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Powered speakers vs Passive

#41
I have received a lot of good advice in this thread, and to everyone that has replied, thank you!! This might upset a few, but I went with passive speakers and a power amp. I got a great deal on some brand new Kustom 15" mains and a Carvin FET 1000 amp from a mom and pop music shop. I know this isn't top notch stuff, but it does the job. We used the system at a gig already and I am very happy with it. We are using the harbinger 12" powered speakers as monitors now.
 
#42
Misty Mountain said:
Is that heavy enough extension cord for that much power? A 12 gauge cord is only good for a max of 20A, and a 14 only 15A, or typically one amplifier. That's one of the reasons I'm not a fan of powered speakers, if you look at the power supply specs needed by the speakers, most of the time each should have it's own 15A line. Plenty of people run undersized extension cords, but when an amp goes down because of being in an under-current situation or an extension overheats, then the problems begin.
Click to expand...

So far so good. My back line is usually an MBFusion, guitars amps would be a mix of Carr Rambler, Fender Deluxe, Princeton Reverb, Rivera Doce 22 and Vox AC15. Two to four depending on the gig.

Outdoor flatbed gig this summer we had my SL 16.4.2 and Macbook, 1 Mackie 1530 powered 3 ways, 2 SRM450 infills and QSC K Sub as mains plus 3 Mackie Thump 12's and 3 SRM 450's on one 20 amp circuit. 3 active DI's on that line as well not that they draw anything. No problems in spite of the neat 100 degree heat... We ran a 50 foot 12/3 extension to the 12/3 multi outlet cord. Backline was the Rivera, Carr and my MBFusion. This went to a separate circuit and our LED Lighting went to the last available circuit...

Outside street fest gig you do what you have to and hope it all works...

Inside my volume requirements are not all that high. I'm looking for rich and full but not very loud most of the time. Lot's of winery patio and restaurant and medium bar dates. I always try for the 1 circuit approach for backline and FOH to avoid groud loops.

If I still had hair or had replaced it with rasta or metal tat's and slung low like a Ramone... The it is entirely possible that I would have a different experience :D

So for me, those multi outlet cords are way cool...
 
#43
Misty Mountain said:
Is that heavy enough extension cord for that much power? A 12 gauge cord is only good for a max of 20A, and a 14 only 15A, or typically one amplifier. That's one of the reasons I'm not a fan of powered speakers, if you look at the power supply specs needed by the speakers, most of the time each should have it's own 15A line. Plenty of people run undersized extension cords, but when an amp goes down because of being in an under-current situation or an extension overheats, then the problems begin.
Click to expand...

That is news to me.:confused: Somebody doesn't know what they are talking about. I will give you a hint it isn't me.:D
 
#44
Hmmm alot of variable,s...Keep the Harbinger APS12,s for monitors.Keep your yamaha board add Yamaha makes a nice little 15 and horn speaker a pair used prolly $400 find a good used power amp something about 750 watts aside at 4ohms about $500 run it in parallel your mains will have about 350watts each now you have power to spare or if you ever need a couple small subs your good to go.
 
#45
stonewall said:
Hmmm alot of variable,s...Keep the Harbinger APS12,s for monitors.Keep your yamaha board add Yamaha makes a nice little 15 and horn speaker a pair used prolly $400 find a good used power amp something about 750 watts aside at 4ohms about $500 run it in parallel your mains will have about 350watts each now you have power to spare or if you ever need a couple small subs your good to go.
Click to expand...

I picked up a used Carvin FET 1000 power amp and a pair of Kustom 15" two-way cabs a couple of weeks ago. I got all of it from a local mom'n pop music shop. They sound good enough (much better than the Harbingers) for our needs.
 
#46
DerTeufel said:
I picked up a used Carvin FET 1000 power amp and a pair of Kustom 15" two-way cabs a couple of weeks ago. I got all of it from a local mom'n pop music shop. They sound good enough (much better than the Harbingers) for our needs.
Click to expand...

Good call. Appears as if you stayed within your budget. Get the most out of it with appropriate set-up (gain structure, EQ, external processing, speaker placement, etc).

Riis
 

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