Karaoke Forums

I listed the earlier thread about "Where the best place to purchase Karaoke equipment". I printed out a hard copy and have read it over a few times and will continue to do so to help me understand the comments more fully. I went to a local Karaoke shop today to see what he had to offer and to listen to the PeaVey brand. That's the only brand he sells. I was impressed with the system he showed me. I'll list the equipment here...

Xr600G mixer w/amp   2X200 watt 7 channel mixer
Pr 12 speakers w/speaker stands
monitor w/stand & 2 microphones
DVD player that also plays MP1/2/3/4

That system he's selling for $1400.

The essential 450 collections - 6 cdg's w/450 popular songs will get the price to $3000 for the complete system and music, ready to go Karaoke.

I mentioned that I didn't need the stands (wall mounted speakers), and I wanted the 15" speakers. He said same price for lack of stands and speaker upgrade.

I realize what everyone said about "Karaoke" listed equipment being overpriced so I went to Musiciansfreind.com and Americanmusical.com to check their prices and it is cheaper for sure. But my question is for the speaker choice. The PR15 is a plastic/vinyl shelled speaker and I asked him about the lack of a wood box. He said that because of the weight and the mobility factor they make them like that today. He said there's very little difference in the sound from a speaker like that and the ones that come in wood. I admit that they did sound good (PR15's), but I also remember what someone said about staying away from the plastic/vinyl enclased speakers. Lonman said he prefers the SP (baltic Birch wood construction) series to the lesser brands, but that's $880 more for the 2 speakers alone! The lighter weight does comes in handy when hanging from a wall.  The speakers have threaded holes in the top and bottom for mounting.

Does anyone else have the PeaVey PR15"s speakers and what do you think of them?

Are there comparable speakers out there (wood encased) that are less costly? What are the best sounding speakers?

Thanks in advance for the inputs. I will be buying within the next week or so and I want to get the most bang for my buck. The Karaoke room is 23' X 23', with an overflow room attached. I'm sure the PeaVey system would sound good in there, but if there's a better way to go, I want to find it. I want people to be impressed with my system and come back for Karaoke regularly.

                                                                                            bigjim56

The PR series isn't very good IMO.  Yes the SP is a better speaker, however you do need significant power to efficiently run them & the 600G don't have enough power to push the SP series.  200 watts per channel is pretty low power for most speaker systems out there.  I think for $1400 you can get a fairly decent setup - PA wise anyway.

Something like this may be a better option & will sound better.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=630193

Then just pick up a player & discs - I would still go internet route if he can't match prices.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

gotta agree with lonnie on this one.  some retailers will put the peavey name out there no matter the product thinking that folks will buy it on name alone.  if you're dead set on peavey, maybe check out the pa600 series. i have an older version of that setup with black widows and it's a nice clean system..   granated i use it more for DJ work than Kj, but it is a good system for either.

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All work and no play make Homer something something

I am a Peavey fan!  I don't think you can beat it for the quality vs price.  There is better out there, no doubt....but be prepared to pay for it.  If you want to go heavy duty, stick with the 'wood'.  Plastic is great & light, but not for professional hd systems...Everything is moving that way with the disposable society mentality...IMO of course.  If you can, it's better to do your research and go piece by piece, you get better quality.....but will pay more.  It is much like buying a new truck...do you want the plain jane model or the heavy duty model.  I'm a firm believer that you get what you pay for......MrD

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[highlight=midnightblue]MrD - KJ/DJ Specialist
Visit MrD on facebook - mrdsentertainment
& on myspace - larrynance[/highlight]

The Peavey PR series are EXCELLANT speakers for their purpose.

They are LIGHT and Affordable all while offering a great sound for a small to medium sized venue. They can be daisy chained together if required.
I can say this cause I actually own and use the PR12 for certain gigs.
I woulud suggest the PR15 for the few extra bucks.

To compare them to the SP series is like comparing Apples to Oranges.
I also have an older pair of Sp5G and they are twice the weight , twice the price and offer a much better Bass and overall PUNCH they you won't get in any light weight speaker.   SO you have to decide on what your needs are.

If you looking for a lightweight and overall GOOD speaker for Karaoke in some medium sized venues you won't be dissapointed in the PR series.

If you want to spend a few more bucks and don't mind lugging around 70 lbs per speaker you will get a much fuller deeper sound with the SP5's or even the Yamahas SV15's.

Had them for about a year, and use them for djing and kjing......get nothing but complements......hook them in ll to my pv subs, and don't even split the frequency(they have filters).....use them by themselves mostly, and am surprised at their lower freq response.......400 watt cont, can't beat the price. I've got pv12 speaker monitors, had for several years.....fantastic, but heavy in comparison.
Check out karaokedotcom.....doowopdotcom.....ebay for karaoke cds.....you might wanna buy a preloaded drive full of karaoke

Peavey PR 15 NEO - 400 watts program, 800 watts peak .

Peavey SP 2
15" 2-Way PA Speaker - will handle up to 2000 watts of peak power .

I've listened to both & in my opinion the Peavey SP 2 Sounded better....Probably due to having 2000 watts amp power & due to the wood & carpet making for a cleaner sound than the plastic did....But it could have simply been the fact that they had more power running to the Peavey SP 2's

 One setup was in a bar - Four Peavey SP 2 15" 2-Way PA Speakers  running at max power & sounded awsome!! with carpeted walls & flooring!!

The other was in there house - two Peavey PR 15 NEO - 400 watts program, 800 watts peak....& sounded great but nothing like the other setup!! ....Other than the amp power & room acoustics (no carpet on floors & walls) & cab material being plastic....hummm....Id still go with the Peavey SP 2's  

Just my 2cents -  If 800 to 1200 watts is enough for your venue then go for it....The price is good & hey atleast its a Peavey  :D

I'm a Peavey fan as well, but the initial system outlayed is over priced & he could do better in both power & sound quality for the same money in this instance.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

BIG JIM:

#1: The mixing amp in that setup is pushing 200 watts/channel and the PR12s are 400 watts program speakers, so that mixing amp would be underpowering the speakers.

#2: The essential 450 is way overpriced in his setup. What he is trying to sell you is the DVD version. The DVD version with 6 discs can be had on E-bay brand new for about $120 ( I don't know how many of the 7 sets he is including). You probably don't want to use DVD karaoke for pro use, as the DVD karaoke has a menu you must go through and you are not able to cue songs on the fly. The CDG version of the Essential 450 sets can be found on eBay for about $220. They are the same exact songs but are on 30 CDGs and cue up immediately. For home use, you could get away with the DVD version, however.

#3: You are going to be dissapointed with the bass responce of the PR12 speakers for two reasons. First, they are 12" woofers that are more suited to mid-range and just won't reproduce much bass or sub bass in the first place. Second, those plastic cabs, though lightweight, tend to rattle and buzz slightly and jsut are not a good medium for bass reproduction.

Here is what that setup you listed SHOULD cost:

Xr600G mixer - $428.59 (with shipping)

http://www.digitalfotoclub.com/sc/from- ... 10_17_2006

Peavey PR12 speakers - $148.00 each

http://www.fotoconnection.com/viewitem. ... ag=froogle

Speaker Stands - $60 a pair on EBay

Monitor - $89 anywhere
Monitor Stand - $69 eBay
Microphones - I'll assume they are decent and say $50 for the two
DVD Player - plenty with the same functions for around $70

So I could put together the EXACT same system for you for about $1100.

HOWEVER, for $1100

Add $120 for the DVD karoake set or $220 for the CDG version (I don't know how many of the essential sets he was including), and it is WELL under $3000.

If your budget is $3000, however, you can get a MUCH better system than this. Let us know your budget and we can hook you up with suggestions that will blow the system above AWAY!!

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C Mc
KJ, FL

I have the Yamaha S115V speakers from the set that Lonman recommended and I swear by them. I think they have the best bass responce of any 15" PA speaker under $500, and will put them up against any comparable speakers anyday.

The package Lonman suggested is less than the package you were offered PLUS they will give it to you tax free with free shipping.

You can then add a CDG/DVD player for about $70, a TV and stand for about $150 total, and be all good to go minus the music.

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C Mc
KJ, FL

Listen To MR. LONMAN . That System He Linked You to in His Post is 100% Better than What You're looking At , More powerful MIXER, MUCH Better Speakers,-4-Microphones,CORDS And Stands. GREAT QUALITY BANG FOR THE BUCK SYSTEM Thats Hard To Beat At That PRICE!

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Man Must Know His Limitations -Clint Eastwood

Nice to see that you are trying to support your local business, but.....
A KARAOKE shop??????  I would suggest trying out a audio shop that has more than 1 brand of PA equipment.  If you do find what you want, check out the prices on the net, print it out, take it to the locals and see if they will match the price.  I have a somewhat local guy that will come close to matching a lot of net prices, and if he gives me a decent price, I will pay a few $s more just to keep him happy.  A few times he opened the shop late for me when I was in dire straits of some replacement parts.

I like Yamaha too.....and twansenne has some good advice also. I've bought a lot of stuff from MF, and only one time I had to return something. I called, someone answered right away. They emailed me the postage to stick on my return package, and I took it to ups(they would have sent someone to pick it up, but I have one close)....in about a week or less, I had a new product at my door

I too bought somthing from MF, and didn't like it.  They emailed me a return UPS label, and took care of it.  NO HASSLE.

Once had a horn blow in a speak I got from MF about 1 month old.  I needed the replacement ASAP.  They sent me a new one (2nd day) even before I returned the old one.

For on online vendor MF is great.  But again, if I can find it locally, I will give the local company every chance to make a sale.

Man...you guys ROCK!  I got home from work and immediately checked for replies and it was great to see there was 13 replies. I will take a serious look at the Yamaha system that Lonman gave. Thanks Lonman!  :handshake: Like I said, I know very little about Karaoke...but I do know it brings in the people! I want to give my customers the best around, and with the suggestions here, it looks like I'm on my way. With the $$ I save, I could give a helluva light show also!  I could even go to four channel and have the WHOLE place shakin' (both sides of bar).

TopherM/TOMMIE TUNES - thanks for the user stamp reply. It always makes me feel better to hear from someone that has the product that I am looking at prior to purchase. My Karaoke budget is $3000 including some music for start up. Please forward any other highly rated systems that are within this budget, will review all. I feel real good already about the positive responses of the Yamaha system that Lonman listed. If it sounds BETTER than the PeaVey system I heard, I'm all for it. I thought the price for the Essential 450 was exaggerated, but I didn't know by how much. I will review ebay for that as well as the monitor stand.

I plan on informing the crowd that I am new and if there is any songs they want that I do not have, to list them...when I see songs getting 2 or 3 requests I plan to have a custom disk made. This lets them know that not only do I have a kick a-- karaoke system, but I want them to be happy also!

I have a freind with over 50G of music (MP3's) that I will be able to use for DJ night, this KJ/DJ system will be used at least 3-4nights/week. Karaoke will be BOSS, but when no one wants to sing, I can drown the place in everyones favorite hits. I may take a hit in the jukebox receipts, but I'm sure word will spread and my crowd will grow. Like I said, good Karaoke/Music and good drink and people will party till the cows come home!

Thanks everyone for your inputs...I'll be back to check on further discussion points...
right now, got to print hard copy of Yamaha system and review further...thanks...

one last comment...  GO CARDINALS!    :dancin:                    bigjim56

if you are interested i've got a peavey system for sale
peavey xr 600 ( i think ) amp
speakers are peavey insides 15 inch woofer and a good horn with a cerwin vega case
american audio dual disk cd player
numark dual disk karaoke player
shure sm58wireless mike along with a wired mike
good heavy homemade rack  carpeted 3/4 inch plywood
american dj avenger 2 and mine lights with stand and fog machine
$1500 firm plus shipping or you can pick up in Western NY

1. Check out Behringer brand of PA equipment.  A few here pooh on the Behringer brand, but I have several products from them and never had a problem.  Plus it is a lot cheaper than the more expensive brands.

2.  $3000 sounds like a lot, but when it comes to karaoke, it is a good start to buying the discs only.  Start with some Chartbuster or Sound Choice packs.  If you want to get the latest releases, I suggest Top Hits monthly.

3. Your friends mp3s.....Unless he owns the CDs that he riped them from, I would not use them.  If they are downloaded from the net, not only is that illegal, but imaging playing a song, and 1/2 through it it goes screwy casue the song came from a bad download, or was intentionaly screwed up.  And even if it is a decent donwloed song, it could be at a very low bitrate.  It might sound good on the PC speaker, or the home stero, but hook it to a Pro PA system, and you got crap sound.

4.  Karaoke is a cut throat business.  Check out the competion in your area, and figure out how to do it better.  Most karaoke singers have their favorite KJs for what ever reason, and won't change unless there is something a lot better.

5. Don't go into this business with high expetations, there is a high failure rate of newbie KJs.  It takes a lot of time, and a lot of $$$ to get a good KJ biz going.

Thanks twansenne. I am a bar owner. I am doing the KJ/DJ to increase my bar business. The normal KJ has an illness in the family and is unable to perform now, it has really decreased our business. We pay $150/night 2 X/week and a lot of the times it is busy one day...not so the next. A stand-in KJ has been performing, but its a hit and miss also. Some of the regulars have come up to me and said I need another KJ. There has been some nights where its shoulder to shoulder and the place is rockin till close, some nights just dead. I figure in one years time, I will make the $$ back that I pay for this system and have it for years more of use. The DJ nights will help increase clientele as well, the excellent sound will be spread by word of mouth from the customers and we will be a KJ/DJ establishment. My daughter/wife/son work here also, and they will be recruited and trained on how to do it. They will be paid nightly. Between myself, my son, my daughter, I'm sure one of us will strike the right tune and we can feed off each other, improving our performances and increasing our clientele. I am not going anywhere else to perform, it will be a stationary system for my bars personal use only. If in the early evening a group comes in and they want to Karaoke...it will take just minutes to fire up. We will advertise by newspapers/building posters/streetside banners our available Karaoke and if its a good system, I have little doubt that it won't increase the clientele. This place needs a better music system, the juke box is good, but in no way can compare with the system I plan to get. The better the music, the better the crowd.  

I've seen the Top hits monthly and I will probably acquire them also. I understand to do it legally you need to have the "original disks" on hand, and not pirated disks.
I have a lot of my own CD's and those will be on hand. The MP3 idea is for use with a notebook computer and an add on hard drive. Not to be left on site. I am aware that they might not sound as crisp on the PA system as they do on a home PC, but its just an idea and an experiment. If it works ...great, if not...oh well.
I just want better Karaoke/music for my customer base, a happy customer is a returning customer.  Thanks for the input, I will look up the Behringer lineup, someone mentioned them once or twice on my previous thread, will look into it.

Cardinals =  :(                          one more try!                   bigjim56

Have been a die hard Peavey speaker fan for many years using various set ups of the hysis range I never found the amps to be that great though and opted for a Yamaha, which has been superb and gave more clarity to the sound. I have recently changed to E.V's and despite my initial misgivings regarding the lightweight construction versus sound quality have been nothing but impressed. If Lugging heavy gear around is an issue these really help solve the problem athough i wouldn't swap my ultra heavy yamaha amp for anything lighter.

2 good microphones...$50      LMAO  LMAO  LMAO