Differences with an amp combo and a head/cabinet one?

[Heretic]

I was able to save some money and would like to buy some loud amps. The only ones that I could find in my country are the Peavey Triple XXX's. Right now they have two options on stock. One would be the 212 Combo...

... and the head/cabinet one.

Do they have tonal differences or perhaps advantages and disadvantages? Consider though that I would probably have enough budget (if the wife pemits it) to buy two 212's to match the head/4-speaker cabinet's output.

Or would I be better off buying a JSX? :dance:

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Differences with an amp combo and a head/cabinet one?

Yeah there will be tonal differences going from a combo to a head cabinet set up. Mostly this is the difference in being open and closed back and the size of the cabinet. Also alot of times different speakers are used. If it was me I would be more inclined to get a head and one 4x12 cab to me that suits the xxx's personality better. also if you go with the head you have the option of pairing it with different cabs for different tonal pallets...

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Differences with an amp combo and a head/cabinet one?

Although combos sound great for clean and midgain, I still stand by the fact that for better gainy sounds, the head/cab sounds best. I guess it depends on what sound you use the most. It's all about tight low end. Combos have a big, spread out sound, but closed back cabs are focused and tight. Many highend amp companies are now making sealed back combos, to create a nice middle ground between the two types of amps.

 

[AmirH]

Re: Differences with an amp combo and a head/cabinet one?

Haha, ok- here's a question. I've been G.A.S.ing hard for a triple x after I played one a couple weeks ago. The model I played was the combo and it sounded fantastic for big drawn out leads and for a moderate gain sound with types of riffs that normally drown in excess distortion. Problem is that's not all I play and I do palm mute quite a lot in other songs. Think it'd be a better idea to go for the head/cab and get another open back cab for the sound I was loving so much when I demo'd it? Or would the combo sound ok(thought not AS good) for tighter rhythms and such. Bearing in mind that I'm on a budget whenever I look at gear(no cab to pay for with the combo). Seriously guys, tuition and insurance kills me. It kills me dead.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Differences with an amp combo and a head/cabinet one?

Not sure how they have the speaker outputs wired on the XXX but you could buy the combo and then later add a closed back cab to it. That way you could get either sound you want or combine the two. Down side of this is its a pita to move a heavy combo and a heavy cab. But I agree with GJ that for tight bottom you need a closed back cab. One benefit of the open back combo though is the sound being more open and less of a focused beam like a close back its sometimes easier in smaller clubs to be able to run the amp at a level that sounds decent and doesnt clean out the ears of the patrons sitting next to the dance floor. Though like this the bottom end does even more cause you either tilt the amp back or you raise it off the floor so you can hear yourself. So I guess in the end each way has pro's and con's and alot of times its a matter of which you deem more important. For sheer balls though its hard to be a close back 4x12