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PA system Help - ska/reggae/funk band

C

Carrot22

Jul 21, 2011
9
0
#1
In the next few weeks I'm going to purchase a PA system for my Ska band. So far we're a 7 piece band - Sax, Trumpet, Trombone, bass, guitar, drums and vocals. My question revolves around what exactly I should be looking for and how much power I will need to supply 6 mics (3 horn players, 1 lead vocals, 2 backup vocals) I want to start simple because we would only be using it for an efficient way to practice and small house/coffee shop type shows so i've been looking at those basic PA packages they got on various music websites so im hoping I can get some insightful feedback. The two I am debating between are

Yamaha EMX5016CF w/ BR15M AUDIO ESSENTIALS BUNDLE @ KraftMUSIC.com

and

Yamaha EMX5016CF w/ S115V COMPLETE AUDIO BUNDLE @ KraftMUSIC.com



Will a 100 watt difference in the speakers be that noticeable? My concern with the S115v speakers is that the RMS is 500watts- the same as the power amp inside the mixer so I am worried I would not have enough headroom in my amp to properly power my speakers for their maximum output (1000w)
Also I feel I should mention that I am currently using the Fender Rumble 150. Will this have enough juice to keep up with either of these PA's?

This is just the first installment for now- I plan on buying a larger power amp for the mains, then using the mixer to power 2 smaller stage monitors but as for now my budget goes up to $2000. Thanks for any help any of ya'll can give me, I'm totally new to this and a ska band isn't quite your typical band you see everyday. Feel free to suggest any other PA brands/setups/combinations too!
 
#2
Personally, I think you would be best off going with a pair of powered speakers and a passive mixer. While I don't play in a ska band, Like you, I mostly play at small venues (about 50-100 people) and just bought a pair of RCF 312As from ProAudioStar. I got a great price on them and they sounded amazing and their was plenty of headroom to spare. I used 1 for the mains and 1 as a monitor. Right now, I am using an old Phonic mixer, but plan to upgrade to a Allen and Heath or Mackie mixer soon and think you should do the same. Going this route will give you an excellent PA system that you can use for many gigs. And when you RCFs (or whichever powered speaker you choose) are no longer powerful enough, you can use them as monitors and get new mains. Good luck!
 
#3
I use a Yamaha mixer into QSC powered speakers (12") and a subwoofer. It adds up fast in the $ dept. You should try renting first and This way you are not out all that much money and then see what's right for your group. Used systems are also a great way to get started . Good luck . :cool:
 
#4
Just so I understand. You don't plan on putting bass or kick on the PA, right?

A good pair of 12's on sticks will do it for FOH. You may take the powered mixer/passive speakers route but it's not scalable, or a pair of active speakers and a passive mixer with built-in effects, which is perfectly scalable once you start playing larger rooms.

The RCF's mentioned above are good, as are most EV's or JBL's.
 
#8
I just bought a small system about a week ago. I went with a unpowered mixer (Yamaha 24/14 ) and two separate power amps (Crown XLS1500) to power 2 Yamaha s-215v cabinets (1000 watt dual 15" and horn). I figure this type of setup is easier to deal with if something goes down. I can just go from two bridged amps to one stereo amp (to get by), and borrow another amp until mine is repaired or replaced, instead of having to take the powered board or the powered cabinet to be repaired.

I'm not a fan of powered mixers, at all. Also, my old band had an amp in a powered Mackie cab go down and it took far too long to get it repaired. We used a borrowed cab and a power amp to get by. If the amp was separate, we could have just borrowed an amp. The same goes for a powered mixer. What happens if an amp goes? Now you need to borrow a mixer (and power amps, possibly).
 
#9
Well my original plan with either of those two setups was to eventually add a more powerful amp or two to system to power the speakers then use the powered mixer to run two monitors. My only concern is that if I go with the S115v's will I be underpowering them with the 500watt amps in the mixer for the time being? I've read I should have enough headroom in my amp for twice the speakers wattage at RMS and I'd rather not blow $1800 on a system then slowly destroy it without realizing
 
#11
Carrot22 said:
Well my original plan with either of those two setups was to eventually add a more powerful amp or two to system to power the speakers then use the powered mixer to run two monitors. My only concern is that if I go with the S115v's will I be underpowering them with the 500watt amps in the mixer for the time being? I've read I should have enough headroom in my amp for twice the speakers wattage at RMS and I'd rather not blow $1800 on a system then slowly destroy it without realizing
Click to expand...
Underpowering is a myth. Unless you plan on driving the snot out of your PA then you will be fine. If you find you are not loud enough for the gig then you need more or better PA speakers not a bigger amp.
 
#12
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#13
modulusman said:
Underpowering is a myth. Unless you plan on driving the snot out of your PA then you will be fine. If you find you are not loud enough for the gig then you need more or better PA speakers not a bigger amp.
Click to expand...

Under powering speakers is a myth, but burning up amps at full power isn't. It is recommended to have amps rated at more than the program power of your speakers to use the speakers at their potential. Your amps will run cooler. Just don't blow your cabs!

I've never used a Peavey mixer, so I can't comment. I've never even seen a local act using a Peavey mixer.
 
#14
+3 on getting a non-powered mixer and adding powered speakers.

Id shop the used market also. The G2 JBL Eons are very good speakers and can be had for a good price used. Same with the Mackie 450 and 350s. More than sufficient for monitors.

Get a pair of nice powered 12s for your mains (since you arent running bass) and setup is a breeze.

+1 with allexcosta's advice.

Although I think the Yamaha BR series are fine for monitors. We have the BR12M's and use them occasionally as monitors. For everything but bass and kick drum, they sound fine as monitors. The SV's are nicer and sound better, but the BRs are fine as monitors. I definately would not use them as mains though.
 
#17
Craig_S said:
Under powering speakers is a myth, but burning up amps at full power isn't. It is recommended to have amps rated at more than the program power of your speakers to use the speakers at their potential. Your amps will run cooler. Just don't blow your cabs!

I've never used a Peavey mixer, so I can't comment. I've never even seen a local act using a Peavey mixer.
Click to expand...

Never seen it happen. Peavey reccomends powering speakers at program power not more.Invalid Link Removed
 
#19
After much thinking, what do you guys have to say about this setup

Get 2 of these for each main
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

2x Yamaha S115v's mains

and this mixer
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

For mics ill prob get a few Shure SM58's and 57's for the horns.

I'll add monitors/additional amps to it eventually down the road after a few more paychecks...
 
#20
Carrot22 said:
After much thinking, what do you guys have to say about this setup

Get 2 of these for each main
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

2x Yamaha S115v's mains

and this mixer
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

For mics ill prob get a few Shure SM58's and 57's for the horns.

I'll add monitors/additional amps to it eventually down the road after a few more paychecks...
Click to expand...

Why would you want to buy seperate amps for each main?
 

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