Was this in response to the dark matters? Not sure what you mean but if you have experience with them I'd like to know. I've been impressed with new minimega and the IPR's so I was wondering if they're making a good budget powered speaker.
My much lower budget PA speakers that we are using are the Harbinger Vari V2112s. They suffice for what we do, and if you are comparing them to the older Harbingers, NOT a fair comparison, they are MUCH better sounding, and LOUDER than the I think the model was APS12(?).
I had a pair of Alto TS1150As that we got for next to nothing, we gigged with them for about a half dozen gigs before I ran into a need for money now situation in the family. I was able to sell them for way more than I paid for them. The Harbingers were bought to be monitors, but are working for mains.
I know they won't pass the Modulusman approval test, but I couldn't care less. They do what I need them to do...
FWIW, the best sounding band PA I have heard for the type of gigs I do I stumbled across recently.
They were running Electro Voice powered 12s, not sure the model, and of all things, Behringer 15" subs.
They sounded amazing. Lows were clear, no mud at all, mids and highs were crystal clear. I talked with the sound guy about their rig, he said they pieced it together from Craigslist and
Musicians Friend Stupid Deal of The Day.
I should mention, I am big on bang for the buck, and honestly, QSC and JBL are way above what my band mates and I can justify, most likely ever... However Electro Voice is strongly on the radar, as is Alto although I personally like the sound from the EVs better...
I am thinking for budget, and performance, long run I think we are going to aim for a pair of Electro Voice ZLX-12Ps ($399.00 each regular, I have seen them as low as $299.00 but that is infrequent). Support that with Electro Voice ELX118P 18" subs, and we are good to go. Keep the Harbingers as monitors until they fail...