Karaoke Forums

OK guys so I'm well on my way to completing my system.

I just purchased my mixer. After long and hard research and taking everyones opinions into consideration I decided to go with the Mackie CFX 12.

Now on to my next step. Speakers. I think I want to go the powered speaker route. Can I get some opinions on a good powered speaker setup?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

~Lazer

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"Baby, Just Because I Rock, Doesn't Mean I'm Made Of Stone."

I just bought a Mackie CFX12 yesterday.

I really like using JBL 15's. --Mike

Does those come in a package deal with a sub?

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"Baby, Just Because I Rock, Doesn't Mean I'm Made Of Stone."

I have never seen them in a package deal.  I have only seen them priced as individual speakers, but to me, they are worth the money you pay for them. You can have a great system, but if you have cheap speakers, your system will not sound good.  I do live shows every week for at least 3 to 400 people. Last year I did a show for 3,000 military personel. I am very particular about my sound.  The JBL's have always been my choice. That is not to say that they are the only good speakers. Yamaha has some really good speakers as does Mackie. You just get what you pay for.

My favorite powered is still the Mackie SRM450.  Crisp clear sound, packs a punch & sounds great by itself, add a sub to it & it's undescribable!

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=605255
For a sub, you would only really need 1.
http://www.americanmusical.com/item--i-QSC-HPR181I.html

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

You are right, those particular Mackie speakers are really good. I used some like them one time, but I already owned the JBL's.  I am really particular in wanting to get a clean, crisp sound but I still want to be able to get a great low end as well.  The Mackies will give you a great  sound, the sub will only make it better. I have read a lot of Lonnies recomendations in the forums and I can tell that he knows what he is talking about. I always go check out the equipment he recomends to people just to see for myself if I am missing out on something. --Mike

Personally I have yet to hear (given reasonable sized venues) ANYTHING smaller than a 12 inch speaker (speakers) that can offer enough bass.  When I bought PA cabs I went with 15 inch 3-ways EVEN for small room use.  I've listened to powered 10 inch sub-woofer cabs, bass cabs with configs of 10's and quite honestly ALL I've found that can come close to a 15 or 12 is a cab with several 10's..  IOW, I believe that I can hear where bass lacks in smaller single speaker cabs whether the application is PA or Home Audio.. I too favor JBL and Altec 15's in a 3-way cab JMHO..  I've always liked Lansing speakers responses and clean delivery.  I like a bass that can knock you in the chest.  BTW I've never heard Mackie speakers so I have no means to compare them with anything.

ADDED IN:

If the larger speaker is poorer quality however that too noticeably can be heard of course.

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Altec is a killer home speaker, but they don't really have anything for pro use.
If I had the option I would go a 12" top cab with a sub underneath.  Even though I use a 15" 2 way for my tops now, a 12" would give a better sound for vocals - not that it can't be achieved equally as well with a 15".

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

As Lonnie has suggested, if you know your going to be using a separate sub cabinet then by all means an upper with a 12" and horn well lend itself well for vocals. The 15" with horn variety is pretty much used as a compromise so they can be used without a separate sub if needed. I don't use any powered speakers so I don't have an opinion on them. I like to be able to decide how much power I need for a particular situation. I am considering building some powered monitors though.

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Quickness of mind will deceive the eye

Hi:

I own the Mackie SRM450s and recommend them fully.  They are clear and deliver exceptional sound.  Even without a sub, they still put out decent bass for a 12".  They really do sound like studio monitors with the power of a PA speaker.

Cheers

I have the mackie CFX12 and use JBL EON G2's with the JRX 18sp Sub. Great Sound! You will not be disappointed with this combination.  :D

I have a couple of JBL EON 15 G2's and find them excellent.  I will proabably go for a powered sub when I can afford to splurge some more hard-earned cash, but for now I find these perfectly ample!

I KJ at home (big AV room). I use Athena 2x - AS-F2s (for mains) and a Klipsch KSW-12 as sub. I know, I know, I shouldn't be using home theater type speakers for voices, but they sound incredible.

I TOTALLY AGREE... until the JBL PRX512M was released... takes all of the goodness out of the SRM450 and steps it up a couple notches... and weighs 1/2 as much!  ...hands down JBL PRX line is the best!!!(IMHO)  (but don't consider the JBL EON line - those don't compare)

The Yorkville NX 55  beats the Mackie 450s any day of the week.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

Sorry, I didn't realize you guys were discussing portables. One of my speakers weighs in @ 51 lbs.

Fronts:

http://www.athenaspeakers.com/modelASF2specs.htm

Sub:

http://www.klipsch.com/products/details/ksw-12.aspx

Yes but would not stand the riggers of club use & would not project in large areas like pro speakers.

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

I guess that is why the pro speakers are shaped in a v-type. They project a wider berth of sound. I couldn't imagine my speakers not being loud enough. They are 250w x 2 + power sub. They easily fill my 1500sq foot home with sound @ -30 volume on my 600 watt receiver. I can go outside my home and hear it @ any point within 10 feet of any wall and sound stops at 30 feet from the house. Discomfort (not distortion) begins at 0 on the dial. +10 = things rattling on walls. +20 = things falling off the walls.

I do agree on the portability. I was thinking in the future of setting up a karaoke bar. I want the best sound for the environment with proper reproduction. Naturally, I would introduce effects that could make the amateur comfortable.

I looked up the Mackies referenced above. They only go down to 55Hz. My two fronts go down to 35Hz and the sub to 40Hz. Believe me, I have not seen any karaoke lounge/bar sound better. My room I run this setup in is an 18 x 10 room. Which probably amounts to 1/3 the size of fill space as compared to most lounges in the area. The size generally dedicated to the karaoke situation is only about 1/3 - 1/2 of the total bar area.

I just want to say thank you to all that helped me out with this.

I have purchased the Mackie SRM450's and am looking forward to them arriving later in the week.

On to my next piece of equipment so I can get this system off the ground.

~Lazer

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"Baby, Just Because I Rock, Doesn't Mean I'm Made Of Stone."