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Off-topc I know, but those claims for car audio power are hilarious... to get 4000 watts out of a 12 volt system you'd be drawing over 330 amps... P = VI after all.
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Playing bass through a PPA or PA cabs
- Thread starter bassballs27
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Off-topc I know, but those claims for car audio power are hilarious... to get 4000 watts out of a 12 volt system you'd be drawing over 330 amps... P = VI after all.
I haven't heard these> Barefaced Bass - FR800 high resolution active loudspeaker but I'm intrigued about something that would make a good bass amp (when coupled to a bass guitar preamp), and that could also do double-duty as a decent portable PA.
I imagine they'd blow the Bose systems out of the water in a bass-heavy high-SPL situation, especially if combined with the subwoofer> Invalid Link Removed
I imagine they'd blow the Bose systems out of the water in a bass-heavy high-SPL situation, especially if combined with the subwoofer> Invalid Link Removed
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Our guitarist has a pair of JBL JRX225s in his studio where we record and rehearse, driven by something similar to your QSC PLX 3602 I think although I can't remember what it is. First off he had subs in there as well but the system was way too LF-heavy so now we just use the JBLs. The room is comparable in size to your basement. Of course we hardly push the system in there and it might seem like overkill, but it's also used for some gigs. I sometimes go through the PA but I prefer the sound through my Ampeg B200R which lives in there at the moment, maybe I should get a decent bass pre and just use that...
To be honest, I'm strongly considering this. If I can't find a used PA, bass, or keyboard cab that will work, I think I'd consider building one.
Yeah, this is exactly it. But I do have half the PA with owning the QSC already.
What size of the K series tops would you recommend? Maybe I should consider the 15's?
I know there's loads of decent PA gear out of......but I have heard people complaining that many PA cabinets / speakers can't handle bass guitar very well regardless of the supplied specs. My Yorkville Unity U215's that I recently sold just barely handled bass. They are massive 2x15 cabs that most sound guys used for mids and highs......they needed the sub to fill in the low end. Since I'm not looking for chest pounding bass, I'm looking for a rig that will produce the sound of my bass, I don't mind investing into speakers or powered speakers that will do exactly that.
Exactly! But they're basically manipulating the power equation behind the scenes to market a higher power rating so the public will buy into it. Car Audio has a greater mass of buyers than bass amps, I can guarantee that.
Sure, the power rating stated might be great on paper, even measurable to a point......but the end result is the perceived volume is far less than rated. Does it necessarily take from the overall experience, some people are just happy with it.
It's all about being satisfied with what you have an moving on.
I love my Harman Kardon AVR7550HD which is a higher end consumer grade receiver. It's 100W per channel and is loud as hell. But that's the magic of playing produced and compressed audio through a set of efficient Klipsh speakers that I own. That bad boy cranked up to -10dB....or even 0 or +3dB is ear shattering. Threshold of pain really.
Some people would probably wonder if my HK amp was 4000W based on the experience.
Anyway.....getting back to the main topic.......still looking for more recommendations (if any) for Passive or Active PA cabinets or Portable PA setups that work for bass.
I like this! You might be onto something here. Barefaced cabs have always looked like Acme cabs from the past.
I'd love to be able to demo an FR800 and LF800 sub.
Well if you like the Ampeg B200R, don't get rid of it!
Thanks for the input on the JBL's though. I'm always worried about too much low end with a PA setup.
That's more or less why I'd like to stay away from a sub if I could, but with some pa tops, you pretty much need a sub.
@bassballs27 I myself prefer 12" tops whether using a sub or not. But my application requires speakers that sound good for vocals. The K12 / KW181 combination is light and sounds incredible. (to be honest the KW181's are only light compared to how much sound they are capable of) but they have wheels.
One thing about it, there are a lot of good choices, and your personal preference may not mirror mine. As far as handling bass guitar, I go back to what I said earlier, avoid the temptation to go cheap.
One thing about it, there are a lot of good choices, and your personal preference may not mirror mine. As far as handling bass guitar, I go back to what I said earlier, avoid the temptation to go cheap.
I just saw this. With no sub, then a K15 might be a better choice for you.
Cool. Thanks for this input!
I know.....with bass.....it's normally worth the bigger investment.
That's why I always look at buying used......there's just more value in it.
I'm looking at a used Bose F1 System with two tops and two subs for half price of new.
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Well if you like the Ampeg B200R, don't get rid of it!
Thanks for the input on the JBL's though. I'm always worried about too much low end with a PA setup.
That's more or less why I'd like to stay away from a sub if I could, but with some pa tops, you pretty much need a sub.
With the two 15s in each cab those JBLs don't need a sub indoors unless you like whole lot of bass...
I would get either the k12/kw122 or skip straight to the kw153 if you want a big cab. With the 12 cabs you can add a sub and it works really well. I would not reccomend the kSub as you seem picky. The kw181 is a fantastic sub that can compete with the big boys. The kw153 can work really well as a standalone in the right situation, and it's even better with the kw181 added to it.
Personally I think you should Buy Other Sound Equipment!
Edit: For those who didn’t get it I’ll highlight....
They used to say, "No highs no lows must be Bose."
Okay, all kidding aside I've heard the L system and it's great for singer songwriters.
My mileage has varied
but ultimately a bass amp sounds like a bass amp. PAs sound like bass through a PA. In a studio with stupid high quality monitors my bass sounds phenomenal but not like I want to sound everyday. Great for how they wil tweak and slot in a mix. The PA cabs don't respond to my touch like a bass cab can. If that's imperfect so be it. I'm playing an instrument and the PA or studio monitoring is there to reproduce it. If that's not clear a Fender Deluxe with well used 12" mic'd with an SM-58 is far from hifi. It is however a rock n roll sound to be captured or reinforced as accurately as possible.
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Last time I saw Jimmy Johnson play bass with Holdsworth ( 2009? ) he used two 12" ElectroVoice PA speakers. They looked "old school" compared to what EV is now producing in that department. I now forget what he was driving them with but I do recall it wasn't any standard, garden variety bass head. He did sound great. For whatever that's worth.
I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't loaded with EV SROs if they were '70s vintage. Those were lovely sounding speakers.
Ric5
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This. My band uses two F1s with the smaller subs and it's great for vox, terrible for drums, and feeds back. No way it could be good for bass.
A long time ago i had this idea that using a PA for me was better because it was designed to amplify everything. But then I started to understand how cabs and amps were voiced for particular instruments. The only time I have ever had a good bass sound through a PA was big-monster FOH systems that require a roadie to move - Think 4 15s per cab per side. These days, I imagine a decent satellite system with a sub, such as QSC K series, would work fine. But I seriously doubt it would sound as good as something like the Mesa Subway series.
Point being, cabs are designed for different things, and PA are designed to amplify vocals - exactly the opposite of what a bass player needs.
Steve Miller: One plays the amp, not the guitar.
But that K15 is never going to sound as good as a good bass cab. I have a K10 and like it, and since I got it I have thought adding a sub to it would make it sound great. I'll say again - cabs are designed to do certain things, and the K series tops were not designed for "full" range - that's why the make a sub. IMO samller sattelites that do a good job in their frequency range paired with a sube also so designed, and mated to the sat will give the best results. The diff between the K sereies tops will give higher spl, but they will always sound boxy on a bass without a sub. the top cabs just aren't designed for anything else.
^Exactly this!
The bass is the instrument, the amp, and the player. It's not just the instrument.
