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hand-made, hand-selected music products
TecAmp S210 Review
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Bass Gear Magazine Quick Look
TecAmp S210 Bass Cabinet
by Tom Bowlus
The Company Line
Lightweight 2x10s made a big splash when they first started appearing on the market. A pair of these featherweight cabs would make for an attractive alternative to a heavier 4x10, and for smaller gigs, one is likely enough. Now that they have been on the market for a while, we have a fairly large number of neodymium-based 2x10 designs to choose from. But just when you thought that this enclosure option was getting a bit formulaic, TecAmp offers up the S210. It looks like a fairly typical vertically aligned 2x10, but with a few quirks. The first is the unique tweeter control setup. Instead of a variable attenuator, TecAmp uses a six-way selector switch. The first position is "off," the next three step through the low/mid/high options under the "Soft Attack" setting, and the final two are for mid and high under the "Hard Attack" setting. This system employs a different crossover frequency center and slope for the tweeter, depending on the "Attack" setting. Set within the Soft Attack range, the crossover is centered at 6.8kHz, with 12dB roll off. Set within the Hard Attack range, the crossover is centered at 4.6kHz with 6dB roll off. I personally preferred the “mid” setting on Soft Attack, but each of the settings provides a useful option. The other odd thing about the tweeter control is its location. It is located within the right-hand handle cup. Pretty interesting.
TecAmp offers four lines of enclosures, the XS, S, M, and L (only the S line is available in the USA without special order). The average weight of the enclosures goes up as you move through these different lines. The XS series includes a 1x10, 1x12, and 1x15 only, making the S210 TecAmp's lightest 2x10 offering. Rounding out the S line are the S115 and the S212. All three share the same footprint, with the S212 being a tad bit taller than its siblings.
First Impressions
It almost feels like a joke when you pick up the S210; it is ridiculously light. I was initially a bit put off by the somewhat unorthodox handles, but they do provide a good grip from just about any angle. As light as this cab is, you can comfortably carry it with one hand, though it is proportioned well for a comfortable two-hand carry, as well.
Once you fire it up, it becomes clear that this cab is no joke. It doesn't shake your fillings loose with abundant ultra-lows, but it sounds decidedly full and warm. Much like the Puma 1000, you get a feeling that Thomas Eich really strives for a smooth, balanced tone, as this is just what the S210 delivers. Clarity is excellent from top to bottom. The S210 is rated at 600 watts, and our test unit was an 8-ohm model (though it is also available as a 4-ohm enclosure). Considering its high power rating, I decided to try it with the Puma 1000 in bridged mono mode – which puts out 1,000 watts into an 8-ohm load (but does not accept a 4-ohm load in bridged mono). Undoubtedly, this setup calls for some discretion on the volume knob, but I was very impressed by how well the S210 sounded in this configuration. The added horsepower and headroom really seemed to wake up the little 2x10, and it gained an added level of clarity and excitement.
A Closer Look
After a very brief time with this cab, I was a fan. It seemed to do a lot of things well, and it certainly performed beyond what you might expect from its dimensions and trivial weight. So I was quite eager to pit it against two of my benchmarks in the lightweight 2x10 category: the EA NL-210 and Bergantino AE210. First up was the EA. These two cabs definitely have a good bit in common, and both chose the vertical "array" configuration (where the cab stands upright, with one driver positioned in line with and immediately below the other). Tweeter position and porting are quite different, though. The NL-210 is definitely the louder of the two, and it is slightly more full than the S210 through the lowmids, and then again a bit more present in the upper-mids. The S210 had a bit more going on in the middle-mids, though, and was slightly smoother. On the whole, the two sounded and awful lot alike, with the S210 seeming in some regards like a slightly tamed down, less aggressive version of the NL210.
The Bergantino AE210 is designed to be laid down horizontally, and the drivers are offset from each other, diagonally. The rear-ported AE210 definitely gets deeper, and sounds a tad more detailed and clear than the TecAmp. The S210 is more warm and organic, and it comes across as the more smooth-sounding cab. But again, these two cabs are certainly in the same ballpark.
Just for kicks, I also grabbed a nonneo (and larger) Mesa/Boogie PowerHouse 210 for comparison. The PH210 was the biggest sounding of the lot – and very beefy – but it remained tight on the low-B, and was actually more clear than the other three through the midrange. The S210 was again the more warm and smooth of the two, though, and it exhibited great control when I cranked up the volume to compete with the bigger Boogie. Those are three top-notch cabs, and the S210 definitely proved that it can hang with the best.
Lasting Impression
The S210 was a real pleasure to work with. It has a nice, compact footprint which it shares with the S115 and S212 - and seems to weigh about as much as the average beach ball. The tone is controlled, full, smooth, clear, and surprisingly warm. It has all the clarity you'd want for a very modern, snappy tone, but it can also cop an exceptionally convincing vintage vibe. That tweeter control really functions well, and it allows for fast and easy adjustment over a nice range of highend tones. I would have to imagine that the S115 and S212 are also strong performers. But get this: the S series is due for a makeover even as we speak! Thomas promises to send us a couple of the new cabs as soon as they are ready. What can we expect? The main difference is they are rear-ported. Overall weight should stay about the same, but the low-end extension is said to be markedly improved. We can't wait to get our hands on these! Thomas Eich may not be a household name in the USA, but we're starting to see why our European counterparts have been singing his praises for so long.
Manufacturer: TecAmp
Made in: Germany
Enclosure: European Poplar (.590” thick)
Exterior: Imitation Leather (Italian)
Drivers: two 10” neodymium-based proprietary drivers
Tweeter: 1" NTW1 horn
Inputs: two Speakon
Tweeter Control: 6-position speaker switching system (with Hard/Soft Attack)
Size: (whd) 17” x 25.5” x 16
Weight: 37.5 lbs
Price: $1,300 List $1,095 Street
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