I’ve been curious about the Barefaced Reality 112FR cabinet for a couple of years, hoping they might develop a distributorship here in the US but, no-go so far. They are a very intriguing design but too pricey (for me) to order, sound-unheard, without the option to return it. I know their bass cabs are highly regarded.
Do any of you have any experience with this cab, particularly the active version? If so, could you offer a review?
I’ll take that as a no. 
Hi I have one and use a power stage 200 amp on my board. The cab sounds great and loud. I captured my Mesa and Fender its sounds very close. The open back throws the sound well. Expensive but light and does a great job.
I’m in Australia.
$906 USD. I can get the raw speaker for $150, say $150 to ship to USA what is the other $600 for in a passive cabinet?
Thank you for your input, gentlemen.
I should have mentioned, I’m interested in the active (Activier) version which adds a rear-facing tweeter for improved high-end dispersion. It’s an intriguing design but pretty pricey and there is no 30-day return policy here in the US. Understandable with the cost of shipping and now the added tariffs. Hopefully Barefaced will be successful enough to add distributors in the US in the near future.
JonC, how is the low frequency extension on your cab? I don’t play Metal and wouldn’t expect the “chug” of a 4-12 cab but I also don’t want to compensate for a thin sounding cab. I know every FRFR, PA cab and studio monitor manufacturer talks about “flat” response, yet they all sound different. That said, does the response of your Barefaced seem pretty neutral (no annoying peaks or valleys)? Have you tried playing pre-recorded music, from your phone or other device, through it? I’ve found this to be a good way to test FRFR cabs for smooth response.
Regardless of the design, I don’t think you can compare the cost of something coming off of an assembly line in China to somthing hand built in the UK. It has to cost more. I just wish I could try a pair to see if I like them enough to justify the cost difference.
You may be right but their bass cabs are certainly well regarded. I do miss the “openness” of an openback cab. I had an openback FRFR cab but it didn’t really do that openback thing because it used a coaxial, two-way speaker so the only sound emanating from the back was below the crossover frequency. Barefaced claims that their AVD and rear-facing tweeter give a smoother response over wider listening area. I’m pretty happy with the Headrush cabs I’m using (especially for the price, size, weight) but like most PA style cabs, their spread is pretty narrow. Anyway, unless Barefaced gets some distribution in the US, it’s all academic. 
Have you tried the Fender 10" and Headrush FRFR108? If so’ how would you compare the two? I’ve heard good things about the Fender FRFRs. Wish they had an openback version.
we’ve got the Spark 10" 140w FRFR and the Fender FR12 in our studio/venue and have compared them extensively. They’re both pretty decent for the $
Hey Xush, are you talking about the Spark Live 150 (2-6.5" + 2-tweeters)? I’ve wondered about the Spark Live but questioned whether it would be loud enough. I own a Spark 40 and a Spark Go. They’re pretty slick for home practice and the Spark 40 has worked for low volume jams but I wouldn’t use it at a gig. Spark amps use a fair amount of “built-in” compression to make them sound bigger/louder but at the expense of dynamics. Does the Spark Live suffer from the same always-on compression or is there a mode or input that allows full dynamic range?
I just checked Positive Grid’s website, you must be talking about the Spark Cab, which I wasn’t familiar with. The same compression question stands.
It’s the 140w cab
I don’t feel or hear any unwanted compression. We’ve used it side-by-side w/ the Fender FR12 which most people seem to love and it could pretty much be dialed in to sound almost identical.
I wouldn’t use any of these for your only amplification on a gig, but they are fine for monitoring at home or onstage. The Spark Cab (they really should give it a model name!) is designed for an increased bass-response but I don’t feel it compromises dynamics at all. You can engage the “contour switch to emphasize low and high frequencies for a better sound balance at low volume” but I’ve never seen the need to do that.
Thanks for the review, Xush. I appreciate you sharing your extensive knowledge.
DD, I used to use a Line 6 Pod Pro into a Dumble-inspired Brown Note combo kit that I built. Considering the primitive modeling (by today’s standards), I got some pretty good tones…as I recall. The downsides to your suggestion (for me) is I like using the cab modeling and IRs to really change the flavors. Also, I use the QC for my acoustic tones and may be adding a synth so full range is pretty mandatory.
To be honest, I’ve done some tweaking to my current rig, since my original post, and am quite satisfied. Of course I’m always open to being MORE satisfied. 
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Yeah, I’ve thought about that and had even priced drivers, plate amps, etc. Been years since I built my last speaker cab. I don’t own a table saw any more and by the time I added up the wood, components and hours for my slow woodworking skills, I was in the red. 
Is the Fender worth more than double the money especially for just home use?
Based on the experiments we’ve conducted I’d say there’s not a big enough difference to merit the $ difference. The Spark doesn’t have the adjustable EQ that the Fender offers, but other than that they’re fairly equal.
My bandmates thought the Spark had a better, wider presence by itself but the Fender might sit a little tighter/punchier in a mix
One thing you’re forgetting about that makes the Fender worth more…it’s that silver & black badge, just above the grill. 
Sarcasm aside, how’s the low-end extension on the Fender? Not how much bass but how low will it reproduce cleanly? Also, have you tried playing prerecorded music through the Spark or the Fender? If so, do they sound balanced or like a guitar speaker with a tweeter added? Most FRFR cabs I’ve heard sound like the latter.
My Headrush 108 doesn’t have EQ either just the “loudness” button which I keep flat. All eq’ing on the QC. If I were gigging it THEN having the eq on the cab would be a deal maker no question.
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Oh, you mean the “muddy ice pick” button. Yeah, I don’t use that button on mine either. They removed that button on the 108Mk2 version and replaced it with a higher noise floor. I returned the pair of Mk2s that I tried.
Yea it sorta acts like the “Loudness” switch on a good stereo to allow for the Fletcher-Munsun effect but ends up just mudding the bottom and spiking the top. I roll off at about 90hz and 6Khz anyway. I’d like to go up to a 10" and actually have seen reviews where they liked the Fender 10" over the 12" YMMV. I have an original Spark and a Spark 2 and have been very please with them for what I use them for and that is living room playing.
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