Speaker sensitivity, volume, and orientation in a 2x12+1×15 cab?

[Hiwatts-n-Gibsons]

After the beginning of the year I am going to put together a Moon Cabinets 2×12" + 1×15" cab.

I know the 15" is gonna be on the bottom, and two 12"s on top. The 15" is a 103 db EV SRO15 rated at 8 ohms.

For the top two speakers I am thinking I need two 12" speakers right around 100 db each to match the volume of the 103 db EV in the cab. I know I need either two 16 ohm or two 4 ohm speakers to match the EV's ohm rating.

Is that correct, or can I go a little lower in efficiency if the two 12" speakers are on top? It's a straight front cab, so the top speakers will not be pointed upwards.

Also any recommendations for speakers in that range you might have paired with a 15" speaker would be cool if you have them. Make that speakers that are not EV SRO's or EVM12L's. I have SRO's, have had 12L's, and have had multiple SRO15's. The SRO 15" weighs a ton, even compared to the other big magnet cast frame 12's.

I am kinda leaning towards WGS Blackbird HP alnicos, Celestion Cream alnicos, 75hz Creambacks, or these bad boys here.

 

[uriah1]

You might think ceramics which match great with alnicos. Maybe g12h30 or creambacks

 

[Hiwatts-n-Gibsons]

You might think ceramics which match great with alnicos. Maybe g12h30 or creambacks

That was what had me thinking of the alnico WGS or Celestions. I have mixed a few alnicos with ceramics in cabs. Ideally I would just use two of my alnico SRO12's, but the cab would way a ton more than it already will with the cast frame 15" EV.

 

[printer2]

You do not have to match the EV's ohm rating. If you have them all driven by one amp you need to get all three to add up to a value the amp likes. On the efficiency, different manufacturers may test there speakers differently resulting in different SPL levels for the same sound volume so they may not match perfectly. Or they may, speakers are a crap shoot.

 

[Despres]

I don't know much about matching efficiency, but I was thinking about creating the right impedance the other day. If you do two 16 ohm speakers plus an 8, you would presumably have them all in parallel for 4 ohms, OR if you had two 4 ohms and an 8 you'd put the 4s in series, then parallel with the 8, also for 4 ohms. If I understand this correctly (and I might not), the two x 4 ohm configuration will be preferrable, because if you have two 16s and an 8 all in parallel, the 8 ohm speaker is the path of least resistance and more current will flow through that one than if you did the 4 ohms in series, which would give you two 8-ohm loads in parallel...

 

[Nicko_Lps]

I know the 15" is gonna be on the bottom, and two 12"s on top. The 15" is a 103 db EV SRO15 rated at 8 ohms.

I did read many people claiming the ideal cab is a the slightly oversized 1x15". Many claim it has the same effect as the 2x12 cab but its big and weights a lot, hence the 15" speakers lost to 12".

I dont think you need to actually match efficiencies on different speakers, i assume no matter what the 15" will overpower the 12"s

My question is... Why not a separate 1x15"? I think we talked speakers before and you stated you already have a 2x12"?

This EV 15" is a glorious speaker, it deserves its own personal property and safe space

 

[Hiwatts-n-Gibsons]

I did read many people claiming the ideal cab is a the slightly oversized 1x15". Many claim it has the same effect as the 2x12 cab but its big and weights a lot, hence the 15" speakers lost to 12".

I dont think you need to actually match efficiencies on different speakers, i assume no matter what the 15" will overpower the 12"s

My question is... Why not a separate 1x15"? I think we talked speakers before and you stated you already have a 2x12"?

This EV 15" is a glorious speaker, it deserves its own personal property and safe space

Because this way I have both. I'll have a 1x15, 2x12, and 1x15+2x12 cab.

I have two SRO15's. I briefly contemplated putting them both in a 2x15 cab, but then thought I'd rather be able to run them separately with different amps split stereo.

 

[Nicko_Lps]

I have two SRO15's. I briefly contemplated putting them both in a 2x15 cab, but then thought I'd rather be able to run them separately with different amps split stereo.

Yeah you are right...
The only thing that stops my mind thinking of that 2x15" cab is the possibility of them running in stereo through different cabs/amps.


Looks like you have a lot of work to do, once project starts, you start sharing the progress!

 

[bottlenecker]

After the beginning of the year I am going to put together a Moon Cabinets 2×12" + 1×15" cab.

I know the 15" is gonna be on the bottom, and two 12"s on top. The 15" is a 103 db EV SRO15 rated at 8 ohms.

For the top two speakers I am thinking I need two 12" speakers right around 100 db each to match the volume of the 103 db EV in the cab. I know I need either two 16 ohm or two 4 ohm speakers to match the EV's ohm rating.

Is that correct, or can I go a little lower in efficiency if the two 12" speakers are on top? It's a straight front cab, so the top speakers will not be pointed upwards.

Also any recommendations for speakers in that range you might have paired with a 15" speaker would be cool if you have them. Make that speakers that are not EV SRO's or EVM12L's. I have SRO's, have had 12L's, and have had multiple SRO15's. The SRO 15" weighs a ton, even compared to the other big magnet cast frame 12's.

I am kinda leaning towards WGS Blackbird HP alnicos, Celestion Cream alnicos, 75hz Creambacks, or these bad boys here.
View attachment 1295944

I think this will sound awesome. Keep in mind that if the pair of 12s combine to 8 ohms, they will each get 1/4 of the total power, and the 15 will get 1/2. Which I think is perfect, but I'm not sure if matching the efficiency matters.

 

[northernguitar]

I have little to offer you on the technical front. However, I will recommend my favourite, the Tone Tubby 40/40 ceramic. Playing through one was a real revelation. It's like a rich G12H 70th Anniversary. You might like some other offerings better. What I like is the service. I sent an email asking if he would ever issue an IR for his speakers and he personally replied to me. Though he didn't have any digital plans, he was super cool to reach out to me. I'm sure he'd give you a good consultation if you contacted him.

The Original Hempcone Speaker - Tone Tubby

Tone Tubby speakers are the new sustainable standard for natural sound tonality and cone dependability. A luxury sound based on hard working technology.

www.tonetubby.com

 

[Hiwatts-n-Gibsons]

I don't know much about matching efficiency, but I was thinking about creating the right impedance the other day. If you do two 16 ohm speakers plus an 8, you would presumably have them all in parallel for 4 ohms, OR if you had two 4 ohms and an 8 you'd put the 4s in series, then parallel with the 8, also for 4 ohms. If I understand this correctly (and I might not), the two x 4 ohm configuration will be preferrable, because if you have two 16s and an 8 all in parallel, the 8 ohm speaker is the path of least resistance and more current will flow through that one than if you did the 4 ohms in series, which would give you two 8-ohm loads in parallel...

I plan on wiring two 16 ohm 12" speakers in parallel at 8 ohm, and running that pair in series with the 8 ohm 15". Total cab impedance 16 ohm. That way it can be run with another 16 ohm cab.

 

[Despres]

I plan on wiring two 16 ohm 12" speakers in parallel at 8 ohm, and running that pair in series with the 8 ohm 15". Total cab impedance 16 ohm. That way it can be run with another 16 ohm cab.

Funny, I had to think for a minute to visualize one speaker in series with two in parallel, I've never thought about wiring three speakers together so my brain wasn't allowing that configuration at first...

I don't have any specific speaker recommendations but I've played primarily through a 1x15" for some time, and in the past year or so have started connecting one or two 2x10s to that rig, with some great results. The 15" is 8 ohms and all the other cabinets I have are 16 - you definitely hear a lot more 15" while playing (that isn't a bad thing), but I am not sure if that is because it's 15" or because of the lower impedance.

 

[Wally]

I plan on wiring two 16 ohm 12" speakers in parallel at 8 ohm, and running that pair in series with the 8 ohm 15". Total cab impedance 16 ohm. That way it can be run with another 16 ohm cab.

That is a plan. I would want all of speakers to have the same efficiency. A 3db difference will result in the 12s producing about 75% of the volume compared to the 103db EV. I personally prefer matched efficiency. Ommv. I would suggest some 12” Webers 12F150s of some sort. Or….if you have a good hand dolly, get a pair of EV12Ls.

 

[Ricky D.]

That was what had me thinking of the alnico WGS or Celestions. I have mixed a few alnicos with ceramics in cabs. Ideally I would just use two of my alnico SRO12's, but the cab would way a ton more than it already will with the cast frame 15" EV.

If it was my project, I would probably do the 2X12s in a separate cabinet.

With your proposed 1x15+2x12 cabinet, how big is it going to be and how much will it weigh? You are going to have to hump it and haul it, no fun on a 2:30 AM load out.