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BGRA: Carvin RL210T
| Manufacturer |
Carvin |
Model |
RL210T |
| Reviewer |
Ben Cook |
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| Experience |
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Item owned |
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| Review Date |
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Price paid |
$300 (incl. shipping) |
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Dimensions | 23.5W x 18.25D x 17.5H |
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Wattage | 400w |
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Speaker(s) | 2x10 and Fostex horn |
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Effects | none |
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Controls | Horn attenuation 0-10, 0=full, 10=none |
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Other | 2 1/4" phone jacks, one input one through |
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When I got the enclosure and my power amp, I set the 210 on my front
porch and cranked it up all the way. I had someone play my bass while
I walked outside to listen. (with it inside, it rattled things so
badly I was afraid I would break something and I was at 1/3 of full
volume.) It FILLED the front yard with solid almost ballsy bass. This
cab truely can handle the low b -<[*if you have the power*]>- It seems
to work great for any gig. I've played in large churches,
alternative/hard rock small venues, at home. I have always liked that
tight sound you get when you run tens with lots of power and this
really gives it to you. The RL210 does not give you that low end
rumble that a pair of 18" will deliver, but then this is a two ten
cabinet that I transport in the back seat of my Honda civic, you
couldn't do that with even one 18!
I love this cabinet! But you get what you pay for. The plastic
handles are not super heavy duty but they get the job done. The jack
panel is plastic instead of the nice metal plate on the back of a bag
end and it only has 1/4" jacks for input. I installed a speakon
jack. I took some doing but was well worth it. The horn volume knob
sticks out a little to far. The corners are black painted metal that
tend to scratch things, and the carpet is kind of funky (it almost
seems to squish a little when you push hard on it) but durable. All
these things can be replaced easily (except the carpet) and for well
under the $500 more dollars you would pay for a bag end! On the other
hand the box is constructed of the same thickness void free birch
plywood as the Bag End. The Fostex Horn is the same one used by SWR,
Eden, and a few more I can't remember.
My main bass is an Ibanez EX 500 five string, strung with a low B. I
am running an old Trace GP11 pre-amp into a Mackie M1400i power amp
bridged which is 1400 watts RMS @ 1% THD. Power (as in lots of power)
is the key to good bass sound, especially loud bass. So my philosophy
is you should have enough power to launch your speakers into orbit.
The Mackie has a sweepable low cut filter from 10-175 Hz. I have it
set at approximately 55 Hz (the bottom end of the RL210's response,
why amplify what it can't deliver?) I tend to really vary my sound
based on the venue and the song. This enclosure delivers any sound I
ask for.
This is the Bottom Line: The RL210T gives you everything and more than
you can reasonably ask for from a 2x10 cabinet . . . period.
My ratings are bassed on my set up.
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| construction |
 | (65%) |
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| clarity |
| (90%) |
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| value |
| (100%) |
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| overall |
| (88%) |
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