New PA - Passive Mixer and Powered Cabs

[tonybassman]

If my new project works out I might get a new PA. We are vocalist, bass, 2 guitards, and drums. I think I want to go with a passive mixer and powered speakers. We play local bars and clubs. Classic Rock, Top 40, 80s, 90s.

For mains I am looking at something like the JBL PRX625. I like them because you can dolly them right out to each side of the stage and not need stands. I have used passive JBLs this size before and loved them.

For the mixer I would like one that has compression, onboard effects, and multiple monitor sends. I don't want a bunch of components, just the mixer. I want to tell everyone to bring their own monitor if they want one. Being able to set up a monitor mix for each monitor is the idea. With this configuration I might even go direct to the board and not use a bass amp.

Ideas? Anyone using a similar setup?

 

[nogoodwithnames]

Since I got nominated to do sound for my band after our drummer (sound guy by profession) had to split, I had to do a crash course on sound reinforcement.
I came basically to the same conclusion you have. Mixer with onboard effects and some powered speakers. Having used this setup for awhile now it's definitely the way to go, at least in my opinion. Much less stuff to haul around, and the only effects we really need is a little bit of reverb/delay on vocals.

I ended up going with 2 EV zlx12p top boxes and 1 EV elx18p subwoofer. So far, very happy with the choice, and they're not too pricey. Eventually I want to add another sub, at which point I plan to try the "direct to PA" approach and see how it goes.

For the mixer, I got an Allen & heath mixwizard 16.2. Simply put, it's just about the best analog board you're gonna find for live use. The effects are very useable, and it has six aux sends. I run 4 monitor mixes and run the sub with aux feed. Definitely my recommendation.

 

[modulusman]

Do you play on a planet where every ones ears are located around their waist? If so buy some 215 cabs. If you want to be heard buy something that can be mounted on speaker stands.

 

[tonybassman]

Since I got nominated to do sound for my band after our drummer (sound guy by profession) had to split, I had to do a crash course on sound reinforcement.
I came basically to the same conclusion you have. Mixer with onboard effects and some powered speakers. Having used this setup for awhile now it's definitely the way to go, at least in my opinion. Much less stuff to haul around, and the only effects we really need is a little bit of reverb/delay on vocals.
I ended up going with 2 EV zlx12p top boxes and 1 EV elx18p subwoofer. So far, very happy with the choice, and they're not too pricey. Eventually I want to add another sub, at which point I plan to try the "direct to PA" approach and see how it goes.
For the mixer, I got an Allen & heath mixwizard 16.2. Simply put, it's just about the best analog board you're gonna find for live use. The effects are very useable, and it has six aux sends. I run 4 monitor mixes and run the sub with aux feed. Definitely my recommendation.

Thanks, will check out those models.

Do you play on a planet where every ones ears are located around their waist? If so buy some 215 cabs. If you want to be heard buy something that can be mounted on speaker stands.

I love how soon it got negative. I used to set the 2X15 cabs on the stage floor. That usually puts the speakers at a nice position. For small (short) stages I have placed them on milk crates to elevate them. Again, thanks for the negativity!

 

[dskissel]

This may it be much of a help as it isn't out yet (I don't know how soon you are planning to do this) but for the mixer, the yamaha mg20xu looks like it will be a very good board with 10 out of the 16 xlr inputs having on board compression as well as the built in fx.

 

[4Mal]

Like the Prx stuff, and the QSC K series.

I have run lots of shows using a set of PRX 612's as tops and a QSC K-Sub on the bottom. Also with K10's as the tops. For a bar/party band I really prefer that approach as the setup is still very quick, you don't always need the sub and as mentioned earlier, you can get the tops up where they can be heard. That is definitely an issue with the 2 x 15 boxes. To me the primary advantage of powered over passive for he weekend warrior is - they sound nice without operator intrvention. You don't have to know much to get them up and going. Multi- way passive systems pretty much demand that you invest some quality time with your system and crossovers...

Only time I've liked those 2x15's or the 3 way QSC or Mackie equivalent is when they were up on subs or on scaffolding. If I were going with the large format top box it would probably be the QSC KW 153...

Speaker on a stick can isolate the cab from a hollow'ish stage and help with rumble reduction and clean things up in the low end.

If it were me I would be looking at mixers with as many AUX mixes as I could afford. In the box support for In Ears, aux fed subs, as well as multiple monitor mixes - all stuff I want available. For me it was the Presonus 16.4.2. I'll probably add the 32 ch version next year though I will be giving the Behringer X32 stuff a close look. (would love to try a Soundcraft SI board but dang they don't give those away...)

In my sound company life, I still prefer passive speaks and power racks. If wired correctly, the setup time is every bit as fast. I run triamped with an 18, 12 and co-ax horn. A single 8 way cable to my tops on each side and jump a 2 wire from the top down to my subs. If I run 2 stacks, I carry 2 mirrored 8 space racks, 1 per side. BSS Speaker management in each rack. I can have that up and rolling faster than most folks can get a couple of powered speakers going...

I use the Middle Atlantic UCP system for i/o cable management. $150 per rack and money well spent. If you invest in a clean cable system, a passive system will go up and come down very efficiently. You do of course have to roll your racks in on a separate trip...

 

[modulusman]

If the horns are not at least 6 ft. high then they are not at a "nice position". Since the speakers you mentioned are about 42 inches tall you need to gain at least 3 ft. By setting the speaker directly on stage you can run into other problems if the stage is hollow. If you do an internet search you will find that a 215 PA cab is considered less than ideal. But they sure look cool lol.