Opinions on 'the ultimate' speakers

FonnySquatSlav · March 21, 2017, 02:14:42 AM

Hello everyone.

I've recently put in a custom order at Hovercraft for a D20(dwarvenaut 20 watt) built into 2x12 combo, speakers one on top of the other instead of side by side because it will fit into a small space in my playing area, and also because I just like the stack-ish look. I was asked a question that never really crossed my mind much, basically which speakers do I want to go with, which plummeted me into a roundabout of research, looking at many different speakers and listening to all sorts of sound clips. I've taken a liking to the eminence governor, but incase I'm missing something, I just want to clear my slate and hear some other opinions on what the "ultimate" stoner/doomy speaker is. Input would greatly appreciated. Thanks

My only previous experiences with speakers revolve around the Celestion Vintage 30's, as most of my cabs are made by Orange.

RacerX · March 21, 2017, 02:07:32 PM

The Celestion G12H30 is my favorite, but a mix of Vintage 30s and G12H30s sounds even better for the Stoner/Doom. Very complementary—each adds something the other doesn't have.

Load that 2x12 with G12H30s and run it with your Orange cabs—you won't be sorry.

FonnySquatSlav · March 21, 2017, 03:18:39 PM

Thanks for the input! g12h30's haven't even crossed my mind. I will look into them today.

Pissy · March 21, 2017, 04:51:44 PM

Is the amp an orange? 30 watt? 50000 watt?

FonnySquatSlav · March 21, 2017, 05:04:10 PM

No it's a Hovercraft. Dwarvenaut, 20 watts. But it's built to orange/matamp specs

Danny G · March 22, 2017, 11:13:15 AM

I like Vintage 30s, but I go for a more beefed-up early 70s rock/Marshall tone

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Danny G · March 22, 2017, 11:14:13 AM

Quote from: RacerX on March 21, 2017, 02:07:32 PM
The Celestion G12H30 is my favorite, but a mix of Vintage 30s and G12H30s sounds even better for the Stoner/Doom. Very complementary—each adds something the other doesn't have.

Load that 2x12 with G12H30s and run it with your Orange cabs—you won't be sorry.

One of each?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

RacerX · March 22, 2017, 11:38:21 AM

Nah, he's already running V30s in his Orange cabs, so I suggested he load the 2x12 with two G12H30s.

FYI, my G12H30s are in an open back Avatar 2x12, which makes them sound even huger.

Danny G · March 24, 2017, 12:11:10 PM

Gotcha

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Danny G · March 24, 2017, 12:14:30 PM

Some people like a mix of V30s and the stock G-75s for the extra bite.

Worth a shot if you have any laying around.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

spookstrickland · April 01, 2017, 01:38:11 AM

I really dig 15" Behringer speakers. Cheap as fuck but have a very warm top end to them. I'm using a berhinger keyboard/pa combo that I pulled the amp section out and wired it up as a an 8ohm cab. Sounds amazing! Probably same speakers used in Bugera amps.

OGSpacetrucker · April 25, 2017, 05:17:54 PM

tell us what sounds you like, favorite guitar tones, do you tune down? I would recommend eminence. The stock speakers in almost anything made in the 70's were cts which kinda turned into eminence. I do think you may want to look into alnico magnets on them if you can. also get low wattage, like, the rms of both speakers combined to be 20 or 25 watts(cranked tube amps put out more than rated when distorted. by roughly idk 10 to 50 percent power wise not volume wise.)

Also what pickups and guitars do you use? that is the biggest factor other than amp setting and speakers/cab.

Baltar · April 27, 2017, 08:48:22 AM

I put a quad of WGS G12Q's in my Soldano slant. They're only 20 Watts, but have more break-up than Taylor Swift. They're WGS's answer to the Jensen P12Q used in the 5E3 Tweed Deluxe. I like them because they don't weigh much, they're a total odd-ball choice and CHEAP. $49/piece!
Warehouse have a lot of British-style speakers too. Also all of their speakers are made in Paducah, Kentucky original home of CTS.

https://wgsusa.com

Submarine · May 23, 2017, 11:25:47 AM

Just installed (4) 65 watt M75 Skumbacks into my cabinet.
I'm very pleased. I like the articulation. They don't breakup quite as easily as the Greenbacks that I was using before but that is a good thing for me since I have several different fuzz/ODs doing that job.
http://www.scumbackspeakers.com/m_series.html

Katzenkönig · August 17, 2017, 07:46:12 PM

I love "The Governor" by Eminence! Has more volume and is less ice picky, than the V30. I use them in a custommade "Tube Town" cabinet with flexback.

oldmansanj · August 21, 2017, 04:45:47 AM

My favourite speaker is the celestion k100 in my sunn 4x12. I used it with a matamp gtl,gto, gt120 orange tv200 and or15 my marshall clones (fargen and mjw) and it makes the all sound huge. Equally I found it quite a neutral sounding speaker and lets the amp shine through a bit more unlike the v30 or greenbacks which colour the sound.

Pissy · August 24, 2017, 10:52:04 AM

I'm a fan of two very specific things- high efficiency speakers and maxing out the load on the amp.

For example, if your amp has 4, 8 and 16 ohm speaker outs, using the 16 ohm out in my experience, provides the best sound as it utilizes all of the windings and iron in the output transformer.

Of course you want to match your cabinet load to that 16ohm spec. If you run one 412 cab, you can either series/parallel a quad of 16 ohms speakers, or run a quad of 4 ohms in series. 8 ohm speakers won't really achieve the goal here, as a single 8 ohm 412 cabinet won't either.

If you have 2-8 ohm cabinets, you can fashion a series speaker cable to put the cabs in series and provide the 16 ohm load. Be advised in the event of one cabinet failing, the other will not work either.

Once you manage a 16 --> 16 ohm relationship, here is where the higher efficiency speakers come into play.

In theory, 3db spl (sound pressure level) gain is equal to:
1) supposedly, the smallest increment the human ear can detect.
2) a representation that it takes double the output power to get that gain.

So in theory, a 100watt amp run through a 95db sensitivity speaker is equally loud as a 50 watt amp run through a 98db speaker.

To be fair, peak sensitivity numbers are most often the published specs, which represents a small piece of the sound spectrum. But its the best on paper comparison one can make without emptying a bank account to try things out.

Eminence Man-O-Wars are a great choice at 101.6 db. For $75 on Amazon that's tough to beat.

G12k100's are 99db spl, and they sound great.

Also, using a low sensitivity speaker can be beneficial when you want full saturation at lower volumes. A 93db speaker pushed with 100w, may only be as loud as a 99db G12k100 pushed with a 25w amp. Again, on paper.