Which Speaker System??

[triggerfish88]

Hi I Run a Professional Mobile DJ service playing mainly dance/house/techno music and we are looking to upgrade to Top class Indoor Portable Speaker System. I have looked around and have seen a few systems I like and was wondering if anyone can give me advice on which system will perform best with a comparison?

 

EAW LA Series (LA128z, LA460)

 

EAW FR Series (FR250z, FR129z)

 

E.V QRX Series (QRX218s, QRX 212/75)

 

E.V Phoenix Series (PX2181, PX2152)

 

 

If anyone could give me their Views/Opinions on these systems that would be fantastic? Or if you recommend other high quality systems please mention?

 

Thanks

 

 

 

Also does anyone have any experience using the Mach Touring T series?

[StevieR]

Get a demo of a Fohhn Xperience system. We use these on our hire stock and find them ideal for DJ/Club work. Not one of the 'big' names but definately giving them all a run for their money...

[paulears]

StevieR - what makes the Fohnn so good? - the ones we had in to our venue last year were big(ish) but I thought rather average in quality - we have EAW LA series in frequently and I have to say they were very impressive, and the LA325s were amazing (but really heavy)

[jayselway]

I've had a set of FR129z's in for repair a few times. They're a great sounding unit, but have a couple of issues - hence the repair....

 

The group found that on a couple of occasions, the horn would separate itself from the front panel, and that on other occasions, the compression could come loose at the back of the horn. It could well be because, although the HF assembly is pretty weighty, there is no rear support for it, so it relies solely on the front screws to hold it in. It's easy enough to put them back together, but not really the best to have to do it often!

 

Apparently, they weren't handled roughly either, or left to bump around in the van, so I'd be tempted to use them on an install, where they're not going to get moved much, rather than road use.

 

Just my 2p, as always :huh:

[kev-no1987]

I've used alt of nexo systems when if done club work. The only problem being they are not very portable

The systems was:

 

Alpha B1-15 Bass module

Alpha M3 or Alpha e- M]Mid hi module

 

Nexo also do a Smaller System the Ps I've not had a huge amount of experience with the ps but what I've heard is good.

[StevieR]

StevieR - what makes the Fohnn so good? ...

 

Well, that always a matter of opinion. IMHO they sound much better than a lot of the big name boxes. We have had them up against d&b and Nexo and they sounded much warmer and more musical while remaining detailed. We also have a client who owns an EAW rig and hires one of our large Fohhn systems when he needs extra kit. The feedback from him has always been full of praise for the sound of the system.

 

Additionally, the newer systems are incredibly portable with better size-to-power ratios and weight reductions in a lot of the cabinets which makes jobs with them much easier. As the OP states that he is a mobile DJ, I would presume that ease of transportation is important. Plus, the inbuilt processing gives good limiting functions to protect the system - especially important with dj/club systems.

 

At the end of the day though, the best advice is always to get a good demo. The OP would seem to be willing to spend good money for the right system and good dealers should be happy to oblige. He can then decide which system is best suited to his application.

 

Steve

[Matt Riley]

I don't know about EAW's current market position (afaik they're currently owned by a venture capital group) and people seem to be understandably being wary about their future purchases with the company at the moment. I heard a lower end, small EAW rig last weekend and although it wasn't horrible, it seemed that there were far better solutions for the same money for that application, and this may well be the case with you.

 

Other systems I would look at would be Turbosound TQ series, KV2, Martin (possibly their blackline range), Nexo PS15/LS1200, Funktion 1 res 1/2 system, and EM acoustics (ems121/215). Although I can't really visualise the kind of sound you're looking for, so the best bet is to have a listen to the ones which look like they fit the bill.

 

Matt

[TonyMitchell]

Oliver

 

have a look at the Void Stasys, absolutely lethal for dance music, beautiful sounding boxes

 

http://www.voidaudio.com/product_detail.asp?id=17

 

Tony

[Matt Riley]

(afaik they're currently owned by a venture capital group)

While watching working lunch, I just realised that venture capital group is probably not the right term, the whole group is owned by Sun "uncovering value in underperformers, turnarounds, and special situations" Capital Group. Which seems to me to be not necessarily a good thing.

 

M

[paulears]

Venture Capital Group owned?

 

LOUD Technologies Inc. LOUD Technologies Inc. is one of the world’s largest dedicated pro audio and music products companies. As the corporate parent for world-recognized brands including Alvarez, Ampeg, Crate, EAW, Knilling, Mackie, SIA and TAPCO, LOUD Technologies Inc. produces a wide range of digital recording products, loudspeakers, commercial audio systems, audio and music software, guitars, guitar and bass amplifiers, and orchestral string instruments. Additionally, LOUD Technologies is one of the largest distributors of branded pro audio and music accessories. Wherever there is music making, live performance, audio recording or playback, LOUD Technologies is there.

Out of that lot there a quite a few well know brands and the one missing one is the latest aquisition - Martin Audio. It does look like they know what companies they buy? This certainly would not in any way put me off an EAW product, in fact, probably the opposite.

[Bobbsy]

I believe the sequence of events was that Mackie bought EAW but then, in turn, were purchased by LOUD. LOUD may be venture capitalists (or probably more accurately, a holding company) but they certainly specialise in the audio industry. As far as I can tell, LOUD's way of operating has been to keep the engineering and design teams of their acquisitions intact but transfer much of the actual manufacture to China for cost reasons. However, I've not heard any rumours at all about a reduction in EAW quality.

 

As for the OP's shortlist, I must admit to a preference for EAW over EV for most things, but both my professional involvement and musical tastes are too far removed from DJ stuff to be more specific.

 

Bob

[Matt Riley]

There's loads of very informed debate on PSW recently about this very topic. LOUD are owned by Sun Capital Group. The tagline "uncovering value in underperformers, turnarounds, and special situations" is their own one, and it doesn't fill me with great joy about the future of either EAW or Martin. 'Fattening the pig before they flip it' was the most succinct observation I heard about the whole ownership situation.

 

Anyway the useful point of this OT jaunt to the OP was that if I were looking at purchasing EAW products, the status and future of the company would certainly be a factor I would seriously consider.

 

M

[triggerfish88]

I am now also interested in the Void acoustics range. I think this would be the setup:

 

4x Void Stasys 5 subs

2x Void Stasys 4 mid/tops

1x Void Digidrive plus

1x Void Kryo 7 amp

1x Void Kryo 8 amp

 

Any Views/Opinions on this setup?

[Mark Payne]

Trigger... you have a PM

 

Also remember what you and and I think about the particulars and finite detail of the sound quality of product A vs product B...... is ..... secondary.

 

Assuming we are buying quality product what r e a l l y matters is

 

1. Where can I hire more of the same from when I do that bigger gig?

2. Who can I hire my stuff to when I am quiet to make a little money (maybe the same answer as 1 above)?

3. What is it worth when I come to sell it?

 

Now we are thinking about cost of ownership.

 

BTW.... I was interested and I looked up two "Void Dealers" .... both of them do hire and neither of them have any Void in hire stock. What does this tell you? Oh... found one that does (Allan Smyth up north).

 

Peace

 

Mark

[jayselway]

Allan Smythe is on here as BR member alsmyth B-)