Tom Bowlus’
CAB
LAB
This Article Was Originally Published On: June 3rd, 2015 #Issue 16.
This technical review will focus only on the Passive WJ 1×10, as our current bass cab testing procedures are not intended for use with powered enclosures. However, this cab is sold as part of a pair, and the pricing information listed above is for the matched set of one Active WJ 1×10 and one Passive WJ 1×10.
The layout and configuration of this enclosure is a little different, compared to more conventional small cabs. In either configuration (vertical or horizontal), it is deeper than it is tall or wide. There are no feet installed on the cab, but (except for the side with the L-pad attenuator knobs), the plastic (stacking-style) corners have enough height to keep the rest of the cab off the ground. The enclosures are covered in a very nice, dense but soft, black carpet. Even the front baffle is covered in carpet, which is a nice touch. The two edge-mounted handles installed in the middle of where the top and sides of the enclosure meet are very cool and very stylish. However, they are not very comfortable (at least not if you have bigger hands, as I do) and they are not very practical. The dimensions and overall weight of this cab (just over 36 lbs!) encourage a one-hand carry, but the handles are not very good at facilitating this. The (large hole) perforated metal grill is held in place by four wood screws, and the metal frame edge is bent down to serve as its own standoff. This simple but elegant solution works very well, especially with that nice carpet on the front baffle.
The custom made woofers (produced by Lorantz Audio, in Melbourne, Australia) are held in place by eight wood screws. As I have stated in many previous reviews, I prefer bolts going into (well-secured) threaded inserts over wood screws, as the wood can tend to strip out and loose grip after multiple insertions/removals. Most folks will never experience any difficulties along these lines, though. I did like how the front baffle was routed out slightly to make a recessed “seat” for the driver to sit in, and the use of a gasket seal around the rim of the driver made for a very good seal. The cast-frame 10″ drivers are a thing of beauty, with their shiny backs and screw-down, color-coded binding posts. Rated for handling 600 watts of continuous power, this is one serious driver! With a driver this nice, any tweeter you put up against it better be up to the task. Fortunately, Wayne has opted for the very nice JBL/Selenium ST200 Super Tweeter. The ST200 was secured by four wood screws. Inside of the enclosure, we find nicely applied, thicker, fairly dense acoustic batting all around. The crossover board is located on the bottom of the cab, with medium-gauge wire used throughout.
The single Speakon input and the L-pad adjusters for Mid and High frequencies are located on the top of the enclosure (in vertical configuration; this would be the side of the cab, if laid down in the horizontal orientation). The attenuators are cut only (of course), to a maximum reduction of -12dB. While it is unique to have an attenuation option for the midrange frequencies as well as the highs, I am concerned about the fact that the knobs for these attenuators are rather exposed and stand out further than the edge of the corners. My preference would be to have these controls recessed, or somehow protected. While we are at it, I would also like to see them relocated, perhaps to the back panel. As it stands, you are severely limited in regards to real estate for placing a bass head when the cab is positioned vertically. Of course, this passive 1×10 is primarily intended for use with the companion powered 1×10, and Wayne has designed these cabs to be stacked when in their horizontal position. But, it would seem like a fairly simple tweak to relocate the input and attenuators, and then, players would have greater choice when it comes to stacking and with regard to which bass heads will easily sit on top of the cab(s).
Fig. 1 On and off-axis(15, 30, 45) frequency responses
Fig. 2 Impedance curve
Wayne Jones
Passive WJ 1X10
ENCLOSURE
| Configuration: | 1x10” woofer, 1” tweeter |
| Listed Impedance: | 4 ohms |
| Rated Power Handling: | 600 watts |
| Inputs/Outputs: | One Speakon® jack |
| Dimensions: | 13 5/8” w x 18 3/8” h x 20 5/8” d |
| Weight: | 36.2 lbs |
| Ports: | Two small (1 7/8" diameter) round ports on front |
| Covering: | Black carpet |
| Baffle Board: | ¾” poplar plywood |
| Cabinet: | ¾” poplar plywood |
| Grille: | Metal, powder-coated, 1.6mm round aperture |
| Handles: | Two top/side edge-mounted handles |
| Feet: | None |
| Casters: | None |
| Corners: | Plastic (stacking) |
| Driver Mounting: | 8 wood screws |
DRIVERS/CROSSOVER
| Woofers: | Custom Lorantz Audio |
| Cone Material: | Kevlar-impregnated paper, made with eucalyptus pulp |
| Voice Coil: | 2 3/4" diameter copper, with aluminum former |
| Magnets: | Ceramic (63oz.) |
| Tweeter: | JBL/Selenium Super Tweeter ST200 |
| Tweeter/Mid Adjustment: | L-pad adjusters for midrange and tweeter |
| Protection: | None |
| Speaker Connections: | Binding post for driver, Faston for tweeter |
| Crossover: | 2-way, 3.5kHz |
MEASUREMENTS
| Average Sensitivity (200Hz-900Hz): | 96.83 dBSPL (1 watt @ 1 meter) |
GENERAL
| Company: | Wayne Jones Audio Melbourne, Australia +61 (0)411 862 366 www.waynejonesaudio.com |
| County of origin: | Assembled in USA, parts from Australia |
| Year of Origin: | 2014 |
| Warranty: | 3-year limited on all parts & labor. Customer pays all freight charges for repair. |
| List Price: | $3,000 for pair of WJ 1x10 cabs (one Active, one Passive) |
| Street Price: | $3,000 for pair of WJ 1x10 cabs (one Active, one Passive) |
| Test Unit Options: | None |
| Accessories: | None |
| Price as Tested: | $3,000 for pair of WJ 1x10 cabs (one Active, one Passive) |
| Available colors: | Black |
| Available Options: | None |
| Acquired from: | Wayne Jones Audio |
| Dates: | November – December, 2014 |
| Locales: | Ohio |
| Test Gear (in-hand review): | Sonic Farm 2di4, Millennia TD-1, Demeter HBP-1, Demeter VTBP-M-800D, Demeter Minnie 800D, TecAmp Puma 900, Sadowsky P/J 5, MTD 535, ’74 Fender Precision Bass, Bergantino IP112, Bergantino HT110 |
TEST RESULTS
1-5 (unacceptable to impeccable)
In-hand
| Features: | 4 |
| Tonal Flexibility: | 4 |
| Ease of Use: | 4 |
| Aesthetics: | 4 |
| Ergonomics: | 4 |
| Tone: | 5 |
| Value: | 3.5 |
In-hand Score 4.07average
On-bench Score 4.14average
On-bench
| Portability: | 4 |
| Road Worthiness: | 3.5 |
| Components: | 5 |
| Hardware: | 4 |
| Cabinet Construction: | 4 |
| Wiring: | 3.5 |
| Cover/Finish: | 5 |
SONIC PROFILE:
Low: Uniquely clear, but still full, in the lows
Mids: Good balance, great clarity, slightly aggressive
Highs: Phenomenal clarity, very smooth, grabs your attention in a good way
TONE-O-METER:
This cab performs well at both the extreme low end and the extreme high end of the sonic spectrum, while still sounding natural and balanced at all points in the middle. A very clear sounding cab, but not lacking in fullness.
