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07-21-2011, 11:53 PM
| | | | PA system Help - ska/reggae/funk band
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In the next few weeks I'm going to purchase a PA system for my Ska band. So far we're a 7 piece band - Sax, Trumpet, Trombone, bass, guitar, drums and vocals. My question revolves around what exactly I should be looking for and how much power I will need to supply 6 mics (3 horn players, 1 lead vocals, 2 backup vocals) I want to start simple because we would only be using it for an efficient way to practice and small house/coffee shop type shows so i've been looking at those basic PA packages they got on various music websites so im hoping I can get some insightful feedback. The two I am debating between are Yamaha EMX5016CF w/ BR15M AUDIO ESSENTIALS BUNDLE @ KraftMUSIC.com
and Yamaha EMX5016CF w/ S115V COMPLETE AUDIO BUNDLE @ KraftMUSIC.com
Will a 100 watt difference in the speakers be that noticeable? My concern with the S115v speakers is that the RMS is 500watts- the same as the power amp inside the mixer so I am worried I would not have enough headroom in my amp to properly power my speakers for their maximum output (1000w)
Also I feel I should mention that I am currently using the Fender Rumble 150. Will this have enough juice to keep up with either of these PA's?
This is just the first installment for now- I plan on buying a larger power amp for the mains, then using the mixer to power 2 smaller stage monitors but as for now my budget goes up to $2000. Thanks for any help any of ya'll can give me, I'm totally new to this and a ska band isn't quite your typical band you see everyday. Feel free to suggest any other PA brands/setups/combinations too! |
07-22-2011, 01:06 AM
| | | | Personally, I think you would be best off going with a pair of powered speakers and a passive mixer. While I don't play in a ska band, Like you, I mostly play at small venues (about 50-100 people) and just bought a pair of RCF 312As from ProAudioStar. I got a great price on them and they sounded amazing and their was plenty of headroom to spare. I used 1 for the mains and 1 as a monitor. Right now, I am using an old Phonic mixer, but plan to upgrade to a Allen and Heath or Mackie mixer soon and think you should do the same. Going this route will give you an excellent PA system that you can use for many gigs. And when you RCFs (or whichever powered speaker you choose) are no longer powerful enough, you can use them as monitors and get new mains. Good luck!
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07-22-2011, 01:53 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: South Florida | | I use a Yamaha mixer into QSC powered speakers (12") and a subwoofer. It adds up fast in the $ dept. You should try renting first and This way you are not out all that much money and then see what's right for your group. Used systems are also a great way to get started . Good luck . 
Last edited by waleross : 07-22-2011 at 01:56 AM.
Reason: clean up text
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07-22-2011, 05:25 AM
| | Banned
Endorsing Artist: MLaghus Custom Basses | | Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Boca Raton - FL | | | Just so I understand. You don't plan on putting bass or kick on the PA, right?
A good pair of 12's on sticks will do it for FOH. You may take the powered mixer/passive speakers route but it's not scalable, or a pair of active speakers and a passive mixer with built-in effects, which is perfectly scalable once you start playing larger rooms.
The RCF's mentioned above are good, as are most EV's or JBL's. |
07-22-2011, 05:09 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: montana | | | Of the two choices you listed go with the s115v package. The BR series are junk.
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07-22-2011, 05:30 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Minnesota - Twin Cities | | | Go used and save your cash for the next one
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07-23-2011, 02:48 AM
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Endorsed Artist: WBGear.com and SIT Strings | | Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Ottawa, Canada | | Quote:
Originally Posted by modulusman  Of the two choices you listed go with the s115v package. The BR series are junk. | agreed, out of the two you presented go with the s115v.
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07-23-2011, 09:56 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Metro Detroit | | | I just bought a small system about a week ago. I went with a unpowered mixer (Yamaha 24/14 ) and two separate power amps (Crown XLS1500) to power 2 Yamaha s-215v cabinets (1000 watt dual 15" and horn). I figure this type of setup is easier to deal with if something goes down. I can just go from two bridged amps to one stereo amp (to get by), and borrow another amp until mine is repaired or replaced, instead of having to take the powered board or the powered cabinet to be repaired.
I'm not a fan of powered mixers, at all. Also, my old band had an amp in a powered Mackie cab go down and it took far too long to get it repaired. We used a borrowed cab and a power amp to get by. If the amp was separate, we could have just borrowed an amp. The same goes for a powered mixer. What happens if an amp goes? Now you need to borrow a mixer (and power amps, possibly).
Last edited by Craig_S : 07-23-2011 at 10:02 AM.
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07-23-2011, 09:52 PM
| | | | Well my original plan with either of those two setups was to eventually add a more powerful amp or two to system to power the speakers then use the powered mixer to run two monitors. My only concern is that if I go with the S115v's will I be underpowering them with the 500watt amps in the mixer for the time being? I've read I should have enough headroom in my amp for twice the speakers wattage at RMS and I'd rather not blow $1800 on a system then slowly destroy it without realizing |
07-23-2011, 10:39 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Metro Detroit | | | You can probably build a small system for close to the same amount as that package deal. |
07-24-2011, 03:27 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: montana | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Carrot22 Well my original plan with either of those two setups was to eventually add a more powerful amp or two to system to power the speakers then use the powered mixer to run two monitors. My only concern is that if I go with the S115v's will I be underpowering them with the 500watt amps in the mixer for the time being? I've read I should have enough headroom in my amp for twice the speakers wattage at RMS and I'd rather not blow $1800 on a system then slowly destroy it without realizing | Underpowering is a myth. Unless you plan on driving the snot out of your PA then you will be fine. If you find you are not loud enough for the gig then you need more or better PA speakers not a bigger amp.
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Last edited by modulusman : 07-24-2011 at 03:31 AM.
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07-24-2011, 10:09 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Metro Detroit | | Quote:
Originally Posted by modulusman Underpowering is a myth. Unless you plan on driving the snot out of your PA then you will be fine. If you find you are not loud enough for the gig then you need more or better PA speakers not a bigger amp. | Under powering speakers is a myth, but burning up amps at full power isn't. It is recommended to have amps rated at more than the program power of your speakers to use the speakers at their potential. Your amps will run cooler. Just don't blow your cabs!
I've never used a Peavey mixer, so I can't comment. I've never even seen a local act using a Peavey mixer. |
07-24-2011, 11:24 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Germantown, MD | | | +3 on getting a non-powered mixer and adding powered speakers.
Id shop the used market also. The G2 JBL Eons are very good speakers and can be had for a good price used. Same with the Mackie 450 and 350s. More than sufficient for monitors.
Get a pair of nice powered 12s for your mains (since you arent running bass) and setup is a breeze.
+1 with allexcosta's advice.
Although I think the Yamaha BR series are fine for monitors. We have the BR12M's and use them occasionally as monitors. For everything but bass and kick drum, they sound fine as monitors. The SV's are nicer and sound better, but the BRs are fine as monitors. I definately would not use them as mains though.
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07-24-2011, 11:42 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Massachusetts, USA | | | Find a local band on Craigslist that's breaking up and buy their stuff. Modular, expandable, good value, lots of power.
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07-24-2011, 11:44 AM
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Endorsing Artist: MLaghus Custom Basses | | Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Boca Raton - FL | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Mushroo Find a local band on Craigslist that's breaking up and buy their stuff. Modular, expandable, good value, lots of power. | Not bad advice, but he needs to know what he's buying. Not every band out there has a quality PA in good condition. |
07-24-2011, 12:02 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: montana | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Craig_S Under powering speakers is a myth, but burning up amps at full power isn't. It is recommended to have amps rated at more than the program power of your speakers to use the speakers at their potential. Your amps will run cooler. Just don't blow your cabs!
I've never used a Peavey mixer, so I can't comment. I've never even seen a local act using a Peavey mixer. | Never seen it happen. Peavey reccomends powering speakers at program power not more. http://www.peavey.com/support/techno...MUCH_POWER.pdf
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07-24-2011, 12:46 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Metro Detroit | | Quote:
Originally Posted by modulusman | I got the advice from local, trusted engineers. You run the amp at less than full power and it runs cooler. |
07-24-2011, 03:09 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: montana | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Carrot22 | Why would you want to buy seperate amps for each main?
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