Peavey PA

[Stev187]

We have the PV215s, our group is happy with the sound, pretty good bottom end response, and the last show we did was outdoors and the dispersion was very good considering we had to cover about a 240 degree field. Great speakers for the price.

Our experience is similar with the PV215s. The band bought a pair of these recently and we've used them outdoors, in a small club, and a larger club. They are not high end but they really get the job done. Paradoxically, they allow us to play a little quieter because we run guitar and bass through the mains along with kick/snare. Our smaller PA was vocals only. We drew the line at getting subs--too much work. For a 4-piece bar band, these get the job done. It's possible for one person to carry them, but it's easier with a $20 folding hand truck.

Also, ours did not come with the stand mounting hardware, so we added that ourselves. On sticks these things are great and sound really good.

We also own a pair of IPR 3000 power amps, and those are fantastic.

--Steve

 

[modulusman]

Our experience is similar with the PV215s. The band bought a pair of these recently and we've used them outdoors, in a small club, and a larger club. They are not high end but they really get the job done. Paradoxically, they allow us to play a little quieter because we run guitar and bass through the mains along with kick/snare. Our smaller PA was vocals only. We drew the line at getting subs--too much work. For a 4-piece bar band, these get the job done. It's possible for one person to carry them, but it's easier with a $20 folding hand truck.

Also, ours did not come with the stand mounting hardware, so we added that ourselves. On sticks these things are great and sound really good.

We also own a pair of IPR 3000 power amps, and those are fantastic.

--Steve

Why do you suppose that is. They were not mean't to be put on poles. You probably voided your warranty and set your self up for a lawsuit if they should ever fall on anyone.

 

[Stev187]

Why do you suppose that is. They were not mean't to be put on poles. You probably voided your warranty and set your self up for a lawsuit if they should ever fall on anyone.

Actually, the PV215s were designed for pole mounting. Warranty voided for sure, but we were very deliberate and careful about this. The original spec sheet for the PV215s states that they were designed for "stand-mount cup facilities" and ours didn't come with any. Check out the spec sheet:

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Our very heavy duty stands have very wide tripods and the stand is much sturider than stacking them on other cabinets. We carefully thought through the stability/safety issues and have had zero problems with these things. The stand cups we installed go very deep into the cabinet and the unit is rock solid on the stand; the lowest setting on the stand is actually the perfect height for a small bar.

Now, perhaps you are correct that Peavey stopped putting the pole mounts in for liability/safety concerns.

--Steve

 

[modulusman]

Actually, the PV215s were designed for pole mounting. Warranty voided for sure, but we were very deliberate and careful about this. The original spec sheet for the PV215s states that they were designed for "stand-mount cup facilities" and ours didn't come with any. Check out the spec sheet:

Invalid Link Removed

Our very heavy duty stands have very wide tripods and the stand is much sturider than stacking them on other cabinets. We carefully thought through the stability/safety issues and have had zero problems with these things. The stand cups we installed go very deep into the cabinet and the unit is rock solid on the stand; the lowest setting on the stand is actually the perfect height for a small bar.

Now, perhaps you are correct that Peavey stopped putting the pole mounts in for liability/safety concerns.

--Steve

I stand corrected. Although it is odd that they don't include them. Those speakers look like they would be top heavy. If it was me I would maybe look on the Peavey forums or E-mail the company to find out what the deal is.

 

[Stev187]

I stand corrected.

No, we thought the same thing. And we were concerned. Your comment prompted me to look, and other dual 15" PA cabinets do not have pole mounting. That said, the JBL and Yamaha dual 15s are heavier than these (the PV215 weighs 79lbs). The weight is at the bottom, though.

That said, your comment is always in my mind as we load in. We nearly always put them up against a wall as well. But we treated the whole issue with a healthy respect; an 80lb cab falling on someone is NOT GOOD.

On our first gig with them, we stacked them on our old single 15 mains, and that was scary. They had a real chance of falling down then, and that's what prompted the stand mounting. Again, with a very wide tripod and a stand rated at 150lbs, the things feel very, very solid. But your point is well taken.

--Steve

 

[Stev187]

Just an update on our Peavey PA rig. We've been gigging the heck out of this thing, and it's great. We run a pair of PV215s (mains) and a pair of PV12Ms (monitors) each driven by an IPR3000. It's not high end gear but it's clear, loud, and easy to work with. There is higher quality gear, for sure, but don't let anyone tell you this stuff is junk. We run everything through our PA and didn't want to use subs. For our purpose (party/cover/dance band) it's awesome.

--Steve

 

[MNAirHead]

Just an update on our Peavey PA rig. We've been gigging the heck out of this thing, and it's great. We run a pair of PV215s (mains) and a pair of PV12Ms (monitors) each driven by an IPR3000. It's not high end gear but it's clear, loud, and easy to work with. There is higher quality gear, for sure, but don't let anyone tell you this stuff is junk. We run everything through our PA and didn't want to use subs. For our purpose (party/cover/dance band) it's awesome.

--Steve

There is zero wrong with this type of gear

 

[sdenney78]

There is zero wrong with this type of gear

Agreed! I have used a lot of Peavey PA equipment over the years, and found it to be good quality and very reliable.
(Side note) I feel the same way about their guitar and bass amps, cabs, and combos.

 

[bassophil]

As with most stuff it is the same with PA Speakers: you get what you pay for.

We used a pair of PV215 for about 4 years for vocals and bassdrum amplification at rehearsals and we stopped counting how many times we blew the fuses for the tweeter. And those fuses are kinda expensive (about $8 each, 2 per cabinet). Now that the tweeters themselves (about $70 each irrc) died the second time we decided to get new cabinets.

I have to admit that we do play loud when rehearsing. Damaged ears guaranteed if not using earplugs.

With my story I just wanted to add to the comments of others saying "not high end", that "not high end" means lower volumes possible than with comparable equipment made by high end brands like f.e. HK Audio or D.A.S., but you would have to pay about three times as much for the high end quality.

My conclusion:
The PV215 are good stuff for the money. We were always pleased with the sound. Good for low volume music in up to 100 or maybe 150 people venues (bars or smth along the lines).
If you want to go loud and even be able to do that in venues that are somewhere in between the bar and club range I would recommend to dig a little deeper in your wallet and get something more "established professional".

In the end "you get what you pay for" is the key sentence when it comes to PA cabinets!

 

[modulusman]

Agreed! I have used a lot of Peavey PA equipment over the years, and found it to be good quality and very reliable.
(Side note) I feel the same way about their guitar and bass amps, cabs, and combos.

Peavey makes some good PA gear and they also make low budget crap. Their QW stuff is pro grade gear while the PV and PR series are not. I have used their SP series and this would be the best bet for a bar band that wants something that sounds half way decent.

 

[Stev187]

In the end "you get what you pay for" is the key sentence when it comes to PA cabinets!

I can't disagree with any of this, including your less-than-deal experience with the PV215. This is not a JBL or QSC dual 15" by any stretch. A few related thoughts, though:

• We bought these knowing about the fuse issue that people were having; so far, we have not had this problem. I attribute this to the fact that we are driving them with the appropriate amount of power and we aren't melt-your-face loud.
• One reason we are doing well in our market is the fact that we play loud enough to make everyone feel like they are at a rock show, but quiet enough so that people can talk to each other. Bar owners love this.
• That said, I've been meaning to buy some fuses to have on hand for emergencies--thanks for the reminder.
• In my opinion, live DIY sound (i.e. mixing from stage) is as much about trade-offs and compromise as it is about good gear. For example, our drummer was ready to pull the trigger on much cheaper 215s from another, even less prestigious company. I offered to kick in the extra scratch to "upgrade" to the Peavey stuff.
• If it were me, I would buy even higher quality gear on the used market. Our drummer insists on buying new gear and he's very focused on the looks of the equipment. We are members of a team, so we compromise. If I were king, we'd buy it all used and go with 1x15 cabs on sticks with subs. He felt differently and was putting in most of the dough, so...
• We don't like to think so in music, but there is such a thing as "good enough." We are a weekend warrior type of band: four guys making $400 a night a few gigs per month. The ROI on a premium PA just didn't make sense for us (or our wives).
• Finally, I have this kind of sadistic thing about Peavey. As a 20-something, I was a major gear snob and turned my nose up at anything with that pointy heavy-metal logo... until I played through a Peavey MegaBass, which is still my fav amp. I learned not to judge a book by its cover back then, and I enjoy being a RAVING FAN of Peavey stuff in front of gear poseurs.
• Just like our favorite bassists can sound amazing on entry-level instruments, someone who knows what they're doing can make a middle-of-the-road PA rig sound good enough for a bar. I've heard bands with PA systems that cost 2-3 times what we paid for ours, and our mix and fidelity blew them away. They had better gear; we knew how to use what we had better.

As with most any gear, it's your knowledge and experience in how to get the most out of it that counts. But I'm under no illusion that the PV series is top-of-the-line stuff. It isn't and was not designed to be. We can afford it, it fits in the car, and it gets the job done every weekend (with compliments about the sound, too).

--Steve