I really like the turbosound IQ15B I recently got 66lbs and does a great job. Plus I have it set so it knows my mains are IQ12s and adjust the frequency response to suit. Lots of good options these days depending on what your goal is size or weight?
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I'm on the fence on buying an IQ based set up, perhaps you can help. I'm trying to decide between a pair of IQ15s and an IQ18B sub vs. IQ12 mains and a 15B sub. The weight and size of that 18" sub concerns me (100+lbs!). I'd also like to save a couple bucks (who wouldn't?!) so the IQ12/IQ15B has that going for it also. How big a room do you think you could fill with the IQ12/15B set up? How would it do on outdoor gigs? (~100-200 people, not festivals.) I'd be putting the full band through the PA and not using a bass amp/cab. Current band is heavier covers (ie Tool, STP, AIC, RHCP). Thanks.
EDIT: Sorry about the thread hijack!
So far I have limited experience as we have only used the system in the same small bar. Call it a 100-200 person place. I am not even touching on the power of this system probably running it at 25% of its capacity. Outside I would want another sub but our outside gigs tend to be big enough to warrant us brinf'ing in our sound guy ( who I consulted when I was looking to upgrade)
So far I have run vox, guitar, bass, and kick only to give you an idea of what was required in the room. Had the instruments low as amps were being used but the horsepower was there where I would feel ok with running in ears no amp.
12" vs 15" tops is also a personal choice, me I don't like vocals from 15" tops.
I also prefer 15" subs so I would go 2x 12" tops + 1x 15" sub and get another sub if needed for bigger rooms.
I also prefer 15" subs so I would go 2x 12" tops + 1x 15" sub and get another sub if needed for bigger rooms.
Maybe I wrongly phrased it. I don't like 15" tops because, independently of how instruments sound, I don't like how the vocals sound (full band/part band/vocals only). I better like a full (rock/blues) band in 12" tops + 15" subs.
I have had a set of Turbosound iX15's running over some noname crappy 18 subs for rehearsals and have plenty of headroom left. They sound great, too for $900/pair.
I decided to give the Behringer B1200D a try. I have a MI distributor contact who handles the Music Group, so that made the decision easy and cheap. I had access to Turbosound as well, but that seemed less interesting to me because there is no 12” in the iQ line, and the iP is setup to supply power to passive tops or line arrays (which I’m not interested in at the moment - having/paying for capabilities I'm not using).
I got a single B1200D, to start, and did some A/B comparisons with the HD1501 in my basement. As expected, the HD1501, is clearly more capable. To compare, I listened to a top by itself (full-range), the top with each sub, and each sub by itself.
As best as I could make a judgement (rattling recessed light fixtures became a listening problem at any significant volume), I think the B1200D will be capable of doing the work that I’m asking of it in the scenarios that I’m planning for.
I ordered a second one and plan to place them for coupling. The first real world test has a stage/riser that’s about the same height as the B1200D, so I’ll try them together in the center. That’s Friday after next, and I’ll update if anyone is interested.
I got a single B1200D, to start, and did some A/B comparisons with the HD1501 in my basement. As expected, the HD1501, is clearly more capable. To compare, I listened to a top by itself (full-range), the top with each sub, and each sub by itself.
As best as I could make a judgement (rattling recessed light fixtures became a listening problem at any significant volume), I think the B1200D will be capable of doing the work that I’m asking of it in the scenarios that I’m planning for.
I ordered a second one and plan to place them for coupling. The first real world test has a stage/riser that’s about the same height as the B1200D, so I’ll try them together in the center. That’s Friday after next, and I’ll update if anyone is interested.
I took the B1200D's out on Friday, as planned, and the result was far better than satisfactory. I wasn't able to get out front and hear for myself, but I asked the keyboard player to hit some some low stuff when we were setting up, and that told me a bit. I was also able to get a sense of it from the stage. I was hoping for a sit-in, but the one bass player that saw was in the back of the room. All reports were that the subs sounded great. Indications were that they easily handled the room and would have been able to do more than was being asked...probably double the size. Based on this first use, I believe this was a good decision. And a sub being a one-hand carry is just awesome.
As far as this gig goes, it's a small room that we play fairly regularly. The setup is odd in that it's wide, and instead of setting up the stage/band riser at the end of the room, it's in the middle, so bands play into the narrow dimension of the room. I meant to get some setup pics, but didn't remember to take any myself until we were breaking down, and my phone was nearly dead, so I only got one.
The right side of the room
As far as this gig goes, it's a small room that we play fairly regularly. The setup is odd in that it's wide, and instead of setting up the stage/band riser at the end of the room, it's in the middle, so bands play into the narrow dimension of the room. I meant to get some setup pics, but didn't remember to take any myself until we were breaking down, and my phone was nearly dead, so I only got one.
The right side of the room
I have a pair of seismic audio powered 12 subs that I use often exactly how you did in the pic...coupled together middle of stage. They work just fine in small rooms. Not super low, but a nice punchy feel along with our K12 tops. Very light and also inexpensive. Never had a problem with seismic audio stuff. Good for bar gigs!
Old thread revival. I checked out those Behringer 12" subs. For the size, they work great. They are really small. I have all Alto mains and monitors and wanted to stay with Alto and was saving up for a TS212s sub but ended up finding a couple years old TSSub15 on Craigslist for $150. 600w cont./1200w peak. Not bad. Not too heavy at 59.5lbs. As a budget brand, Alto makes some pretty solid stuff. They do make high end stuff too but hard to find. Can only find the TS and TX lines in consumer music stores.
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Cool I'm doing sound tonight for a gig where 12" subs would work great..might be worth checking out a pair of these
If you want to step up to REALLY impressive small boxes, I'd suggest taking a look at the Captivator 212 from JTR speakers. You'll find a lot of love for these in the pro sound world. A little pricier than a pair of EV's (for the powered version), but these will go significantly lower. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I actually own 4 of the EV subs. Now that I aux feed them from my board I never use more than 2. I currently have migrated over to Turbosound IP2000 x 2 for my FOH. They have decent 12" subs but I still like having the two EV as an aux fed. I mix 5 piece rocks band all the way up to and 11 piece horn band and a myriad of types in between. I should note that whenever I can I stack the two subs on the dance floor at center stage.
I had some 1x12 cabs using Eminence Delta-12LFs for a while. They were OK but never gave me the tightly controlled bass I like. They had adequate power but just not the clarity. I was using a Samson S3 crossover and a Crest power amp.
I switched to using Ampeg 1x15 cabinets with Eminence Definimax 4015s. These are impressive, but I can't put more than about 500W into each before I have overexcursion issues.
My drummer has about 1/2 of our joint PA gear, and recently found a used Harbinger 18" sub in the Guitar Center used gear section for a couple hundred bucks. It works just fine and is certainly convenient. We've used it at our last 3 gigs.
Knowing what I do now, I'd buy a couple used Harbinger 18s and leave it at that. Perfectly fine for a 300 seater, we're not that loud anyway, we play 60-70s R&B and Motown/Memphis stuff. We need to bump, but it's not like we're playing doom or stoner metal.
I switched to using Ampeg 1x15 cabinets with Eminence Definimax 4015s. These are impressive, but I can't put more than about 500W into each before I have overexcursion issues.
My drummer has about 1/2 of our joint PA gear, and recently found a used Harbinger 18" sub in the Guitar Center used gear section for a couple hundred bucks. It works just fine and is certainly convenient. We've used it at our last 3 gigs.
Knowing what I do now, I'd buy a couple used Harbinger 18s and leave it at that. Perfectly fine for a 300 seater, we're not that loud anyway, we play 60-70s R&B and Motown/Memphis stuff. We need to bump, but it's not like we're playing doom or stoner metal.
Was just in GC today (for something else). I glanced over into the PA room. Looked at that Behringer 12" sub. That thing is really tiny. Literally about 16" square (visual estimate).
