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PA mains upgrade

gearhead1972

gearhead1972

Feb 21, 2012
324
13
Kent NY
www.baystallations.com
#1
Looking to upgrade my mains from the Carvin PM12A to something with a better sound and more volume for outdoor gigs. I have in my sights either the EV ELX112P or Yamaha DXR12. Any opinions on either? Something else in the same price range? We are a rock band doing covers from 50's Elvis to 2000's Ben Harper. I do have a powered sub, though cheap it gets the kick and my bottom end out there.
Thanks
 
#4
"Outdoor gigs" is what grabbed my attention.

Incremental upgrades won't get it done. In terms of sizing, start thinking an order of magnitude over and above what you're running today.

That is, unless you're playing some backyard deal for fifty people, or some polite gazebo-band gig.

You should tell us what types of events, how many people, and what the physical layouts look like, because you lose a lot of volume as distance increases. Sometimes at outdoor gigs you can have dozens of feet between the mains and your nearest audience member. You have to account for that in box size/count and amplifier power.
 
#5
craig.p said:
"Outdoor gigs" is what grabbed my attention.

Incremental upgrades won't get it done. In terms of sizing, start thinking an order of magnitude over and above what you're running today.

That is, unless you're playing some backyard deal for fifty people, or some polite gazebo-band gig.

You should tell us what types of events, how many people, and what the physical layouts look like, because you lose a lot of volume as distance increases. Sometimes at outdoor gigs you can have dozens of feet between the mains and your nearest audience member. You have to account for that in box size/count and amplifier power.
Click to expand...

+1

Take a look at the forum at billfitzmaurice.com if you want some insight into what it takes to sound good outside.

No boundary loading or 'room gain' for the lows, so you need a herd of subs to equal a couple of subs in a room, and some pretty efficient tops to match them...preferably in multiples as well.

Not saying you need to build a whole Fitzmaurice designed PA (although quite a few people do), but a bit of flicking through the forum should give you an idea of the challenges you face.
 
#6
Thanks for all the input guys. Our outdoor gigs will not be huge at all, the biggest one will be 2 separate Relay for Life events, both about 500 people. I know you would need a ton of power for 500 normally, but these things the band is more background music for them to keep a pace, than us being the main focus of entertainment. The rest of our outdoor gigs are all local town type events. 50-100 100-200 depending on which one. Then we also play at a local marina on the water a few times a year. Most all these events we did last year, with the Carvin's and no sub. It was just about adequate, but no complaints about not hearing us.....

So I went to the local Music store today to have a listen to what they had. They didn't have the EV's but had the Yamaha's. They turned them on. I liked them, powerful, clean and pleasing. Then he said you know the K12's are only $35 more than the Yamaha's, wanna listen, sure K12's for $735, good price. They seemed a little louder, punchier maybe, but just not as clean. Then he switched on the K10's and I was like yup thats the sound. Loud, headroom, tighter bass, and clean, I was sold and for $649 each.

I got home and A/Bed one Carvin, and one K10. I instantly heard such a difference, first gig will be in 2 weeks. Now the carvins will be moved to monitor duty.
 
#7
Rick Blanc said:
Wouldn't you double your output by just getting another set of PM12A's? Or is the way they sound an issue also? I'm no expert, just asking a question.
Click to expand...
Probably, but I wanted better sounding and a lot more headroom, plus I fit the whole PA system (18 sub, 2 mains, 4 monitors, 20 ch mixer, 6u rack) and my bass rig into my VW rabbit, with one of those trailer hitch cargo carriers (only stands and misc bags go on that). It all just fits so more speakers it out. I got the K10s, so I actually may have a little bit more room now.
 
#8
The k10 is a good speaker. I was going to reccomend the k12 in my earlier post but the online price I saw was about $850.00. I thought your budget was about $700.00. Anyway It sounds like you got a deal.
 
#9
modulusman said:
The k10 is a good speaker. I was going to reccomend the k12 in my earlier post but the online price I saw was about $850.00. I thought your budget was about $700.00. Anyway It sounds like you got a deal.
Click to expand...
Yeah man, when I saw the price my music store had on the K12's of $749 I was gonna jump on them since I was already willing to shell out $699 for the Yamaha's. The K10's for me were just the right thing. We aren't a cranked up heavy rock band. We like to get a little loud on some songs but we are pretty tame. So the smaller size with just about the same volume of the K12's, and my having a sub made it a no brainer.
 

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