Eminence seems to be firing on all cylinders lately, and they have introduced another three speakers that blend elements of the classics to bring something entirely new to the table.
Kentucky-based Eminence seems to be firing on all cylinders lately, and they have introduced another three speakers that blend elements of the classics to bring something entirely new to the table. I tested each speaker in a birch-ply StoneAge 1x12 cabinet with a convertible open/closed back, using a Les Paul, a Stratocaster, and a Novo Serus J with P-90s. Test amps were a tweed Deluxe and a 65amps Producer EL.
WHEELHOUSE 150
This 150-watt, 8Ω speaker was developed with input from session and touring guitarist Andy Wood with the aim of delivering versatile, well-rounded tone whatever amp you put into it. Eminence bills it as “in a category all its own,” and indeed it is. Using a hemp cone, a large-diameter 2.5" voice-coil, and an 11-ounce Neodymium magnet (which is fairly large for Neo), this speaker packs a lot of power handling into a 6.6 lb package.
I found the WheelHouse ($149 street) an extremely likeable driver with a balanced voice that was relatively neutral, if leaning somewhat toward the dark side (something Eminence did intentionally at Andy’s request to be able to dial-in as much high-end on the amp or pedal as needed without getting harshness). It handled both cleans and leads extremely well, allowing the guitar and amp to sound like themselves with little extraneous coloration. Although Neo is known as a sensitive magnet, this speaker wanted to be pushed some to sound its best—consequently, it was a little dead with the Deluxe at lower volumes, but came to life at higher decibels, and it ate up anything on the 65 Amps Producer EL past about 11 o’clock