Hey folks, I spoke to many similar small venues and have decided to get:

an ls9 32 yamaha

5 d&b max 12 wedges (small venue)
2 e12 tops
2 e15 bins
and 5 d&b D6 amps

what do ya reckon? all types of music, small venue. any advice on the switch to digital?

Good kit, although it's difficult to know exactly how it'll sound without hearing it in the venue. 2 things,

It may be worth looking at the d&b Ci series instead of the E series. As great as the E series is (the E9, the E12's predecessor, is still my favourite box), for 'permanent' install, the Ci can give you better performance without the flexibility of portability.

For the amps too, you could go for 2 x D12s, and see if you can get hold of some of the last-generation E-Pacs (mono power blocks) to power the wedges, otherwise you're going to end up with one channel of a D6 doing nothing, which is a waste...

Or looking at it another way, you have a spare amp (and processing) channel, for future expansion or for redundant backup.

If memory serves me correctly, the Max12 wedges do not require the ubiquitous d&b processing and can therefore be driven by a standard amp - see the d&b specs for full details. Can save you a few pennies that way.

Steve

StevieR is definitely right. The Max range are the only ones in the D&B family which don't need the special amps.


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However, while on paper they both look like good options... get a demo of the roland m400. It isn't a yamaha but if you're not filling riders, then the roland sounds better in my opinion, and has a lot more functionality for a similar price. Also make sure that the speakers are right for your venue. We don't know whether it is narrow and long, or short and wide, or l-shaped, or round so it would help if you chucked up some photos just for us to see actually what kind of area they are going to have to cover. With the LS9-32, try and run the FOH system out of the digital outs of the desk. It will sound slightly better.

M

Agreed about redundant backup channel, or a spare should you need to expand for whatever reason. That said. Stevie also makes a very valid point. It's not that you don't HAVE to use the D&B amps but will get a better sound if you do, as there is no specific setting on the amps. The documentation recommends the amps are run in FLAT or LINEAR mode. You can save alot of money this way, which might give you a little extra for Ci series. Though let's not dwell on Alex's recently discovered C series fetish too much.

I was merely suggesting that a system designed for permanent install may well be better off used for permanent install than one which is designed from the start to be portable.

Not coming from my experience, but from someone who runs a rental company which stocks d&b, the new E12, as tightly controlled and lightweight as it is, doesn't sound so special when you start use it for gigging volumes based on it not being made of birch. This may well be of no relevance when being used with subs, but the fact of the matter is, they're still designed (being made out of 'polyutherene') to be portable speakers.

And the Ci series is NOT the same as the C series. Only the Ci4, Ci7 and Ci7-sub are based on the C-series, the other Ci speakers are completely different.

Also, there is a specific MAX setting on the D-series amplifiers. not sure what it actually does any different to LINEAR, but it does exist.

I'd second the M400 option. sounds a whole lot better than an LS9, and does do more for less money. the digital snake is also a fantastic feature.

The MAX setting must be new, I'm 99% certain the MAX instructions USED to say set to LINEAR.

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Also, Alex, just stop it.

Some of us were in the industry BEFORE they discontinued half of the C series. C6 C690 I'll let you figure it out yourself. The Ci-Sub is the same size as the C4 Sub, it has the driver out of the C7 sub, it uses the C7 sub amplifier setting.

Here, use mine, it's Spear and Jackson......

I've heard tell that the d&b e12/e15 combo is a little bit naff for the price that you pay. You may want to consider some Turbo TQ445s instead.

I certainly wouldn't describe d&b E series as "naff".


Back to the OP, whom has described his program material as "all types of music", just one E15 sub per side is, IMHO, probably not enough bottom end and I would consider doubling that up.

Just my 2p



Tony

Agreed. The E series stuff is pretty decent (very decent, in the right setting), but if you have the option, you would be better getting a second had rig from somewhere like Wigwam. You'll get more good condition kit for your cash, rather than a couple of good boxes on sticks with subs. At best it will be great little compact sound reinforcement rig, best for vocals - so if that's what you are expecting then carry on.

If I were looking at a rig of this size, I would also consider Turbo, Nexo PS15s (again loads of used kit from good hire companies), Logic systems, or even the higher end RCF boxes. However, that arguement could (and would) go round and round - and has on this forum a million times.

You've heard the e12/e15 combo and have decided it's a bit naff for yourself, or some bloke down the pub got it from some other bloke down another pub who's mum's sister in law's nephew's ex brother in law's dog's former owner's dad that it might be a bit naff? Personally I couldn't disagree more - admittedly it might not be to everyone's tastes, but naff it certainly isn't...

Have you got riders to fulfill? An advantage of going with the LS9 over the M400 might be that it's more rider friendly, and also if it packs out on you chances are there's going to be one you can hire relatively close by. Of course the same might be true for an M400, but I would've thought it's less likely - just a thought.

I agree, I've heard these the other week in a theatrical environment but also with a fairly lightweight band through them. It was 4 tops and 4 subs (coverage issue) and Was very impressed.

However, I do agree the TQ445 is a nicer sounding box. Then again, I prefer them to the Q7. It's the 2nd reason I use them instead of Q7s. The first being there are a dozen more boxes in my local area and no Q7's that I know of. Price doesn't come into it.

we used a pair of E12s and a pair of E15subs run from a D6 set to E12x mode at old billingsgate for the disco stage at the end of a charity event I worked on recently this combination had absolutely no trouble filling the space with very loud unpleasant sounding music. I felt if the music had been more to my taste, the system would have been pretty impressive for its size and weight. Certainly not naff, and plenty of bottom end - certainly more than the E3 / E12subs set-up we have here in the studio theatre, although I think that too does surprisingly well for a small lightweight system.

I think you'll find that there are more about than you think though. SFL group in Reading are one major hire company who have at least one. Roland are also very supportive in the UK. M