Recently our practice 6 channel powered mixer crapped out on us. It has some snap crackle pop going on when its turned on, no matter which cable or cabinet. It happened before and I just stripped it down and blew it out with canned air and it worked fine. But now that it is acting up again, we are figuring that we should just buy a new one. Probably something 8-10 channel between $300-600. We usualy use house PA when we play so it would be eventually used for gigs. Any advice or preference? Thanks!
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I need a go to Powered Mixer!
- Thread starter snowplow
- Start date
Personally, I steer away from powered mixers, they're usually trying to be all things to all men and fail to reach up to those goals.
Even for a relatively modest budget I'd go for a separate mixer and power amp, then you have more flexibility. Need a bigger mixer sometime down the road, just replace the mixer Need more power? Just slave another amp or get a bigger one, the previous power amp can always be put to good use maybe in a bi-amp set up or driving monitors.
Something like a Soundcraft EPM8 and a Crown XLS1000 can be had for that sort of money
Even for a relatively modest budget I'd go for a separate mixer and power amp, then you have more flexibility. Need a bigger mixer sometime down the road, just replace the mixer Need more power? Just slave another amp or get a bigger one, the previous power amp can always be put to good use maybe in a bi-amp set up or driving monitors.
Something like a Soundcraft EPM8 and a Crown XLS1000 can be had for that sort of money
I really like my Mackie ProFX mixers (ProFX-8, ProFX-12 and ProFX16). They're not powered, but they have built-in effects and graphic EQ (plus compression on the ProFX-16). And they're cheap. I agree with Jools ... I don't like powered mixers. I use the mixers with powered speakers (JBL PRX).
If you already have speakers, get a power amp like the Crown XLS series. The absolute best prices on them are from Northern Sound and Light, but you have to call them on the telephone to get the price. Their website will show MAP like everyone else. Give them a call on both the mixer and power amp. You'll be surprised. For example, a Crown XLS 1500 and the Mackie ProFX-12 (with 6 mic inputs) will come in under your budget. For about $150 more, you could get that amp plus the ProFX16 with 10 mic inputs. Then, as Jools pointed out, you have a lot more flexibility if you need to expand.
If you already have speakers, get a power amp like the Crown XLS series. The absolute best prices on them are from Northern Sound and Light, but you have to call them on the telephone to get the price. Their website will show MAP like everyone else. Give them a call on both the mixer and power amp. You'll be surprised. For example, a Crown XLS 1500 and the Mackie ProFX-12 (with 6 mic inputs) will come in under your budget. For about $150 more, you could get that amp plus the ProFX16 with 10 mic inputs. Then, as Jools pointed out, you have a lot more flexibility if you need to expand.
Powered mixers suck.
Small format mixer and powered speakers is better if you want small.
Speaker management system + traditional amp rack is the way to go if you want big.
Small format mixer and powered speakers is better if you want small.
Speaker management system + traditional amp rack is the way to go if you want big.
In general, I agree with all here. My band uses a Allen&Heath MixWiz and two power amps. However, I still keep around a Mackie powered PA head for extremely small shows where our regular rig is simply too big. I'm talking acoustics and vocals or a room so small the instruments are not going thru the PA.
Okay thanks! I guess now that I think about it it would make more sense to not get a powered mixer as far as upgrading goes. We dont play any huge places right now. Most just running vocals and acoustic through the PA so eventually we might need more options. I will check out the different mixers you suggested. Thanks again!
I agree that powered speakers are the way to go and really opens up your choices as far as mixers are concerned. In the meantime, have you thought about getting a can of Deoxit and cleaning all the input & output connectors before you take the plunge on a new rig?
I have a Yamaha emx5014c. More than you are looking to spend new but who knows what you will find used.
I brought a singer and an mp3 player with me PA shopping and a/b'ed a half dozen units and to my surprised (believe me I was surprised) the Yamaha came out on top. It wasn't even close. It is light, clear, powerful, and feature rich.
I would highly recommend it and would be willing to bet comparable Yamaha products from the same line would be good as well.
I brought a singer and an mp3 player with me PA shopping and a/b'ed a half dozen units and to my surprised (believe me I was surprised) the Yamaha came out on top. It wasn't even close. It is light, clear, powerful, and feature rich.
I would highly recommend it and would be willing to bet comparable Yamaha products from the same line would be good as well.
I have now! I never heard of Detoxit before until I just looked it up. I'm going to have to pick up a can of that. Last time I was able to blow the dust and crap out of it and it came back to life for almost a year. Hopefully the Detoxit will do the trick until we decide on new gear. Thanks!
As a singer/bassist/soundman in my bands, I love my powered mixers. Now days they come with lots of power, effects, EQ and mine even has a crossover to run subs. When I hear distortion it can only be one thing padding the mic inputs. Very simple operation, plug in cabinets, hook up mics and you are set to go. Excellent choice for small venues or rehearsal space.
If I was only running sound or building a system one piece at a time I would agree with the rest of the folks here. The only thing that sucks about powered mixers is if it goes down so does your effects, EQ, power etc.
If I was only running sound or building a system one piece at a time I would agree with the rest of the folks here. The only thing that sucks about powered mixers is if it goes down so does your effects, EQ, power etc.
I've been using a Yamaha 512SC for 2 years now that I bought off Ebay. It was used and I ended up with a good bid for it. We just run 2 stage monitors and 2 FOH and only vocals. It has plenty of power and is easy to use, portable too. I'm trying to fogure out how to run a powered mixer with it so I can run 4 stage monitors and 4 FOH. I like it because it's portable and light. Like I said we only run vocals through it. We do run an acoustic/electric guitar through it sometimes and it sounds good.
Powered mixers are fine. Powered speakers, you can keep. That said, we are upgrading to a mixer/power amp set up ( which is ideal IMO), but for the last 2 years we used a Yamaha EMX512sc and never had any trouble with it, even running a sub.
If I was the OP and didn't want to go the mixer/power amp route, I would look for a used Mackie 808.
If I was the OP and didn't want to go the mixer/power amp route, I would look for a used Mackie 808.
This or a Peavey xr 8600 or 8600D
They are light - easy to use, you can tie them into bigger systems if you need, and fit the bill for plug and play - easy to run with.
I bought a 8600 *(not D) used for $300 and have gigged it coming up on 50 times, used it with subs and external power amps/effects racks, subbed a PV10 into it for Drums, used it outside, inside, and also for small acoustic things.
Both are very clean, the Yamaha is probably a nicer version. Our band used one for a few gigs, but the guitar player who owned it moved on. I NEVER had a complaint about it. It was actually the EMX512 he had used (Edited)
YMMV
You can add a power amp by going out of Main out into the power amp - to a second set of speakers, and Mon out to the other channel - that is one way.
I have actually done exactly this -
you can go from Main out - to a X Over and then power amp(s) and add subs too - or into a power amp like the QSC GX7 which has an internal X Over - then, into subs and tops.
Sure - there is stuff that may work better, but this will X the Box.
We run from the Mon out of the 512sc into a GX5, then into 2 FOH and 1 sub, using the powered mixer for monitors. Only problem is the mic strips on the main channel of the powered mixer control the overall volume of the FOH and subs, so with no low pass there is some kick coming into the monitors. I also haven't figured out how to run an outboard FX processor and have it only affect the vocals in this set-up.
For what you're describing a powred mixer is fine.. I own both (mackie as suggested above) and the Peavey 8600...
IF setting up a practice space I'd be putting in the Peavey
For what you're desribing "all things to all people" may be what you're looking for
HONESTY TIME... going active mains starts a land slide of cash... I did this last year... was well over $5000 by the time I was done.
IF setting up a practice space I'd be putting in the Peavey
For what you're desribing "all things to all people" may be what you're looking for
HONESTY TIME... going active mains starts a land slide of cash... I did this last year... was well over $5000 by the time I was done.
Powered speakers will generally sound way better than passive speakers of the same quality.
This is probably true. They are expensive though aren't they? And if you blow them up, replacing them is expensive and if it happens during a gig you better have another plan.
I am obviously no expert here, but they seem like more trouble than they're worth to me.
Well the nice thing about good quality powered speakers is they are pretty much idiot proof. You would have to work at it to blow them up. If you blow a powered mixer or power amp you had better have another plan also. The powered speakers I use with my main band I bought used for $900.00 for the pair. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] They sound amazing and you would not be able to match there performance with unpowered rig unless you spent about $3000.00.
