• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

2023 PA accessories experience wanted

IvanMike

IvanMike

TTRPG enthusiast, Happy, Joyous, & Free.
Supporting Member
Nov 10, 2002
7,150
2,292
58
Middletown CT, USA
#1
Hey there. After a long time of thinking about it, I’m putting together a really small PA. - I’m not in need of experience or recommendations for the basic guts of it, and I know how to run one fairly well.

I am more curious in terms of recommendations and experience with accessories such as speaker cables, mic cables, mic stands, speaker stands, that sort of thing.

So, if you have experience with brands that are durable and work well, or ones to avoid let me know. I really appreciate it.

thanks!
 
#2
Is budget a concern and how hard are you and your bandmates on gear? (or will it be used by many people?)

I say this for example as I have several "On-Stage" brand mic stands and a lighting truss system from them and they would be considered cheaper than other brands and do have some plastic components but as I have road cases for all my gear and set up and take down most everything myself I have never had a problem with one of them failing versus some of the more expensive stands in my cases.

The same applies to cables. Lately I have been ordering them online from that ama zon place and have not had any issues as long as the cable ends are good (connectors) The only caveat I would add though is for speaker/mic cables I do try to buy Neutrik ends/connectors
 
  • Like
Reactions: Deleted member 365158
#3
Jason Stock said:
Is budget a concern and how hard are you and your bandmates on gear? (or will it be used by many people?)

I say this for example as I have several "On-Stage" brand mic stands and a lighting truss system from them and they would be considered cheaper than other brands and do have some plastic components but as I have road cases for all my gear and set up and take down most everything myself I have never had a problem with one of them failing versus some of the more expensive stands in my cases.

The same applies to cables. Lately I have been ordering them online from that ama zon place and have not had any issues as long as the cable ends are good (connectors) The only caveat I would add though is for speaker/mic cables I do try to buy Neutrik ends/connectors
Click to expand...
Budget is not a tremendous concern. Unless it becomes ridiculous. I’m gonna say medium abuse. On the whole, I don’t believe that the system will see the same level of use that my bass rig will by any means. That said, I’d rather get good stuff.
 
#6
Mike Caldwell said:
Cables with legit Neutrik connectors, look at mic cables that are at least 22gauge, many are 24ga some budget mic cables are approaching 26ga, K&M 21090B mic stands, good 12ga and 14ga extension cords not 16ga orange cords.
Depending on how you set up maybe a stage sub snake or two.
Run away from anything Seismic Audio.
Click to expand...
What’s your experience on speaker stands? do you feel there’s any reason not to just use 50 foot 12 gauge speaker cables for mains all the time? Even if you don’t need that much length? I’m not certain the 25’ Would always cut it
 
#7
IvanMike said:
What’s your experience on speaker stands? do you feel there’s any reason not to just use 50 foot 12 gauge speaker cables for mains all the time? Even if you don’t need that much length? I’m not certain the 25’ Would always cut it
Click to expand...

I take it your speakers are non powered, then 50ft 12 gauge cable would be fine, if you speakers and or amp has Speakon connectors use them, what are your speakers?
For speaker stands I use Ultimate Support TS88's and a couple TS80's, get the carrying bags for them.

Look at how your system is package for easy transport and set up. Rack up equipment so asmuch as possible can stay connected.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lo-E
#8
I've bought all my PA accessories from Audiopile:

Audiopile Distributing - Pro Audio / EWI Cables and Cases

The make quality cables, have great options (Neutrik or not), good pricing and ship quick. I think it was agedhorse that posted the link and recommendation years ago. If they're good enough for someone with his sound background their certainly good enough for me :D! I haven't had anything from them fail (yet).
 
  • Like
Reactions: 31HZ, 4Mal and Jason Stock
#9
IvanMike said:
What’s your experience on speaker stands? do you feel there’s any reason not to just use 50 foot 12 gauge speaker cables for mains all the time? Even if you don’t need that much length? I’m not certain the 25’ Would always cut it
Click to expand...
You will become extremely annoyed toting a bunch of 50 ft 12 gauge cables and trying to deal with the leftover lengths when setting up.
 
  • Like
Reactions: newwavefrank, agedhorse, Hoochie Coochie Man and 2 others
#10
Anyway, you don’t need to get the finest speaker poles since they’re pretty foolproof, but mic stands I wouldn’t get anything but K&M if you want foolproof booms. Their straight stands are really nice too, and they have nice light round bases, which can get quite heavy if you have more than a couple of the old school heavy bases.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jad, agedhorse, 31HZ and 2 others
#11
Mike Caldwell said:
I take it your speakers are non powered, then 50ft 12 gauge cable would be fine, if you speakers and or amp has Speakon connectors use them, what are your speakers?
For speaker stands I use Ultimate Support TS88's and a couple TS80's, get the carrying bags for them.

Look at how your system is package for easy transport and set up. Rack up equipment so asmuch as possible can stay connected.
Click to expand...
So far I just have a couple of JBL SR4702X cabinets I got at a very decent price.

I’m not sure if I’m going to use them for mains or monitors. I’m going with a dead simple system and using a Yorkville M1610–2. One of my old band leaders has used those for a long time and he is an audio junkie and I’m very impressed by how good that sounds for the money and the durability. The only real downside is that it has only one speakon out per channel. Otherwise it has two 1/4” outs for each one, so if you’re going mains/monitors, you’re kind of stuck using quarter inch.

i’m not a big fan of using 15s unless I absolutely have to and I’m really intending this to be mostly vocal. I’ve been looking at things like EV EKX–12 for mains.
 
Last edited:
#14
JimmyM said:
Anyway, you don’t need to get the finest speaker poles since they’re pretty foolproof, but mic stands I wouldn’t get anything but K&M if you want foolproof booms. Their straight stands are really nice too, and they have nice light round bases, which can get quite heavy if you have more than a couple of the old school heavy bases.
Click to expand...


Speaker stands is not really something you would want to cut corners on, after all they are holding a heavy box up in air above people.
K&M makes great mic stands but I like the Ultimate speaker stands better than the K&M speaker stands.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JimmyM
#15
IvanMike said:
Just 2 man! I’m not some crazy guy that would bring some giant Biamp Eden rig and a PA to match!
Click to expand...

You may want to have a spare just in case.

Speaking of spares......you may want to think about a spare mixer/amp something to have handy just in case yours smokes from some reason at a show.
I always have some form of a spare mixer, power amp and DSP with me at a show.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: jon mccumber
#16
Mike Caldwell said:
Speaker stands is not really something you would want to cut corners on, after all they are holding a heavy box up in air above people.
K&M makes great mic stands but I like the Ultimate speaker stands better than the K&M speaker stands.
Click to expand...
Ya, Ultimate is a good choice for speaker poles, true.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SoCal80s and kittywithabanjo
#17
I recommend getting multiple lengths of speaker cables...whatever makes sense for your typical setups.

The sizes I bought are 5', 15', and 30' (13 ga, NL4, speakON). These came from Audiopile.

The 5s are for connecting the subs to the mains. 15s are usually good to get to the back line monitors. 30s are usually good for the front line monitors and mains.

I rewired half of my monitors so I can send two monitor mixes through one NL4 cable.

The mains are biamped. One NL4 goes to left and one NL4 goes to right. The long cable goes into the sub and the high range loops out of the sub to the mid/high cab using a 5' NL4.

You will want some couplers and some extra cables.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Working with speakON cables longer than about 50' is hard work. If you need longer runs, consider coupling together a couple of 40s or 50s rather than using a 100'.
 
#19
IvanMike said:
Hey there. After a long time of thinking about it, I’m putting together a really small PA. - I’m not in need of experience or recommendations for the basic guts of it, and I know how to run one fairly well.

I am more curious in terms of recommendations and experience with accessories such as speaker cables, mic cables, mic stands, speaker stands, that sort of thing.

So, if you have experience with brands that are durable and work well, or ones to avoid let me know. I really appreciate it.

thanks!
Click to expand...
Spend about 2 grand in cables. I go middle road for everything. Except my personals. Those are monsters.

I've had good luck with guitar centers livewire brand cables. Get the expensive ones of those though.
 
#20
Cables will be about 30% of your investment for sure, in also recommend the ultimate lift assist stands or poles and k and m for booms, I rarely use straight stands as everyone has an iPad holder now and mostly want booms. I also keep cables at 3 lengths 5', 15' and 25'. I do have a number of 50' as well I bring to outdoor or corporate gigs. As well depending on your set up at least 2 snakes are nice to have, I carry 2 snakes with both sends and returns (digiflex
HE8-4X-25).
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wasnex

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back