d&b Audiotechnik

[londonjim]

Does anyone know anything about the C4 and the C7?

 

I am looking at buying a couple of stacks, and I wondered which one would be suitable for a RANGE of applications?

[Big Dave]

If you looking for the most flexible system, then you'll be much better off with C7 than C4.

 

The C4 only has a 35x35 degree dispersion and is designed primarily to be used in high SPL arrays. I have used it a couple of times ground stacked ( 2 x C4 top, 2 x C4 sub + 1 B2 Sub per side) and it did the job perfectly - ( for info, Surrey University have a C4 system in their union) but on every other occasion it has been in the air. We used C4 at the warm up stage for the Nike Run London 10K back in november, 2 wide 4 deep (4 C4 Top, 4 C4 Sub) array trimmed at 10m each side of stage, with 2xB2's under stage to cover approx 10,000 in a car park and we were only running it about 60%.

 

C7 system has a 75 degree horizontal dispersion and so is much more flexible. Use this stuff a lot for parties, award shows etc where its perfect, although it is normally all indoor stuff. Used it out doors on a few occasions where we didn't need it to throw too far. 2 C7 tops on top of a B2 sub rocks. The C7 sub can also be used as a stand alone sub for most other systems and sound good.

 

HTH, but if you need any more info let me know.

[londonjim]

Thats cool thanks dave.

 

Any idea on the price; I beleive its about 10K a stack?

 

What about B2s I like them, used them a couple of times and they looked good.

[Big Dave]

You should be able to get it for less than that. List price is about £6,300 by the time you add in transit lids etc but that doesn't include a D12 amp and I'm not 100% on the price of those, the old P1200C7 was listed at about £2,500 but I think the D12 is more expensive. If you shop around, you can usually get a reasonable discount on those prices.

 

The B2 is a great sub especially when used in infra mode (38 - 68 Hz), it absolutely kicks. Their biggest downfall was that you only used to be able to drive 1 B2 per A1 main frame but at least now with the D12 you can run 2 per amp.

[londonjim]

Hmm, thats good news, thats less than I expected.

 

Do people like AC do them - or is it a specialist thing?

 

I was actually planning on using P1200 amps - this is what I have used before.

 

But there again I expect I will have to pay out another £2K in EP5

[Peter Russell]

To be honest the C4 & C7's are relatively old boxes so if you do go down that route then it would be worth looking at the second hand market.

 

For a new purchase then I would suggest you listen to the d&b Q Series, it is currently one of the best small line array systems on the market and is equally effective flown or ground-stacked, and as they are becoming so popular there will be more of a market for people looking to sub hire them from you and also will be easy to get more if you need them for a large project.

 

With regards to amplifiers d&b will soon be discontinuing the P1200 in favour of the newer D12 amp. The D12 is a far superior amp and will run most speakers in the d&b catalogue and includes eq, delay etc on each channel.

 

If you want to listen / purchase any kit then you are best off speaking to d&b directly and also going on one of John Taylor's seminars.

 

HTH, Peter

[lonfire]

hi,

I'm looking at hiring a d&b system for a gig I'm doing.. looking for around a 2k system (I know systems are measured in spl these days but I'm not used to that yet ;-)).. its for a school hall sized venue to handle a full band (drums, guitar, keys, bass, vox).. the hire company has c7's tops and subs, C4's tops and subs, b2 subs..

 

what do people think would be a good config.. and how much should I expect to pay for hire of a system with amps over a weekend..

 

thanks

chris

[Big Dave]

How Big is the hall?.....I've seen school halls that are barns! And when you say system, do you need desk, control, monitors, mics etc as well or are you just looking at speakers and amps?

 

A stack of C7 and amp normally costs about £80 a day to hire.

[lonfire]

hi,

the hall is around 10m wide and around 15-16m long, with sliding doors at the back which open into another room thats 10m wide and about 6 m long.

 

speakers and amp

probably another desk (only got a 16 channel LX7 + folio F1)

3xmonitors

 

but the main thing I'm pricing at the moment is the speakers and amps as the rest I know roughly what I should expect to pay..

 

£80 per day.. how bigs the stack?

 

thanks

 

chris

[Peter Russell]

how bigs the stack?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A C4/7 stack means 1 top and 1 sub.

For the size hall you mention I don't think you will really need any B2's (although if you have the budget they are a great box) and would probably go for 4 x C7 top, 4 x C7 sub and 2 x P1200/C4 (or 2 x D12), although if you are short of cash then you could probably reduce that to 2 x C7 top, 2 x C7 sub and 2 x P1200/C4 (or 2 x D12) but you wouldn't save that much.

 

 

Peter

[londonjim]

I thought a full stack is a top and 2 subs?

[Big Dave]

A C7 Stack is 2 subs and one top. A C4 Stack is usually 1 sub and 1 top. For a hall of that size, 1 stack of C7 either side of stage will be more than adequate.

 

£80 should get you 1 C7 top, 2 C7sub & 1 x P1200 or D12

[londonjim]

Are you sure you mean £80 - hahaha I will buy 12 stacks!

[Big Dave]

err thats the hire price

[londonjim]

Ahh ok - we are looking to buy.