Genzler BA410-3 and BA210-3 SLT Bass Cabs

A Familiar Angle

As with the 12” cabs, the BA210-3 SLT shares many components – and specs – with the BA210-3. The pair of 10” neodymium-based woofers (Faital Pro 10PR300) utilize a similar motor to the 12PR300 drivers used in the BA12-3 cabs, and the 2×10 variants also employ four 3” neodymium drivers ( the Faital Pro 3FE22) configured in a line array. The BA410-3 obviously doubles the number of 10” drivers, but ups the number of 3FE22’s in the mid array to six, instead of four. Both cabs offer a pair of Speakon® inputs and a pair of ¼” inputs. The 8-ohm BA210-3 SLT is rated to handle 500 watts, and the 4-ohm BA410-3 is rated for 1,000 watts. Both cabs have two sturdy, recessed metal handles mounted in the sides of the enclosures and four rubber feet.

The slanted design to the BA210-3 SLT allows for several different options for configuring your rig. Paired with the BA410-3, you can place the 210 SLT on top of the 410, with the bottom cab projecting out into the room, and the top cab angled back more towards your ears. Alternately, you can place the 210 SLT on the bottom, and then all of the woofers/mids are in the same plane and both cabs are angled up towards your head (this was my preferred setup). Of course, either of these cabs make for a compelling one-cab solution, and where I might have concerns utilizing a single 2×10 that is firing away at my ankles, the SLT certainly helps to get those sound waves up where I can hear them.

But hey, let’s hear it straight from the horse’s mouth! Here is what Jeff has to say about the design choices behind the new BA210-3 SLT:

 The new BA210-3 SLT expands and enhances the benefits of the Bass Array design. The 6 degree slant of the baffle, along with the reduction of perpendicular internal panels, work together to emphasize the dispersion and projection of the BA design. With the slanted baffle, the plane of the baffle points away from the floor and helps to push the cabinet response up into the playing venue and more towards the performer. As well, this helps to enhance the upper-mid and top-end response, so the SLT cabinets tend to sound a little brighter, with even more clarity than a standard BA cabinet.

Also increasing the clarity is the reduction of standing waves inside the cabinet, as the number of perpendicular internal panels is reduced. Just like in a trapezoid PA cabinet compared to a square cab, the SLT versions of the BA cabinets have more articulation and clarity due to the geometry inside the cab. Also, when adding the new BA210-3 SLT as a base or platform for a square cabinet (like the BA410-3), both cabinets present the 6 degree angle, which again magnifies the output of both cabs as they deliver their force more upward and broadly across the stage and venue. 

Play Time!

As Jeff explains, the differences in the internal geometry of the SLT versus “regular” Bass Array cabs do have audible differences, above and beyond the angle of the front baffle. To my ears, the SLT cabs are a bit more tight and articulate, and the non-slanted cabs are a bit more warm and slightly more thick. One thing I learned from my experiences with the BA12-3 SLT is how well the SLT version paired up with the original BA12-3. Credit Jeff and crew with producing multiple different bass enclosures which all play nicely together. The mix and match options allow you enhanced flexibility when putting together a Genzler stack that produces the specific tone you are after.

One case in point is the combination we have here, with the BA210-3 SLT and the BA410-3. I have had great success in the past with other 4×10/2×10 rigs. For a lot of my gigs, this is a near-perfect “Goldilocks” rig – where a single 4×10 isn’t ideal, but two 4×10’s is overkill – so I was very excited when Jeff offered to send me these two cabs for review. I was also pretty impressed during the unboxing process, as these cabs are surprisingly light and easy to manage. At 55 lbs., the BA410-3 is less than half the weight of my old Mesa/Boogie Diesel 410 which I lugged around for years. The 36 lb. BA210-3 SLT feels like a beach ball. It is definitely a wonderful time to be a bass player…

Once I fired them up, I was even more thrilled. This Genzler “6×10 rig” is big, deep and powerful, but with the balance and clarity I have come to expect from Jeff’s enclosures. Paired with my Genzler MG-800 head, this stack has a “do it all” kind of personality. It is very responsive to tonal variations from different basses, different techniques and different EQ settings. Another aspect of the BA-series cabs which I really like is that the 3” mid drivers never get harsh, even when I get “creative” with my pedalboard. Heavy overdrives, trippy synths and funky filters all sound fantastic through these midrange line arrays. They may not have all of the high-end sheen and sparkle of some tweeter-equipped cabs, but if you crave that tone, then a little treble boost will get you most of the way there.

I had a couple of high quality 4×10’s on hand to compare to the BA410-3: the (ceramic-based) Darkglass DG410C and the Fender Bassman® 410 Neo. Compared to the BA410-3, the tweeter-equipped DG410C is definitely brighter and more forward on top, with the Genzler exhibiting more upper mids. The Darkglass is a bit tighter in the lows, whereas the Genzler is overall bigger sounding down low. When reviewing my playtesting notes, I notice that I keep using the phrase “bigger in the lows” when talking about the BA410-3. This remains true when comparing the BA410-3 to the Bassman 410, which is no slouch in the low-end. But to be clear (pun intended), even though the BA410-3 has “big lows,” they are not sloppy, or boomy. The low end is still very articulate and very controllable via EQ. In fact, it is very easy to dial back the lows with the BA410-3 (if you feel so inclined), and I find this to be a more effective use of EQ than trying to boost the low end on a cab that is not naturally as “big” as you’d like in the low end. The (tweeter-equipped) Fender is once again brighter in the highs than the Genzler, though on the whole, the Bassman has a more vintage vibe.

For the BA210-3 SLT comparison, I broke out my Trickfish SM210, which I find to be a very balanced, clear, yet full-sounding 2×10. Somewhat as expected, these two cabs have a lot in common, with a similar mix of warmth and articulation. The BA210-3 SLT is slightly bigger sounding in the lows (I sense a theme!), and the Trickfish cab is a little tighter and a little brighter. Both cabs are highly capable performers, with the Genzler being a bit more smooth, and the Trickfish having a bit more “bounce.”

Comparing the BA210-3 SLT and the BA410-3 to each other (roughly gain-matched), the 410 is notably bigger and a little darker, and the 210 is a bit more articulate and balanced. This roughly correlates to what I found when comparing the SLT version of the BA12-3 to its non-slanted brother.

Choices, Choices…

As I have expressed in prior reviews, I am a huge fan of the triple BA12-3 stack – particularly with one of the cabs being of the SLT variety. So it is only natural that I would have to compare the BA210-3 SLT/BA410-3 stack to the BA12-3/BA12-3 SLT/BA12-3 rig. Both stacks offer a 2.67-ohm load – which the MG-800 can safely handle (more on this in a second) – with the “610 stack” being rated to handle 1,500 watts, and the “3×12” stack rated for just over 1,000 watts. The overall volume from each stack seemed relatively similar, though I was not pushing either rig to anywhere near its limits. The high end response from both stacks was remarkably similar, with both setups utilizing roughly similar numbers (10 and 12, respectively) of the same PFR22 mid drivers. To my ears, the “610 stack” was slightly bigger down low, and the “3×12” stack had more detail/articulation/complexity to the middle to upper midrange. All in all, the two stacks were far more similar than different, and I could happily utilize either rig for the remainder of my gigging days.

As hinted, above, I need to give another shout-out to the wonderful Magellan MG-800 head. I love the power, tonal flexibility and overall design elements of this head, but I want to pay special attention, here, to the 2.67-ohm capability of the MG-800. Without the ability to safely operate under such loads, we wouldn’t have as much flexibility when putting together multi-cab rigs, and we would not be able to drive either of the stacks I mentioned above. But the ability to switch back to 4/8-ohm mode means that you aren’t sacrificing any headroom when you only bring one or two cabs to a gig. Brilliant!

The Bottom Line

  Whether you are a “10’s guy” or a “12’s guy,” Genzler Amplification has several options for you. I love the mix and match with the slanted and non-slanted cabs, and the combination of the BA210-3 SLT with a BA410-3 is certainly an amazing rig. Throw an MG-800 on top, and the world is your oyster!  

1-5 (unacceptable to impeccable)

In-hand

SONIC PROFILE:

Low: Relatively big, but tight and clear
Mids: Nicely balanced and clear; handles effects very well
Highs: Very present and clear; smooth

1-5 (unacceptable to impeccable)

In-hand

SONIC PROFILE:

Low: Very big low end, but lots of control
Mids: Nicely balanced and clear; handles effects very well
Highs: Very present and clear; smooth