Difference between one 2x12 or just two 1x12 cabs?

[romanianreaper]

This may be a dumb question but is there a difference between using a 2x12 cab or just plugging two 1x12 cabs into your amp side by side?

 

[Code001]

Yes, they will sound different.

 

[Bossman415]

@romanianreaper they will sound different. Generally speaking, a 2x12 cab will sound bigger/broader. A single 1x12 or two single 1x12 cabs will sound more focused.

 

[romanianreaper]

Appreciate your help guys! I read a bit on the subject last night and some felt if the 1x12 cabs were placed side by side it is not as different as say spreading them apart on stage. With that said, to me it seems like a bigger cab would sound different just by design. You have more wood, depth, etc. I guess every cab is different though too.

 

[Spaceboy]

It will absolutely sound different in the room, and under a microphone. The 2x12 will have more of a mid scoop with broader bass and highs, while the 1x12s even with two of them will be more midrange dominant. The construction/size of the cabinet has just as much to do with the tone as the speaker itself, even if you have it close-miked. I went down this rabbit hole years back because I was trying to play through two 2x12s instead of a single 4x12, thinking it would be better to have a more modular setup for various sized stages and transportation. I found that even with similar total internal volumes of the dual cabs vs a single cab, same speakers and cabinet build, they sounded extremely different from each other.

 

[flimz]

I was trying to play through two 2x12s instead of a single 4x12, thinking it would be better to have a more modular setup for various sized stages and transportation. I found that even with similar total internal volumes of the dual cabs vs a single cab, same speakers and cabinet build, they sounded extremely different from each other.

Which did you like better? Two 2x12s or One 4x12?

 

[romanianreaper]

It will absolutely sound different in the room, and under a microphone. The 2x12 will have more of a mid scoop with broader bass and highs, while the 1x12s even with two of them will be more midrange dominant. The construction/size of the cabinet has just as much to do with the tone as the speaker itself, even if you have it close-miked. I went down this rabbit hole years back because I was trying to play through two 2x12s instead of a single 4x12, thinking it would be better to have a more modular setup for various sized stages and transportation. I found that even with similar total internal volumes of the dual cabs vs a single cab, same speakers and cabinet build, they sounded extremely different from each other.

I'm not an upper mid guy, more low mids. I probably need a 5150-III 2x12. Great info BTW!

 

[nightlight]

I'd definitely go with the 2x12. The bigger cabinet allows the tone to open up more, whereas I always found with the 1x12 I own, there's a little bit of boxiness that you can't dial out without neutering the amp.

It's also harder to get a good thump out of a small cabinet than it is a bigger one. It's also easier to mic up the 2x12.

 

[Code001]

There are some 1x12s that sound quite large and can keep up with some of the larger cabs out there. They'll have tuned ports for the speakers that help add depth i.e. CAA, Bogner, Suhr, Randall, Egnater, Mesa Thiele, Rivera, etc. These are especially good if you're wanting to do a W/D/W setup with a 4x12. I find the 1x12 cubes add some great focus for the wet effects in this scenario compared to, say, a 4x12. YMMV

 

[thegame]

There are some 1x12s that sound quite large and can keep up with some of the larger cabs out there. They'll have tuned ports for the speakers that help add depth i.e. CAA, Bogner, Suhr, Randall, Egnater, Mesa Thiele, Rivera, etc. These are especially good if you're wanting to do a W/D/W setup with a 4x12. I find the 1x12 cubes add some great focus for the wet effects in this scenario compared to, say, a 4x12. YMMV

Indeed, adding a 1 x 12 or 2 x 12 to the mix, instead of another 4 x 12 can actually sometimes be better, depending on the rig.

 

[nightlight]

There are some 1x12s that sound quite large and can keep up with some of the larger cabs out there. They'll have tuned ports for the speakers that help add depth i.e. CAA, Bogner, Suhr, Randall, Egnater, Mesa Thiele, Rivera, etc. These are especially good if you're wanting to do a W/D/W setup with a 4x12. I find the 1x12 cubes add some great focus for the wet effects in this scenario compared to, say, a 4x12. YMMV

I have a Thiele with an EV12L, and while it indeed sounds good, it would not be my first choice for a recording solution simply because the cabinet is small. I can imagine how they'd sound sick paired with a 4x12 though in a WDW solution.

Live though, I could definitely use it as a monitoring solution. That's what I'd do with my Axe FXIII, since I can feed the FOH with a complete signal chain while routing a straightforward amp-cab mix to the Thiele.