“Pride of the UK, those Geezers are.” That’s
what my friend from Manchester, England,
tells me about Orange Amplification. More
than 40 years of superior quality and innovation
have earned Orange quite a name in
the industry. When the company got started
they dabbled in a bit of everything—drums,
microphones, PA gear, and DJ gear, as well
as Orange Publishing, Orange Agency,
Orange Records, Orange Music, and Orange
Recording Studios. These days, Orange
focuses its energy on some sick guitar
and bass gear—including their new SP410
Isobaric 4x10 bass cabinet. Good thing for
us. Let’s take a closer look at this baby.
Deceptively Diminutive
My initial inspection of the SP410 left me
thinking, “I got the 4x10 cabinet, right? I
mean, seriously. I only see two speakers.”
I was surprised by the ultra-compact size,
as well. Orange’s standard 4x10 cabinet is
quite stout at 95 lbs. and 24.5" x 25" x 18".
That’s how big most 4x10 bass cabs are.
But the SP410 weighs in at just 68 lbs and
measures 24.5" x 16" x 15". That’s right, the
SP410 is a good 25 lbs. lighter and almost
half the size of a traditional 4x10 despite
being made of heavy-duty Baltic birch plywood.
And with a 1200-watt power-handling
capacity, it still brings all the bottom end
you could wish for. Cosmetically, it sports
the classic orange covering, black grill cloth,
and killer Orange logo. It also has metal corner
covers, two heavy-duty handles on top,
two Speakon and two ¼” speaker jacks, two
wooden bottom rails, four lightweight neodymium
Eminence speakers, and a port that
runs across the bottom of the front panel.
Feature-wise, the only way I could see this
cab being improved was if it had a tweeter,
a handle configuration that made it easier to
position an amp head on top, and perhaps
even some wheels.
Iso-What?
I’ll admit I wasn’t familiar with this technology
prior to receiving the SP410. Most bass
cabinets I have played through are of the
traditional ilk. You know—big, heavy, monster
sort of things that have a wide footprint
onstage. Not this little citrus buddy. Two
of the 10" speakers are visible from the
front panel, while the other two are situated
directly behind them. Orange says the
SP410’s design avoids the need for a large
enclosure because the front speakers’ movement
is in phase with the back drivers, which
creates an isobaric chamber (that is, a chamber
of constant pressure) that functions as
an infinite baffle for the rear driver. The rear
driver therefore maintains its minimum phase
and is free of linear distortion, all while having an effective doubling of mass that
lowers its resonant frequency compared to
the driver alone.
If you barely followed any of that tech talk,
trust me—these guys know what they are talking
about. The SP410 leaves you wondering
“Is all of that really coming from this little cabinet?”
Indeed it does, my rhythmic friend. In
fact, it sounds every bit as big as a traditional
bass cabinet. And then some. Every time I had
the SP410 onstage, a bass player came up
during the set break to ask if it’s really a 2x10
cabinet—because that’s what it looks like.
Fresh Squeezed
I took the SP410 for a ride using a five-string
Fender Jazz bass and a five-string Ibanez
SR485 into an Ampeg SVT-4PRO, and let me
tell you that playing through this tasty biscuit is
a joy! Rich, full, mega-thick tones just pour out
of it, and it moves substantial air. I mentioned
earlier that the SP410 has no tweeter, just the
10" speakers for that vintage wallop. That
might bother bassists who play styles I don’t,
but it’s not a big deal to me. I prefer bass
sounds from late ’60s and early ’70s, and the
Orange SP410 definitely delivers a blast of that
low tone from the past. Even at low volumes,
it is as thick as an Iowa Pork Chop! (Yes. When
asked nicely, sometimes bass players play at
low volumes.) At moderate to high volumes, I
felt like I was in front of a huge cabinet. Every
George Porter bass line that I dropped on the
SP410 sounded like the bass rigs of old. Again,
small package—huge sound.
The Final Mojo
Isobaric technology may be a bit involved as
a discipline, but it sure makes for some thick
bass tone! The power-per-square-inch ratio in
the Orange SP410 is through the roof—and
yet you can transport it in the front seat of
your car. So you get vintage sound and killer
portability that’s suitable for stages of any
size—and at a street price of $1249! This
creamy, round sound is intoxicating and I
highly recommend plugging into it.
Buy if...
you need a huge bass sound in
a small package.
Skip if...
you have a small gear budget or
need a tweeter.
Rating...
