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PA system under 1500$?

M

MrKeef

Feb 15, 2018
364
634
#1
I'm unsure if this is the best place to put this question.
I'm currently in a small pop rock trio type thing.. All kinds of music, mainly originals. Drummer, singer/guitarist and a bass. All 3 of us will be doing vocals at one point or another.

Anywho, to the question. I'm trying to piece together a small PA that could carry 3 vocalists and a guitar in a small to medium venue setting, sometimes outdoor but nothing huge. We don't have any intention to mic the drums as our drummer has lead hands as is. I will be running my ampeg SCR DI into it and pretty sure the guitarist plans to as well. Of course, all 3 mics.

I've tried researching online for the price range, as the vocalist wants to have at least 2 monitors. Found a few packaged sets with 2 loud speaks (Yamaha a15s I think), 2 kustom monitors and a powered mixer. Though I can't seem to find whether it's great for running a bass through or not.

Got about 1500$ to put one, preferably somewhat portable, together. Any ideas? Our used market isn't great, that's why I'm looking new.
 
#2
Yamaha powered mixer is what we used in a power trio.
2 main cabs and 2 Yamaha monitors. Bass drum mic'ed and
a bit of bass also. 3 vocal mics. Used market is full of these within your price range.
PS. We would add a powered sub Yamaha when playing large rooms or outside
and it really worked well for those venues but most of the time it was not needed.
Happy hunting.
 
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#3
Yamaha DBR10. 2 for main, two for monitors. $400 each, but you can usually get 10-20% off that at online big box stores like musiciansfreind. I got a pair for $600. 23lbs and sound excellent. Did our last oldies gig at a packed 80 seat bar with 6 vocals, keys, acoustic, electric and sax in pa with 2. I really like these speakers.

Alternatively prostaraudio is running a JBL B stock sale. Eon 612s and 610s are under $250 each.

I recommend a digital mixer but the price goes up if you don’t already have a smart device. Mackie dxpro4 can be had for $120. Behringer x12 for $299.

If not digital there are a host of small conventional mixers under $250. Behringer probably gives most bang for buck, i.e., x1204usb for $199.

If you don’t have mics, stands and cables that’s additional expense.
 
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#6
If someone in the band has an iPad, I can not recommend the Mackie DL1608 enough. $650 at SweetWater new right now and a lot less used.

A pair of EV ZLX 12P mains can’t be beat either. $399 ea at SweetWater new - lots on the used market.

I’ve used this combination for a wide range of gigs for a couple of years. always had great sound, was a lightweight rig with incredible functionality and somewhat “future proofed”.

We went wired IEM for monitoring with a six channel headphone amp (~$150) and each guy supplied thier own ear buds. But a second set of powered 10” monitors will do the trick for a few more bucks.

I did a ton of research and this approach was a good balance between quality and cost. I bought the speakers used so shaved a few bucks there. I also tried presonus and behringer mixers before landing on the Mackie. I preferred the Mackie app and workflow over all the others.

By the time I was finished I spent $2500 (Canadian) - that included speaker and mic stands, mics, cables, extension cords and the like.
 
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#7
nutdog said:
Well dang, after posting just realized you want to run bass through it. Probably need a sub. I’d look at turbo sound or that jbl b stock sale to stay in your budget.
Click to expand...

Oh in that case, go with the ZLX 15P models. I pumped my bass through them on every gig. I was completely ampless. Used the SansAmp RBI direct into the board.

On the bigger outdoor gigs, I’d rent subs - really don’t need them for the smaller bar gigs. We did a 300 person wedding in a tent without subs and the 15” EVs did just fine.
 
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#8
Depending on volume the 12s may be fine. I’ve done gigs with everything into one k10. I love making music but don’t love hauling gear. It’s been my mission to make setups and tear downs as quick, light and simple as possible.

I do bass direct into the board but for small stuff I prefer a small bass rig with small, light tops for vocals, keys, guitar, etc.
 
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#9
nutdog said:
Depending on volume the 12s may be fine. I’ve done gigs with everything into one k10. I love making music but don’t love hauling gear. It’s been my mission to make setups and tear downs as quick, light and simple as possible.

I do bass direct into the board but for small stuff I prefer a small bass rig with small, light tops for vocals, keys, guitar, etc.
Click to expand...
I don't mind having to haul my bass amp around, have a Ampeg BA210 v2. I'm just lazy and wouldn't mind not having to move it. Lol.
 
#10
MrKeef said:
I don't mind having to haul my bass amp around, have a Ampeg BA210 v2. I'm just lazy and wouldn't mind not having to move it. Lol.
Click to expand...
I feel your pain. That’s at the very upper weight limit I want to haul.

My bass cab is 25lbs and head is 5 and it punches way above it weight. But it wasn’t cheap. My subs are 45. So I’d rather carry the bass rig and 23lb mains than a pre and a sub or 38lb mains.

The vdrummer brings a k12, which sounds good and I don’t have to carry it.:thumbsup:
 
#11
Went to pro audiostar, they've currently got a deal for 2 Yamaha DBR15 and a Mackie 802VLZ4 mixer + cables, just under 1200$. I can use my ampeg as a monitor (tiltback feature) but that would leave the other two without a monitor. We originally planned to have one monitor for me and the guitiarst/vocalist and one for the drummer.
 
#14
MrKeef said:
Went to pro audiostar, they've currently got a deal for 2 Yamaha DBR15 and a Mackie 802VLZ4 mixer + cables, just under 1200$. I can use my ampeg as a monitor (tiltback feature) but that would leave the other two without a monitor. We originally planned to have one monitor for me and the guitiarst/vocalist and one for the drummer.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a good deal. Speakers look comparable to anything else out there at that price point.

If I can make a comment about the mixer - you’ll soon find yourself running out of channels. If you put your guitar and bass thru, you’re maxed out. When (not if) you need to mic the kick and/or snare, you’re outta luck. If you want to run more than one aux mix, you’re outta luck again.

The VLZ series mixers are about 2-3 generations back in mixer technology these days. They were out front about 10 years ago or more in the “prosumer” space. Today, not so much.

If you can, see if you can upgrade the mixer to the ProFX 12...or something similar. The Presonus AR12 is an interesting product for not much more money if that retailer has flex in their packages.
 
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#15
MrKeef said:
Went to pro audiostar, they've currently got a deal for 2 Yamaha DBR15 and a Mackie 802VLZ4 mixer + cables, just under 1200$. I can use my ampeg as a monitor (tiltback feature) but that would leave the other two without a monitor. We originally planned to have one monitor for me and the guitiarst/vocalist and one for the drummer.
Click to expand...
IMHO if you’re not running bass and/or drums into the pa you don’t need 15s. I’d look at the package that has 12s or 10s. You’ll also need speaker stands. I’d pass on that mixer. At minimum I’d want something with reverb.

MrKeef said:
I too am curious how this works, I know there's a behringer headphone amp with multiple channels for 150ish new. Are you using wired earplugs? How do you send the mix from the board to the headphone amp? I'm totally newish when it comes to setting up a PA system for band use.
Click to expand...
This is where the digital mixer shines. Lots of built in connectivity, effects and eq. They cost a little more but give you way more functionality. And these days they’re not that expensive.
 
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#16
nutdog said:
What are you using for this?
Click to expand...

Used the six AUX outs on the DL1608 into an ART Headamp6 rackmount unit. Wired IEM with mono signal to each player (we had 5 on stage). I gave each guy a custom AUX mix and they could tweak their volume and the more me/more band mix on the HeadAmp unit on their own. I encouraged them to use the Mackie app on their phones to give th even more control over their own AUX mix but they were happy to let me do it for them.
 
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#17
Would it be too brash/bold of me to ask, put a PA package together on a site like proaudiostar, ect. Whatever is your fancy. Cords would be nice not but needed, vocalist has a mic/micstand for now. I'm still so very new to the PA world, lol. I'm afraid that I'll piece a system together and be way over budget or be under budget and underpowered. We all have smartphones.. I do have an iPad but it is an older one, have a newer android tablet I frequently use instead.
 
#18
Digital mixer - Soundcraft Ui16 is very tough to beat. Lots run the Behringer XR18 -I think the Soundcraft is a much friendlier interface. If you are running bass through PA - playing rock/pop - you need a sub. The math adds up to over $1500 - that’s the reality if you want decent sound and any kind of durability.
 
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#19
Buy used. I picked up a 16 channel powered mixer with effects in excellence condition, two passive JBL JRX100 tops with stands and two powered JBL JRX 100 subs for under $1300 all in very good functional condition. With new cables I've got under $1500 in all of it (which is your stated budget) and it will cover a 200 seat club no problem. You want quality on a budget buy used older generation equipment. Sounds just as good as the brand new stuff, go for the newer all digital stuff when you can actually afford AND justify it.
 
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#20
We just picked up a Soundcraft ui16 about a month ago and really like it. We already have powered QSCs and sub. Easy to use and plenty of YouTube videos. Some people complained theirs was noisy, but on my experience it’s dead quiet. We bought a B stock ftm proaudiostar; I’ve bought a bunch of stuff from them, great prices great customer service. Here’s a Invalid Link Removed for a good price.
 

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