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Touring "speech only" Speakers


Bobbsy

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I may be moving a bit outside my comfort zone in the medium future and getting involved in a small-scale tour for which I'd need to provide speakers. I already have a few ideas (or should I say prejudices?) of my own, but the requirements are rather different from the usual things I work on so this seems a good time to see what other people like. What I'd need are speakers that suit the following:

 

-speech-only sound reinforcement in small/medium venues (say 150-500 seats). This is subtle reinforcement so clarity/intelligibility is more important than SPL. If they were good at other things too, so much the better!

 

-small size and light weight are an issue since they'd have to share space in a van with my mixer/ouboard rack/amp rack (if not powered) and all other luggage. I'll probably have to do the lugging and set up myself and I'm a decrepit old git.

 

-set up would have to be a mix of stands or on the floor...I wouldn't anticipate the possibility to fly in the venues considered.

 

-no particular preference between powered/unpowered...I can see the arguments for either

 

-this'll be my own money so cost is a factor...but I want the right balance between initial price, longevity and re-sale value so it doesn't have to be the cheapest.

 

-finally, the tour in question is in Australia, so the gear has to be commonly (and economically) available there.

 

The show, by the way, would be a "psychic with an audience" thing. I've tried asking the psychic to predict the best gear but so far the otherworld doesn't seem rich in sound engineers....

 

Bob

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I would have a look at the RCF C3110. They're a nice looking, nice performing box. Similar to the Nexo PS10, but cheaper, and don't require a processor. I beleive they cost around £250 per box, but I've no idea if they're available in Australia unfortunately. The only dowside to them that I've found is that you can't use them as a wedge.
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Do you need something as "high-end" as D&B? If it's speech only, would a bunch of moulded 12+horns (SX300 clones) on sticks do the job?

 

[stereotype]

Also, don't forget that you'll need some good sound effects - "Is there anybody there" (press) "knock knock knock"..

[/sterotype]

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If you don't need such a high end speaker cab. I would recommend thomann pa110s. At £140 per pair you can't grumble. I used a pair last night for a small vocal pa and background music, for st paddy's day and they worked a treat. The only draw back is the only place you can get them from is Germany, However I'm lead to believe they will deliver to Aus.
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Another vote for the D&B E3 here. I find for vocal only they're the best, though you'll need some subs of you have any walk in/walk out or stings which need that extra oomph. E3 systems very economical on van space too!
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Hi Bob,

 

My 'real world' suggestion is Verve 12 by FBT. Very nicely balanced for speech - totally natural sounding. Neo drivers and ply boxes so they're very light. Don't cost a fortune either. Not sure who FBT's distributor is in Aus, but a call to Proel in the UK would be fruitful I'm sure.

 

Verve link

 

Pete.

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The SX80s have a very nice vocal quality for a plastic box. I regularly use a system that has 3 arrayed as a centre cluster and it handles lecturn mics and lapel mics very well.

 

Very light and small too, though you may find above 300 seaters they become a bit weak.

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The SX80s...

Very light and small too, though you may find above 300 seaters they become a bit weak.

 

But don't overdrive them - We have a couple with blown drivers sitting under a workbench at work, which were removed from an installation after someone had a "festival of feedback" one night. It's not an economic repair.

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Is it not more ecomical to hire the speakers in Oz? To save on the import/ex-port costs and paperwork of your going to take them back to the UK?

I'm the D&B E3's will do the job more than satisfactory and are brilliant speakers, but the EVS80's will do the job. Surely hiring is the way to go?

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