A little history first:
I originally started using the Axe-FX with a Matrix GT800FX + 2x12" Buzzbomb. The set up sounded very good but I felt there wasn't much versatility without being able to switch Cab sims around.
After a while of waiting for a CLR, I bought a passive Xitone wedge to use with the Matrix to endure the wait. Once I got the CLR, I compared both and the CLR edged the Xitone just enough for me to keep the CLR. It was the perfect solution for me at that time... compact, powered, and versatile FRFR. My only complaints were maybe the weak paint (chips VERY easily) and the weight... it's not light (the Neo version probably fixes that).
Why did I sell the CLR then?
I originally planned to use the CLR for live shows as a personal wedge but that got thrown out the window because the dispersion on this thing is so good, that I was interfering with my other bandmates' monitor mixes. I tried it as a back end on a pole next and worked awesome... sounded like a 4x12" behind me, but then I had to get in a volume war with my bassist... so now I just run direct into the PA and have a standard monitor for both my guitar and voice.
I couldn't justify keeping a $1,000 speaker for just rehearsals so I decided to downgrade and look for a budget solution.
This is when I came across the Seismic... Powered 12 Inch Coaxial Floor / Studio / Stage Monitor | Compact | Active Pro Audio 12 Inch Coaxial Speaker Monitor with Titanium Compression Horn Driver | 250 Watts RMS
I said, why not? So I bought one and a 12" EV ZLX as well to compare. It only took me one day to decide on keeping the Seismic.
It's not that I didn't like the ZLX, it sounded good, but the seismic sounded better, more balanced... at least for my application which is 90% high gain heavy metal (FAS Modern model).
The ZLX sounded a little more metallic, high end was more shrill... I played around with the EQ settings and found the POLE and MUSIC settings to give a nice low end thump (plus I also had it on a pole). Other EQ settings were too nasally and thin sounding.
That's another thing... the Seismic was easier to EQ... you don't have to navigate menus and such. Just raised the low and high a little and it sounded killer compared to both at 0.
I have used the Seismic for both rehearsals and a show (propped up on a pole) now and it's held up very well. At both these settings I have used the speaker at about 60% of the total volume and I could hear myself without any problems, even over my bandmate's 4x12" powered by a Matrix GT1000. The poweramp seems to be pretty sturdy (hasn't crapped out on me yet), the speakers covering is a lot more resistant than the CLR's and the sound is very good, not as good as the CLR, but not bad at all.
I will say that it is almost as heavy and that the dispersion is not nearly as good as the CLR, but that kind of works to my advantage for my situation.
It's only been about a month, so reliability is still being tested. What I can say is that sound-wise, it's a very good deal for the price. My next experiment will be getting another and putting an Eminence Beta 12CX coaxial driver in there to compare the stock driver... it'd be interesting to see that result.
Anyway a video is probably a lot more descriptive, so here it is... I'm in the red playing Master of Puppets through the Seismic and some FOH. The intro is just me so you can recognize the tone of just the Seismic... you be the judge:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZfdCZiMggQ How do I embed the video here?!
I originally started using the Axe-FX with a Matrix GT800FX + 2x12" Buzzbomb. The set up sounded very good but I felt there wasn't much versatility without being able to switch Cab sims around.
After a while of waiting for a CLR, I bought a passive Xitone wedge to use with the Matrix to endure the wait. Once I got the CLR, I compared both and the CLR edged the Xitone just enough for me to keep the CLR. It was the perfect solution for me at that time... compact, powered, and versatile FRFR. My only complaints were maybe the weak paint (chips VERY easily) and the weight... it's not light (the Neo version probably fixes that).
Why did I sell the CLR then?
I originally planned to use the CLR for live shows as a personal wedge but that got thrown out the window because the dispersion on this thing is so good, that I was interfering with my other bandmates' monitor mixes. I tried it as a back end on a pole next and worked awesome... sounded like a 4x12" behind me, but then I had to get in a volume war with my bassist... so now I just run direct into the PA and have a standard monitor for both my guitar and voice.
I couldn't justify keeping a $1,000 speaker for just rehearsals so I decided to downgrade and look for a budget solution.
This is when I came across the Seismic... Powered 12 Inch Coaxial Floor / Studio / Stage Monitor | Compact | Active Pro Audio 12 Inch Coaxial Speaker Monitor with Titanium Compression Horn Driver | 250 Watts RMS
I said, why not? So I bought one and a 12" EV ZLX as well to compare. It only took me one day to decide on keeping the Seismic.
It's not that I didn't like the ZLX, it sounded good, but the seismic sounded better, more balanced... at least for my application which is 90% high gain heavy metal (FAS Modern model).
The ZLX sounded a little more metallic, high end was more shrill... I played around with the EQ settings and found the POLE and MUSIC settings to give a nice low end thump (plus I also had it on a pole). Other EQ settings were too nasally and thin sounding.
That's another thing... the Seismic was easier to EQ... you don't have to navigate menus and such. Just raised the low and high a little and it sounded killer compared to both at 0.
I have used the Seismic for both rehearsals and a show (propped up on a pole) now and it's held up very well. At both these settings I have used the speaker at about 60% of the total volume and I could hear myself without any problems, even over my bandmate's 4x12" powered by a Matrix GT1000. The poweramp seems to be pretty sturdy (hasn't crapped out on me yet), the speakers covering is a lot more resistant than the CLR's and the sound is very good, not as good as the CLR, but not bad at all.
I will say that it is almost as heavy and that the dispersion is not nearly as good as the CLR, but that kind of works to my advantage for my situation.
It's only been about a month, so reliability is still being tested. What I can say is that sound-wise, it's a very good deal for the price. My next experiment will be getting another and putting an Eminence Beta 12CX coaxial driver in there to compare the stock driver... it'd be interesting to see that result.
Anyway a video is probably a lot more descriptive, so here it is... I'm in the red playing Master of Puppets through the Seismic and some FOH. The intro is just me so you can recognize the tone of just the Seismic... you be the judge:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZfdCZiMggQ How do I embed the video here?!
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