Smart Power (2009)

Orange’s 2009 Smart Power bass cabs used isobaric speaker tech for huge sound in compact enclosures, redefining modern bass tone.

The 2009 Smart Power bass cabinet range continued Orange’s tradition of pushing boundaries in bass amp design, a legacy that began in 1970 with the forward-thinking Parabola/Reflex 2×15. At the time, it was miles ahead of anything on the market. The same could be said of the Smart Power cabs nearly 40 years later.

That year also marked the return of the legendary Orange 8×10” bass cabinet. Originally built in small numbers in the early 70s, the reissue featured four acoustically voiced compartments for even response across the frequency range.

What Is Isobaric Technology?

“Our three Smart Power bass cabinets were built using isobaric technology, which is essentially a speaker behind a speaker,” explains Ade Emsley, Orange’s Technical Director. “This hidden rear speaker supports the movement of the front one, improving efficiency and airflow. The result is the sonic punch of a 2×12 in a cab half the size.
“Isobaric construction increases the linearity of speaker movement, extends bass frequency response, and boosts overall output. We paired this with lightweight Neodymium drivers for a winning combination of performance and portability.”

The Models

We launched three models — the SP210 (600 Watts), the SP212 (600 Watts), and the SP410 (1200 Watts). Each cab delivered dynamic, articulate tone and shared the trademark compactness of our Tiny Terror line. The SP210, for example, measured just over 30cm square. All were built in the UK using marine-grade Baltic birch ply and rated at 8 Ohms.