Two new, identical Subway 1x15 cabs sound different

[Addison]

Hello!

I searched for this and didn’t find anything …

I just bought two brand-new Bronco Baby Blue Subway 1x15 cabs and a TT800 head. I immediately hooked up both cabs and started playing around - I’ll join in the thousands of others with the accolades, because the rig sounds amazing and I feel like I barely scratched the surface so far.

My question comes because I switched to 8 ohm mode, set the tweeter attenuators to “Normal” on both cabs and A/B’d them and they sound quite a bit different.

I have them both on the floor, side by side. One is clearly punchy but warm and the other has more bite but much less warmth. These came from a store, so I’m hoping that it’s just because maybe one cab was used more on the floor and is broken in more than the other, but would that make that much difference?

Obviously, I don’t expect them to sound identical, but there is a little more difference than I feel like there should be in matching cabs.

The other thing I noticed is that one of the screws was stripped in the “Subway” badge, causing a rattle — hoping Mesa customer service will have an idea how to resolve that issue.

Anyway, I’m waiting to hear back from the store to see if one cab was maybe used more than the other while on display, but I was looking for anyone else who may have experienced the same thing. I don’t have a ton of experience using matching cabs.

Thanks!

 

[SJan3]

Hello!

I searched for this and didn’t find anything …

I just bought two brand-new Bronco Baby Blue Subway 1x15 cabs and a TT800 head. I immediately hooked up both cabs and started playing around - I’ll join in the thousands of others with the accolades, because the rig sounds amazing and I feel like I barely scratched the surface so far.

My question comes because I switched to 8 ohm mode, set the tweeter attenuators to “Normal” on both cabs and A/B’d them and they sound quite a bit different.

I have them both on the floor, side by side. One is clearly punchy but warm and the other has more bite but much less warmth. These came from a store, so I’m hoping that it’s just because maybe one cab was used more on the floor and is broken in more than the other, but would that make that much difference?

Obviously, I don’t expect them to sound identical, but there is a little more difference than I feel like there should be in matching cabs.

The other thing I noticed is that one of the screws was stripped in the “Subway” badge, causing a rattle — hoping Mesa customer service will have an idea how to resolve that issue.

Anyway, I’m waiting to hear back from the store to see if one cab was maybe used more than the other while on display, but I was looking for anyone else who may have experienced the same thing. I don’t have a ton of experience using matching cabs.

Thanks!

I would absolutely expect them to sound the same.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I have them both on the floor, side by side.

Did you try swapping their respective positions to see whether there is some sort of room interaction, possibly?

 

[basscooker]

Is there another sw115 at the store? You could at least spot the flake if you ABC them?

Really don't think there should be enough variance to classify two identical cabs from the same line ( and matching custom covering to boot) as different voicing. One of them has an out of spec driver maybe? Might be perfectly functional and sound glorious, as well as provide many years of loyal service to its owner; yet still be out of spec.

Pure speculation. Prolly just the room or another factor. I like the idea of swapping positions.

 

[Al Kraft]

This seems very odd to me. There are always some variations in drivers no matter how good the design and QA - that's a fact of life. However, with the SW line's quality of build and components I would not expect it to be night and day noticeable even if you had a plus and minus 3 or even 6 sigma sample side by side.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Try interchanging the two cables and see if the sound issue stays with the same cab.

How did you connect the two cabs. Try both cabs connected at the back panel as opposed to daisy chaining them.

 

[Al Kraft]

Try interchanging the two cables and see if the sound issue stays with the same cab.

How did you connect the two cabs. Try both cabs connected at the back panel as opposed to daisy chaining them.

This is certainly worth trying to eliminate potential causes, but I wouldn't expect to be able to hear a difference between a 10 foot 16 gauge cable and a 3 foot 12 gauge cable. However, simple, safe, free troubleshooting is always a good place to start!

 

[pingvuiini]

Can you post a pic?? I am very curious to see blue 15 Subways. All I ever see is black.

 

[pickles]

One time I was AB testing power amps using two identical cabs so I wouldn’t have to switch cables. There was a meaningful difference in sound. I swapped the cabs and the sound difference moved with the cabs. The amps sounded identical. Since then whenever I have identical cabs I do some testing, find the good one, and put that one at ear level.

 

[agedhorse]

This is indeed odd.

The drivers used in the cabinet have pretty tight tolerances. While ideally drivers are identical for all intents and purposes, there are tolerances Thad can come into play.

That said, we need to rule out other possibilities first. Location in the room and relative position of each cabinet is usually the most significant factor in two cabinets sounding different. Reverse the positions of the two cabinets and give another listen.

Also try with the tweeters all the way up and down to rule out a tweeter or crossover issue.

Also, testing outside can rule out room anomalies.

[edit for auto-correct incorrect]

PM me and I will help you get it sorted out.

 

[Kukulkan61]

This is indeed odd.

The drivers used in the cabinet have pretty tight tolerances. While ideally drivers are identical for all intensive purposes, there are tolerances Thad can come into play.

That said, we need to rule out other possibilities first. Location in the room and relative position of each cabinet is usually the most significant factor in two cabinets sounding different. Reverse the positions of the two cabinets and give another listen.

Also try with the tweeters all the way up and down to rule out a tweeter or crossover issue.

Also, testing outside can rule out room anomalies.

PM me and I will help you get it sorted out.

What would we all do without this guy..

 

[vvvmmm]

... for all intensive purposes, ....

Intents and purposes, too, I hope.

(Spellcheck so often doesn't, IME.)

 

[Addison]

Did you try swapping their respective positions to see whether there is some sort of room interaction, possibly?

The room is pretty dead with a fair amount of room and the cabs were about in the middle, but I’ll experiment with this more tomorrow. Thanks!

Is there another sw115 at the store? You could at least spot the flake if you ABC them?

I kind of live in the middle of nowhere and had them shipped. I wish that was an option for sure.

Try interchanging the two cables and see if the sound issue stays with the same cab.

I used two identical speaker cables when they were both hooked up at the same time and used the same cable when I was ABing them.

Can you post a pic?? I am very curious to see blue 15 Subways.

Of course!

Reverse the positions of the two cabinets and give another listen.

Also try with the tweeters all the way up and down to rule out a tweeter or crossover issue.

Also, testing outside can rule out room anomalies.

PM me and I will help you get it sorted out.

Thanks, I’ll try all of this tomorrow - going to try to use my zoom Q8 to capture some audio and I can send you a private link. I’ll see how that goes.

And you’re the best! I’ll pm you tomorrow.

What would we all do without this guy..

I know, right!?! A big part of why I bought this rig was the support on this forum by both loyal customers and amazing service.

 

[pingvuiini]

Of course!

View attachment 4447721

 

[Jesuguru]

Intents and purposes, too, I hope.

(Spellcheck so often doesn't, IME.)

My recent camping trip was intense. We slept in tents, as was our intents.

 

[vvvmmm]

In the decimal system, ya count in tens.

 

[Silky Johnson]

Love that color, and mesa service ftw

 

[seamonkey]

zoom Q8

See if you can record yourself direct into the Q8 or find a favorite bass recording.
Then use this to feed each recording of each cab.
It's not two much work with two recordings to find the differences between them.
Some people do hear different than others, so a distraction like a loose screw could bias your overall hearing. Princess and Pea effect.

 

[Auspuff]

Hello!

I searched for this and didn’t find anything …

I just bought two brand-new Bronco Baby Blue Subway 1x15 cabs and a TT800 head. I immediately hooked up both cabs and started playing around - I’ll join in the thousands of others with the accolades, because the rig sounds amazing and I feel like I barely scratched the surface so far.

My question comes because I switched to 8 ohm mode, set the tweeter attenuators to “Normal” on both cabs and A/B’d them and they sound quite a bit different.

I have them both on the floor, side by side. One is clearly punchy but warm and the other has more bite but much less warmth. These came from a store, so I’m hoping that it’s just because maybe one cab was used more on the floor and is broken in more than the other, but would that make that much difference?

Obviously, I don’t expect them to sound identical, but there is a little more difference than I feel like there should be in matching cabs.

The other thing I noticed is that one of the screws was stripped in the “Subway” badge, causing a rattle — hoping Mesa customer service will have an idea how to resolve that issue.

Anyway, I’m waiting to hear back from the store to see if one cab was maybe used more than the other while on display, but I was looking for anyone else who may have experienced the same thing. I don’t have a ton of experience using matching cabs.

Thanks!

I tried a 1X15 cab, exactly once. Hated it.

Went out, and bought an SVT810. Never looked back.

 

[Element Zero]

I tried a 1X15 cab, exactly once. Hated it.

Went out, and bought an SVT810. Never looked back.