Electro Voice EVM series drivers.

[Mr 9finger]

Thinking about downsizing a bit in the cabinet area, but there's only a handful of divers out there that can safely handle the wattage some of my amps put out. So in light of that, discuss the pros and cons of the EVM12L Classic and the EVM12L Zakk Wylde.

Disclaimer: Quick browsing shows that there have been a few different versions of the EVM12L driver. I'm only interested in the 2 models above that I can buy new. I'm also aware that Eminence makes a driver called the Delta Pro that is supposed to be "similar" for 1/3 of the price. I'm intrigued by them, but there as many reviews that say they're not like the EVM's as there reviews that say they are..so....

Anyways, please discuss.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Electro Voice EVM series drivers.

The EV 12L variants are more wide range and can sound too harsh or hi-fi.

They also have higher efficiency, and I mean much higher efficiency, than regular guitar speakers, which are essentially space heaters from a PA person's standpoint. But the higher efficiency means that they get VERY LOUD, specially when you feed them with a strong amp.

I advise not making big investments just yet. If you want cheaper buy a broken one and one of those $50 recone kits.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Electro Voice EVM series drivers.

+1

Even a MESA 20:20 all-valve rack power amp into two EVM12L-loaded cabinets = severely high SPLs.

 

[xxxplorer]

Re: Electro Voice EVM series drivers.

I run a 4x12 with 2 EVM-12Ls on top and two Eminence Swamp Thangs on the bottom. Heavy as He77 but clear, deep and can handle anything I throw at it.

The EV's can sound 'harsh' if you dial your amp that way, but they give what you feed em for the most part.

Zakk Wylde uses them, Bonamassa, Jake E Lee during Bad Lands, and many many more. I love em.

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: Electro Voice EVM series drivers.

So you guys are saying pumping a 150 watt Triple Rectifier through one of these is going to be loud lol? Loud I can handle fellas. This may be something I just have to try on my own. There's got to be a reason why so many big name players use them. The only thing I'm not really digging from a specs view point is how long they take to break in.

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: Electro Voice EVM series drivers.

I run a 4x12 with 2 EVM-12Ls on top and two Eminence Swamp Thangs on the bottom. Heavy as He77 but clear, deep and can handle anything I throw at it.

The EV's can sound 'harsh' if you dial your amp that way, but they give what you feed em for the most part.

Zakk Wylde uses them, Bonamassa, Jake E Lee during Bad Lands, and many many more. I love em.

I had no idea Jake E. Lee used them. I loved his tone on the first Bad Lands record.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Electro Voice EVM series drivers.

EVM 12L's are not that loud...
I mean sure, if you are used to mid 60's Jensens or late 60's CTS they are loud but at 100db's each they are no louder than a Vintage 30, G12H30 or even a new Celestion Blue.

They have a lot of lows and not a lot of highs and they can really take the abuse of almost anything.

 

[xxxplorer]

Re: Electro Voice EVM series drivers.

^ My swamp thangs are actually louder at 102 db

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Electro Voice EVM series drivers.

Yep, sound great with Boogies, and country dudes and some blues dudes like them with Fenders. They are loud and clean/clear, you pretty much hear your amp, not a lot of "coloration". They get better when they get old, and they don't sound all that impressive played quietly, kinda dark, but that doesn't sound like a problem for you.

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: Electro Voice EVM series drivers.

I have one in my boogie. It's a very loud amp and the speaker can handle it. I don't know if the speaker itself is loud. I will say I love my tone but it can be a little hi fi at times. I decided to stop caring about that once it got in a band environment. It sounds really great in a mix.

 

[GLJazz]

Re: Electro Voice EVM series drivers.

So you guys are saying pumping a 150 watt Triple Rectifier through one of these is going to be loud lol? Loud I can handle fellas. This may be something I just have to try on my own. There's got to be a reason why so many big name players use them. The only thing I'm not really digging from a specs view point is how long they take to break in.

Try to find a Mesa Thiele cab. I had that setup, Triple Rec through a pair of 1x12 Thiele EVM cabs, sometimes dropping to the 1x12. I still say that either of those EVM cabs was louder than my 1960A cab was. To my ears, it sounded like heaven. I haven't heard them in something besides the thiele design, so can't speak to other cab designs.

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: Electro Voice EVM series drivers.

Try to find a Mesa Thiele cab. I had that setup, Triple Rec through a pair of 1x12 Thiele EVM cabs, sometimes dropping to the 1x12. I still say that either of those EVM cabs was louder than my 1960A cab was. To my ears, it sounded like heaven. I haven't heard them in something besides the thiele design, so can't speak to other cab designs.

That's kinda what I was shooting for. I'd have to build the cab since modern Mesa Thiele cabs are built around the C90, but that's not a huge ordeal. From the plans I've seen, they aren't that hard to build.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Electro Voice EVM series drivers.

Nope, the Mesa cabs were built with the EV in mind. I used to have one.

 

[xxxplorer]

Re: Electro Voice EVM series drivers.

I keep wanting to stick the two ev's I've got in my buzzbomb, but I hate waisting time lol. They sound rigtous in my 4x12 for now.

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: Electro Voice EVM series drivers.

I keep wanting to stick the two ev's I've got in my buzzbomb, but I hate waisting time lol. They sound rigtous in my 4x12 for now.

Are you running these mixed w/ the Swamp Thangs in a Recto Cab?

 

[xxxplorer]

Re: Electro Voice EVM series drivers.

Are you running these mixed w/ the Swamp Thangs in a Recto Cab?

No, I use a Chilly Bird 4x12. Now defunked company that was based out of VA Beach here. Basically a slightly overbuiled Marshall sized cab, so it would be very similar to a Mesa Stiletto cab. I run the Swamp Thangs on the Bottom and the EV's on top. The EV's are a bit smoother and clearer while the Swamps are grittier a little louder and thicker.

I also ran the EV's with a pair of Vintage 30s for a while. It worked well to a point, but got muddy easily. It seemed each speaker's traits clashed more than they mixed, at least with my rig.

I had a pair of Eminence Delta 12As, not the Pros. Slightly cheaper model. Had a similar sound, but not as sweet and a little more bassy, but not like the Swamps. More like a hi-fi speaker that didn't work so well for my rig unlike the EV's that seem to just sit right.

I'm very happy with my current pairing. Cab weighs a lot, but it keeps me in shape haha. It's also cool to have people wonder what the hell I'm playing... all the bands here run Vintage 30 Recto cabs or Marshall cabs with 75 watt celestions. It's nice to sound different, and have people second guess their own rig hehehe.

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: Electro Voice EVM series drivers.

Interesting! Thanks for the info! I have 4 different cabs, but was planning on tossing at least 1 EVM into 1x12 for starters just to see if I could save some space. Another option I had thought of potentially doing is taking the Avatar Vintage 4x12 and either using it as 2 2x12's or adding a couple jacks in the back and basically make it 4 1x12's. Then again, it seems as if the EVM's do better in smaller cabs, so I could toss a pair into my Avatar 2x12 traditional and run them in stereo. I could really go about any route I wanted to w/ this lol. It's nice and a PITA to have options at the same time.

 

[Van Noord]

Re: Electro Voice EVM series drivers.

For a time, Mesa replaced the EVM12L in their dual speaker cabs with one called the Eminence MS12. It was a 150 watt speaker that was made for Mesa by Eminence. They are quite highly regarded and somewhat difficult to find today.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Electro Voice EVM series drivers.

The Swamps actually remind me of MS12's.