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I've been looking at these ISP Vector powered sub cabinets to fatten up my rig. I'm wondering if anyone here uses one and what your thoughts are. Do these cabs allow for greater low end range or just give a punchier/fuller low mid? Thanks for any replies!

I'm assuming your using this for guitar...

It only goes down to 45hz, my 2x15 with Emi DELTA-LFC's goes down to 40hz. It does have a built in SS power amp so you can run it off the slave output of your amp, but for 1500$ you could buy a really good 2x15 and a 120w tube power amp and still have cash left over. Also, I use 15's and 12's together extensively and find that they are best paired in a 2 to 1 ratio. 2 12's for every 1 15". So this would probably be good for pairing with a 2x12 combo or cab (which coincidentally is the only size guitar cab ISP seems to sell), but if your running a half stack you'll need to crank it to keep up with your 4x12 and it would probably still get lost a lil in the mix.

tl;dr: yes more lows and low mids, but the price is unreasonable for what it adds. You'd be better served buying a 2x15 cab and tube power amp.

the hangrr just gave me its subwoofer
for the low end side rig im creating
well scavenging is more like it
should be playin through it this week
ill let you know how it goes
and be checkin back for mo woof wisdom

Ancient Astronaught wrote:I'm assuming your using this for guitar...

It only goes down to 45hz, my 2x15 with Emi DELTA-LFC's goes down to 40hz. It does have a built in SS power amp so you can run it off the slave output of your amp, but for 1500$ you could buy a really good 2x15 and a 120w tube power amp and still have cash left over. Also, I use 15's and 12's together extensively and find that they are best paired in a 2 to 1 ratio. 2 12's for every 1 15". So this would probably be good for pairing with a 2x12 combo or cab (which coincidentally is the only size guitar cab ISP seems to sell), but if your running a half stack you'll need to crank it to keep up with your 4x12 and it would probably still get lost a lil in the mix.

tl;dr: yes more lows and low mids, but the price is unreasonable for what it adds. You'd be better served buying a 2x15 cab and tube power amp.

Thanks for the reply! They are WAY expensive. I'm also considering a Rivera Los Lobottom sub1 which I've seen go for $500-800 and use nice JBLs. I'm attracted to them because it makes a convenient package to haul around vs separate bass rig with crossover. Thanks so much for your input!

ryan summit wrote:the hangrr just gave me its subwoofer
for the low end side rig im creating
well scavenging is more like it
should be playin through it this week
ill let you know how it goes
and be checkin back for mo woof wisdom

Cool! I can't wait to see what you think.

corpusjonsey wrote:Thanks for the reply! They are WAY expensive. I'm also considering a Rivera Los Lobottom sub1 which I've seen go for $500-800 and use nice JBLs. I'm attracted to them because it makes a convenient package to haul around vs separate bass rig with crossover. Thanks so much for your input!

No problem!!!

Question though, for guitar why do you need a crossover? Most 15's are naturally mid scooped sounding, so when pairing them with a 12 it fills out / compliments the sound not takes it over, rarely are there competing mids or cancellation making a crossover unnecessary.

What is your current setup amp wise and what are your tonal goals by adding a sub?

It'll probably sound like shit.

Well I'm currently playing Post Metal/Doom/experimental and I am looking for ways to get a fuller/chunkier/fatter sound out of my 55w Rivera 1x12 combo. I like the combo for it's size (plus we play small/medium gigs). These cabs have crossovers to let the sub handle lows and the main amp everything else. I've read elsewhere that some players achieve the same effect using crossovers and separate bass rigs. My combo is setup for pushing an external cab so I might see if a friend would let me plug in his 1x15 cab and see how that works.

For'real though, just snag an extension cab. A proper cab, not a subwoofer.

I'm looking up the amp specs now.. I'm assuming it wants an 8ohm cab?

Impedance is selectable 4-8-16ohm

Yeah, I just got to that bit in the manual.
Which is an epic manual. Props to Rivera for that.

I would just snag a beater low-tuned2x12 or 1x15 and use that as an extension cab. Don't bother messing with the sub stuff--it's post EQ and doesn't come with it's own LPF, which is why they want you to use a powered one (as in, a sub that has it's own filter.), making it a waste of time and money for what you're trying to do.

Good info! Thanks. I will see what I can get my hands on to try out.

DOS nailed it on the head, try an extension cab first. the crossover / sub idea is mainly focused for bass rigs. I play music in a similar vein in tunings as low as drop G and I've never needed a sub on a crossover to get ridiculous lows, but I also use 200+ watt heads...

Subs with guitar rigs who would ever do that. . . .

whiskey_face wrote:Subs with guitar rigs who would ever do that. . . .

The same kinda guy that would use an earthquake cab in their bass rig.