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Powered PA speakers for bass?

#22
I've never heard a PA speaker, powered or not, without a sub, that seemed adequate for bass, especially the lowest octave. PA speakers just don't have a usable response below 100 to 125 Hz or around that region. Unless there's a sub or bass horn system sitting on stage, it just sounds thin. If I have a good sounding bass, I want its full range, or however I voice it, to be heard. I don't want the low end chopped off. The other more technical consideration is that the maximum excursion of the low frequency PA driver is insufficient for the lower frequencies of a bass. The previous post by DukeLeJeune is well taken. Sending the full lower range of a bass to a PA speaker runs the risk of damaging the PA speaker, or at least over-driving it so that it distorts. I guess it seems that if one is going to pay good money for a bass that produces a great sound, it shouldn't be run through a system not designed for it. Thats just not my cup of tea.

But there are powered speakers that are made for bass, they're called bass combo amps and that's not intended to be a coy remark, but a serious one. I always want my bass to sound as good 'out there' as its capable of sounding.

Just my 2 cents.

Lloyd Howard
 
#25
Going 180 from the original post. I have a bass cabinet that I built myself that makes a really good pa cabinet.

It is the top cabinet in the picture below. It has a cavrin 15" speaker and a carvin horn and a carvin crossover. I built the cabinet myself several years ago. In the picture I am playing through an ampeg with 2 2x10 cabs and also running into the pa.

party09-28s.jpg


Also I built the 2x10 cab below.
 
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#27
lhoward said:
I've never heard a PA speaker, powered or not, without a sub, that seemed adequate for bass, especially the lowest octave. PA speakers just don't have a usable response below 100 to 125 Hz or around that region. Unless there's a sub or bass horn system sitting on stage, it just sounds thin. If I have a good sounding bass, I want its full range, or however I voice it, to be heard. I don't want the low end chopped off. The other more technical consideration is that the maximum excursion of the low frequency PA driver is insufficient for the lower frequencies of a bass. The previous post by DukeLeJeune is well taken. Sending the full lower range of a bass to a PA speaker runs the risk of damaging the PA speaker, or at least over-driving it so that it distorts. I guess it seems that if one is going to pay good money for a bass that produces a great sound, it shouldn't be run through a system not designed for it. Thats just not my cup of tea.

But there are powered speakers that are made for bass, they're called bass combo amps and that's not intended to be a coy remark, but a serious one. I always want my bass to sound as good 'out there' as its capable of sounding.

Just my 2 cents.

Lloyd Howard
Click to expand...

Thanks for the post Lloyd.. good discussion. One of the reasons for the thread was to see if there was a better alternative to typical combo amps.. or head speaker combos for that matter. Many sound good but, all lack in one area or another in the sound spectrum IMHO. I guess nirvana for me would be to get that full top to bottom sound that you hear in a great set of studio monitors, live. I've had some pretty cool setups over the last 45 or so years and a lot have gotten close. The last was a Crown XTi 2000, various pre's, Aguilar 4x10 top with 2 aguilar GS 1 x12's on the bottom. I just couldn't carry something like that around any more. That is why I was wondering if a PA cab would give a full spectrum sound at a lower weight.
From all the great input it this stream it seems that what would be missing would be the sub.. If I were to add that it would put me right back in the same boat of a heavy rig.
I'm using my little GK combo amp with one of the GS112's as an extension now but I find it lacking some clarity and definition on stage. So the GAS is kicking in.
Someone posted about AJ's rig.. I looked that up and that is some serious equipment.. He does sound amazing live.
Thanks everyone for all the great input.
cheers
Guy
 
#28
Ric5 said:
Going 180 from the original post. I have a bass cabinet that I built myself that makes a really good pa cabinet.

It is the top cabinet in the picture below. It has a cavrin 15" speaker and a carvin horn and a carvin crossover. I built the cabinet myself several years ago. In the picture I am playing through an ampeg with 2 2x10 cabs and also running into the pa.

party09-28s.jpg


Also I built the 2x10 cab below.
Click to expand...

nice..
 
#31
basswalker2004 said:
Thanks for the post Lloyd.. good discussion. One of the reasons for the thread was to see if there was a better alternative to typical combo amps.. or head speaker combos for that matter. Many sound good but, all lack in one area or another in the sound spectrum IMHO. I guess nirvana for me would be to get that full top to bottom sound that you hear in a great set of studio monitors, live. I've had some pretty cool setups over the last 45 or so years and a lot have gotten close. The last was a Crown XTi 2000, various pre's, Aguilar 4x10 top with 2 aguilar GS 1 x12's on the bottom. I just couldn't carry something like that around any more. That is why I was wondering if a PA cab would give a full spectrum sound at a lower weight.
From all the great input it this stream it seems that what would be missing would be the sub.. If I were to add that it would put me right back in the same boat of a heavy rig.
I'm using my little GK combo amp with one of the GS112's as an extension now but I find it lacking some clarity and definition on stage. So the GAS is kicking in.
Someone posted about AJ's rig.. I looked that up and that is some serious equipment.. He does sound amazing live.
Thanks everyone for all the great input.
cheers
Guy
Click to expand...

It seems to me that what you are looking for is exactly the concept addressed by the fearful, audiokenisis, nearful cabs using the 3012 and 3015 eminence speakers. I suspect a Thunderchild 12 or 15 with a micro (genz, marbass, etc) would meet your needs and be under 50lbs.
 
#37
lhoward said:
I've never heard a PA speaker, powered or not, without a sub, that seemed adequate for bass, especially the lowest octave.
Click to expand...

Same is true for bass cabs.
Have you ever heard clearly the fundamentals in a bass cab ???? :confused:

In 30 years of professional music experience , I have yet to hear that ..... but I hear it every day on PA's (with a sub of course)
 
#38
nutdog said:
It seems to me that what you are looking for is exactly the concept addressed by the fearful, audiokenisis, nearful cabs using the 3012 and 3015 eminence speakers. I suspect a Thunderchild 12 or 15 with a micro (genz, marbass, etc) would meet your needs and be under 50lbs.
Click to expand...

WOW!!! they look awesome... Your right.. i've gotta find a place to try them out...
thanks
Guy
 

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