Ampeg SVT-212AV vs 115E

Ampeg SVT-212AV vs 115E

  • SVT-212AV

    Votes: 20 80.0%

  • SVT-115E

    Votes: 3 12.0%

  • Carrot-infused mountain of heavy cabinets

    Votes: 2 8.0%
  • Total voters
    25
Joris 55

Joris 55

Jun 5, 2009
174
205
4,901
Belgium - France
#1
Hey y'all :)

The last couple of years my main cab was an SVT 410HEN (yeah, HEN). I absolutely love the sound of it, but it weighs a ton. So now I'm in the market for something more .. manageable. Most of the stuff I do involves my RNDI and I tend to lift up my cab while playing, so massive volume doesn't really matter.

I've had the 115E before and I really really liked the punchy sound and the weight. My only issue with the cabinet were the insane vibrations. Made my Bassman 100T nearly jump off a couple of times. Is that a common problem or did I just have a dud? I also have an SVT-112HE cab which I really like, but that one's just a bit too small.

Sooo I'm in between the 212AV vs 115E. I have no way of comparing them directly. Anyone has any experience with both? I know one is 4 ohm and the other 8ohm and that really doesn't matter. Just talking about sound, weight and cab vibrations.

Any help would be really appreciated. I have no real way of trying them out side by side at the moment.

Thanks a lot! :D
 
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#3
Joris 55 said:
Hey y'all :)

The last couple of years my main cab was an SVT 410HEN (yeah, HEN). I absolutely love the sound of it, but it weighs a ton. So now I'm in the market for something more .. manageable. Most of the stuff I do involves my RNDI and I tend to lift up my cab while playing, so massive volume doesn't really matter.

I've had the 115E before and I really really liked the punchy sound and the weight. My only issue with the cabinet were the insane vibrations. Made my Bassman 100T nearly jump off a couple of times. Is that a common problem or did I just have a dud? I also have an SVT-112HE cab which I really like, but that one's just a bit too small.

Sooo I'm in between the 212AV vs 115E. I have no way of comparing them directly. Anyone has any experience with both? I know one is 4 ohm and the other 8ohm and that really doesn't matter. Just talking about sound, weight and cab vibrations.

Any help would be really appreciated. I have no real way of trying them out side by side at the moment.

Thanks a lot! :D
Click to expand...

My vote leans towards the SVT212AV. I'm a new owner of 2 SVT112AVs (and I can't stop posting about them) which have entirely surpassed my expectations of a pair of 1x12s. I take a single to rehearsals and both out to gigs, but they hold up with my 5 string and a single has enough volume for a lot of my needs. Both of them together is just more of an already good thing.

Sound: Tight and punchy. The mids grind a bit more than some of the cabs I'm used to, but in a mix they never get lost. I have to dial more bass than I used to, but that's what EQ is for right? I can't speak about the 115he, though specs rate it to go a bit deeper, -3db at 50hz and -10db at 33hz. I feel like I can cut or add enough bass or treble, but midrange is harder to add to a cab without sounding unnatural, hence my preference for the 112AVs.

Weight: A little heavier than I would prefer for a single 12" cab, about 42lbs if I remember right. But the 2x12 at 66lbs is completely reasonable IMO.

Vibrations: My AG500 weighs about 17lbs and doesn't shift at all when I play. But of course enough low end will move almost any head.

So anyway, yeah my vote is SVT212AV.
 
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#5
Jacobfred said:
My vote leans towards the SVT212AV. I'm a new owner of 2 SVT112AVs (and I can't stop posting about them) which have entirely surpassed my expectations of a pair of 1x12s. I take a single to rehearsals and both out to gigs, but they hold up with my 5 string and a single has enough volume for a lot of my needs. Both of them together is just more of an already good thing.

Sound: Tight and punchy. The mids grind a bit more than some of the cabs I'm used to, but in a mix they never get lost. I have to dial more bass than I used to, but that's what EQ is for right? I can't speak about the 115he, though specs rate it to go a bit deeper, -3db at 50hz and -10db at 33hz. I feel like I can cut or add enough bass or treble, but midrange is harder to add to a cab without sounding unnatural, hence my preference for the 112AVs.

Weight: A little heavier than I would prefer for a single 12" cab, about 42lbs if I remember right. But the 2x12 at 66lbs is completely reasonable IMO.

Vibrations: My AG500 weighs about 17lbs and doesn't shift at all when I play. But of course enough low end will move almost any head.

So anyway, yeah my vote is SVT212AV.
Click to expand...

Alright, thanks for the useful information :D Seems like your 112AV's sound a lot like my 112HE, so I get why you like 'em so much. Loving the midrange indeed. If I'm not mistaken, your cabs are the same width as the 212AV? My 112 cab is less wide, which is annoying when putting a head on top :meh:
 
#7
Joris 55 said:
Cool, thanks @JimmyM :D

Impossible to find direct comparisons between these cabs. Sonically I really enjoy the 410HEN, but it's a heavy, old cab. Very unpleasant to carry up a flight of stairs.

Would the 212AV be a good match for a V4BH? I'm guessing it would be quieter than the 410HEN?
Click to expand...
A little, but it still takes a pretty good pounding. They brought the 212av out originally to pair up with the reissue V4B, so I'd think it would be great with a V4BH.
 
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#9
Hey, I'm curious, what size are the ports in the 212av (diameter, lenght)? I'd be glad if someone who owns one could measure the inner diameter and length of the ports. I thought I'd make some calculations regarding those.
 
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