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Adding a sub

samson3382

samson3382

Apr 26, 2009
1,100
1,308
Boise, Idaho
www.myspace.com
#1
A bandmate just called me, wondering about suggestions for a sub. He got a gig doing sound for a touring act, at our local bar/restaurant, very small "venue". We've played it numerous times, very familiar with it. The date is in April, so no hurry.
He's spoken with the "tour manager", seems to have everything they want except a sub. The job won't pay enough to warrant a rental, so my bandmate wants to purchase something we can use for our gigs as well.

His existing pa gear;
Pair of peavey PVXP 12s powered mains
Older Mackie mixer with only 2 aux outs.
3 behringer 204d monitors.
The touring act also has a pair of powered EV monitor wedges.
Bandmate also has a behringer NU3000DSP power amp at his disposal.
Budget definitely under $1000, more like under $500 but it's 3 months off.

He's considering the behringer B1200pro, for cost of course, but weight as well.
I suggested a pair.

Since he has an amp, passive isn't out of the question, but with only 2 aux outs it would potentially take away a monitor mix, unless he used the 75 Hz "sub out", no control though.
 
#3
Why not just set his money on fire, or better yet send it to me? Doesn't your friend take any pride in his work? Offering peavey mains and a behringer sub to a touring band? I'm sure that will do great things for his reputation.

If I played a gig on a PA like that, I would assume either the guy is too cheap to give a damn, or at least isn't knowledgeable enough to find good quality cheap deals out there (which are plentiful on PA stuff). Neither of which would encourage me to use that person again. At least if you get a bottom of the line JBL you'll look you're trying.
 
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#7
Omega Monkey said:
Then why are you asking? Just do whatever is dirt cheap and made in china.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the help. Really. I knew this would turn into gear bashing.
s0c9 said:
Given the choice between the 2 .. Peavey PR15.
B*ringer PA speakers have a less than stellar rep.
Click to expand...
Thank you genuinely for a helpful response.
 
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#11
I mean, you're talking about a budget of $500-1000 which means there are probably at least a dozen decent options new, and dozenS used, and you already settled on behringer and peavey. But if you really thought the behringer was the best choice, you wouldn't have started the thread. But then you still accuse me of "gear bashing". Behringer is what you buy when you want something that's as cheap as you can get away with basically, and don't really have any other considerations. Barely good enough to fill the role. Their newer mixers are pretty decent and they have a few other things that are passable, but their speakers are just awful. Peavey is good with some bass and guitar stuff, but the PR series are junk. Cheap plastic cabs, cheap drivers, the only good thing about them is they are priced below about anything else new, but if you look at used stuff (which you should be), there are much better options either for the same or not much more.

If your friend wants to seriously be a sound engineer, he needs to learn the difference between value and cost. For probably less than $1000 more than what he paid for that junk heap, he could have a nice system, maybe along the lines of newer JBL Eons (which have come a long way since the first series). And yeah, it's more money, but they would sound better, work better, look better, and get him more gigs.

My own PA is small, and mostly all 15+ years old, BUT it's all name brand gear and USA made (not peavey). So I can present it to clients with confidence knowing that it will sound great, but even then, I already have plans to upgrade as soon as I make enough money from it to get to each next piece in the upgrade puzzle. My gigs from this past year paid for my current crop of gear (and more), and the plan is that this year will cover the next level of upgrade. But you have to know what you're spending your money on, and if you're just deciding based on cost and weight, then you're not going to be making the most out of your purchases.
 
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#13
I have two yorkville LS800P subs.. I have only ever used the 2nd one on outdoor gigs.. at 1500w ea, ONE is plenty in the average nightclub that I have ever worked.
They are LOUD, LOUD, LOUD!
Did I mention they are loud.. ??
 
#16
s0c9 said:
yessir.. I did a lot of research before I bought.. they have since been superseded by the LS801P, but basically the same 18" subs.
Got a LOT of punch!
Click to expand...
I assume this is part of a "portable" rig?
Fortunately(or un, depending how one looks at it) our typical customers/clients/fan base wouldn't be able to appreciate what equipment like that could do for us at the level of shows we do. Anything bigger is on the venue We're in a small market, $600-800 nights are exceptional for us, or any band in the area.
 
#17
samson3382 said:
I assume this is part of a "portable" rig?
Fortunately(or un, depending how one looks at it) our typical customers/clients/fan base wouldn't be able to appreciate what equipment like that could do for us at the level of shows we do. Anything bigger is on the venue We're in a small market, $600-800 nights are exceptional for us, or any band in the area.
Click to expand...
it was.. I ran smaller multi-band festivals, local bands, my own, etc.
All paid for up front.. but the economic downturn impacted competition and I was often undercut, and not big enough to compete with the big boys, without going full-time. That WASN'T an option.. so, slowly but surely I quit.. and now play bass in a country band!
I still run sound (on their PA) for a couple of local bands if they have gigs on nights I'm not playing.. that was like 2 gigs last yr.
 
#18
So I've been in touch with my bandmate and he's wondering how a PAIR of the behringer B1200PROs would compare to one LS1801A.

Cost; 2 behringers = $600
1 carvin= $468 +tax
I think I know the answer, but I'm curious.
My guess is the carvin would win, because the behringers are probably in reality half the watts advertised and the carvin likely has a more efficient driver.
 
#19
Compare the specs.. I'd guess (since I can't find any info) that the B1200D power rating in peak, so continuous is around 250w.
it's a no-brainer... IME.

Carvin LA1801A
Crossover Frequency: 80 Hz or 120 Hz switchable
Internal Amplifier Power: Full Range 700w continuous /1400w peak
Sensitivity (1w @ 1m): 98dB
Maximum SPL: 128dB
LF Driver: 18-inch woofer
Nominal Impedance Full Range: 8 ohms

Behringer B1200D-Pro
LF Driver Size 1 x 12"
Total Power 500W
Impedance 8 ohms
Maximum Peak SPL 122dB
 
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#20
s0c9 said:
Compare the specs.. I'd guess (since I can't find any info) that the B1200D power rating in peak, so continuous is around 250w.
it's a no-brainer... IME.

Carvin LA1801A
Crossover Frequency: 80 Hz or 120 Hz switchable
Internal Amplifier Power: Full Range 700w continuous /1400w peak
Sensitivity (1w @ 1m): 98dB
Maximum SPL: 128dB
LF Driver: 18-inch woofer
Nominal Impedance Full Range: 8 ohms

Behringer B1200D-Pro
LF Driver Size 1 x 12"
Total Power 500W
Impedance 8 ohms
Maximum Peak SPL 122dB
Click to expand...
Yeah behringer doesn't even list the sensitivity which I find suspicious.
 

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