Double Bass Self powered PA speaker options

[Ryan in PDX]

+1 on the QSCs.

I have used a QSC K10 dozens of times, with an SM57 (rubber band mounted under the bridge) straight into the mic input, or a Full Circle pickup (through an fdeck HPF). It has worked great on the floor, on the drum riser, or up on a pole at head level, and as both a personal monitor and a "bass amp." With the 57, I've had sound crews take the parallel XLR out as my source for the PA. Not all of the competitors have that option.

I've used it as my only amplification for electric bass guitar in rock bands at bars, but haven't personally tried it for upright in a situation with drums. My K10s have also been used as mains and monitors in tons of sound reinforcement situations - including saving the day at a wedding or two - as well as for guitars, keyboards, and even vocalists... probably the most versatile pieces of gear I own!

I have used a friend's Electro Voice powered 15", 12", and sub models for sound reinfocement, with no complaints. I haven't ever felt I'd need something that big for upright stage monitoring - the K10 is more than enough speaker for me.

 

[Anthony White]

I have a QSC K10, and I really like it. I'm sure that the various boutique cabs are voiced slightly better for double bass, but I haven't been able to try them.

The original K series were advertised at 1,000 watts, and the .2 series at 2,000 watts.

Just be aware that these are marketing watts, not real watts. The original K Series was marketed as 1000 watts, and is bi amped - 500 watts RMS to the woofer, 500 watts RMS to the tweeter. In the spec sheet it lists 2000 watts peak.
The K series x.2 is marketed as 2000 watts, but if you look at the specs, it is also biamped, 500 watts RMS to the woofer, 500 watts RMS to the tweeter, 2000 watts peak.

Max SPL for both is 129 dB.

Mine has all the headroom I've ever needed before I need to get PA support.

 

[John Le Guyader]

The Yamaha DRX series powered speakers are pretty on par with QSC and a little cheaper by about 100 clams.

 

[Jim Dedrick]

Is Mike still making any 8"s? I think he went to all 5" and 6.5" based designs. His website is out of date, and he only seems to post occasional updates on FB nowadays.

I just bought a 2 8 cabinet from Mike. Should be here in a few weeks.

 

[Hoyt]

The Yamaha DRX series powered speakers are pretty on par with QSC and a little cheaper by about 100 clams.

I’ve had really good luck with Yamaha gear. Their QC seems really decent and it was one of the reasons I wasn’t upset they bought Ampeg.

 

[John Le Guyader]

I’ve had really good luck with Yamaha gear. Their QC seems really decent and it was one of the reasons I wasn’t upset they bought Ampeg.

And they have an unusually long warranty, but the exact length escapes me at this time.

 

[vedi]

Anyone have any luck with any of Yamaha’s offerings? Their quality control has always been really great in my experience, and their products seem to really last.

my Yamaha DRB10 sounds great with EBS SC pre. it was lighter compared to the more expensive Yamaha model, DRX or something. did not compare them side by side, the more expensive model had some features I don't need. tried QSC K10, comparable to Yamaha. you cannot go wrong with those...

 

[bassgeek]

+1 for the QSC stuff. You can find the older K series used for pretty cheap. I've been using a K12 (not the .2) with my new Felix 2 and couldn't be happier. Incidentally, the electric bass through the Felix into the QSC sounds way better than the Felix into my Euphonic stuff.

 

[Hoyt]

my Yamaha DRB10 sounds great with EBS SC pre. it was lighter compared to the more expensive Yamaha model, DRX or something. did not compare them side by side, the more expensive model had some features I don't need. tried QSC K10, comparable to Yamaha. you cannot go wrong with those...

This is very encouraging. I’m really loving that preamp at the moment.

 

[bassyes]

For me its the RCF ART 745 A with an exceptional midrange tweeter fitting nicely to the 15''

 

[bassically_eli]

For me its the RCF ART 745 A with an exceptional midrange tweeter fitting nicely to the 15''

I bet that sounds excellent! I'd love to compare that to my Audiokinesis Thunderchild

 

[bassyes]

I don' know the speaker mentioned above. However, I have compared the RCF ART 745 A with a QSC CP12 that I used before. The difference seam to be the rather low crossover frequency of the midrange tweeter with large diameter. Double basses have a lot of low midrange to be punchy. The QSC is bright and loud, good for voice and pop music. The RCF has more fundament and is rather neutral, good for classical music. Please also consider the rather different price range.

 

[bassyes]

I just looked on your page .. this was a message to Obligato lovers

 

[Hoyt]

I just looked on your page .. this was a message to Obligato lovers

I like Obligatos

My favorite tones for roots/slap bass are on High Noon, Wayne Hancock, and a couple Hank III albums. Defined but woody if that makes sense. Love jazz bass and whatnot, but it’s not what I do.

Although, never say never. If a band leader were willing to initially be patient, I might enjoy learning some jazz for a quartet. I’ve just never had the opportunity.

Either way, it’s important to me that whatever speaker system be full range. I’m enjoying my EBS SCBP into a Crest Prolite 2.0 feeding my Greenboy F212.

Something with similar properties would be just fine.

 

[Paulabass]

There are lots of great powered speakers out there, and you may be on the right track, except avoid Mackie. The industry they once led left them behind a long time ago.

 

[Hoyt]

There are lots of great powered speakers out there, and you may be on the right track, except avoid Mackie. The industry they once led left them behind a long time ago.

That seems to be the consensus. A shame, because I remember a powered monitor I had from them 15 years ago that was fantastic.

 

[Jefenator]

I tried my 1st gen QSC K10 on a gig last night and it was pretty good. (Ran the Realist Lifeline pickup into the fDeck for buffering & HPF as always.)
I do have to say, my go-to rig - Glockenklang Soul head w/ Bergantino HDN210 cab - is more profoundly satisfying to play through. But if the bare bones K10 setup doesn't inject any character into the response, it also doesn't suck it away the way my less preferred amps seem to. Every register came through evenly and I could hear everything I was playing without frustration - that's more than I can say for most other amps I've tried.
It is a more than satisfactory backup while my Glock is in for repairs, and it might be my new 1-trip solution.
I'd love to see how it responds with a Grace or Noble preamp.

 

[Ric Vice]

I’ve used a K8 with the Grace Felix it really improves the sound of the powered speaker. That said a bass specific system will sound

infinitely better. So there’s a big difference between a Grace Felix QSC system and a Grace Felix powered MAS 1/8 system as there would be with a Grace Felix into your Glockenklang.

 

[Stinga1990]

I'm leaning towards the Yamaha DXR15 for this purpose. Of all the pa speakers I've tried, this had by far the most natural amp like feel in the bottom end. No sub lows obviously, but to my ear it has a very healthy response down to about 60hz or so. Real low end beef you can feel even with a low b string. The only others that came close for me was the cheaper DBR15 or the well regarded QSC K12.2. To my ear the K12.2 sounded smaller, somewhat constrained next to the Yamaha despite the extra power and similar low end response. The Yamaha breathes like a real bass amp. It won't give you the fridge in a room feel but it will feel like you are playing a high powered super 15 combo. Massive low end presense. Only caveat is the weight but it's still way lighter then them bloody peaveys.

 

[Ric Vice]

…………. To my ear the K12.2 sounded smaller, somewhat constrained next to the Yamaha despite the extra power and similar low end response. The Yamaha breathes like a real bass amp. It won't give you the fridge in a room feel but it will feel like you are playing a high powered super 15 combo. Massive low end presense. Only caveat is the weight but it's still way lighter then them bloody peaveys.

The OSC K and K.2’s have a DSP as part of their signal processing. There are factory presets within the sub menus on the LCD panel that change the EQ for bass. Only the K.2's have different presets for different tasks. The original K's are "baked in" and non negotiable.