Modal analysis guitar cabinet internal acoustics: Comparing modern 1×12 cabinets

Every enclosed volume supports sound standing waves, or modes, where air pressure reinforces itself between parallel surfaces. In a guitar cabinet, these modes shape the low-mid and mid-frequency behaviour.

Peaks in the modal-response plot represents a frequency range where several modes overlap and the cavity becomes more acoustically “active.” Lower relative modal buildup and a more even internal pressure distribution across the frequency range of interest means a less coloured response from the cabinet.

When developing the Rawrawk Quasar, one of our goals was to design a guitar cabinet that sounds balanced, open, and transparent — a cabinet that lets the speaker define the tone, not the box itself.

To achieve this, we used wave-based geometric acoustics to study how the internal geometry of the Quasar affected its acoustic modal behaviour. We also compared the Quasar to a few well-known 1×12" cabinets to understand this further and we are sharing the conclusions of our R&D with you in this blogpost.

This analysis focuses purely on the geometry of the air cavity, with all walls assumed to be rigid. This modal analysis guitar cabinet internal acoustics study reveals how different cabinet designs shape tonal characteristics. The purpose was not to rate brands, but to better understand how cabinet shape and size influence the internal sound field.

Modal analysis guitar cabinet internal acoustics – methodology and results

We simulated the following four 1×12" cabinet designs:

Cabinet	Internal Volume	Internal Dimensions (m)	Wall Thickness Assumed
Rawrawk Quasar	47.6 L	0.452 × 0.380 × 0.277	9 mm
Victory Sheriff 112	62.8 L	0.574 × 0.454 × 0.264	18 mm
Orange PPC112	54.1 L	0.514 × 0.414 × 0.254	18 mm
Mesa Boogie 1×12 Compact	46.1 L	0.440 × 0.364 × 0.288	18 mm

All models were analysed using wave-based geometric acoustics between 70 Hz – 2 kHz.

Axial, tangential, and oblique standing-wave modes were computed and plotted as a relative modal buildup — a measure of how strongly the air inside the cabinet tends to reinforce sound pressure at each frequency.

Results

Quasar

The Quasar’s internal geometry delivers the most balanced modal distribution among all the cabinets tested. Its first axial resonance occurs around 379 Hz, followed by modes near 451 Hz and 619 Hz.

These frequencies are well spaced and free from modal coincidence, avoiding the low-mid buildup that often makes guitar cabinets sound “boxy.” In practice, this results in a neutral, controlled internal pressure field that allows the loudspeaker’s true character to shine through with remarkable clarity.

The strategic internal bracing further disrupts standing-wave paths and increases panel rigidity, minimising unwanted coloration. Acoustically, this makes the Quasar the most evenly tuned and refined of all the designs examined — maintaining a smooth modal response well across the guitar’s critical range (100 Hz – 2 kHz), where most of the tonal definition takes shape.

Mesa Boogie 1×12 Compact

Very similar in size to the Quasar, with axial modes near 390 Hz, 470 Hz, and 600 Hz. It has greater modal concentration between 1100-1500 Hz, giving it a touch more activity in the mid band, producing a lively, forward tone. While still well-behaved, it shows greater modal concentration overall when compared to the Quasar’s smoother spread.

Orange PPC112

With its larger internal volume, the first resonance shifts to around 333 Hz, increasing modal density within the 300–500 Hz range. This geometry leads to notable modal build-up at various frequencies, which can significantly colour the sound. Overall, the modal spacing is less uniform, resulting in a less neutral response where the cabinet plays a clear role in shaping the tone.

Victory Sheriff 112

The largest enclosure of the group, with the first mode near 299 Hz and several closely spaced modes below 400 Hz.This design concentrates modal energy in the lower midrange and may be perceived as "boxy" with certain loudspeakers.

Summary and Conclusion

Among the cabinets analysed, the Rawrawk Quasar stands out as the most balanced and acoustically refined design. Its modal structure is evenly distributed, avoiding the strong low-mid resonances found in many 1x12 enclosures.

Because of this, it behaves more like a controlled acoustic enclosure than a resonant box — ensuring that the speaker, not the cabinet, defines the sound.

Once the real loudspeaker and internal bracing are factored in, the Quasar’s advantages become even clearer:

• Bracing breaks up standing-wave paths even further.

• The speaker cone acts as a partially absorbing surface, reducing axial pressure peaks considerably. Together, these effects make the measured modal field smoother still — confirming that the Quasar’s design philosophy delivers exactly what it set out to achieve:

a scientifically balanced, studio-ready guitar cabinet that reproduces tone with precision.

A Note on preference

Acoustic neutrality does not automatically mean one cabinet will sound better to everyone. Personal preference and musical context remain the most important factors when choosing a cabinet. The analysis simply provides a scientific reference, showing where modal concentrations occur and explaining why smaller enclosures can sometimes sound boxy.

Although it’s difficult to perfectly calculate modal behaviour once the speaker and bracing are introduced, these simulations remain valid for comparing internal proportions and identifying where the first modal concentrations and potential issues arise.

Disclaimer

All data presented are approximate and based on independent acoustic simulations using wave-based geometric acoustics. Dimensions for reference cabinets were derived from publicly available specifications. Rawrawk is not affiliated with any of the brands mentioned, and all trademarks remain the property of their respective owners. This analysis is provided purely for educational and design-transparency purposes.