Thoughts on PA systems for practice and small gigs: traditional or column?

[CharlieFla]

We have a five piece band. Indie and classic rock. Drummer and lead guitarist are very loud. It is time to replace our 25-year old Crate practice PA. It wasn’t top quality when purchased new, and it is barely sufficient for our practice needs. It is wholly unloved, and no one will shed a tear when it goes to The Great Rat Fur Graveyard.

Soliciting thoughts on a replacement PA for practice and house party-type gigs. Considering a column system a la the Bose L1 or similar. I’ve only seen those used for bands playing at modest volumes, however, and I have no idea whether they would be appropriate for our needs.

Comments welcome.

 

[ebo]

You dont mention budget but if you can afford it, I recommend digital controlled mixer via iPad for FOH and monitors. The convenience is too nice to pass up. Equipment has come such a long way. Enjoy the upgrade! My current band has a set of 10’s and a set of 12’s with a sub. We use wedge monitors and IEM’s. We can use what works on any particular stage and night.

 

[Wasnex]

Make sure and consider how loud the column array can play. Most of them are pretty limited, which could be a probably for classic rock and indie.

The Bose L1 comes in various sizes.

I believe the big one is the Pro 32. SPL is listed as 117dB continuous/123dB peak.

For comparison an QSC K8.2 is rated for 122dB continuous/128dB peak.

Which is better depends on what you want and how you will use it.

Perhaps a better stick array if you can afford it: The EV Evolve 50 is rated 127dB max, which I believe is probably 121dB continuous/127dB peak. I have not used this model but they seem highly regarded.

 

[s0c9]

We have a five piece band. Indie and classic rock. Drummer and lead guitarist are very loud. It is time to replace our 25-year old Crate practice PA. It wasn’t top quality when purchased new, and it is barely sufficient for our practice needs. It is wholly unloved, and no one will shed a tear when it goes to The Great Rat Fur Graveyard.

Soliciting thoughts on a replacement PA for practice and house party-type gigs. Considering a column system a la the Bose L1 or similar. I’ve only seen those used for bands playing at modest volumes, however, and I have no idea whether they would be appropriate for our needs.

Comments welcome.

My experience w/ the Bose column arrays (albeit a few yrs ago) was not great. The system (1 sub and 2 cols) worked fine in our rehearsal space, but failed miserably at the few gigs we used it for.
This was not loud rock either.

IIRC - we ended up buying 2 powered EV 15" subs and 2 powered 12" EV Tops.. cant recall if they were ELX or EKX series.. Plug and play. Built-in easy to use DSP.

 

[Mike Caldwell]

Loud drummer and guitarist does no pair well with column PA's.

 

[DonaldR]

Considering a column system a la the Bose L1 or similar. I’ve only seen those used for bands playing at modest volumes, however, and I have no idea whether they would be appropriate for our needs.

The concept behind Bose L1 is that each player has its own. It was not designed as a FOH system.

 

[Marko 1]

If money is real tight, for rehearsals and house parties, you can probably get away with just Mains for a vocal PA; two powered speakers and any adequate passive mixer.

I think Alto has budget gear that's gets people by, or maybe start with some quality Mains and build from there.

 

[tshapiro]

If you need volume, I’d stay away from towers. They are expensive for the power you get and you’re paying for portability. Harbinger powered speakers are very affordable and really high quality and powerful for what you get.

 

[pepj]

I'd do this with a pair of quality 10's but you need guys who can handle volume to benefit the band.
If you cant do that, its just a question of a fight over volume and who gets to be louder than anyone else.
And the person that has to win that is the singer..

 

[newwavefrank]

I switched to the Carvin Column system about 6 months ago and couldn't be happier. We put EVERYTHING through the PA (Electronic drums, Keys, Guitar and bass all go direct no amps.) and play at a pretty good volume and I don't feel like we have pushed these at all. We also used them at a larger event center and a couple of outdoor parties and they were more than enough.
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[TommyGunz]

Go to Sweetwater, and look at the Alto Professional brand. Get two 18" subs for $700 a piece and two 10" or 12" mains for $300 a piece. For $2000 you have a FOH PA that will be great for almost anything your band will do.

 

[Zooberwerx]

You want something to "fly" on tripods for mains.

Riis

 

[bebass]

Column speaker have advantage of dispertion. However, Point source is always going to give higher SPL for the money spent.
Get 10” powered over 15” subs for ease of transportation, or best is 12” powered speakers over either 15 or 18’ subs.

I am looking at new digital mixer for myself, and I like the looks of the A&H CQ18T. (No, I do not sell these!) That with a pair of Powered 12” speakers ver subs is gonna be a really neat system. Hint, if funds need to be spread out, get just one sub and put it in the center, and put the 12” speakers on a good quality stand. And another hint: a pair of good quality 15” subs (for ease of transportation), coupled in the center, will usually give more SPL than a single 18’ SUB.

I also suggest to not get the least expensive gear, as really, one does get much better specs in a step up.

 

[4StringDave]

We use a couple of dB Technologies ES602 systems.

Surprising how loud they get. Used them at a small outdoor festival with everything through them, and the sound was superb.

 

[musicman7722]

I own and use both the EV Evolve 50 series and the Bose FH1 series. Both are technically line arrays.