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Active speakers, seperate amp/speaker... confusion insues... https://mail.karaokescene.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4353	Page 1 of 1

Author:	karaokemeister [ Wed Mar 02, 2005 2:59 am ]
Post subject:	Active speakers, seperate amp/speaker... confusion insues...
Ok, based on the responses in another thread, I've heard recommendations for: JBL Eon 15 G2 Mackie SRM 450 Yorkville NX550 Yorkville NX750 Carvin speakers - I'm looking at the 1548A and even someone say that active speakers is a mistake and that seperate amps/speakers offer better sound. Given you have $1500 - $1600 to spend which way do you go? I liked the Yorkville NX750 but Carvin has 3 way speaker for less than than the 2 way speakers the others offer. Here's the Carvin speakers I'm looking at in both a 2 way and 3 way: http://www.carvin.com/products/single.p ... 4A&CID=APS http://www.carvin.com/products/single.p ... 0A&CID=APS I get hosed on the shipping from Carvin though. I'm not in the lower 48.... I'll be playing mostly indoor gigs where a sub isn't likely going to be necessary. I will be looking to book some outdoor gigs in the near future so either more speakers or more power will be needed to handle the outdoor shows. More money, yes, but I'm open to hear recommendations. In the end here's what my setup will look like sans speakers/amps, compressor, and eq... RSQ-MV333 Triple Tray player Ritech 3900 DVD player (will also do CDG's but poorly) Mackie Onyx 1629 Mixer (on it's way... slowly) Peavey DeltaFex Twin VocoPro UHF 3800 Wireless mics (checking prices now) Fender PD-250 for monitors Laptop for music w/ 150GB of MP3's (all legal) and USB soundcard Usual TV/Stand, and inexpensive wired mics (Shure PG58 and Fender P-51's). Minidisc player/recorder for recording/playback (I sometimes record a show to see how it sounds and critique myself later) For compressors I'm considering the DBX 266 (I'd get 2 to cover 4 channels) but the Carvin CG200 isn't that much more expensive ($199 vx. $150 or so- each) http://www.carvin.com/products/single.p ... 0&CID=PROC For the EQ I'm still looking. I'm trying to find a 1/3 octave eq that has an indicator for which freq and channel feedback is occuring. Don't have a unit in mind yet, but I'm starting to look... Open on speakers and would like some recommendations... I'll be ordering next month to get them here before my gigs start up again in May (didn't need them in the past because they were provided by the venue). If I don't hear something to the contrary I'll likely try to get the Yorkville but without a dealer in my state I'll likely end up with Mackie SRM 450's or the JBL Eon 15 G2's since they care easier to obtain locally.

Author:	Lonman [ Wed Mar 02, 2005 8:52 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Active speakers, seperate amp/speaker... confusion insues...
Separate components are going to be more versatile in the long run & generally do sound cleaner if proper amps, speakers & crossover quality be it an external electronic or a passive internal. There are definate advantages & disadvantages to each system. The main disadvantage on powered speakers is - that's all there is. You can't upgrade the amps or change the crossover settings (you can't do that on regualar components either unless you are running bi-amped with an external electronic crossover). Another disadvantage is you have to find a power supply for each speaker - sometimes not always easy to do. A couple advantages is if one speakers amp blows you can limp by on the other. If an amp in the component system blows, you are pretty much done (if bi-amped you can reconfigure the routing to get by). Another advantage is regular mic cords (cheap) as opposed to a good guage speaker cord (expensive). Powered speakers are generally set up for maximum efficiency, amps are specifically designed for the drivers & box. Electronic crossovers built in with the amps. Can usually put everything in a car. The Carvin speakers do sound nice, our bands sound engineer ran en entire Carvin PA from the mixer to mains/monitors. I have started converting all my amps to Carvin. You may want to reconsider a sub for inside work, the difference it makes is very much worth the little extra hauling & cost. My preference on powered speakers are the Mackies but given the option I would probably go with separate components with a bi-amped configuartion. Given if I had $1500-1600 to work with (assuming this is just for speakers for now), I myself would get the JBL MP415-M (these are similar to the SR series) http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=h ... id/600006/ Carvin DCM1500 to run them. http://www.carvin.com/products/dcm.php?ItemNumber=DCM1500&CID=PWA The dbx 266XL is a good compressor, the 166XL is even better plus it comes with a separate limiting control. Peavey makes a decent eq with the feedback detection circuits. Only thing I have to say about these is the feedback pretty much has to be in full effect before the lights really shine - this was a first run unit I used, the new ones might have a little quicker response. Although if everything is set-up correctly, feedback should'nt be an issue. Nice choice on mixers.

Author:	Steven Kaplan [ Wed Mar 02, 2005 4:34 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Active speakers, seperate amp/speaker... confusion insues...
I personally owned the JBL Eon 15's. I wasn't happy with them. They didn't match up to JBL's other lines IMHO. Ended up selling them a few months later. Whether or not the design of the polyprop cabs fell short of my expectations, and were just not a decent design for what I was doing, not certain. I've used JBL equip for a long time, and these fell far short of my expectations of Lansing's products.

Author:	karaokemeister [ Thu Mar 03, 2005 6:29 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Active speakers, seperate amp/speaker... confusion insues...
Unfortunately, the $1500-1600 is for both amps and speakers for now. Steve, was that the original Eon's or the G2's? BTW, mistyped the mixer - it's the 1620 that I have on order. 1640 is REAL nice but the size, and lack of stereo inputs is an issue I'm not ready to deal with. I could run them on seperate channels but setting any effects seperately for each channel and all the other hassles just didn't make sense even if I drop to 3 fixed eqs on the inputs instead of 4 w/ sweepable mids. I'll be adding the firewire card in the future and doing some testing. I think I can use the 2 return firewire channels to push the music from my laptop back to the venue but I'll know more later (and excellent option when I go 100% digital and drop the discs). And just in case you didn't know, the 16 channels out over firewire are all pre everything. You have to add effects, compression and mix on the computer - basically nothing external affects the inputs. Not a problem for me, but it might be for others (and it makes sense if you think about it). On the eq, I wanted the feedback detection on the eq more to assist in ringing out the venue more so than during the show. I've only had a problem with feedback once and it was a drunk patron who basically put the mic into the speaker (they were behind another singer). Other than that I don't generally have a problem. The mains are in front of the singers and my monitors are set low on stands or on the floor in front of the singer with a fairly low volume. I turn them up if requested by the singer, but typically only for that singer (I remember to turn it back up when they sing again). It would be nice to know if there was a problem where it was occuring though. I'm considering the Carvin Amps and speakers but I might opt for going with the active speakers first, using them to replace my PD-250 when I get seperate amps/speakers/crossover later. I'll start looking into subs as well. The problem I have is the local stereo shop is manned by idiots who could care less about my business. ie I ordered a couple insert cables, was called that they were in, they weren't, was told that they would order them again and I'm still waiting for the call 5 months later. There is an excellent store in Fairbanks, but it's 350 miles away and has staff who are VERY knowledgeable and helpful. Any online stores I deal with want to stick it to me on shipping. A certain store (abbrv. MF) wanted as much to ship 10 mics cables as a PD-250 (over $80!). I've found one who doesn't hose me on shipping to Alaska but the selection is a little more limited. Basically, brands are limited unless I want to pay through the nose on shipping. Anyone coming to Alaska for vacation that can bring me some equipment?

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