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Need opinions on a powered mixer

G

Genericbassname

Jun 23, 2010
62
0
Boston, MA
#1
Hey guys, I found a decent deal on a powered mixer on my local craigslist, and was wondering if you guys had any opinions on it. The mixer I found is a Link Removed, and it seems to be in pretty good condition. I'd pretty much just be using it for rehearsals and maybe the occasional basement show, where it'd be competing against a 300 watt full stack from me and a 100 watt combo amp from my guitarist. It usually goes for $400, I've found it for $275. Is it worth it?

Thanks,
GBN
 
#2
I'd personally keep looking.

You could find a lot better on Craig's List, don't settle.

You could get the same specs from Carvin for around $549, and that's a brand new mixer, without someone else's mistakes taken out on the board. I worry about that after seeing the abuse that mixers take at gigs.
 
#5
Hi.

Genericbassname said:
Hey guys, I found a decent deal on a powered mixer on my local craigslist, and was wondering if you guys had any opinions on it.
Click to expand...

Yes, don't buy/use one.

It may sound and feel like a match made in heaven ATM, but wait until something either breaks down or You want to upgrade either portion.

For a 20-30% more, You'll get a separate mixer and an amp.


I try to avoid powered mixers at all costs, but that's just me ;).

Regards
Sam
 
#7
Ok, dissenting opinion here... I've gigged a lot using a Gigrac 1000, also a Yamaha emx512 and a Yamaha emx5000/12. The gigrac isn't all that bad. Has limitations but for $275 you could do a lot worse. Sound quality wise the Gigrac and Emx512 are on par. The 512 has more power and an additional EQ IIRC. The 5000/12 is mo' bettah by quite a bit... A good one will run ya $400 or so...

Is it the end all in PA no... That would be my StudioLive 16.4.2 and QSC setup. Still the gigrac sounds pretty darned good for what it is and as long as you keep it to vocals and be smart about how loud you push your volume it should get you started.

Really a Mixwiz, for rehearsal and basement shows ? $525 is a hell of a price though...
 
#9
Remember with powered mixers that your Speaker "out" needs to be speaker cable. Or if you use a snake you need a "powered" snake. I see more and bands using active speakers.

I have a Peavey XR-1212 powered mixer. It really good, but if I had it to do over I would go with a passive mixer and active speakers.
 
#10
Call the guy up and see what they used it for. Go look at it, look at his other equipment. Does the other stuff look trashed? Does he take care of his gear? Ask him how many speakers he ran off it.

If you're only going to use it as a voice pa, and you don't have any plans on expanding in the future, it might work out fine. But if you go to his house and his gear looks crapped out and beat, say thank you and head for the door.

BTW 3 years ago I bought an 800 watt stereo Behringer powered 10 channel Mixer from MF, with 2 12" mains, and I already owned 2 x 12" monitors. All Behringer. I've used the pa over the last 3 years in various settings, driven loud, used as a DJ mixer, but always have been nice to my gear. All of it still runs perfect and the whole system gets pretty loud. Even did a couple outdoor parties with it with a loud band.

Moral of the story is if you don't want to build a modular (mixer, power amp, etc.) system, then the head might work fine for you. Many many decades musicians have been using powered mixers. Not a thing wrong with them.

Good luck..:bassist:
 
#11
We have two seperate modular systems, one with 16 channels and a crown amp for mains, and a peavey for monitors, the other 8 channels and peavey for both.
We just got a carvin powered mixer...and we will prolly do 80% of our shows with it from now on. It is full, clear and uber simple.
Plus it weighs nothing.
Love it.
We will always bring the small mixer and the crown amp as a back up...but I doubt it'll ever come out of the van, unless we do a big outdoor show in which case we will run all three together to push subs and the like.
 

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