What's your budget friendly live sound rig?

[silence.speaks]

Turbosound has some new 1,100 W speakers Turbosound iX12 Powered Loudspeaker

Alto Pro is putting out the next incarnation of Truesonic speakers, same price as the old, better performance Invalid Link Removed

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

I should mention a couple of things about PA gear. I got introduced for good or bad, to Behringer long before I came to Talkbass by a friend of mine that has been using their stuff for years. Quality has improved over the years, and IMHO, compares favorably against competitors on the low, to low mid price points. The musical Chevy price point as it were. Just like Hyundai is building MUCH better cars now than they did say in the 80s, the same is true of many companies in many market segments...

The Altos that got sold actually sounded really good, were stinking loud, and really didn't leave me wanting for anything other than the following.

#1. Odd volume control. Turn one way for line level, turn the other for mic level input. ***? Even my Harbingers have a button for that!
#2. Questionable longevity. There was however, absolutely nothing to the fit, finish, user exposed materials, or performance of these to indicate that there would be any issues with longevity. Unlike the Harbingers, and the just released Alto TS215s, the controls on the back of the speaker are very well protected, so no worries there even!

My V2112s, which were purchased to use as monitors, and they work really well for that, or for carrying vocals in. But remember, we have no drummer, we use a drum synth for now... I am now down to using these as mains, which means that drum synth is sent to the Harbingers. Now I paid $129.99 on Black Friday sale per piece on these. I am a bit concerned they might not like the abuse the kick can dish out... Assuming it would last paired with a good subwoofer with a crossover, these do carry vocals quite well... I do realize they are considered to be Hyundai level powered speakers, but have you checked out the latest Hyundai Genesis? I would love to own one of those!

Other brands that started as low end crap and grew in quality and stature over time:
Peavey
Yahama

 

[Big Hoss]

Turbosound has some new 1,100 W speakers Turbosound iX12 Powered Loudspeaker

Alto Pro is putting out the next incarnation of Truesonic speakers, same price as the old, better performance Invalid Link Removed

Isn't Turbosound a Music Group company?

 

[s0c9]

Isn't Turbosound a Music Group company?

it is..

 

[tbirdsp]

Might want to check out Carvin too...
PM12A Molded 2-Way 12 Inch Powered Loudspeaker/Monitor

 

[Big Hoss]

Might want to check out Carvin too...
PM12A Molded 2-Way 12 Inch Powered Loudspeaker/Monitor

I KNOW I should be more open minded about Carvin, but there is just something about them that hits me really wrong. The online only thing. Not sure why it bugs me though, I am more than willing to buy from Rondo... Go figure...

I will say this much, at least on paper, the linked Carvin is the least impressive of any of the speakers I have looked at, including the Harbinger V2112 / V2115. At least from the wattage perspective. HOWEVER, there seems to be a VERY big advantage weight wise, max SPL wise, and quality wise I am sure. I guess that just goes to prove that watts doesn't always just translate straight to loud and clear...

 

[s0c9]

I will say this much, at least on paper, the linked Carvin is the least impressive of any of the speakers I have looked at, including the Harbinger V2112 / V2115. At least from the wattage perspective.

i wouldn't put a lot of faith into speakers specs.. they're like power amp specs.. vaporous - totally dependent on utilized measurement methodologies.. and they ALL want to apear to be the best...
I have used a number of Carvins speakers over the years... while not TOTL, they were great for the price point and did their job.
I'd buy Carvin over GC "home" brands any day... YMMV

 

[Big Hoss]

i wouldn't put a lot of faith into speakers specs.. they're like power amp specs.. vaporous - totally dependent on utilized measurement methodologies.. and they ALL want to apear to be the best...
I have used a number of Carvins speakers over the years... while not TOTL, they were great for the price point and did their job.
I'd buy Carvin over GC "home" brands any day... YMMV

Hence the rest of my statement... " I guess that just goes to prove that watts doesn't always just translate straight to loud and clear..."

Does Carvin have any sort of satisfaction guarantee?

Mind you, my budget isn't TOTL, and likely unless I win the powerball, won't ever be in that range, so I am going to look mid range instead... I have no qualms with Carvin aside from lack of experience with them... I hear good things about them on a regular basis though...

Although I must admit, I am more tempted to look into the Electro Voice options...

 

[richntiff]

I just bought a pair of the Harbinger V2112's when they were $129 SDOTD. They are surprisingly not bad! I intend to use them for practice PA, and live monitoring. I think they will be great in those roles. Are they QSC? No, but the bang/Buck is insane.

 

[Big Hoss]

I just bought a pair of the Harbinger V2112's when they were $129 SDOTD. They are surprisingly not bad! I intend to use them for practice PA, and live monitoring. I think they will be great in those roles. Are they QSC? No, but the bang/Buck is insane.

My V2112s are fine for what they have been asked to do so far... My biggest concerns are.

#1. Long term durability.
#2. See above, particularly if we put the kick into the PA without a separate sub / crossover. Man we need a drummer that isn't mic'ed, at that point we can just use these for vocals...

 

[tbirdsp]

Another thing I'll say - I had some Behringer B212D's for a while but sold them. Picked up a Mackie Thump 12 just to use for practice or if I needed a powered monitor for something. The Thump sounds like crap compared to those Behringers.

I've got a bunch of Carvin stuff but I haven't used it enough to really give a good review - I was providing PA for my last band (blues)and now am in a cover band that hires out sound. I have a pair of passive PM12's with passive LS1801 subs I bought new (I already had some Class D power amps so went passive), also an older pair of LS 1502's I bought used. Construction seems very good and they sounded good the few times I used them. Should sell the stuff but I just can't bring myself to.

Still playing my Carvin BB-75 bass that I bought in 1993 too

 

[Big Hoss]

Another thing I'll say - I had some Behringer B212D's for a while but sold them. Picked up a Mackie Thump 12 just to use for practice or if I needed a powered monitor for something. The Thump sounds like crap compared to those Behringers.

I've got a bunch of Carvin stuff but I haven't used it enough to really give a good review - I was providing PA for my last band (blues)and now am in a cover band that hires out sound. I have a pair of passive PM12's with passive LS1801 subs I bought new (I already had some Class D power amps so went passive), also an older pair of LS 1502's I bought used. Construction seems very good and they sounded good the few times I used them. Should sell the stuff but I just can't bring myself to.

Still playing my Carvin BB-75 bass that I bought in 1993 too

Not dissing anyone that have the Thumps but... I really didn't like the ones I demoed at GC, the V2112s sound WAY better to my ear... Personal preference thing maybe... The thump just sounded like mud to me... I see lots of those Behringers, they sound pretty decent. Same issue with my Harbingers. How long will they last gigging?

 

[Frankjohnson]

I use the Thump 12 1000s as monitors, have used them in a few configurations as mains/tops small room etc. They have been fine. As monitors, they shine for my applications. YMMV I have Carrvin PM 12s and 15s too. I am not using them as much these days and they will be up for sale soon. As are the JBL JRX 12 and 15s. All served their purpose.

Heres the thing......you can't demand to not spend enough to get you to a point of quality and expect a point of quality. the sky is blue, the grass is green, and it just is what it is, while it aint what it aint.

 

[s0c9]

Heres the thing......you can't demand to not spend enough to get you to a point of quality and expect a point of quality. the sky is blue, the grass is green, and it just is what it is, while it aint what it aint.

+1000%
If there's one thing this ole dog has learnt over the last 20+ yrs of doing live music - from both sides of the stage.. buy once, cry once!
SAVE your money and buy some decent, quality gear...
it will end the constant PA upgrade cycles...
PS: good gear ain't cheap !

 

[Frankjohnson]

PS: good gear ain't cheap !

Funny - My grandpa used to say....
Good Stuff aint cheap......and cheap stuff......
Well......It aint good

Budget stuff will get you to a point. You can push that point.
But its still within a comparable range.

A friend is a stone mason and has a Ford 450, and a Ranger.
one is for hauling, the other is for getting to the job and picking up a few things.
He said - you can't expect to run a large job with the Ranger, unless you are using it to commute.

Makes sense to me

 

[Big Hoss]

+1000%
If there's one thing this ole dog has learnt over the last 20+ yrs of doing live music - from both sides of the stage.. buy once, cry once!
SAVE your money and buy some decent, quality gear...
it will end the constant PA upgrade cycles...
PS: good gear ain't cheap !

Assuming I want to go that route..
Not saying I dont, but how do I make the most of the gear we have now and what makes a particular powered speaker better than another? I do know I want to stick with active stuff...

I know it's not price. So what is it?

 

[s0c9]

Assuming I want to go that route..
Not saying I dont, but how do I make the most of the gear we have now and what makes a particular powered speaker better than another? I do know I want to stick with active stuff...

I know it's not price. So what is it?

Learn, research. Hang out at the prosound web LAB (live audio board) lounge... lots of folks like you and I there.. lots of very knowledgeable people who have REAL WORLD experience with all kinds of speakers. Sure there are some snobs/bigots, but you'll basically get told the truth. They are aware that budget is a concern, but with all due respect to most TB members, they have little SR experience. Go to a forum where the members have that... (I've been on there since 2004).

FWIW - certain entry-level MI brands (such as B*ringer, Kustom, Nady, Harbinger, ....) are NOT well liked for the very reasons you've alluded to above.. price, quality, fit for purpose, reliability and other such adjectives across large swath's of their product lines. That's because like me/them, they've been there done that...
YMMV

 

[Justice]

I keep my eyes peeled pretty much constantly on the local Craigslist postings. As well as stuff on various rehearsal space bulletin boards near me, and through my own local grapevine as it were... Those EVs that Justice posted up, well I like ElectroVoice for sure, but I can find very little in the way of specs on them... They look like floor wedges through, not mains. Not sure if they have the pole socket for a stand or not... So I keep looking...

They have pole mounts.

Invalid Link Removed (no longer available, but the specs are there)

PDF spec sheet
Invalid Link Removed.electrovoice.com/downloadfile.php?i=1777

More info

Google

 

[MakoMan]

You know, you can go around and around forever and seek all the advice in the world, or you can buy something
Here's what it comes down to with powered speakers and a budget... you can buy a pair of used QSC K12s - which everyone seems to agree are the cat's azz - for probably around $500-600 each... or you can go new and one step down for a set of something like EV ZLX12P or Yamaha DXR10s - which are both great, but a cut below the K12s - in the $400 range new. Once you get below that you are into Altos, Behringers, Harbingers and Kustoms.... they are fine for what they are, will sound OK and may last but they are what they are. I have nothing against cheap stuff and I will admit to a major fondness for Kustom PA50s - which for 80 bucks new are the steal of a lifetime - but I treat them as what they are... 79.99 speakers that have their purpose.
In my classic rock band we started off with Behringers as mains and the PA50s as monitors. Then we upgraded to Yorkville YX15P mains, then the EV ZLX12Ps as mains and to where we are now, with K12s as mains (got 'em used) and our former mains the QSC ZLX12Ps as monitors. I'd use the ZLXs again as mains in a heartbeat... they're not quite the K12s, but they are in the same ballpark and sound great.
The point is we went through PA improvements pretty much as the band itself developed and once we got to a certain point decided we were committed enough to get a system that could play anywhere. Never lost a cent along the way because, other than the ZLX12Ps, we bought everything used and sold them for at least what we originally paid. Oh and we kept the PA50s

 

[Big Hoss]

You know, you can go around and around forever and seek all the advice in the world, or you can buy something
Here's what it comes down to with powered speakers and a budget... you can buy a pair of used QSC K12s - which everyone seems to agree are the cat's azz - for probably around $500-600 each... or you can go new and one step down for a set of something like EV ZLX12P or Yamaha DXR10s - which are both great, but a cut below the K12s - in the $400 range new. Once you get below that you are into Altos, Behringers, Harbingers and Kustoms.... they are fine for what they are, will sound OK and may last but they are what they are. I have nothing against cheap stuff and I will admit to a major fondness for Kustom PA50s - which for 80 bucks new are the steal of a lifetime - but I treat them as what they are... 79.99 speakers that have their purpose.
In my classic rock band we started off with Behringers as mains and the PA50s as monitors. Then we upgraded to Yorkville YX15P mains, then the EV ZLX12Ps as mains and to where we are now, with K12s as mains (got 'em used) and our former mains the QSC ZLX12Ps as monitors. I'd use the ZLXs again as mains in a heartbeat... they're not quite the K12s, but they are in the same ballpark and sound great.
The point is we went through PA improvements pretty much as the band itself developed and once we got to a certain point decided we were committed enough to get a system that could play anywhere. Never lost a cent along the way because, other than the ZLX12Ps, we bought everything used and sold them for at least what we originally paid. Oh and we kept the PA50s

That's encouraging to hear...

We play a mix of country, blues, and classic rock. We play small venues not much more than coffee houses, and are lucky to get a crowd of 100...