Open or Closed Back speaker cab? Which is the right choice for you?

The option to choose open or closed back is one of the most basic yet important decisions to make when building a cabinet. Getting things right can be the icing on the cake to an awesome rig but getting it wrong can leave you wondering what is missing. In this video we aim to give a short explanation of how to choose and what the difference is.
We have always planned to do a full length, in depth video on the subject so this is more of a preview, but it contains the basics and is a very good place to start.
If you have any questions, suggestions or experience on the subject please let us know.
www.zillacabs.com/
Paul Reed Smith Mira S2
Mesa/Boogie Stiletto Deuce
Strymon Riverside
Strymon Flint
Boss DD-8
Boss Super Overdrive

[@ZillaCabs]

Hey everyone, Joe here. Just wanted to leave a quick note as a couple of people have mentioned the sound from the room mics. I think I may have mixed them a little bit too high here, which gives a bit of a slap-back delay effect. I've since noticed on laptop speakers it sounds a bit more pronounced compared to the headphones I was mixing in. I wanted to show the differences in the room sound between the closed and open back for this video. The mic positions and levels were kept the same for closed and open back. When we do the full-length video, I'll pay extra care to the levels. Thanks for all your comments. We really appreciate your feedback and conversation.

[@kresomag]

@Zilla Cabs always learn something new, thanks, great video. can you give me an advice? i play hard n heavy, i have combo (open back) engl screamer loaded with classic lead80(uk) + 112 cab closed back loaded with v30(prc) is this good combination for my style and my taste, or do i switch speakers from cab into a combo and oposite? :) thank you it will be helpful for me

[@HansBaumeister]

Agreed, the main difference was the reverb of the room on the open back. To be fair - this is likely very similar to what you get when you stand in front of the cab in the first place.

[@davidlawrence701]

So for practicing at relatively low volumes, would open back sound better because it would fill the room better?

[@rodneythekingcobra]

I need to hear this without room mics can u send me the direct mic files ?

[@remihoulle3456]

Hey guys! I believe we hear the bounce from the wall behind the cab when its back is open, hence the slap back effect on open back!

[@GlennMarshallRocks]

For ease of comparison - 6:09 closed 7:08 open 7:36 closed 8:24 open 9:03 closed 9:36 open

[@ZillaCabs]

Cheers

[@nurk_barry]

Great demonstration of the difference between the two. I’ve built a few bloated back guitar cabs and a ported 2x10 bass can recently, really getting deep into speaker cab making and my next project I was thinking of doing was an open-back 1x12. This sealed the deal for me, can’t wait to build it! *update* I built an open back 1x12 and it has that different bottom end profile and room-filling character, very useful to be able to essentially EQ and direct the guitar signal post-amp the way I want it. I also have built a 2x12 mini-Marshall style cab and it’s my new favorite.

[@alanst.4417]

Thanks a lot for this vid, guys. Really useful to hear the same cab first closed back and then open for an apples to apples comparison. Closed back for rhythm playing and open back for clean or some leads would be probably the best option for me.

[@ZillaCabs]

Pretty much bang on there Alan as always!

[@alanst.4417]

Zilla Cabs thanks. Rock on!

[@hanten10]

Thanks for making this video guys it really helps me to choose what best for me

[@mtmusicgear]

Per usual when choosing between two gear options the ultimate answer is "yes." Great video.

[@ZillaCabs]

Thanks mate.

[@IamMusicNerd]

I like the hybrid cabs, where they are closed back, but have a removable panel for when you want an open back. So you get both in one.

[@ZillaCabs]

Thanks for watching, we do that quite a lot, the three piece back, it can be quite useful.

[@daviddorrian5349]

@@ZillaCabs does the shape of the port made a big difference, are the panels a disadvantage in the port shape being wrong?

[@roberthastings708]

​@daviddorrian5349 the most important factor for a port is the volume of the port. For guitar cabs, anyway.

[@waynehicks1969]

Excellent demo. Now I need every cab in both open and closed configurations. 🤔

[@ZillaCabs]

There's always a reason to buy more gear ;)

[@mrchrispychicken]

Ni Problem...

[@shaismusic]

Thanks a lot for the video(s) guys! The open back recording sounds a lot more ambient. Actually I think there are some phase problems and significant delay between the microphones in all of the open back recordings.

[@ZillaCabs]

Thanks, thats very kind of you. Ambient is the perfect word I think. We used room mics in this video too, I don't have speakers on this laptop but I will check that first thing tomorrow, the phase issues there should have been looked at but as you have pointed this out I will look in to it first thing tomorrow.

[@levijessegonzalez3629]

@@ZillaCabs I agree there is something off here

[@DreidMusicalX]

I had a pretty large 4X12 cabinet about 15 years ago, and it was like a carpet covered plywood, and it sounded seriously boxy no matter what I did to it. EQ barely helped it, and one day I took a saw and cut the back off of little over half of it. That cabinet brightened up perfectly and never had problems again. I did end up selling it when I hit the road because it was too large to carry around. But sometimes it just makes better sense for open back and sometime closed back is the way, depending on the cabinet and speakers in it. One thing I have learned in 38 years is that there is no one way being the only way.

[@ZillaCabs]

open back 4x12s can be really cool but they don't come about too often, glad you found it worked for you.

[@Wolf_K]

For my own reference Distorted- 9:04 Closed 9:36 Open 9:19 Closed 9:48 Open Thanks for the demo.

[@taxo]

It's also a matter of how deep a cab is. I have a Laney 2x12 cab loaded with V30s, closed back. It's about 38cm deep, and it really helps keeping the spikey mids of V30s down. But it's a friggin laser, and imho makes the speaker sound quieter than it really is. The same speaker in thinner closed back cabs sounds way brighter and airy for example.

[@AndiPicker]

Most of my cabs are closed which generally I prefer, but on a stage with mediocre monitoring the band can hear a lot more guitar with an open back - this may or may not be a good thing depending on how much practice I've been doing.

[@ZillaCabs]

Oh yeah for sure... drummers loev an open back cab, as they will always hear you.. or at least in a pub environment.... sound tech tend to hate you for it though ;)

[@chriswakfer4473]

So, in theory, if I'm looking for a 212 cab to stack on top of my oversized 215 cab in my guitar rig, open back may be good to both counter the lows of the 215 AND the drummer would love it because he can hear it better being open back and head level

[@AndiPicker]

@@chriswakfer4473 I's still trying to get my head around an OVERSIZED 2x15 guitar cab?!?

[@chriswakfer4473]

@@AndiPicker 28x42x16 with MASSIVE ports. Its an old yamaha cab

[@AndiPicker]

@@chriswakfer4473 Wow - you clearly need more weight to carry for gigs 😂. I'd love to hear a 1 or 2 x 10 open back with that - what sort of power are you putting through it?

[@realtruenorth]

I like both, they sound good in different ways. Open back for blues or jazz, closed back for hard rock or metal.

[@Bobby_Digital37]

Definitely preferred the closed back!!

[@kastnerr]

Thank you for the video, this is a great demonstration of the 2 sounds. It left me with 2 questions though. First what speaker is in there? Is there a hybrid 2x12 (or 4x12) that has half the speakers closed back and half open?

[@nevillecragg9066]

In a small practice 1x8 cab do you reckon an open back would add a bit more low end or should it be closed and possibly ported?

[@ricardadn]

Moltes gràcies per l'exemple!!

[@turrafirmaguitarchannel]

Thanks for your video. Very interested in this as I am building my own cab. What I was hoping to see was the back of the cab! You only showed the front. I was also hoping for an explanation of why you go with three panels, with one third open. Is there a reason for a one third open, not 1/4 or half, or full open? There is not much info on this subject on the web.

[@markblagdon]

Interesting topic, I’m trying this out in my studio at the moment by making a set of different ply backs to compare sounds. Does open back work better the further from the wall the cab is? Mine are only about 3“ from the rear wall which has acoustic panels on, so suspect it might be a different comparison further from the wall. I do like the frequency plots, would it be possible to super impose them at the end, so you can see where the frequency differences are?

[@ZillaCabs]

Thanks Mark. The cab will still work as an open back close to a wall but you will get more of an effect in the room if it is away from the wall a little as the pressure waves can bounce around that bit more. Even at 3" though the cab will never work like a closed back cab.

[@slideguitarist]

This is a great comparison, and very useful. What speaker did you use in the video? I may have missed if you mentioned that, but it would be helpful to know. Thanks for all of your work in putting together these videos.

[@ZillaCabs]

Thanks, I'm glad you like them, it is always nice to hear nice things like that. We used a H creamback in this cab.

[@platinumpengwinmusic5564]

Played a 65 twin for 15 years, but when I got my 8 string EBMM, I sold it to get a high gain amp(JP-2C), with a closed back 4x12. Hard to say bye to a classic, but had to do it.

[@marcospintor1333]

Always loved the closed back ❤️

[@ZillaCabs]

Thanks Marcos.

[@VintageRadius]

Great video! Is a cab with a three piece back in the closed position expected to sound the same as an identical cab with a regular closed back? And can any of your 1x12 closed back cabs be ordered with a three piece back? Thx!

[@ZillaCabs]

Hi James, it should do or at least get 99% of the way there. In some larger cabs the bracing is slightly different in a closed back cab, but this mostly effects 2x12s rather than 1x12s... the mass of the cab changes slightly but the difference is minimal. Any of our cabs can come with a three piece back, we just charge £25 for that.

[@Mrsitarman]

Well I do not recall hearing you say what kind of speaker you used? It doe snot have much chime or jangle that I can hear. So what make and model speaker is in this?

[@cthncthn7405]

Took a quick scanning listen and I liked closed on distortion, and open on clean

[@vjau75]

I would be interested to see (hear) your take on a cab dedicated to home/low volume playing. That would probably mean low sensitivity, small speaker.....

[@ZillaCabs]

I think that would be a good video actually. A quiet speaker is probably a good shout but most speakers will still sound fairly accurate and good a 1 Watt or there abouts. I would be tempted to say an open back 1x12 wit a heritage M would be a good start.

[@alanst.4417]

Zilla Cabs cool to know I started right ;-) Always loved the heritage series and M has lower sensitivity, but why is the open back better for home use, given it's probably louder?

[@scottdavidson6066]

The open back set up adds a bit of high-end brilliance.

[@joeltunnah]

Not if you look at the frequency response graphs. They're identical in the high end.

[@blakjack3053]

I use the open back configuration for everything blues and rock but not metal.

[@bouillefabien1195]

me too!

[@RobCmusic]

I've always had problems with closed back cabs. I think it depends on how you tend to set your amp as to which is better or not. I have always dialled out a quite a lot of bass from my sound, so I think that's why I've not heard any improvement in low end response because there isn't much bass to tighten up in the first place. The result I always get when trying out a closed back cab compared to open is that is just sounds brighter and drier. Personally my favourite format is open-back 4x10.

[@levijessegonzalez3629]

what about semi open? Im thinking of cutting my marshall 412 back panel into 2 or 3 pieces. should the port be facing the back of speakers? should they not be?

[@ZillaCabs]

With a three piece back on a 4x12 you want to make sure the panels are braced so there aren't any unwanted vibrations. Open back 4x12s can sound cool though.

[@domidigital]

Very informative video! The open back sounded almost as if you had a doubling effect on the signal. Could this have been the reflections from the wall at the back? If you do the longer video, I would be interested in the (dis)advantages of an internal separation between speakers as in the old Fender Bassman 2x12s or the Mesa Roadking cabs. Also, if you could comment on the oval shape opening that some manufacturers use, that would be great, cheers!

[@ZillaCabs]

I haven't listened back to the audio on the video, just the raw audio but the open back did give a bit more natural reverb almost. Joe had a slight bit of reverb on the clean sounds. The internal separation is a great idea for a video but I think that would deserve a video in its own right. I would definitely do something on the oval "ported" back for sure. Thanks for the input you made some great suggestions there.......

[@jakesdaddy08]

I think that doubling effect you’re hearing sounds like phasing issues on the mics, I may be completely wrong though. No disrespect to Zilla, we’ve all done it! The cabs sound amazing either way, great video. Thanks

[@MrKnisterable]

Hey Dominik, great questions I am also interested in. Another thing, did you buy a Jensen Blackbird lately?

[@domidigital]

@@MrKnisterable Thanks, and yes, Blackbirds are great, great speakers for all kinds of music!

[@personalfreedom2700]

If you use an Isolation booth for your cabs,… id imagine open back or closed back at that stage is largely redundant, am i correct?

[@jalapainyo]

Hello gents. What speaker was loaded in the cab? Cheers!

[@levijessegonzalez3629]

what about using 2 out of the 4 speakers in a 412 essentially making it front ported? same effect as an open back?

[@ZillaCabs]

That is a good idea, it can work well. The reflections inside are a bit more complex, I think it would be a cool video though.

[@gravelrocks5588]

Not sure if you get this message but I have a question do you ever put foam insulation in a closed back and what would it do would it hurt the tone or make it tighter

[@ZillaCabs]

Hi Steven, foam can be used for a few different reasons. It is often used to stop/reduce reflections inside the cab and it can have numerous results. I personally am not a big fan in most situations as it can often deaden the sound a little, but then it does depend on the application.

[@guitarexpert2245]

Is this a fully open back or half open back. Thanks.

[@RDembowski]

Nice video, guys! This channel rocks!

[@ZillaCabs]

Thanks so much!

[@shorerocks]

Closed back for me. Great vid, thx.

[@ZillaCabs]

Thanks Sven. I do prefer these in closed back too. Thanks for watching.

[@ricardadn]

Moltes gràcies!!!

[@ZillaCabs]

Thanks mate.

[@CHill-uh1fg]

So my question is, if using a 1/12, extension cab with an open back combo, which adds the best over all tone to that set up?

[@ZillaCabs]

There are two ways of looking at it, but with a combo I tend to go for a closed back extension cab as you get the ambience from the combo (nearly always open back) and an extra weight to the sounds from the closed back cab.

[@AndiPicker]

I need a pedal controlled cab-back-port robot!

[@ZillaCabs]

hahaha... it only take two minutes max to get the back off, stop beign so lazy ;) ... or buy two cabs ;)

[@AndiPicker]

@@ZillaCabs OK, serious question then, how important is the size/shape of the open back - is no panel the same as a 2/3 panel or a panel with a bunch of holes cut out of it?

[@Zappappappappa]

@@AndiPicker great question, wish they would have responded.

[@AndiPicker]

@@Zappappappappa Zilla's usually pretty good about getting back but I guess they need to avoid going down wormholes of multiple reply conversations. I've actually called them in the past when I had a query about porting on a cab and Paul was super helpful.

[@speed2dirt]

Open Back all the way! The cleans shimmer and sound alive while the high gain crunches more. Not as tight or thunderous in the low-end, but the bark & bite just seem more apparent. That said, I keep multiple cabs around depending on the situation. If you do a video on ported/non-ported, please include rear ports as well as front ones. I know some Hiwatt cabs do the small slit on the bottom of the rear panel, which seems to add lows but different than the front circle ports.

[@ZillaCabs]

Thanks for the input, we are planning a video just like that.

[@Terribleguitarist89]

In high school I ran a 410 open back and 212 closed cab. Bitch to lug around but sounded glorious.

[@ZillaCabs]

haha yeah, sounds like a big rig but I bet it sounded great.

[@jonoftheford]

What speaker did you use?

[@SilentScreamsStudios]

Sound very killer

[@ZillaCabs]

Excellent thanks mate.

[@claudevieaul1465]

Thanks for putting up this video! It is basically something that can make or break your sound... 😉 I've only watched this on my mobile, which is highly unfair as it won't do your work any justice, but I will definitely listen to it again on a really good set of headphones! I built an oversized 2x12" cab myself ages ago, and included a removable panel in the back. It also has 2 different type Celestions, each with its own input, so essentially I can pick and mix suited to whatever I'm going to record. One is a Vintage30 (25th Anniversary series), which is well broken in, and sounds best with a closed back. The other is a truly lovely old Rola-Celestion Greenback (70s), and that one sounds great in either situation, but will sound different obviously: in a closed cab it seems to have a better definition in lows and highs, and when open it brings out a beautiful mid-high range... My amp of choice on that speaker is a Marshall JTM (1W Anniversary series head, phenomenal bit of gear!), and it can do so much more than I ever thought... 😉👍

[@Iamgavrilo]

Which speaker is in the cab?

[@bouillefabien1195]

Great video as usual. I do A/B comparaison with my 10/12 cab, there is a difference but as much as i can hear in this video, room... mic'...my ears and stuff... there are so much things involve. As soon es I can I will order one of your cab for my 10" GB, I am sick of building 15mm MDF things that probably sucks. The tolex is beautiful on the one in this video. I know it is a stupid question, but what is the thickness of the pick you use, friendly bearded face dude? :) Again, sorrry. I love your British accent (I was married to a US female)

[@ZillaCabs]

Thanks I'm glad you enjoyed it. The can both really really cool, just each for a differet job I guess. The 10" greenback is a really cool speaker, let me know if you want to go for that cab.

[@doyrayburn2668]

A Fender Twin is an open back. The sound is historical. A Marshall stack is closed back, historical as well. But artists of varying styles have used them all. Its all in how you set up your gear. Imo

[@ZillaCabs]

It's funny you should say that as those are the two rigs I use as extremes to demonstrate the difference between open and closed back. Setting up gear right and how you play it is where the sound is, that's why I use Joe for the demo work and not me ;)

[@padgreen]

Closed back for me. Thought the sound was better balanced. The open back had a more open sound, especially with the highs, but I can imagine if you had a bright guitar or amp, that could then sound a bit harsh?

[@ZillaCabs]

I know what you mean, the funny thing is, from experience brighter amps tends to come with open back cabs.... I think there's a video in this ;)

[@heythere6983]

I was just thinking about my open back combos that are a bit too bright and already come with 70/80s.. Definitely spikey indoors in small ish rooms

[@adamwatson6916]

Speaker choice can negate alot of the low end difference between the 2 . H speakers are the ticket for open back although I use a ceamback M in an open back combo . It's the only M speaker I have ever liked in an open back amp, my most used setup is an open back paired with a closed back . Open back combo and closed back xab

[@97warlock]

so when you say Closed back .... do you mean No holes or openings at all? or is it ported?

[@ZillaCabs]

We tried to explain in the video, we used a ported cab to emphasise the difference. When the three piece back is in place it allows the ports to work, with open back the ports don't work.

[@CraigFlowersMusic]

Did you ever make the longer, more in-depth video you kept talking about?

[@ZillaCabs]

We're working on it mate. We're about to relaunch the channel and this is definitely a video we've got in mind.

[@CraigFlowersMusic]

@@ZillaCabs Wonderful news! I’m going to relaunch my own next year, super exciting. Looking at 2x 12s right now because the G12M-65 creambacks in my mini-plexi got the boot in favor of the Mojotone bv series 25M and 30h. But I want to plug the creambacks in sometimes, alone or in tandem. Going to put a mojotone bv30v in a jtm studio combo and need that creamback cab for that as well. Seems to me like open back sweetens things up a bit, opens up the lower mids but drops off the low end, whereas closed back seems to really give back some boom as well as somehow altering the character of the midrange . . . but this is based solely on experience and memory, not science or a/b clips. You helped me so much with the speaker a/b clips, I think you’re the perfect channel for an open- vs closed-back deep dive.

[@jkf9167]

I found myself preferring closed back when I expected to prefer open back. Who knew?

[@ZillaCabs]

I'm glad you found the video useful!

[@digitalchris6681]

Me.

[@gabrielorville5334]

You know, it's a bit like that bleeding effect of sound when you have a 4x12 cab micing only one speaker - so, people say closed are tighter.

[@voxpathfinder15r]

Everyone says closed back increases bsss frequencies. Maybe it does for some of them, but my perception is that open back brings more bass but spread out more than closed back

[@jacobbockover1628]

Okay im gonna try closing my 4×10 i use an eq anyhow but yeah

[@ZillaCabs]

Always worth a shot

[@4142Wilb]

Does it matter what materials make up the cabinet if it’s an open back cab? Like does 13 ply birch matter if it’s open back as opposed to particle board?

[@ZillaCabs]

Great question. The cabinet material still makes a massive difference to how the cab sounds when it is open or closed back, even thickness of wood and baffle construction.

[@Steven-re3tx]

Move more air with a closed back. It's what my Hiwatt DR 504 OL loves. JUSTSAYIN'.

[@jalanmcrae]

Damn, open back sounds more in your face 🔥

[@Michiel1972]

Every cabinet should be both. How hard can it be to construct a cab in such a way that you have a little door at the backside that you can open en close?

[@ZillaCabs]

relatively hard and not that practical for most people. If you only want closed back then three piece isn't best due to a different type of bracing being used.

[@nelsonvisconti222]

Seemed the open back was brighter

[@ZillaCabs]

That's quite a common effect of the open back. Thanks for watching.

[@yarv884]

closed sound more composed better for riff playing, open better for long sounding notes, arpegios, cords playing

[@lewiscampbell3070]

Camae for the topic, stayed for the licks.

[@ZillaCabs]

hahaha, glad you liked it.

[@lastgrungestand]

The fact that the recording mic is pointing at the speaker, limites the demo? I mean, shouldn’t the difference can be heard more in the room rather than directly to the speaker? I’m just wandering…

[@ZillaCabs]

Its a Tul G12, that's exactly how the mic is made to be used, direct at the dust cap.

[@BITESIZEJONES]

As long as it's good tone it doesn't matter if it's open or closed

[@ZillaCabs]

That's true, but open or closed back can be a big part to determining whether you think it is a good tone for what you are doing. It's good to know the difference it can make.

[@bernzeppi]

Shoulda made the Zella logo slightly smaller (it’s a metaphor)

[@revelore4090]

would've been nice to compare the rhythm parts without the leads in between

[@Kanthon]

Yep, I still hate open back. Thanks.

[@scottdavidson6066]

The closed back sounds a bit boxier and more restrained.

[@freezaxp]

Metal chugging sounds way better closed cab, the others are good in both setups

[@ZillaCabs]

Yeah, always chug with a closed back!

[@ballsofdoom3124]

I've been playing a long time with mostly closed back cabs in metal bands. Lately I've noticed open back cabs and combos can be tuned to the room you are in. On the floor, close to a wall will sound thunderous af and very chuggy. I'm starting to prefer open back setups vs the laser beam closed backs... more spread and the cleans really soar. I play a 7 string tuned to drop G# and have no issues with a loose bottom end playing open backs.

[@voxpathfinder15r]

Closed back all the way and adjust the tone you want by placing near a wall

[@PhillipMoita]

lol.. Open back all the way!

[@ZillaCabs]

You're both right ;)

[@voxpathfinder15r]

@@PhillipMoita LoL- I meant open back, but my dyslexic thinking reversed what I typed

[@stopUkrainewar666]

you want a close back ??? go and get a trash wood in the street 6 screws and you got your custom close back just choose massive wood

[@ZillaCabs]

Sorry I don't understand what you just said.

[@stopUkrainewar666]

@@ZillaCabs i said that you an close yourself the back of the cab ... But i was not especially talking to zilla good work people... Your tests should be more important for guitarist in the choice of their sound! Ty

[@toneseeker87]

The open back breathes the sound around and right in front of you and the close back is very focused or sonically directional as a lack of words. Open back is like opening a treasure chest full of gold and silver coins while the close back the golds are being thrown to your face.

[@doctorskull8197]

I can’t tell the difference. The audience will never tell the difference.

[@WatchfulHunter]

get on with it

[@ZillaCabs]

Not sure why you'd bother leaving a comment like that.

[@danieldaniel-yq2gj]

...OPEN BACK=MORE REVERB

[@guitarhilley]

Cut out the roommics!

[@pulidomi]

Open, has less bass

[@goodwill559]

This is how your voices sound in that room, "wah-wah woh-wuh-weh woo-woh oh-wah-uh whuh" Lapel mics would have been more useful and intelligible

[@ZillaCabs]

nice

[@AbeldeBetancourt]

Open back against the wall. There! I saved you money. Bye.

[@nicky91guitar]

too much talking...

[@izibreeze1691]

terrible music taste

[@rocknazca56]

PLEASE DONT TALK JUST PLAY!!!

[@ZillaCabs]

No

[@jacksoncrate]

open back not tight