Karaoke Forums

This stuff ended up costing me a bunch more than I thought I would initially spend, which is pretty typical I guess once you really start getting some information about what you can and can't skimp as much on.  The only item I haven't purchased yet is a floor monitor and a external sound card/hard drive for my laptop.

Here is what I have...

PLAYERS:

-- TWO RSQ MK22 Players (CDG / DVD / MP4 / VCD / CDR / CDRW / DVD-R / DVD-RW)
-- Dell Inspiron Laptop

SPEAKERS:

-- TWO JBL MP215 MPro 200 Series 15 in. 2-Way Speakers
-- TWO Behringer (B1800X) 18 Inch Subwoofers  

MIXER/AMP, ETC:

-- Behringer UB1832FX Pro Mixer
-- Behringer EP2500 Power 2400W Power Amp
-- DBX 266XL Compressor/Gate
-- Furman M8D Power Conditioner with lights and Digital Voltmeter

MICROPHONES:

--- 3 Samson R21s (Shure 58 Copies)


RACK CASE:

-- SKB Gig Rig (10 Space) with built in wheels and handle feature

MISC CABLES: $150

I am over $3000.00 So far, and I still need to pick up a Floor Monitor, Wireless Mics, a sound card, External Hardrive and some other Misc. stuff.  This does not include any of the music....Which is another couple grand. (and I got a lot of it used)

I had hoped to get into my gear for about 2 grand plus music..... Not by a long shot.  This stuff adds up in a hurry....and I know my set up is nothing special.

D.J.

Sounds like a very nice setup.  I like the fact you are using Behringer for some of your equipment.  I used to be in the mind set that more $$$ = better sound.  But about 2 years ago I switched to all new Behringer equipment.  Why pay more for a name such a Crate, Peavy, Mackie, Marshal, ect...  When Behringer can do it for way cheaper.  

Also nice to see you are willing to spend $$$ so yu don't look like some fly-by-nite DJ that bought all of his/her stuff at walmart/radioshack.  I have spent over $10,000 in the last year on new equipment & music, and yet some people in my are still geting by using home stero equipment.  Go figure, but not for long as I am getting booked to the brim with ggigs.

Hope you get it al running good!!!

I've had a Behrenger mixer go out on me... nice 16track machine suddenly go poof. no fx. it finally went byebye over at Tig's place.

Right now he's got his hands on my Mackie 12DFX... I may never see it again! !

I'm also going to debut my Numark mixer that connects usb to my computer. Want to see that baybe work!

I've never had any luck with Behringer either & IMO aren't as clean sounding as most other brands - but they will do the job - when they work.

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

Oh stop it Lonman. Geez, just because you and Matt had bad luck, doesn't mean every body has it.

djfrank, WTG! my man, good stuff!

Allstar... you saying if you buy one expensive mixer and it screws up on you, especially for a show, that you're just going to be OH so excited to try them again? Especially since OTHER karaoke jocks have mentioned Behrenger's weaknesses in the past??

YOU stop it! !

I actually questioned the behringer reliability myself at first.  I know from replies on this board that they have been hit or miss as far as reliability.  Some people loved them and some people loathed them.  I started asking around some of my friends in bands and people at some of the music stores locally and the overall opinion was that the earlier behringer stuff had problems, but in the last two years or so, the stuff has been super reliable...even when abused.  I know they have a good rep in the guitarist community for making decent stuff for great prices.  It seemed worth it to me to give them a shot.  I bought mine at a local store also, so any warranty issues would be taken care of right here locally.  And they even offer loaner stuff when your working stuff is in for repair or warranty.  Thanks for everybody's help and input on this stuff. I know I would have made some big mistakes in my purchases if I hadn't come here first.   D.J.

Just FYI, I don't know who told you that the Samson R21 mics are Shure S58 knockoffs, but I think they mislead you.

I happen to use both of those mics in my current setup. The Samson R21 mic sounds night and day different than the Shure S58. The gain on the Samson mic is outta control, which is actually a good thing at lower volumes and for those pesky quiet singers, while the Shure mic is usually 100% in tune with my EQ settings and sounds much "smoother."

I've heard of Shure making mics for Radio Shack, but Samson is one of their competitors, so I don't know why or how they would allow them to copy thier mic...as I understand it, the specifics of each mic can be copywrited as intellectual property!!

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C Mc
KJ, FL

Shure makes Radio Shack's mics... R.S. has an exclusive deal with them

I've been very happy with my Behringer mixers.....I have both the 1832 and the 1222...

I like that they include so many features that just can't be had on small "quality" mixers even at higher prices.....I especially like that they are totally silent with no induced hiss or noise even when every input is cranked to max....I love the metering, the switching, the flexibility and cutting edge features they offer....And yeah, at the price, I can toss them in the trash if they die.

Folks here need to remember that even the top brand small mixers are being made in China or other overseas locations now. That includes Mackie, Peavey and most of the rest.

Folks here also need to remember that if you want studio quality preamps, then like with any mixer, you need to pay for it and buy an outboard unit....Expect to pay $500/channel for studio quality pre's.

Well, I got the information from a bunch of different reviews that I found on the Samson R21s, and a guy in a music store that didn't even carry them, but used them for his band... I am sure they are not exactly the same, but they were meant to be very close in performance, and many people would argue that they are.  

Read all these reviews and you tell me.... They even LOOK the same.

http://www.americanmusical.com/itemrevi ... 1PACK.html

" Sound:
I am a professional musician in New Orleans. I have owned these mics since November 2004. I have used them for Vocals, Drums and Instrument mics. They perform flawlessly. The rest of our mics are SM58's and 57s. No one in my band can tell the difference between the Samson and the 58. I have used them for recording vocals and found that they are warm and forgiving. They don't feed back easily. I consider this a GREAT BUY! "

Actually, I spent over $200 in cables alone...  :shock:

You can save on cable if you make them. http://www.colomar.com/Shavano/construction.html

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

I really like my Samson R21 mics, don't get me wrong. They have been in service now for almost 2 years and I've never had a problem. BUT at the same settings they are NIGHT AND DAY different than my main Shure S58 mic (which has also stood up for 2 years). I would venture to say that if this professional can't tell the sonic difference between these two mics that he needs to get his ears checked right after he gives up on his music career. I'm a firm believer that the sound of a mic is pretty much personal preference, so I'm not trying to discourage you from buying the Samson R21s, but they are NOTHING like the Shure S58 mic beyond that they are both black with silver cardiod screens (and MANY mics looks similar...I'm not sure how that matters).

Go to your local SamAsh or Guitar Center and demo these two mics and hopefully you'll understand that they are not any more similar than Coke and the grocery store brand cola. The grocery store brand may not taste bad, but it certainly doesn't have the engeneering and subjective "quality" of Coca Cola!!

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C Mc
KJ, FL

Last year I purchased the set of Samson R21 WHO COULD BEAT THE DEAL
3 mics for $49  :D

They turned our to be a very decent "cheap" mic.   I experienced too much handling noise and eventual after 1 drop - One stopped working ...So I since replaced with the Sennheiser 3 pack for $99 .  They are much better than the Samsons but I would tend to believe neither are as good as the Shure - SM58

MAYBE THE PG58??

My speaker cables alone for 2 speakers are $250 Most of the time I run 4 so that's $500. I use high end 50 ft speak-on to speak-on cables they are $129 each after a $20 discount.

I have use behringer in my lifetime.

The price is good the quality is poor. You can tell just by feeling the faders.
The power amps are the least reliable power amps I have ever used in my life.
I had one it always over heated running a 4 ohm load.

Ridiculous, absolutely bloody ridiculous paying that for speaker cables.

Buy bulk & make them yourself.  Hell of alot cheaper.

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

No Quality, good quality. But it appears the price I have been getting is the same as pssl's. I stopped buying junk a long time ago. My systems sound so much better since I switched to monster cables.

http://www.pssl.com/bitemdetail.tpl~waGroup1datarq~[waGroup1datarq]~eqint_KeyIDdata~32553~itemNumber~[item_number]~UID~2005102501492001~disp_IMG~Y~catgroup~%5BcatGroup%5D

Probably because you still use Behringer - mixers and headphones as well according your website.