all-Behringer components: 450 watt, 2 x 10 and 1 x 15 with a Bass V-Amp (PodXT clone) pre-amp and I must admit it sounds fantastic. I really do wonder if I'd miss that 15" if I switched to an 8 x 10, but until I get roadies the point is mute!

Anyways Ben, my recommendation would be to add a second 4 x 10 and go stereo if you can afford another amp.

edski · Post by **edski** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 8:14 am

Brian - the flats idea on the 4004 intrigues me, but man, the sound I'm getting with RW's is fantastic.

Of course, these strings are nearly a year old! So they're almost as "dead" as flats. That might be part of why I'm starting to really dig the tone I'm getting.

Yeah, every place has it's issues, it's just that I find it funny that a simialr house in Cali can be insured for about 1/4 the cost, and they have the threat of earthquakes, mudslides and wild fires.

Of course we can have fires too here in FLA, but not really a problem in my neck of the woods. Too much pavement!

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 8:56 am

2 8x10's ala SVT!

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 9:32 am

all of my cabinets are 8 ohms ... the 1x18, the 1x15s, and the 2x10s ... so I can mix and match any 2 cabs and get a 4 ohm load on the amp ...

morbass · Post by **morbass** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 9:54 am

I actually think it's easier to load-in/out my SVT 810 then my Eden 410. With the Eden I must lift ~100Lbs. in/out of the vehicle. Twice, for 2 of them. While with the SVT 810 I can roll it up, tilt it over lift it from the bottom and slide it in.

The 410 does provide the opportunity to pile a head and other gear on top of it to reduce the number of trips. Although the wheels on the Eden cabs pretty much suck.

I ended up getting a rolling head case as well so now once the gear is out of the SUV, it conveniently rolls from there.

Then there's the magic of an 810 sealed enclosure driven by Ric through a tube amp.