I'll be running multi stages for a few larger outdoor festies for the first time this summer. This will be my second summer doing a larger outdoor gig. apx 2000 people. Have a great PAS system for the main stage but I want to PU some cheap 18's for the side stage. Is there a particular sub cabinet design style/maker that you have found carries best outdoors on grass? FYI I have a few home made down firing metro subs (kinda like JBL jRX100)that I dont think will cut it outdoors by themselves.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Outdoor reinforcement - subs - which cabinet style is most efficient?
- Thread starter c2thej2theizzo
- Start date
if you want "cheap" and "loud", you'll likely need to accept "big" as the third parameter. big scoops will get the job done, especially if you don't have massive power to drive them.
little klipsch home theater boxes aren't gonna do it, as little W boxes like that tend to not have much actual low end, being more of a mid-bass box.
little klipsch home theater boxes aren't gonna do it, as little W boxes like that tend to not have much actual low end, being more of a mid-bass box.
Hi.
You don't want cheap, with a couple of those outdoors you may as well be without. IMHO anyway.
+1 for folded horns, but those ain't cheap. Nor are they small.
You might find old EV TL505 bottom bins for cheap. I use a pair with EV drivers, and what a PITA those are to haul around, even though they sound pretty good for what they are. NOT subs with the modern meaning though, but then again no pair of budget 18" 's would fall into that category outdoors anyway.
They won't handle the about 1kW per unit You'd need though.
Regards
Sam
You don't want cheap, with a couple of those outdoors you may as well be without. IMHO anyway.
+1 for folded horns, but those ain't cheap. Nor are they small.
You might find old EV TL505 bottom bins for cheap. I use a pair with EV drivers, and what a PITA those are to haul around, even though they sound pretty good for what they are. NOT subs with the modern meaning though, but then again no pair of budget 18" 's would fall into that category outdoors anyway.
They won't handle the about 1kW per unit You'd need though.
Regards
Sam
What is your price range?
Seeing how it is for only a few shows why not just rent waht you need so the job gets done right?
Seeing how it is for only a few shows why not just rent waht you need so the job gets done right?
4-6 Yorkville USC1's will make you smile. We run 6 outside (3 per side or centered) with 4 EV QRX212's and they've been great for us.
Neither small nor cheap. Might be good - I've heard them only in singles per side (didn't do anything for me).
Do you remember when Summerfest used a sound contractor who installed Bose Pro systems? It was in the '80s and they sucked- Pat Metheny popped the breakers all through his show. Are these church festivals, county fairs, River Splash and gigs like those? Don't use cheap anything- it's not worth it. Think about what they use at Summerfest and scale it back, according to the size of your prospective gigs.
The difference between an outdoor gig with no boundaries and an indoor gig is that you're attempting to fill half of a sphere with sound, which means the sound doesn't do as much work outside. You want the subs to be as directional as possible and in fact, you need to read up on the directional characteristics of any speakers you would use. Great dispersion would be your worst enemy outdoors and venues like that are a good place for line arrays.
