1-2x12 vs 2-1x12's

[steve108819]

How would these two setups compare? Obvious advantage of 2 1x12's is portability if you only need to grab one. Would a pair of 1x12's sound the same as a 2x12 of similar construction?

[B_of_H]

I prefer 2-1x12's right now because I put one on top of the other which helps me hear my amp onstage. Otherwise our drummer and bass player bury my 1x12 combo even if it's tilted back sometimes.

[GA20T]

Nothing beats being able to put your sound wherever you want & need it. That, plus it's more versatile as you've stated. I don't think there'd be any discernible difference between the two setups if you compared them side-by-side, although you could get better sounding surround with the dual cab setup. You could also go with a different speaker in each 1x12 and have a different sound (or a combination of the two) whenever you like. I've been looking for a greenback loaded 4x12 but after reading this thread I think I might have a pair of 2x12 Avatars built for my Bandmaster head. Hmm.

[jimmyohio75]

This thread discussed that issue to death! See below!

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=530097&highlight=2x12

[jchan]

From all the previous discussions on this topic, the consensus seems to be, in my understanding, that 2 1x12 cabs, placed next to each other, and that are equal in volume (cubic inches) and every other respect as an equivalent 2x12, would sound the same. If you stacked 2, 1x12 cabs vertically, then it should sound like the equivalent 2x12 cab lying vertically also. The bottom line is that if you prefer the lighter weight of 2 1x12's then that would be the way to go.

Here is a previous quote from Jay Mitchell on this topic that is a good summary:

"Think about it: if you take a 2x12 cab and add a partition inside that separates each speaker into its own acoustic space, what has changed? If the two speakers are identical, nothing. (If they are not identical, something will change, but it is likely to be very subtle.) Now do a "saw the lady in half" trick on your divided 2x12, but leave the two cabs together. What has changed? Nothing. What is different between a 2x12 and two side-by-side 1x12s with matching dimensions (same width and depth, half the length of the 2x12)? Nothing. Now, if you separate the 1x12s, a lot will change."

[steve108819]

This thread discussed that issue to death! See below!

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=530097&highlight=2x12
Thanks. Don't need to yell at me though.

[jimmyohio75]

Thanks. Don't need to yell at me though.
Oh sorry, didn"t mean to.:aok

[steve108819]

Wow, that's some thread. Once you sift through all the argueing and insults, I think I found the info I was looking for. :crazy

[jchan]

I think one of reasons for the extensive debate is that it is a difficult experiment to perform to validate it for yourself. Specifically, the speakers must be the same, the connection, series or parallel must be the same, etc. You can try to test if for yourself but you need to have the same speakers, connected the same way in a 2x12 that is twice the cubic inches of the two 1x12 cabs.

Jay may not be a diplomat but is very thorough with his explanations and is a credible resource. If he says that a 2x12 cab with total cubic inches of internal volume equal to two 1x12 cabs will sound essentially the same, then that's good enough for me.

[taco-man]

I know zero about acoustics, but I know that I really like the flexibility of two 1x12's, and how they sound. I have two Basson 112's. If we play in a small room and I'm not mic'd, then I can point them at different angles to spread my sound. In larger rooms, I can tilt one back toward my ears a bit, and put the other one on the floor (with bass-coupling, I guess), mic'd and directed past my legs, toward the rest of the band, as a kind of side-fill. And I can put the amp head on that one.
I haven't considered playing in stereo live, but of course that's another option.

[jchan]

Running two 1x12's also gives you the option to run one closed back and one open. I tried that once running a PC OS 1x12 on the bottom and a mesa half-back cab on top. I thought it sounded pretty good.

[Macaroni]

I'm going with 2 x 1-12 cabs for many of the above reasons, ie: weight, flexibility, etc.

I'm getting a Thiele cabinet for my EV SRO/12L Ceramic, which is optimized for EVs, and a Forte Music 3D 1-12, which has 2 side ports for a quasi open back, for my EV SRO/12 AlNiCo.

[Mr_You]

With two 1x12s you can run a better stereo setup. As mentioned, you also have the benefit of stacking them but this can be REALLY freaking loud and if you're in close proximity you'll mostly hear the top cabinet.

When similar cabinet designs have been compared side-by-side (such as the Mesa 3/4-back), I've read comments that a 2x12 can have (albeit subtle) less bass due to cancellation between the two speakers vs a single 1x12.

[jchan]

Its difficult to make a fair comparison. There is definitely speaker coupling and interactivity in a 2x12 but the power is also shared equally between the 2 speakers. When you then compare back to a single 12 cab, that speaker is getting the full power so the response will be a bit different. Also, if comparing to a consistent 8 ohm load impedance, then the 2x12 cab would have 2 x 16 ohm speakers in parallel vs a single 8 ohm speaker. That is another variable. Those are some of the reasons the comparisons are difficult to make.