PA systems
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Securb
One of Jerry's Kids
Re: PA systems
I slapped together a JBL system from pieces and parts I had hanging around. I matched this up with some JBL 1x15 cabs with horns and it does a pretty good job for most applications. The power amp came out of my guitar rig and other bits and pieces were laying around. I am getting around 300 watts per side.
I slapped together a JBL system from pieces and parts I had hanging around. I matched this up with some JBL 1x15 cabs with horns and it does a pretty good job for most applications. The power amp came out of my guitar rig and other bits and pieces were laying around. I am getting around 300 watts per side.
Diminished Triad
New member
Re: PA systems
I use Mackie 1531 HDs and for subs use 1801 HDs.....two mains and two subs on each side of stage usually. For larger venues we bring out a second bass cab for the other side of the stage and our one extra Mackie 1801 sub - that usually covers the lowe end pretty well.
I use Mackie 1531 HDs and for subs use 1801 HDs.....two mains and two subs on each side of stage usually. For larger venues we bring out a second bass cab for the other side of the stage and our one extra Mackie 1801 sub - that usually covers the lowe end pretty well.
Securb
One of Jerry's Kids
Re: PA systems
I am not familiar with them but I will say I have never regretted any JBL product I have ever bought.
I am not familiar with them but I will say I have never regretted any JBL product I have ever bought.
Re: PA systems
i know some people with the eon 15's and they sound and work well.
i have two mackie c200 10's, two yamaha club 12's and four yamaha club 15's, all unpowered. it lets me pick and choose what to bring depending on the gig but it takes up a ton of freakin room in the garage. i have a yamaha emx512sc for small stuff and a rack with an allen heath mixwizard 16 for bigger stuff where i need a bunch of monitor mixes.
i know some people with the eon 15's and they sound and work well.
i have two mackie c200 10's, two yamaha club 12's and four yamaha club 15's, all unpowered. it lets me pick and choose what to bring depending on the gig but it takes up a ton of freakin room in the garage. i have a yamaha emx512sc for small stuff and a rack with an allen heath mixwizard 16 for bigger stuff where i need a bunch of monitor mixes.
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: PA systems
I basically have a garage full of PA gear. First piece of advice is to think "modular". You will have different sized venues to play in over your career: a small system won't cut it in a room of 500 people, and a 10,000 watt system is equally inappropriate for a open mic at a coffee house.
Two quick rules: 1) Always buy more input channels than you think you will need; and 2) Headroom is one of the keys to having a great PA. Buy enough power. And you'll want to match the power of your amps to the power handling capability of your speakers. Usually, companies like Peavey will give you three numbers of power handling for their speakers: RMS, Program Power, and Peak Power. You generally want your amp to have at least the RMS rating of the speaker, and it is strongly recommended that you have an amp with an RMS rating that exactly matches the Program Power spec of the speaker. You are more likely to damage a speaker with too little power than too much.
My basic system starts with an old reliable--the Peavey XR600C top box mixer amp. Mackie, Yamaha, Behringer, Peavey, Carvin, et.al. all make modern versions of this concept. I use mine for when I'm doing a single act, or at the open mic. Mine's only rated for 300 WRMS, but it's more than enough for many situations. One key with this top box--it has great patching points--I can use the Mixer alone; Mixer+Graphic EQ, Graphic EQ alone, EQ+Amp, Amp alone. I often use it to power a monitor when using my big system. It's a very versatile piece of gear. The XR600C has only 6 mixing channels and a single monitor send, which is good for a acoustic trio or so, but I have used it with a full-tilt rock band in a small club, though it was slightly under-powered. Modern pieces typically have more channels (8-12), and often multiple monitor sends (handy for live stages), and dual power amps.
When I'm doing a band gig, I'll use my Peavey FX16 mixer. With 16 channels and 4 monitor sends, it's all I really need for my four piece band in the clubs we play in. I like the FX mixers, and the new ones are even better. They have a lot of digital effects and processing built in. Mackie, Allen & Heath, Carvin, et.al build similar rigs.
I then have a rack case with Graphic EQs, electronic crossover, dBX compressor, Sonic Maximizer, and a digital reverb. A lighted Furman Power Conditioner sits at the top of the rack.
I have four power amps to use, each in its own SKB case. Two Peaveys, a CS800 and a CS900; and two QSCs, PLX 3602 and PLX1602. The PLX amps are lightweight and have a LOT of power and are very clean. The Peavey amps are old classics and weigh a ton, but have been ultra reliable over many years of gigs.
I have enough speakers to cover most any situation. I have a pair of JBL MPro 255 subs. They are 2-15s" in a folded horn cab, big and heavy (115 lbs.), with a Program rating of 1,000 watts. I can pole mount a speaker on top of them.
My big top speakers are Peavey SP-2Xs (85 lbs.). The SP-2 has been around for many decades, and continues to be improved. I also have a set of the older SP-2As. The X model will handle more than three times the power of the A version--1000 watts Program. Both versions are bi-amp capable. So I have run a tri-amped system with the JBL subs, with roughly 5000 watts to the Mains. Sounded absolutely killer. Even the cop said so, LOL!
I also have about five mile of cabling, LOL. Seems like about 700 lbs. of copper wire in various lengths and end connectors. Ugh!
I have an older set of Peavey Impulse 1012 speakers, 12" and compression horn in a plastic box. They handle 600 watts. I can use them with the JBL subs; I can also use them with the XR-600s--great for those low volume coffee-house gigs. I have heavy duty stands to mount these and the SP-2s
I have three floor monitor speakers, but I also use the 1012s sometimes. The three others are Peavey 112 HS. These use a dual piezo horn and a 12" speaker. I have one with a Scorpion 12, and one with a Black Widow, and the BW is a much better speaker. I also have one that has an internal 75 WRMS power amp and a Scorpion. The powered speaker is very handy with both the XR600C and the FX mixer. I've done gigs where I used the two monitor speakers as mains and hid them under tables for a very unobtrusive, low profile sound system, yet had enough power to fill the room.
So I have a lot of flexibility to go from a small coffee house system, to a system big enough to use outdoors (and get the cops involved!, LOL!)
The problem for me is that I've gotten older, and moving that big heavy gear means a big truck and three visits to the massage therapist after a gig. So a couple of years ago, I bought a used set of Carvin power speakers, and I could not be happier with them. I've always been a big fan of Peavey PA gear; it has very good bang for the buck value, and every piece has been very reliable. I'd always looked at the Carvin catalog and wondered about their stuff, but never bought until I saw this set. Now I know, and I'm glad I got it.
The four speakers I bought are Carvin's now discontinued LM-15A. These have a neo-dym magnet 15 and a compression horn in a plastic box and are processed and biamped. The newer PM version does not have the neo magnet speakers. Mine are very lightweight as 35 lbs., less than 1/2 the weight of the big SP-2Xs, and smaller. Easier to load the van--less wear and tear on it, and me...and better gas mileage. I've used them on several gigs, and they sound crystal clear. I've become a big fan of lightweight powered mspeakers.
And, the guy had a pair of Carvin 1801A powered subs, so I bought those too. They are half the size, and weight, of the JBL subs. The bass is not quite as tight as the JBL, and as the speaker is front-loaded (opposed to the folded horn of the JBL), they do not have the projection. But they sound good and have plenty of power for the gigs I've been doing lately. I'm really pleased with the tone, and the speed of setup. They are a little less ####-up-able than the power amp-speaker rig--all the power matching and processing, x-over points, etc. are already done. And I think I'm going to sell the SP-2X and JBL MPro subs. They've just gotten to be too much for me, but man...it is a GLORIOUS sounding system!
Like I said it's a garage full of gear. And my band mates (who live 100 miles away) have their own system, so when I play over there we use that system. I'd love to go all Woodstock and hook it all up together for one last bash!!!
But the absolute most important piece to a PA system is the one thing a lot of folks don't ever bother to get. And that is the KNOWLEDGE to run it. You have to know the gear, the specs, and how to get the most from it. You have to under how to set the gain structure on your inputs and through the whole system. You have to understand electricity and power distribution systems. So read every book and White Paper, go to every seminar. Peavey has done a marvelous job educating people over the years. The information is out there, you just have to go get it.
The knowledge is everything. I've seen and heard very modest systems sound fabulous when run well. And I have heard $50,000 PAs with 20,000 watts sound buzzy and distorted. Don't be THAT GUY!
Let me know if you have any other questions. Good luck!
Bill
I basically have a garage full of PA gear. First piece of advice is to think "modular". You will have different sized venues to play in over your career: a small system won't cut it in a room of 500 people, and a 10,000 watt system is equally inappropriate for a open mic at a coffee house.
Two quick rules: 1) Always buy more input channels than you think you will need; and 2) Headroom is one of the keys to having a great PA. Buy enough power. And you'll want to match the power of your amps to the power handling capability of your speakers. Usually, companies like Peavey will give you three numbers of power handling for their speakers: RMS, Program Power, and Peak Power. You generally want your amp to have at least the RMS rating of the speaker, and it is strongly recommended that you have an amp with an RMS rating that exactly matches the Program Power spec of the speaker. You are more likely to damage a speaker with too little power than too much.
My basic system starts with an old reliable--the Peavey XR600C top box mixer amp. Mackie, Yamaha, Behringer, Peavey, Carvin, et.al. all make modern versions of this concept. I use mine for when I'm doing a single act, or at the open mic. Mine's only rated for 300 WRMS, but it's more than enough for many situations. One key with this top box--it has great patching points--I can use the Mixer alone; Mixer+Graphic EQ, Graphic EQ alone, EQ+Amp, Amp alone. I often use it to power a monitor when using my big system. It's a very versatile piece of gear. The XR600C has only 6 mixing channels and a single monitor send, which is good for a acoustic trio or so, but I have used it with a full-tilt rock band in a small club, though it was slightly under-powered. Modern pieces typically have more channels (8-12), and often multiple monitor sends (handy for live stages), and dual power amps.
When I'm doing a band gig, I'll use my Peavey FX16 mixer. With 16 channels and 4 monitor sends, it's all I really need for my four piece band in the clubs we play in. I like the FX mixers, and the new ones are even better. They have a lot of digital effects and processing built in. Mackie, Allen & Heath, Carvin, et.al build similar rigs.
I then have a rack case with Graphic EQs, electronic crossover, dBX compressor, Sonic Maximizer, and a digital reverb. A lighted Furman Power Conditioner sits at the top of the rack.
I have four power amps to use, each in its own SKB case. Two Peaveys, a CS800 and a CS900; and two QSCs, PLX 3602 and PLX1602. The PLX amps are lightweight and have a LOT of power and are very clean. The Peavey amps are old classics and weigh a ton, but have been ultra reliable over many years of gigs.
I have enough speakers to cover most any situation. I have a pair of JBL MPro 255 subs. They are 2-15s" in a folded horn cab, big and heavy (115 lbs.), with a Program rating of 1,000 watts. I can pole mount a speaker on top of them.
My big top speakers are Peavey SP-2Xs (85 lbs.). The SP-2 has been around for many decades, and continues to be improved. I also have a set of the older SP-2As. The X model will handle more than three times the power of the A version--1000 watts Program. Both versions are bi-amp capable. So I have run a tri-amped system with the JBL subs, with roughly 5000 watts to the Mains. Sounded absolutely killer. Even the cop said so, LOL!
I also have about five mile of cabling, LOL. Seems like about 700 lbs. of copper wire in various lengths and end connectors. Ugh!
I have an older set of Peavey Impulse 1012 speakers, 12" and compression horn in a plastic box. They handle 600 watts. I can use them with the JBL subs; I can also use them with the XR-600s--great for those low volume coffee-house gigs. I have heavy duty stands to mount these and the SP-2s
I have three floor monitor speakers, but I also use the 1012s sometimes. The three others are Peavey 112 HS. These use a dual piezo horn and a 12" speaker. I have one with a Scorpion 12, and one with a Black Widow, and the BW is a much better speaker. I also have one that has an internal 75 WRMS power amp and a Scorpion. The powered speaker is very handy with both the XR600C and the FX mixer. I've done gigs where I used the two monitor speakers as mains and hid them under tables for a very unobtrusive, low profile sound system, yet had enough power to fill the room.
So I have a lot of flexibility to go from a small coffee house system, to a system big enough to use outdoors (and get the cops involved!, LOL!)
The problem for me is that I've gotten older, and moving that big heavy gear means a big truck and three visits to the massage therapist after a gig. So a couple of years ago, I bought a used set of Carvin power speakers, and I could not be happier with them. I've always been a big fan of Peavey PA gear; it has very good bang for the buck value, and every piece has been very reliable. I'd always looked at the Carvin catalog and wondered about their stuff, but never bought until I saw this set. Now I know, and I'm glad I got it.
The four speakers I bought are Carvin's now discontinued LM-15A. These have a neo-dym magnet 15 and a compression horn in a plastic box and are processed and biamped. The newer PM version does not have the neo magnet speakers. Mine are very lightweight as 35 lbs., less than 1/2 the weight of the big SP-2Xs, and smaller. Easier to load the van--less wear and tear on it, and me...and better gas mileage. I've used them on several gigs, and they sound crystal clear. I've become a big fan of lightweight powered mspeakers.
And, the guy had a pair of Carvin 1801A powered subs, so I bought those too. They are half the size, and weight, of the JBL subs. The bass is not quite as tight as the JBL, and as the speaker is front-loaded (opposed to the folded horn of the JBL), they do not have the projection. But they sound good and have plenty of power for the gigs I've been doing lately. I'm really pleased with the tone, and the speed of setup. They are a little less ####-up-able than the power amp-speaker rig--all the power matching and processing, x-over points, etc. are already done. And I think I'm going to sell the SP-2X and JBL MPro subs. They've just gotten to be too much for me, but man...it is a GLORIOUS sounding system!
Like I said it's a garage full of gear. And my band mates (who live 100 miles away) have their own system, so when I play over there we use that system. I'd love to go all Woodstock and hook it all up together for one last bash!!!
But the absolute most important piece to a PA system is the one thing a lot of folks don't ever bother to get. And that is the KNOWLEDGE to run it. You have to know the gear, the specs, and how to get the most from it. You have to under how to set the gain structure on your inputs and through the whole system. You have to understand electricity and power distribution systems. So read every book and White Paper, go to every seminar. Peavey has done a marvelous job educating people over the years. The information is out there, you just have to go get it.
The knowledge is everything. I've seen and heard very modest systems sound fabulous when run well. And I have heard $50,000 PAs with 20,000 watts sound buzzy and distorted. Don't be THAT GUY!
Let me know if you have any other questions. Good luck!
Bill
SlyFoxx
Glossless
Re: PA systems
As BB said, knowledge is power. Here's the tome to buy...
http://www.amazon.com/Sound-Reinfor...&keywords=yamaha+sound+reinforcement+handbook
As BB said, knowledge is power. Here's the tome to buy...
http://www.amazon.com/Sound-Reinfor...&keywords=yamaha+sound+reinforcement+handbook