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Adding a sub

#21
Not that I'm selling mine, but since you already have a pair of Peavey 12" mains...i've got a couple Peavey 18" Black Widow cabs that go pretty cheap used..I'm pretty sure I saw a pair just like mine for sale recently for like 300 USD (for both). They ain't light though...definitely ain't light :woot: (They have a current model of 18" for just under 300 USD a piece, but I can't vouch for them...mine are like 20 years old)
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#23
I've had very good luck with an old powered 15" Mackie. That thing has been to hell and back. I've seen them often for like $350 used. Place it on its side, in the center front of the stage, it's great.

I recently bought what I thought was the smallest and lightest sub that could possibly be worth a damn, the Yamaha DXS12 I think it's called. It's alright. Was $700 I talked the local shop down to $600.
 
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#24
Didn't see it mentioned anywhere but most Mackie mixers have a separate "mixer out", usually a jack that can go to an amp or a powered speaker so you won't have to use one of the aux sends. It's generally a full range out so you'd most likely do better with a powered sub as it will already have a built in crossover. If you go to an amp and then passive sub you'll need to get a crossover as well.
 
#26
If you already have the Behringer NU3000DSP and are also looking at Behringer subs, you might look at the Behringer Eurolive VP1800S or the more expensive B1800X Pro passive speaker. Both seem to get good reviews but they are not light. Light, loud and cheap don't seem too mix. Not sure how prices compare over in the USA though, here in Europe they are pretty cheap.

About Behringer quality, experiences seem to vary. Behringer, allegedly, re-engineers many products made by other companies and has clones built cheaply in China with, let's say, not top notch quality control. They have great warranty though, at least here in Europe, when a products fails, they usually don't bother to try to fix it but you get a brand new one. Of course you won't be happy when something fails during a gig. I wouldn't worry too much about passive speakers though unless you drive them to and beyond their limits.

I had a Behringer mixer in my home studio for several years, it worked without any problems.
I upgraded to a Mackie one and did notice the sound quality has improved with less hiss.
But would the audience notice this, besides the occasional gear / music freak, at a gig?

I agree I would try to invest in better quality brands if you plan on using them regularly on the longer term.
That's why I bought an HK Audio PA 2x12 tops plus 2x18 sub set, love it.
But you might be happy with cheaper products without any problems for lots of years.

Edit: if you plan on upgrading, consider this: you might buy a better sub now, say the EV ELX118 passive sub which seems to go for $499, and gradually upgrade the rest over time. I really liked the EV products I heard.
 
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#27
I've had a lot of great sounding full-band gigs playing with a small, powered Yamaha subwoofer that was about $450 used. I'm sure you could, for the stretch $1000 budget, find a used QSC KW181 or comparable JBL that would last you for a long, long time and make it allll worth while. I would not buy a passive sub in this era of quality powered gear. It's just too easy to plug into the fully-engineered solution and have great sound.
 
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#29
Our drummer bought all new pa. Behringer xr18 mixer (great), behr powered tops (no complaints), two behr subs, exactly the ones the op is talking about. I wanted to go ampless and just use my iems, but those subs start to crap out before I can get enough volume to be heard over the drums.
 
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#30
BAG said:
Didn't see it mentioned anywhere but most Mackie mixers have a separate "mixer out", usually a jack that can go to an amp or a powered speaker so you won't have to use one of the aux sends. It's generally a full range out so you'd most likely do better with a powered sub as it will already have a built in crossover. If you go to an amp and then passive sub you'll need to get a crossover as well.
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This mixer does have a "sub out" that cuts off at 75Hz, downside is it just runs off the master volume, no independent control like you would have with aux fed.
morgansterne said:
Our drummer bought all new pa. Behringer xr18 mixer (great), behr powered tops (no complaints), two behr subs, exactly the ones the op is talking about. I wanted to go ampless and just use my iems, but those subs start to crap out before I can get enough volume to be heard over the drums.
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Good to know.
 
#32
Look at my posts, threads etc... and you will see I am no Behringer hater. Having said that, I haven't seen powered loudspeakers or subs from them I particularly care for. I too am interested in budget friendly subs. I have a pair of Alto Professional TS115A mains and they sound really good, but some added oomph from a sub would go from good to great....

Will keep watching this thread to see where it goes. Seems like you are getting some suggestions for Carvin. Probably not a bad choice...
 
#33
Big Hoss said:
Look at my posts, threads etc... and you will see I am no Behringer hater. Having said that, I haven't seen powered loudspeakers or subs from them I particularly care for. I too am interested in budget friendly subs. I have a pair of Alto Professional TS115A mains and they sound really good, but some added oomph from a sub would go from good to great....

Will keep watching this thread to see where it goes. Seems like you are getting some suggestions for Carvin. Probably not a bad choice...
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The carvin does seem to fit most of the criteria.
At 64 lbs and smaller than a 2' cube I'm sure it's movable with one guy. Not as easy as the behringer/s but I'm sure that's reflected in performance. We'll see, he may just keep an eye out for something used, but that's a crapshoot, not much of a market for used music gear in my rural area.
 
#34
You might look into Invalid Link Removed

Carvin has a good reputation, specs look pretty good, price is right in where you are wanting to be. Cheaper than the Behringer 18"

Still going to keep my eye on this thread.

Are you going for a single, or a pair of subs? My thought process, probably wrong, but I would think you's want a pair of subs, subwoofer poles, and then put your mains on those poles right over the subs.

I haven't given Carvin a lot of serious consideration due to the fact there is nowhere to audition Carvin gear anywhere outside of California that I know of. However they have a good reputation, a lot, if not all of their stuff is made in USA, and the prices are pretty compelling by cutting out that retail middle man... They are getting far more compelling...
 
#35
Big Hoss said:
You might look into Invalid Link Removed

Carvin has a good reputation, specs look pretty good, price is right in where you are wanting to be. Cheaper than the Behringer 18"

Still going to keep my eye on this thread.

Are you going for a single, or a pair of subs? My thought process, probably wrong, but I would think you's want a pair of subs, subwoofer poles, and then put your mains on those poles right over the subs.

I haven't given Carvin a lot of serious consideration due to the fact there is nowhere to audition Carvin gear anywhere outside of California that I know of. However they have a good reputation, a lot, if not all of their stuff is made in USA, and the prices are pretty compelling by cutting out that retail middle man... They are getting far more compelling...
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That's the exact one, the LS1801A, that I'm suggesting to my bandmate.
I think we'd only need one, we've gotten by without one at all for many years.
IF he insists on going with the behringer, for portability, it's my opinion he'd need 2 to even come close to the carvin.
Also, not sure I'd want to stack a 28lb main on a pole on a 43lb sub.
 
#37
Bufalo said:
Just remember that no one in the audience can hear how easy something was to move. If it fits in the car/truck/van, then it's not too much to schlep.
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It is plenty obvious you don't have back issues. Or have someone to help you schlep heavy gear.
 
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#38
I can't say enough good things about the LS1801 (passive, never used the active). I have 4 of them and never had a problem with any of them (I've always used them with a DBX DriveRack though). I usually just use 2 and if the stage area is raised at all, I put them front and center with a monitor on top, given the stage height isn't too high either. If the center doesn't work out at some place, they just get moved to the sides.
 
#39
Big Hoss said:
It is plenty obvious you don't have back issues. Or have someone to help you schlep heavy gear.
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Folding carts and casters help out. I load everything in and out of the house myself. Work smarter, not harder. Lift with your legs, not your back. Cliche, cliche, cliche, ad nauseum. Personally, I bought the smallest sub that I felt could do the job, because I haul everything in a small SUV and cubic footage was important. Still, the sound and output was a more important consideration.
 
#40
Bufalo said:
Folding carts and casters help out. I load everything in and out of the house myself. Work smarter, not harder. Lift with your legs, not your back. Cliche, cliche, cliche, ad nauseum. Personally, I bought the smallest sub that I felt could do the job, because I haul everything in a small SUV and cubic footage was important. Still, the sound and output was a more important consideration.
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Bandmate has an SUV as well.
For this group, this is a down scaled pa. He used to have an enclosed trailer, and a huge passive EV system, had to downsize, for a few reasons.
 

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