Dumb Idea - Thoughts?

A

alboz28

Inspired
I have 2 Mesa 2x12 Recto Cabinets that I am reluctant to get rid of (both wired stereo)

Would it be unwise (or stupid) to consider changing the speakers to the Eminence Beta-12CX (like XiTone) to make it more FRFR and using a stereo amp to power for an AX8 set up ?

Would I need to add ports or ??

Thoughts?

Thank you
 
If they are good guitar cabs why not use them as such rather than turning them into mediocre FRFR cabs? I faced this choice when I went Fractal and stuck with the guitar cabs. It has been great... "amp in the room" tone all day long, can use it with a traditional head if need be, their resale value is not destroyed, etc.
 
I believe you can add the tweeter units on the Emminence speakers (bought separately IIRC). What you would need though is probably porting and also a suitable crossover assembly. No problem having a go with a cheap cab but I must admit I'd be reluctant to carve up a couple of decent Mesa cabs.
 
mnemonic said:
You would also need a tweeter, no? It doesn't look like those speakers have one built in.
Click to expand...
I am not sure about the tweeter either. Folks seem to like XiTone Cabs and this is the speaker that they use. I don't see any mention of tweeter in any of their cabs but I could be mistaken. If you look at their 2x12 passive cab it looks like it is roughly the same as my recto cab with different speakers.
 
Last edited:
alboz28 said:
I am not sure about the tweeter either. Folks seem to like XiTone Cabs and this is the speaker that they use. I don't see any mention of tweeter in any of their cabs but I could be mistaken. If you look at their 2x12 passive cab it looks like it is roughly the same as my recto cab with different speakers.
Click to expand...
They are a coaxial design. There is a tweeter behind the main speaker, as well as a crossover.

@MicFarlow from Xitone might be able to give some feedback for you.
 
There is no compression driver included. Note the red wording. https://www.bluearan.co.uk/index.php?id=EMIBETA12CX&browsemode=manufacturer This is the recommended compression driver http://www.bluearan.co.uk/index.php?id=EMIPSD2002S or http://www.bluearan.co.uk/index.php?id=EMIASD1001 or if you prefer a US site http://www.usspeaker.com/beta12cx-1.htm which has the same info.

Crossovers are usually not included in the actual speaker also as there design will differ with each enclosure you have. Recommended Emminence one is http://www.usspeaker.com/px-bii2-2k5cx-1.htm

Granted, some speakers have the HF driver included and I'm sure builders can specify the driver they want adding. Some speakers have a crossover built in (Volt speakers for instance) but in this instance, no.
 
Long ago this was debated here and I'm pretty sure the consensus was that it's not a good idea.

I know others have done it with ok results, personally I would leave the guitar cabs alone and use the money your were going to spend on the Eminence drivers, crossovers and tweeters and buy a couple of EV zlx 12p's or something similar and have both options at your disposal.

I owned a pair of those Mesa cabs once and they kill just the way they are, an old adage comes to mind here... "If it ain't broke don't fix it"!
 
Beta-12CX + High freq driver + crossover will cost you around $160 each before shipping. However the cabinet should be tuned for that speaker which I'm sure your mesa cabs are not. I suppose you could go by the Beta-12CX spec sheet and figure out how many cubic inches of cabinet volume you need then install a baffle to separate the two sided of the cabinet but you would probably need another one inside each cell to adjust the overall volume. I am completely clueless how to do those calculations but the speaker info is here.
http://www.eminence.com/pdf/Beta_12CX.pdf
 
You could certainly make it work but you'd probably find the the Beta 12CXs (and HF drivers) still need pretty extensive EQ to be vary flat. For what it would cost for the drivers, parametric EQ and a pair of stereo power amps (1HF, 1LF), you could pay for 3/4 of a couple of Xitone wedges with everything built in and the EQing already done. You could probably sell your recto cabs and be money ahead.

Unless you're playing really large stages or way to loud for your own good, a couple of, light & portable, XiTones will give you a huge sound with great fidelity to your presets.

Just my take on it :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom