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Need advice on PA System

dave120

dave120

Jun 27, 2005
1,119
13
Central Florida
#1
Hi everyone,

I'm looking into getting a new PA system for my band, but I don't know much about the things outside the bass realm. Most times we just use house PAs but we've started to do non-bar/club shows lately and having our own PA would be very convenient.

I'm looking for something with plenty of power and also pretty good sound, and enough inputs to mic 6 or so drum mics up as well. It seems finding power amps is easy, but finding speakers that can handle reasonable power are very expensive.

Looking to spend up to $1000 for a decent system, not including mics and stuff. Just speakers, power head, mixing board.

Any suggestions on systems to look into?

Thanks in advance
 
#5
dave120 said:
...Looking to spend up to $1000 for a decent system...
Click to expand...


:eyebrow:

Well...thats not alot to work with.

So...prolly a powered mixer..and a coupla 15" mains.

We used to use the Mackie 808S.(8 channel)which is about $700+

And Yamaha 15" mains(I forget the model, but theyre about $400 each, maybe a lil less)
Dont cheap out on speakers though.because as your PA grows, you will prolly add subs and whatnot, upgrade to poweramps and a big board, but you'll still be using those main speakers.
I know that puts you over your limit a little.

NOW, I know you may think 8 channels isnt enough, BUT, for the drums...get a small cheap 6/8 channel mixer (even a behringer if you like ;) )....

Run all the drums thru the little mixer, take the line out of that, run it to 1 channel of the big mixer.
Now you have more open channels on the big one, AND, you can control the "overall drum volume" just by playin with the one channel.(clearly, you want to get the volumes proper in the lil mixer first.)


K...enough of my flip flop, banged up, run-on sentence suggestions.

Hope that helps...some.
 
#9
Bassdirty said:
Run all the drums thru the little mixer, take the line out of that, run it to 1 channel of the big mixer.

Now you have more open channels on the big one, AND, you can control the "overall drum volume" just by playin with the one channel.(clearly, you want to get the volumes proper in the lil mixer first.)
Click to expand...

I wish I had been on Talkbass 10 years ago. This is the kind of advice I would have loved to have, without having to figure it out myself years ago, after several, umm... "less than stellar" gigs.

Plus, this little tidbit makes life and sound SO much better at an outdoor gig.
 
#10
neurotictim said:
I wish I had been on Talkbass 10 years ago. This is the kind of advice I would have loved to have, without having to figure it out myself years ago, after several, umm... "less than stellar" gigs.

Plus, this little tidbit makes life and sound SO much better at an outdoor gig.
Click to expand...

It's basically the same as having a mixer with sub groups where one fader operates all the drum levels.

Good idea for sure.
 
#11
Bassdirty said:
:eyebrow:

Well...thats not alot to work with.

So...prolly a powered mixer..and a coupla 15" mains.

We used to use the Mackie 808S.(8 channel)which is about $700+

And Yamaha 15" mains(I forget the model, but theyre about $400 each, maybe a lil less)
Dont cheap out on speakers though.because as your PA grows, you will prolly add subs and whatnot, upgrade to poweramps and a big board, but you'll still be using those main speakers.
I know that puts you over your limit a little.

NOW, I know you may think 8 channels isnt enough, BUT, for the drums...get a small cheap 6/8 channel mixer (even a behringer if you like ;) )....

Run all the drums thru the little mixer, take the line out of that, run it to 1 channel of the big mixer.
Now you have more open channels on the big one, AND, you can control the "overall drum volume" just by playin with the one channel.(clearly, you want to get the volumes proper in the lil mixer first.)


K...enough of my flip flop, banged up, run-on sentence suggestions.

Hope that helps...some.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips. There is one of those Mackies you mentioned on craigs locally for $450, maybe I should look into it.

I typed that post wrong. The mixing board doesn't need to be in the package. I'm mainly looking for a power amp and a couple speakers. I have everything else. I like the Crown XTi2000 for a head. I just can't find speakers that are reasonably priced that can handle the power.
 
#12
dave120 said:
I typed that post wrong. The mixing board doesn't need to be in the package. I'm mainly looking for a power amp and a couple speakers. I have everything else. I like the Crown XTi2000 for a head. I just can't find speakers that are reasonably priced that can handle the power.
Click to expand...


Well...some of my advice is still valid.

DONT go cheap lookin for speakers.That doesnt mean they hafta be the top of the line..JBLs or ..whatev.

Thats why I reccomend the yamahas.Ill try to find out the model.(its not the $200+ ones , or whatever ..they are over $350 each)

They are great for the $, and Ive never had bad luck with those.(including all 3 bands I've been in that used them.)

ALSO, I know its tempting..but I wouldnt reccomend powered speakers, as..
1. theyr much heavier..
2. cost more
3. Not as flexible (your basically stuck using the amp in the speaker..so upsizing is tricky-er...not as many options in a pinch, when suttin goes wrong and u hafta use your monitor amp for the mains..or for the subs...but thats down the road..)
4.When the power amp goes, and it may...you're down a whole speaker while its being fixed for 7 mos under warranty..vs, a non powered speaker, when your amp blows...u borrow another, and u still have both your speaker.


Just sayin..we used to do our own sound....before we could afford sound guys.
:bassist:
 
#14
Bassdirty said:
Well...some of my advice is still valid.

DONT go cheap lookin for speakers.That doesnt mean they hafta be the top of the line..JBLs or ..whatev.

Thats why I reccomend the yamahas.Ill try to find out the model.(its not the $200+ ones , or whatever ..they are over $350 each)

They are great for the $, and Ive never had bad luck with those.(including all 3 bands I've been in that used them.)

ALSO, I know its tempting..but I wouldnt reccomend powered speakers, as..
1. theyr much heavier..
2. cost more
3. Not as flexible (your basically stuck using the amp in the speaker..so upsizing is tricky-er...not as many options in a pinch, when suttin goes wrong and u hafta use your monitor amp for the mains..or for the subs...but thats down the road..)
4.When the power amp goes, and it may...you're down a whole speaker while its being fixed for 7 mos under warranty..vs, a non powered speaker, when your amp blows...u borrow another, and u still have both your speaker.


Just sayin..we used to do our own sound....before we could afford sound guys.
:bassist:
Click to expand...

Well pretty much every thing in this post about powered speakers is WRONG.:rolleyes: Most powered speakers are not that much heavier than the non powered version. If your amp goes down at a gig then you are screwed unless you have a spare. You could limp through a gig with just one powered speaker if needed.
 

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