Boltonguy Posted October 26, 2014 Share Posted October 26, 2014 Hi guys. Hope you're all keeping busy. I Need your professional thoughts as I'm ready to push the button on a new PA system. I'm a solo artist (using party music backing tracks) and I'm doing everything from pubs to larger halls. I'm currently running 2 yamaha DXR15s and I'm finding I'm running out of volume in the larger venues. The first option is 2 DXR10s with 2 DXS12 subs (I have gone for 12 inch subs as I load in on my own and also lifting 10 inch tops on to sticks would be easier) This would give me flexibility to use just one sub in the smaller venues. The second option is 2 x EV ETX15's tops as the specs seem rather impressive. (They go lower than the dxs subs) The ETX subs are just too Heavey and too big for me. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated as I'm struggling to find a nearby shop with the ETX speakers and I cant really judge on how the system will sound in real life by doing just a shop demo. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljoshua Posted October 26, 2014 Share Posted October 26, 2014 I can't comment on the ETX 15" Tops but the ETX 15" sub isn't that unwielding IMO. The 10" tops are also stunning (we recently installed a pair into a local studio theatre. If you're loading in on your own, lifting a pair of 15" tops onto a speaker stand is going to be worse than a pair of wheeled 15" subs. You'd only really need one ETX sub too IMO, they're pretty poky (same 15" as in their X-Line Tops apparently). Josh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam.spoons Posted October 26, 2014 Share Posted October 26, 2014 I use DXR10s for monitors and occasionally FOH but I have QSC K12s over a single EV sBa 750 sub for my usual FOH rig. The DXR10s are very good and, with a single 15'" sub should do the business, that's how I would go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boltonguy Posted October 27, 2014 Author Share Posted October 27, 2014 Thanks Joshua but the ETX-15sp with 2 x ETX-10p is above my budget. Sam, would you say 1 x 15 inch sub would be better than 2 x 12 inch subs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam.spoons Posted October 27, 2014 Share Posted October 27, 2014 Thanks Joshua but the ETX-15sp with 2 x ETX-10p is above my budget. Sam, would you say 1 x 15 inch sub would be better than 2 x 12 inch subs? For me personally yes, my sBa750 goes lower and takes less space in the car than two 12" subs, it's probably the same output too (it only needs to be 3dB louder to be a match for a pair of smaller subs). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneEng Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 Add a pair of PRX718XLF's and run the DXR15's from the HPF output with the cross-over engaged in the XLF's. For smaller venue's, leave the subs at home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boltonguy Posted October 28, 2014 Author Share Posted October 28, 2014 Thanks but having 2 x 18 inch subs is not practicable both in cost and logistics for me as a solo artist. The reason I chose 2 x 12 inch subs as an option was due to size and weight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dickiefunk Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 The RCF 745a's would be worth auditioning if you just want to stick with a single pair of 15" speakers. From what I've been told they go louder, lower and clearer than the DXR15's whilst being over 2kg lighter. I'm interested in these myself and am hoping to a/b them with the DXR15's in the next few weeks. Another alternative would be to add a pair of subs as OneEng says. I personally have a pair of DXR15's which I use with a pair of EV ELX118p subs. This system sounds great but I feel the DXR15's have a little more headroom and output than the ELX 118p's. The JBL PRX718XLF subs are meant to be a step up from the EV subs and I would like a pair of these myself to go with my DXR15's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boltonguy Posted October 31, 2014 Author Share Posted October 31, 2014 Thanks dickie. With being a solo act I would not get 15s with 18 subs. If I was to get subs they would be the 12 inch variety with 10 inch tops. The 15 inch tops option is without any subs. I was wondering Would I still get the same SPLAnd frequency response from a 12 inch sub and 10 inch top than I would from a equivalent 15 inch top of the same range without a sub. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam.spoons Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 One ETX15 sub will be louder than two ZXA1 12" subs (134dB against 126dB a box, so 129dB for a pair). It'll go much lower too, for low frequencies size really does matter. IMHO 12" subs may have a place in a studio or living room but for live gigs they are pretty pointless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljoshua Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 I would agree that a single ETX15SP and a pair of ETX10P tops would be a very good choice. Josh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boltonguy Posted October 31, 2014 Author Share Posted October 31, 2014 So 2 x dxs 12 subs would not be as good as 1 x etx15 sub? I'm just concerned about size of that sub (including castors) when I get placed in the corner of a bar or restaurant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 ...(134dB against 126dB a box, so 129dB for a pair)... The trouble with comparing numbers is that you're never comparing like with like. Take that 126dB figure. It's quoted on the EV site as...Max. SPL/1m (calc) 126 dB See that "(calc)"? It means they've never actually measured it which makes it about as much use as a chocolate teapot. What assumptions did they make when calculating it? Did they allow for power compression in the driver? Did they allow for voice coil heating? etc etc. And the 134dB figure...Maximum SPL 134 dB peak dB What on earth is a 'peak dB'? And whilst the difference between 129dB and 134dB seems a lot at 5dB, most people can't detect such a small difference. [E2A]and while I'm having a rant....it would be bad enough is this was about two different brands of speaker but it's not. WTF are EV doing by not having a standardised way to compare their products? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam.spoons Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 On paper they'd be slightly louder at 131dB each, 134 for the pair but they don't go as low. The single 15" takes up less space than the two 12"s, in fact a single PRX718 takes less space than two 12" and goes lower still (and is louder and lighter than the DXS15). I use a single old school EV sBa750 15" sub with a pair of QSC K12s and I've never found it lacking, even with a 6 piece soul/funk band, everything miked (drums, bass, guitar, keys and 4 vox). If you're really chasing volume though I'd look at a pair of Yamaha DSR12's over a single JBL PXR718XLF sub I doubt you'll find louder without spending silly money. How often do you do the larger venues where you struggle for volume? If it's not to often then hiring a bigger FOH rig just for these shows may well be the most economical approach. Your DXR15s are very good speakers, you might find that anything you can easily rig solo won't gain you enough extra volume to be worth the trouble of swapping. Edit +1 to everything Brian says ..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneEng Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 I don't believe I have ever seen a solo artist run the gas out of a DXR15. What kind of music are you playing, and what kind of venue floor space are you attempting to cover? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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