#592714 - 10/02/06 06:39 PM
The best bang for your buck PA system
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kwlusa
Planeteer/Artist # 168
Planeteer
Registered: 08/24/01
Posts: 3605
Loc: Fairfield, CT, USA
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You guys who gig regularly..What's light weight and sounds respectable..cheaps is good too.. How many watts are required to cut the mustard. Think about live band situations as well as possibly playing live solo/duo with pre-recorded backing.
Thanks,
Keith
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Yes..I know I'm a wank whore..and your point is? KeithLebo.com [url=http://www.keithlebo.com/coldshot.mov[/URL] LeboandLaas.com
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#592715 - 10/02/06 07:18 PM
Re: The best bang for your buck PA system
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LakeStone Karl
Planeteer
Registered: 06/26/02
Posts: 15821
Loc: Eastern PA, USA
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So many variables.....live band situations, how many musicians, how big a room, yadda yadda....
That being said, I have had Good Luck with the Carvin PA Heads. The jury is still out on the Carvin speakers, but they are light in weight.
The Barto Jam uses a 12-channel Carvin head with three power amps, Left, Right and Monitor, built right in. Dual EQs and dual FX. I have used the same basic head with only a stereo amp too, with similarly pleasant results.
I heard a pair of EAW speakers over the weekend that simply kicked ass, man what punch! But I have no idea how many watts this guy was pushing.
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#592716 - 10/02/06 07:32 PM
Re: The best bang for your buck PA system
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havlicek
Planeteer
Registered: 05/26/02
Posts: 6738
Loc: East Hampton, NY
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#592717 - 10/02/06 07:33 PM
Re: The best bang for your buck PA system
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daBloosBuoy
Planeteer/Artist # 250
Planeteer
Registered: 01/01/05
Posts: 619
Loc: Durham, NC
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i'm a big carvin fan as well. their speakers have faired well in my experience. very transparent, durable and plenty of spl's.
i've had one of their powered heads and it worked great and was convenient for doing mixes from the stage. now that i'm doing sound for larger gigs i use their power amps and speakers and am happy with what i hear.
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...dennis VSPlanet Artist #250 [img]http://www.virtualstudiosystems.com/resize_image.php?image=bandPages/bands/d/dennissinging.jpg[/img]
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#592718 - 10/02/06 08:42 PM
Re: The best bang for your buck PA system
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MadMax
Planeteer
Registered: 02/05/00
Posts: 7174
Loc: Melbourne!, Florida
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Honestly, if you don't push them to the point of distortion they're all pretty much the same. Yamaha, Peavey, Mackie, Carvin, Samson, even Behringer. I've heard webspeak about the unreliability of Behringer stuff, but every piece I've owned has worked fine.
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#592719 - 10/02/06 08:46 PM
Re: The best bang for your buck PA system
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The Vampire Lestat
Planeteer
Registered: 01/09/00
Posts: 4518
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My experience with Mackie stuff has been good.
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#592720 - 10/02/06 08:58 PM
Re: The best bang for your buck PA system
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Vanillagrits
Planeteer
Registered: 11/09/04
Posts: 21525
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If I was starting over from scratch I would probably go with: 1. a Mackie mixer and powered speakers. 2. Mackie mixer and 2 bose 802 w/ 4 MB4 subs or 2 502 subs.
I'm pretty heavily invested in Bose equipment and it has some nice points. It's modular and you only unpack what you need for the gig. It's simple and it always sounds good in any room. Bose probably has the highest resale value if that matters.
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#592721 - 10/02/06 09:03 PM
Re: The best bang for your buck PA system
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Scottyjr
Planeteer
Registered: 04/02/06
Posts: 3468
Loc: KC
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i use a Mackie 808s and either Yamahas or JBLs (don't know the make or model, i'm VERY far away from my equipment right now), but they work great for my 6 piece and for my duo... ya don't need to much these days to sound good, just buy the best you can get and let the talent make up the difference...
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#592722 - 10/02/06 10:01 PM
Re: The best bang for your buck PA system
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pbrowne
Planeteer
Registered: 06/11/99
Posts: 6402
Loc: Loveland,CO,USA
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we use a Mackie mixer, Mackie powered speakers and sub-woofer for small to mid-sized clubs w/ SM87A's - graet sound w/ plenty of headroom which, in my opinion, is the real secret.
pat
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#592723 - 10/03/06 04:08 PM
Re: The best bang for your buck PA system
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kwlusa
Planeteer/Artist # 168
Planeteer
Registered: 08/24/01
Posts: 3605
Loc: Fairfield, CT, USA
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Karl, John and everyone else whose name I don't know..Thanks! lots of good info here. Haven't seen anyone with subs around here lately..not since the voice of the theater days..they must really round things out..only bad thing is you have to carry them :banghead:
Keith
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Yes..I know I'm a wank whore..and your point is? KeithLebo.com [url=http://www.keithlebo.com/coldshot.mov[/URL] LeboandLaas.com
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#592724 - 10/03/06 05:32 PM
Re: The best bang for your buck PA system
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motown59
Planeteer/Artist # 238
Planeteer
Registered: 03/01/04
Posts: 17834
Loc: California
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I've found that the Yamaha Club series sounds better and is better built than most of the other MI grade speakers. I like, and use a Mackie 808m mixer/amp and 2-4 main speakers, usually S112 series. If I'm mic'ing the kick or running bass through, I'll opt for the S115, sometimes with an external power amp. But the mackie and 3-4 Yamaha cabs has done hundreds of gigs for me.. If I were to give advice I'd probably buy non-active cabinets of some available brand/model and maybe even used. That way you can add cabinets as you need, by chaining. It's easier to build up to a bigger system that costs less than additional active speaks. The other thing is I'd probably get all monitor shaped cabs(in the yamaha line) since they're the same cabs with pole mounts. that way you can have them for mains, monitors or whatever..
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kel
"I love what you guys are trying to do up there" ...from an audience member at one of my gigs. Gear: Fender Medium pick
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#592725 - 10/03/06 05:49 PM
Re: The best bang for your buck PA system
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pbrowne
Planeteer
Registered: 06/11/99
Posts: 6402
Loc: Loveland,CO,USA
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a sub-woofer really takes the load off your mains when you are miking the kick drum and/or running a feed from the bass to the PA.
pat
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Send two dozen roses to Room 424 and put "Emily, I love you" on the back of the bill. Groucho Marx
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#592727 - 10/03/06 06:54 PM
Re: The best bang for your buck PA system
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Chimp
Planeteer
Registered: 01/25/03
Posts: 13625
Loc: Overland Park
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Scotty already jumped in but I'll add my 2 cents. We have 4 yamahas with 12" in them and they sound great. Two Carvins with 12" sound great. We have 2 JBL's with 12" in them which sound BETTER. We also have 2 JBLS with 15's and 4 with 2-15's in each one which sound really good but too loud and two big. Also have a set of Crate boxes which we filled with 15 inch Electro voice and JBL 10's.
All of it sounds good but those JBL 12" sound really great and if I had it to do over again I would buy a bunch of those and supplement it with some subs. They sound very good and they are light and small and can be used as monitors or mains.
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#592728 - 10/03/06 09:12 PM
Re: The best bang for your buck PA system
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kwlusa
Planeteer/Artist # 168
Planeteer
Registered: 08/24/01
Posts: 3605
Loc: Fairfield, CT, USA
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Chimp-do you collect PA speakers as a hobbie?
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Yes..I know I'm a wank whore..and your point is? KeithLebo.com [url=http://www.keithlebo.com/coldshot.mov[/URL] LeboandLaas.com
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#592729 - 12/03/06 05:27 AM
Re: The best bang for your buck PA system
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kwlusa
Planeteer/Artist # 168
Planeteer
Registered: 08/24/01
Posts: 3605
Loc: Fairfield, CT, USA
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If you use subs are they pole mounted also??
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Yes..I know I'm a wank whore..and your point is? KeithLebo.com [url=http://www.keithlebo.com/coldshot.mov[/URL] LeboandLaas.com
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#592730 - 12/03/06 05:43 AM
Re: The best bang for your buck PA system
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Vito1
Planeteer
Registered: 07/29/02
Posts: 7944
Loc: Florida, USA
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Most bands Ive seen lately have nice sounding stuff, But few have the speakers any more that will knock you on your ass as you pass by them. And frankly, that has always been part of the experience of going to see a band live. JMHO
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#592731 - 12/03/06 05:51 AM
Re: The best bang for your buck PA system
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kwlusa
Planeteer/Artist # 168
Planeteer
Registered: 08/24/01
Posts: 3605
Loc: Fairfield, CT, USA
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Know what you mean Vito
I've finally got some mad money for a PA..(even thou I'm not in a band..or a singer at this point) I think if I'm planning an original band in the future the PA will be something I need to be responsible for.
Yamaha seems like a good mainstream setup..I like the thought of MSR 400's..w/800's where needed.. On bigger gigs I'm sure the 800's would help..But I'd also like to experiment with a small mic'd guitar amp, keyboards direct and Mic'd Kick and snare..thru that system..Also tracks from a Powerbook in a solo or duo situation.
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Yes..I know I'm a wank whore..and your point is? KeithLebo.com [url=http://www.keithlebo.com/coldshot.mov[/URL] LeboandLaas.com
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#592732 - 12/03/06 11:26 AM
Re: The best bang for your buck PA system
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Vito1
Planeteer
Registered: 07/29/02
Posts: 7944
Loc: Florida, USA
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Yamaha is a very good product. I've had my Yamaha Mixing board for over 15 yeaRs now and it not only works like a champ, but it looks esteticaly modern still.
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#592734 - 12/03/06 02:33 PM
Re: The best bang for your buck PA system
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String Jammer
Hall Of Fame Fiddler
Planeteer
Registered: 07/07/04
Posts: 19468
Loc: Northeastern US
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I use this set-up in different configurations depending on size of room: (All for about $3600)
Yamaha EMX5000-20 channel 1000-watt powered mixer
Yamaha P2500 stereo amp to power monitors
JBL JRX 15's (2)
JBL JRX 112's (2) (for monitors or small mains)
JBL SoundFactor SF22SP dual 12" powered subwoofers (2) (No longer in production)
In large halls I use the entire system. I medium large rooms I don't use the subs. In medium to small venues I sometimes use the monitors as mains and leave everything else at home. I do prefer to use the 15's over the 12's though.
I also like the sound of the Yamaha Club Series, but their 15's ar too big and clunky and the JBL's 15" are lighter and smaller and actually have a clearer sound.
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#592735 - 12/03/06 06:18 PM
Re: The best bang for your buck PA system
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kwlusa
Planeteer/Artist # 168
Planeteer
Registered: 08/24/01
Posts: 3605
Loc: Fairfield, CT, USA
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Thanks John and SJ-
My keyboard player was telling me about a new Yamaha with built in compression...That must be it John..
Just need to fiqure if the Jeep Cherokee will carry my Marshall rig and a PA... :rolleyes:
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Yes..I know I'm a wank whore..and your point is? KeithLebo.com [url=http://www.keithlebo.com/coldshot.mov[/URL] LeboandLaas.com
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#592736 - 12/03/06 09:08 PM
Re: The best bang for your buck PA system
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The Vampire Lestat
Planeteer
Registered: 01/09/00
Posts: 4518
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Nothing but good experiences with Mackie stuff.
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