The thing about big cabs is less about sheer volume and more about feel I reckon. Moving air through a couple of 4x12s doesn't even have to be ear-splitting to be felt in the chest and guts. It's whole different thing... and it does translate into recorded sound as well I think. You can totally tell from a well recorded guitar sound whether it was a played though 1x8 or 8x12s.
The thing about big cabs is less about sheer volume and more about feel I reckon. Moving air through a couple of 4x12s doesn't even have to be ear-splitting to be felt in the chest and guts. It's whole different thing... and it does translate into recorded sound as well I think. You can totally tell from a well recorded guitar sound whether it was a played though 1x8 or 8x12s.