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PA Powered Speaker Cabs?

JazzBassvb

JazzBassvb

Aug 5, 2003
276
0
#1
Hi all,

I have a little money to spend (by little, I mean probably $350 tops) and I want to get more power and sound.

I could get a PowerAmp and use my existing Trace Elliot Commando 15 cab as the speaker. (I have a little design in my head on how to make that work... Don't worry, I'm not going to input the power amp signal into the input on the Trace combo).

If I do that, I'll have lots of power and I can reuse what I have.

Or, my other thought is trying a PA powered speaker cab and calling it good. I was looking at something like this: Invalid Link Removed. I'll get 200 watts and a cabinet with a horn.

The reason why I'm considering a PA Speaker is because in High School, I played through a PA mixer and a Peavey 18" cabinet with a horn and it sounded pretty good.

I really need opinions and would appreciate whatever I can get and or other suggestions for more sound on a small budget. (Typical play a coffee house and have to compete with a drummer)

Thanks much!
JBs
 
#4
billfitzmaurice said:
Do a search. This topic has been extensively covered as of late.
Click to expand...

Thanks.
I've tried, but for some reason I don't get many results that are relevant. That's why I've posted. I'm not sure, but I think folks were not asking about the powered speakers either, so again that's why I asked.

Modulusman,

Thanks much. I'm not too familar with those particular specs, but I appreciate it being brought to my attention. Maybe that won't work after all.

JB
 
#5
Bottom line, most powered PA mains don't have the low end content for bass and will distort. You need to either combine with a powered sub, or find one of the rare few that has a sufficient low frequency driver. The LS1503 powered version from Carvin would probably work.
 
#6
Best bet would have been the Carvin LS1503A, but that's been discontinued. You might find one on eBay, though.

Were you going to run the line out of the TE into the Harbinger? That might work, okay, assuming the frequency response specs are accurate. Or you could try an active 12" or 15" subwoofer, run throught the TE's effects loop. You'll get more low-end power that way and you can set the sub's crossover to optimize the 150 watts and the 15 you have in the TE. Something like this fits your budget, no guarantees on quality, though:

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gemini-GVXSUB12P-Powered-Sub?sku=501907

I'd recommend you try before you buy. If there's a music shop in town that has and/or rents PA gear, you could do that, try your idea out, and if it doesn't work you aren't out the full $350.

For a full active PA setup, you should look at smaller powered subwoofers (15's and 12's) and a powered 2-way main/monitor cab, with an 8 or 10 in it. But that's beyond your budget.
 
#12
RexNFX79 said:
I own some JBL powered speakers and bass sounds like crap through them. These powered PA speakers can't handle low frequencies like bass guitar well.
Click to expand...

Yes, a standard 2-way PA cab is probably not the best, but the Carvin that I'm recommending or a PA subwoofer can and will handle bass just fine.

Whenever someone just chimes in with "PA cabs can't handle bass," you have to wonder what kind of PA experience they have. Ever been to a concert and sat near the back? You think you're actually hearing the stage-amp cabs? No, that's all the PA. Can cheap PA speakers or 2-way mains handle bass? No, and they aren't designed to. A 3-way cab and/or a subwoofer are designed to handle more low frequencies than the standard $400 PA packages that most non-pro musicians have experience with and they have the price tag to go with it. I personally KNOW that the Carvin LSx1503a can handle bass and really only needs a preamp in front of it to do so, because that's my rig. Of course, ONE of them is slightly more than $400, but the OP won't need his TE unless he really likes it's preamp, so he could sell it to make up the difference and get a less expensive preamp.
 
#13
RexNFX79 said:
I own some JBL powered speakers and bass sounds like crap through them. These powered PA speakers can't handle low frequencies like bass guitar well.
Click to expand...

Maybe those can't. And many others can't either, because:

(1) the cabs are too small.

(2) the woofers don't have sufficient xmax for sub-100 Hz content in any appreciable amount.

But I've seen a few like the Carvin LS[x]1503 that do real well. A far cry from some of the ones that eithere fart easily or just don't have any real sonic girth to them.
 
#18
@ OP: Seriously, get one of the Carvin cabs. You won't regret it. And even if you do, which you won't, you can return it after you try it. 10 days, no questions asked. Or get that active subwoofer. Either way you'll be better off than you are now.
 
#19
honestjohnny said:
Yes, a standard 2-way PA cab is probably not the best, but the Carvin that I'm recommending or a PA subwoofer can and will handle bass just fine.

Whenever someone just chimes in with "PA cabs can't handle bass," you have to wonder what kind of PA experience they have. Ever been to a concert and sat near the back? You think you're actually hearing the stage-amp cabs? No, that's all the PA. Can cheap PA speakers or 2-way mains handle bass? No, and they aren't designed to. A 3-way cab and/or a subwoofer are designed to handle more low frequencies than the standard $400 PA packages that most non-pro musicians have experience with and they have the price tag to go with it. I personally KNOW that the Carvin LSx1503a can handle bass and really only needs a preamp in front of it to do so, because that's my rig. Of course, ONE of them is slightly more than $400, but the OP won't need his TE unless he really likes it's preamp, so he could sell it to make up the difference and get a less expensive preamp.
Click to expand...

OP. An example would be the [Invalid or Expired Link Removed].
 
#20
greenboy said:
Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...

System Type: 15-inch 3-Way, bass-reflex
Frequency Response: 46 Hz - 20 kHz (-10DB) 52 Hz - 18 kHz (-3 dB)
Coverage Pattern: 90H x 60V
Crossover: 3-Way with Speaker Guard™ HF protection
Crossover Frequency: 500 Hz & 3.3 kHz
Internal Amp Power: 425W continuous / 850W peak
Sensitivity (1w @ 1m): 101dB
Maximum SPL: 130dB
LF Driver: 15-inch woofer
MF Driver: 6-inch woofer
HF Driver: 1-inch titanium
Nominal Impedance Full Range: 8 ohms
Bi-amp LF: 8 ohms 400w /800w /1600w
Bi-amp MF/HF: 8 ohms 200w /400w /800w
Enclosure: 18mm Multi-Ply Hardwood
Suspension/Mounting: 1-3/8-inch pole mount cup
Finish: Black DuraTex™
Transport: 2 Recessed Handles
Grill: Black Powder-Coated Steel
Connectors: Two NL-4 Neutrik Speakons, Two 1/4" phone jacks
Dimensions: 730mm (28.75") high, 480mm (18.75") wide, 380mm (15") deep
Net Weight: 26.4 kg (58 lbs)

LIST PRICE: $799.00 (USD)
DIRECT: $530.00
SALE PRICE: $419.00

'Any word as to how this unit compares to the older, discontinued model?
 

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