Best powered monitors/speakers?

[Folmeister]

I use both JBL and Mackie powered speakers (EON 15G2 and SRM 450s) and have had great results with both. One thing to keep in mind is that the EON G3 series is out and there may be good deals on the G2s.

[ZiggyDude]

I have been looking at PA gear for a while and going back and forth with the powered or passive thing. The advantages of the powered is that they are an easier set up and you get matched amps. The downside is that the workings inside are really proprietary and fixing is salty. On the other hand – you blow a power amp you toss in what you find.

Someone once mentioned that when loading people tend to toss heavy speakers about some but never toss power amps. So – wear and tear is an issue.

The best monitors I have ever heard were at a benefit I played at the other day. Loud, clear, no feedback. I asked the guy how he did it. He used separate power amps for each monitor and each one could even have a separate mix.

I have not decided yet – but the Carvin catalog came out and they have a 1204. It is 4 separate amps in the power amp. You use the returns from the PA and set up individual feeds to your speakers. They also have a power amp with two 15 band EQs fitted in.

I am still a figgerin’ though.

[tasty sweeps]

if you've got the cash, phil jones makes a passive PA that, as far as i know, will have a powered cousin in the future. the things are CRAZY loud. i believe they're made up of a row of 5x10" speakers on the bottom, with a column of 18x3" drivers sitting on top. you'd probably never need worry about amplification again.

[modulusman]

Originally Posted by ZiggyDude

I have been looking at PA gear for a while and going back and forth with the powered or passive thing. The advantages of the powered is that they are an easier set up and you get matched amps. The downside is that the workings inside are really proprietary and fixing is salty. On the other hand – you blow a power amp you toss in what you find.

Someone once mentioned that when loading people tend to toss heavy speakers about some but never toss power amps. So – wear and tear is an issue.

The best monitors I have ever heard were at a benefit I played at the other day. Loud, clear, no feedback. I asked the guy how he did it. He used separate power amps for each monitor and each one could even have a separate mix.

I have not decided yet – but the Carvin catalog came out and they have a 1204. It is 4 separate amps in the power amp. You use the returns from the PA and set up individual feeds to your speakers. They also have a power amp with two 15 band EQs fitted in.

I am still a figgerin’ though.

It doesn't matter it they were powered or not at that benefit. What probably mattered was the quality of the monitor,the seperate mix and a soundman who knew what he was doing.

[bergerXL5]

based on the nu,ber of powerd monitors that cross my workbench, and the 'fun' that it can be to get the right replacement parts, powered boxes = FAIL .

They get abused, and they want clean power.

Use small switching amps, and a small rack case for the monitor amps and EQs, and make sure it gets good power, and you're golden. two stereo single-rack amps, and two half-rack stereo eq's fit comfortably into a 5-space rack or rack bag with an empty space below for air flow. Price is comparable, and you won't be out of commission if the monitor amp fails in your powered cab.

[fokof]

If the amp fail in the powered box of if the amp fail in your rack , for me it's the same thing.......
The next day , you would have to find a power amp or a powered box while your unit is at the repair shop , SS to me...

It's been 6 years now that I use powered boxes as a bass amp without any problems. If my RCF fails , I have a lot more chance to be able to find one to rent than if I have a Genz-Benz , a Trace-Elliot or any boutique bass amp to replace mine, specialy if you tour and find yourself in smaller towns.

[bergerXL5]

Yeah, but at the already-started gig, you can daisy-chain to the next monitor over and adjust the mix; if the powered box fails, you're generally SOL.

[modulusman]

You could also move a powered monitor so two guys could share. If your like my band you carry spares. I have had way less problems with powered speakers than I did with blown speakers and power amps needing repairs. By the way you posted that powered speakers need clean power how is that different than switch -mode amps needing good power?

[realbadgroove]

QSC makes good stuff a local club just bought a all QSC system and it sounds good. If it were me I would stick with 15 and horn monitors. The 12s get really muddy when you push anything more than just vocals.

[bergerXL5]

I've notices that the powered monitors tend to get dollar-store extension cords and widowmakers (three-to-two power adapters), where the rack is more likely to get something a bit more reasonable.

They are actually no less reliable than most combo amps with decent power, as long as you don't clip them. The biggest problem is a lack of headroom. The amps should be capable of delivering a ton more power than the speakers would ever need, but that only happens in pro touring companies. (Yes, we used 2000 watt amps on single cabs, tour after tour without any failures!)

[GregShadoan]

Originally Posted by modulusman

You could also move a powered monitor so two guys could share. If your like my band you carry spares. I have had way less problems with powered speakers than I did with blown speakers and power amps needing repairs. By the way you posted that powered speakers need clean power how is that different than switch -mode amps needing good power?

How its different, is that you have to distribute "clean" power and XLR signal all over a cluttered (mostly) stage. With an amp rack you generally have one point to power up. Speaker wires are not a noise factor, XLR and power can be.
In the medium to low end powered equipment, you will never get the headroom you get with a rack of even medium power amps. The high end powered gear, ie. Meyer et al. is excellent equipment with tons of headroom.

[modulusman]

Originally Posted by GregShadoan

How its different, is that you have to distribute "clean" power and XLR signal all over a cluttered (mostly) stage. With an amp rack you generally have one point to power up. Speaker wires are not a noise factor, XLR and power can be.
In the medium to low end powered equipment, you will never get the headroom you get with a rack of even medium power amps. The high end powered gear, ie. Meyer et al. is excellent equipment with tons of headroom.

How does a balanced xlr cable contribute noise? Don't believe all the marketing department crap about how much power their speakers can handle. If you compare say JBL PRX to the MRX they use basically the same speakers but notice that the PRX has a 500 watt amp. The MRX is 400/800/1600 watts. My guess is if the engineers are only using 500 watts then that is probably closer to reality than 1600.

[jokerjkny]

admittedly, didnt really read thru the entire thread, but i'd get dedicated monitors and PA speakers.

IME, using PA speakers as monitors makes for a REALLY messy stage mix.

sometimes you dont want nearly as much vocal as the singers usually want, and only a monitor will focus the sound in their general area, whereas a PA speaker as monitor will use its maximum spread to leak it all over the stage.

[Ricky Daion]

Originally Posted by jokerjkny

admittedly, didnt really read thru the entire thread, but i'd get dedicated monitors and PA speakers.

IME, using PA speakers as monitors makes for a REALLY messy stage mix.

sometimes you dont want nearly as much vocal as the singers usually want, and only a monitor will focus the sound in their general area, whereas a PA speaker as monitor will use its maximum spread to leak it all over the stage.

You really should read the thread first.

[realbadgroove]

Once more QSC is great because they make awesome power amps and I have never seen one clip at very high volume. JBL does kick ass but unless you get there top of the line its no diffrent than any other crap out there.

[jokerjkny]

Originally Posted by Ricky Daion

You really should read the thread first.

haha, fair enough...