A Bass Cabinet is the heart of any bass rig. It delivers your bass sound and comes in either active or passive designs. The most common speaker sizes are defined by the cone diameter, usually ranging from 8 inches to 15 inches. Each size has its own tonal character: crisp and defined highs, punchy mids that cut through the mix, or deep lows that deliver serious rumble. Many modern Bass Cabinets also feature neodymium magnets and lightweight enclosures to reduce weight and make transport easier.
Popular speaker sizes at a glance:
The cone size has a major impact on tone: smaller speakers provide fast response and clear highs, while larger speakers deliver powerful, deep lows. Many bassists combine a cabinet with several 10" speakers with another cabinet featuring a single 12" or 15" driver. Modern Bass Cabinets often include a built-in tweeter with a crossover, sometimes adjustable, to highlight the upper frequencies and create a hi-fi sound.
When picking the right Bass Cabinet for your amp head, two specs matter most: power handling in watts and impedance in ohms. Impedance describes the electrical resistance of the speakers in the cabinet and must always match the amp’s output impedance. For example, if you want to use an 8-ohm Bass Cabinet, make sure your amp has a dedicated 8-ohm output.
Note: The total impedance of your connected Bass Cabinets should never differ from the amp’s requirements – neither above nor below. Check your amp’s manual or ask our trained service technicians for detailed information.
Some of the most popular choices include the Fender Rumble Bass Cabinets, the legendary Ampeg SVT 8x10 Bass Cabinet, and the Hartke HyDrive Cabinets with aluminum/paper cones. Fans of heavier tones love Orange or the ultra-durable Darkglass Cabinets rated up to 1000 watts. If you’re looking for a compact, lightweight setup, the Markbass Standard and Markbass Traveler Bass Cabinets are top picks.