Feature:
I like the engineer's design of the jake plate--two quarter inch inputs with a two pin speakon input at 4 ohms and a 4 pin speakon input to be able to use 2 separate power amps to drive each 18 inch speaker separately if you wish. I use it only for PA, not for guitars.
Quality:
I was skeptical at first. I did not think a lighter birch plywood cabinet (20 pounds lighter than the SP 218X--great cabinet too),would take the pounding my two SP 218X's deliver. But it does. Subjectively, I believe it sounds a little better and can definately handle the power. It is the same dimentions as the SP218X
Value:
Ok, you want to by an image? Go by McCauley or JBL enclosures. Yea, you might get more respect from snobbish musician's, but get you check book ready, you are going to spend more money for an equivilent enclosure. That's right, the big guns make enclousures of the same power handling and materials, but they cost hundreds more. I like a good value and Peavey delivers.
Desirability:
It's a great looking cabinet. I think my patrons at dances or city festivals don't care what it looks like, only how it sounds and I always get great compliments from them for my tri-amped SP 218's with SP1 G's! You know, Peavey did make a mistake when they phased out the SP1 G & X models. Listen up you guys! The SP1 G was the best mid and high end cabinet you ever made. Bring it back! The combination of the black widow 15 inch speak and 44XT compression driver with the CH7 horn is an ass kicker. I can be two blocks down the road at a city festival and they still project well.
Sound:
For what it is I rate it very high. I assume there are better subs like the Q-Wave, Versary,but you need to ask yourself, what is the application? The SP 218 is not a concert series enclosure. It is meant for more moderate sized gigs. I DJ for dance clubs and even do sound for open air city summer festivals. This cabinet x 4 along with my 4 SP1 G's will definately get out there without a problem. I use 4 2400 watt QSC RMX 2450's (one for each cabinet in bridge mode). That's right! 9600 total watts just for the low end! This combination kicks ass for just about anything you want to do--except a concert--big venues. I leave that to the big boys with their 250 pound concert series speakers times 50 to 100? Overall, good low bass, but tight and punchy--good for that thump to drive people to shake it.
Ease of Use:
Again, very high marks--it has the deep bass I like and the punch the sound needs.
Support:
I call Peavey headquarters whenever I have a question or problem--they're the best. So far with either my SP218X's or the new SP 218's, I have never needed service--& I have never blown a speaker--and I romp on them.
Overall:
For what I do, I don't need anything else. It's like being a mechanic with a tool chest full of snap-on tools. Need I say more?
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