+1, PA systems normally are designed to work with a sub and normally w/ a crossover. If you have a good system though, it can be very flat and neutral. A couple bass cabs can make good PA cabs though, at least compared to guitar cabs.
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A PA cab for a bass rig??
- Thread starter DuShauh
- Start date
+1, PA systems normally are designed to work with a sub and normally w/ a crossover. If you have a good system though, it can be very flat and neutral. A couple bass cabs can make good PA cabs though, at least compared to guitar cabs.
GB, in your opinion are any of these powered PA cabs suitable for bass rigs?
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Thank you.
I own some JBL PRX512s and 535s that I have played my bass through. I plugged my bass directly into the cabs. I did this in my livingroom and not at a gig. The 512 would work well as an onstage monitor if you have PA support or in a small room/crowd situation as long as you don't like alot of bottom end to your sound. The 535s did go lower and I think it would work as a stand alone cab in rooms up to a maybe 200 depending on what kind of music you were playing. I would Imagine that VP series would work even better since they are of higher quality.
I would hope. The street price of the 3 way VP series box is about 7 grand. If you want to spend that much you have a lot of very, very good sounding options. Clair Bros, Meyer, EAW, D&B Audiotechnik all sorts of stuff.
I'm pretty much done with JBL. Just too expensive for what you get, at pretty much any price point you can do better. Don't even get me started on the cost of replacement parts should something go wrong. A diaphragm for the cruddy compression driver in an Eon series box is like 90 bucks.
Wow I didn't check out the prices.
I have been messing around with some new PA gear in livingroom. I have 2 EAW NTS22 subs and using 2 PRX512ms for tops. When I play my bass through that set-up I get some serious thump.
I'd love to run a "sub and stick" type PA thing for a bass rig, not necessarily for the volume (it would be way overkill) but for the fullness of sound. I love my sound in the FOH and would love to have out all the time.
Of course, that's a lot of big heavy stuff to haul around. Small stages would be tough.And then there's the looks you'd get - like you're too loud before you even turn on.
Of course, that's a lot of big heavy stuff to haul around. Small stages would be tough.And then there's the looks you'd get - like you're too loud before you even turn on.
Wow I didn't check out the prices.
I like EAW stuff. My PA rig is FR253e tops on SB528 subs, Crest amps. Sounds good.
Yeah, good PA speakers aren’t cheap but if they can’t reinforcement an entire band (not just the bassist) they aren’t any good either. 
EDIT:
BTW, there is a on stage saying - “if you can easily move a PA monitor by yourself it’s not a real monitor”.
EDIT:
BTW, there is a on stage saying - “if you can easily move a PA monitor by yourself it’s not a real monitor”.
I showed up at a convention once in Nashville expecting backline that didn't exist. So the sound dude just put me through one EAW folded horn with one dedicated Crown amp. Sounded great. Thought about getting one until I tried to move it. Probably close to 300 pounds.
