Question about Sunn cabs

[systemofameow]

So there's a Sunn 212LH and a Beta 202 2x12 for sale in my area. Does anyone have any experience/knowledge about how these cabs sound?

I'd like to maybe pick one up for my Ampeg V4 if they're any good.

I guess I also wouldn't mind this thread turning into a general "what Sunn cabs are good/bad" sort of thing.

Thanks in advance for any insight you folks are able to provide!

[whoismarykelly]

If you like ported cabs the 202 is a decent cabinet if it has good speakers in it. The 212LH is kind of a wacky design so the only person that can say if you'll like it is you.

[RolandJC120]

I own two 212LHs... they are very heavy and big and sounds pretty good with standard drivers

[Olin]

I have a 612s I run a V4 through sometimes. One of the cabs with the speakers at a 90 degree angle, they sound really nice to my ears and I love the sound dispersion but hate that it runs at 6ohms, it's just a nuisance.

[OldGeorge]

I have a staggered 412 from the early 70's that I absolutely love. I know it's not exactly what you wanted to know but it's definately super rad. It's 2 inches deeper than my peavey and gibson towers so it seems to add a tiny bit of low end when I a/b/c'ed them with my 5150. It was the best $200 I've ever spent.

Best thing you could do is bring your head and demo it for 20-30min or if it's cheap enough buy it and change the speakers

[systemofameow]

Thank you all for your responses so far!

I own two 212LHs... they are very heavy and big and sounds pretty good with standard drivers

Do those slanted wood slats do something to effect the sound projection, or is more of an aesthetic thing?

I have a 612s I run a V4 through sometimes. One of the cabs with the speakers at a 90 degree angle, they sound really nice to my ears and I love the sound dispersion but hate that it runs at 6ohms, it's just a nuisance.

Oh yeah, I recently saw one of those going around as well. What the heck do you do with those, do you just run the amp at 4ohms?

[Olin]

There are a few Sunn heads it was meant for that are 6ohms but otherwise, yeah, run it at 4ohms and just wait for something to break. I've been running it into solid state stuff recently so it's at least safe, but am really tempted to just upgrade all the speakers and have it run at true 4ohms but with a 900w RMS and go nuts. They're heavier than about any other 6x12 I've ever lugged around too, if that's any consolation. All their stuff was on the heavier side.

[OldGeorge]

All their stuff was on the heavier side.

Truth! But durable as hell

[systemofameow]

All their stuff was on the heavier side.

Truth! But durable as hell

Hah! A bunch of that older Sunn and Ampeg gear certainly seemed to take the brick shithouse approach. My V4 has got to weigh at least 50lbs...
I guess I'm gonna get ripped moving around some of this older gear, that or throw my back out. No pain no gains.

[Olin]

Carrying a V4 around has done nothing but make my body ache a bit and sound really good.