Which speaker do you prefer?

Scott McRee · Post by **Scott McRee** » 30 Apr 2015 2:23 pm

Do you prefer the eminence eps 15c or the sica 15?

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 30 Apr 2015 6:41 pm

Why? Every body has a different opinion.

Scott McRee · Post by **Scott McRee** » 30 Apr 2015 6:43 pm

I was just curious on people's opinions and which speaker they preferred

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 30 Apr 2015 7:12 pm

Over all others, I prefer the smaller least heavy ones.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 30 Apr 2015 9:27 pm

Tone Tubby 12" Alnico Hempcone.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 1 May 2015 2:24 am

I had both an EPS-15C and a SICA 15". There are comparisons on my web site. Suffice to say I sold the SICA.

Len Amaral · Post by **Len Amaral** » 1 May 2015 4:37 am

For a classic sound I agree with b0b the Tone Tubby gets my vote especially with a Mesa F50 head. However, I have an Evans with the 12 inch EPS that has more of a modern vibe that is very nice and full.

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 1 May 2015 4:44 am

I have owned and used both of those speakers along with a telonics neo. Out of what is available the eminence was my favorite. Travis Toy is working on a new neo speaker that I will be checking out asap. I am not sure when it be available though.

Tim Marcus · Post by **Tim Marcus** » 1 May 2015 9:00 am

the new Eminence speaker is supposed to be done this summer, according to my contact there. Its a 12" speaker though, so not sure that it applies to this thread.

there are a lot of opinions about Neo speakers on this forum, but I would like to add that they are all very different and no one speaker will be perfect for everybody. I have tried them all, and prefer the Telonics over the bunch, but there are things about the SICA, the EPS15C that the telonics does not do which you might like.

Maybe this can be a basic guide based on my experience:

Sica: huge low end, not too bright on the top end. Midrange is scooped sounding.

EPS15C: tighter low end than the sica, much more detail on the top end, midrange is less scooped.

Telonics 15: similar low end to the EPS15, but extended high frequency detail. Midrange is damn near perfect. The 15" has notes of what I really like about a JBL D120 in that midrange frequency. Not sure how they pulled that off!

JBL K130: the benchmark! Big low end, huge midrange scoop, extended high end. If you want to have an amp that sounds like it has a K130 in it you are going to have a hard time with the new production speakers. Supposedly there is a Weber speaker that sounds similar, but its only got a 50W driver in it.

Also, feel free to ignore the comments that say Neo speakers only start to sound good over 200 watts. Most players are only using about 5-25 watts for 95% of their playing time on even the loudest of gigs. They only hit the 300W or 500W mark for a fraction of a second, usually a big low note, a pick attack, or just a moment in the loudest solo pushes the amp that hard.

Cartwright Thompson · Post by **Cartwright Thompson** » 1 May 2015 10:26 am

K-140? With extended high end? Not K or D 130?

Tim Marcus · Post by **Tim Marcus** » 1 May 2015 10:36 am

Yes, 130. Not sure why I wrote 140 twice

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 1 May 2015 11:18 am

I compare the EPS-15C to a K-130. I used to have a Twin Reverb (AB768) with a 4 ohm K-130 installed. When I first got the EPS-15C from Eminence for field testing, the first time I used it, the speaker reminded me of the K-130 I had.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 1 May 2015 12:19 pm

I like the sound of a Black Widow. I do not like the weight oh a Black Widow.

The original speakers in my Music Man gave way after 30 years. I replaced them with Black Widows, and the amp sounded absolutely wonderful, but it weighed 104 pounds.

Rick Contino · Post by **Rick Contino** » 1 May 2015 3:40 pm

Anyone know if there are any 15" 8ohm neos out there? If not why?

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 2 May 2015 4:42 am

Sica: huge low end, not too bright on the top end. Midrange is scooped sounding.

I agree. I installed SICA speakers in both my Evans FET-500LV and my Fender Steel King.

A simple twist of the knobs on the front of the amp and I'm able to get a great sound out of both amps. The Evans sounds better, in fact. The SICA took away the ice-pick highs and gives me better control of the treble.

I like them and my skinny arms and weak back love them.

Tim Marcus · Post by **Tim Marcus** » 2 May 2015 9:53 am

Rick Contino wrote:Anyone know if there are any 15" 8ohm neos out there? If not why?

there are a few made for bass, and the Sica is available in 8ohms.

I talked with Eminence about making a custom 8ohm version of the EPS15 but its a minimum order of 50 pieces. Thats a pretty big commitment!

Chris Boyd · Post by **Chris Boyd** » 2 May 2015 2:24 pm

I have a D130F,Sica and EPS-15C...they are all terrific speakers!..favoring the D130 as I've used it most ..had it reconed on the road in Colorado in '77 for 25 bucks!! Used to be in a '65 Twin Reverb...now in a '76 Music Man 115-65.

George Redmon · Post by **George Redmon** » 4 May 2015 6:30 am

Hi Scott,

Do you prefer the eminence eps 15c or the sica 15?

Neither....

The top steel guitar speaker has seemed to have been over looked here. Everyone seems to have over looked the obvious. The Peavey Black Widow 1501-4SB, is about as good as it gets. I use this speaker almost exclusively. I have a 120 Watt Milkman Half & Half custom, that I'm using a couple of custom built Weber Neodymium's in. More then enough speaker for that amp, and smoother then any (eminence built)neo out there. But other then that, I prefer the Peavey 1501-4SW over anything I've tried to date. I've tried, and sold more neodymium speakers on the forum, then most players will own. If you look you can still find a neo mag for the 1501-4SB, if Neodymium is a must have. I found two. Peavey has put more speakers in steel guitar amplifiers then anyone out there, and I personally prefer them to anything else I've tried to date. JMHO

George Redmon · Post by **George Redmon** » 4 May 2015 6:43 am

Anyone know if there are any 15" 8ohm neos out there? If not why?

Rick, when Tom Bradshaw started building his Webb amps, he put an 8 ohm Eminence Kappalite Neodymium speaker in them, they sounded sweet. I bought two kappalites, later sold them both on the forum. I just had no need for 8ohm speakers. But to me, I thought sound wise, they had as much, or more going for them, then the stuff out there now. Might talk with Tom, if you need 8 ohms, and try one from Parts Express. You can always return it if ya don't like it. JMHO

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 4 May 2015 4:12 pm

Telonics 15" Neo !

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 10 May 2015 4:11 pm

Although I have a JBL D120 in my split Twin, best speaker I ever heard for steel was the Electrovoice in my old Lab L9. Of course the amp may have had a lot to do with it.

Rick Contino · Post by **Rick Contino** » 11 May 2015 3:28 am

Anyone have any experience with the Celestion Neos?

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 13 May 2015 11:29 am

I kept blowing the Black Widow speakers and I switched to ElectroVoice EVM 15L speakers. For "vintage" I prefer D-130 or Altec 418B speakers.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 22 May 2015 9:53 am

Rick Contino wrote:Anyone know if there are any 15" 8ohm neos out there? If not why?

I have two 12" Eminence "Basslites" in my Peavey Stereo Chorus 212. They're 8-ohm, and 150 watts.

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 22 May 2015 11:29 am

Having NEVER BLOWN a speaker.........

What was the causative factor here?

The Steel Guitar Forum

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