-MAINS Directly next to eachother-

MNAirHead · #1 05-05-2011, 01:30 PM

Howdy.

long story short, I've totally reengineered our sound system.

I'm aware that subs are to be placed connected to eachoter

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Dumb question.. when the mains are in a VERY wide patttern and hifi...

Is there any reason why I can't put the left and right directly next to eachother?

Tim

KeithAlanK · #2 05-05-2011, 02:28 PM

No reason why not.
You'll get around 3dB extra "free" bass, too.
Just remember to splay the top cabs--if they are wedge shaped, put the side walls together because this is how they are designed to be used.
Instead of interfering with each other, they'll work together to fill the room properly.

MNAirHead · #3 05-05-2011, 03:09 PM

After reading through, this was kind of my thought (that there was no reason if they have good disperson) why they couldn't be all right there.

I understand subs are to be right next to eachother.. this solves an issue with poles etc.

Tim

MNAirHead · #4 05-05-2011, 03:10 PM

Stage wise, this would also open the other side for lighting..

we can run a monitor to his side.

lelandcrooks · #5 05-05-2011, 05:19 PM

Stack one on top of the other. Side by side, even with splayed cabs they will comb filter. If they have horns invert the top cab so the hf horns are next to each other. The trapezoidal shape of splayed cabs is more marketing than engineering.

Or alternatively crossfire them in a v shape. Minimizes the horizontal comb filtering.

trevcda · #6 05-05-2011, 05:33 PM

Correctly splayed cabs will minimize the effects of comb filtering. Inverting will allow the horns to work better together, but it's still less than ideal. IME many trap cabs require more splay than than their shape would indicate. Rendering in design software will often reveal a more ideal angle. Personally I prefer the traditional stacks on each side if for no other reason than to prevent the band from audibly leaning to one side. It can be strange and off-putting for your audience to wrap their heads around. But I've done it when there was absolutely no other option.

MNAirHead · #7 05-05-2011, 05:58 PM

Live sound.. .we're all

IEM/DI... zero stage sound..

I know this will be nutty to many giggers.. I'm trying to reduce extra pipes out of full stands.. we're going to do a complete 150spl system in a mini van...

D.A.R.K. · #8 05-05-2011, 08:51 PM

it kind of depends on the venue.
the subs are omni directional, tops are not.
on a wide stage a lot could get lost if you are watching/ listening on the side up front with nothing going on.
as an audience member, it'd be weird to be listening up front
with vocals coming from left or right only.

MNAirHead · #9 05-06-2011, 05:47 AM

I can understand your point..

The projection pattern of the mains is VERY wide...

Moving all the gizmos together would REALLY cut down on the setup and cabling time.

We commonly play acoustic duos, and have a trio for medium sized venues.

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I'm still amazed at the long distance pro audio gear has come.. .

walterw · #10 05-06-2011, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MNAirHead

The projection pattern of the mains is VERY wide...

that's why you don't want them side by side. everybody in the room is gonna get the sound of one horn and the other horn a foot away from it, a recipe for phase-y mush.

tops that are meant to go side-by-side have very narrow patterns, to reduce any overlap.

your tops should go one on either side, or maybe just leave one in the van for really small shows.

modulusman · #11 05-06-2011, 03:31 PM

What are you using for speakers?

MNAirHead · #12 05-06-2011, 03:39 PM

QSC K12... dbTechnologies Sub 05

modulusman · #13 05-06-2011, 04:19 PM

Your tops have 75 degree dispersion pattern. That isn't really that wide. If they are sitting near each other on poles just angle them away from each other. My band uses 4-JBL PRX535s at bigger shows with two side by side on subs. They have a 90 degree pattern and I'm sure there is some comb filtering going on it doesn't seam to be that big of a problem.

MNAirHead · #14 05-06-2011, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by modulusman

Your tops have 75 degree dispersion pattern. That isn't really that wide. If they are sitting near each other on poles just angle them away from each other. My band uses 4-JBL PRX535s at bigger shows with two side by side on subs. They have a 90 degree pattern and I'm sure there is some comb filtering going on it doesn't seam to be that big of a problem.

That's kind of what I'm thinking... guessing it would look a bit off balance (assuming there aren't lights on the other side)...

I'm guessing if done correctly the venue would fill with more even sound -- we'd be able to hit the singer with some of the mains..

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How do you like your mains.

modulusman · #15 05-06-2011, 04:51 PM

I actually have a bunch of different PA cabs. Most the time we use a pair of the 535s over a pair of QSC hpr subs. On bigger gigs we use double that. The 535s are a powered 3 way that sound really good for voice and acoustic guitar. I also own a EAW nt rig that sounds the best that we use on smaller jobs. I then have 4 JBL PRX 512ms that can be used for monitors or mounted on stands. I'm happy with all of them. Powered speakers is definately the way to go IMO.