PA advice please

[stoogie]

Hi all,

 

I was looking for advice in choosing a pa. Price, ease of set up (since none of us are experts but know a wee bit) are the main factors- I think I could stretch to £1.5k and then add to the system as and when

 

Backround- we are a 5 piece rock/ pop covers band looking a starter flexable pa to handle smaller pubs (just vocals mic'd) to larger pubs and weddings where we will be needing to mic drums and guitar cabs.

 

this was what I was thinking about:

http://www.thomann.de/gb/mackie_srm_450_bundle.htm

 

and add a mixing desk (would need some recommendations here)

 

whats the issues we could be faced with and what size, no. of people could this system cope with.

 

or I'm I totally on the wrong track!

 

cheers in advance

stoogie

[mervaka]

I'm not sure what those thomann subs sound like, but the 450s are great!

 

perhaps you could stretch your budget to get a pair of SWA1501s? thomann do another bundle with them in

 

http://www.thomann.de/gb/mackie_set_450_1501_power.htm

 

I've heard a local band go round with this setup, you get a LOT for your money here.. I'm not sure if I'd be willing to gamble £300 on a thomann sub myself when those SWA1501s go for £500..

[Rob_Beech]

The figures look promising for that sub. There is only 1 way to find out and that's listen to it, which isn't easy to do :D

 

If the figures are as accurate as they are on my tp218's then you'll be fine with those, probably more so than the mackie ones, but they are a larger heavier box, and a different design.

 

 

Rob

[mervaka]

would be interesting to find someone who stocked thomann own brand..

[stoogie]

Cheers, I've come across a pair of JBL EON15's adverstised s/h locally and thinking of them instead of the mackies- anyone know how they compare?

 

then get the 2 subs possibly- but what size of venue could you hope to fill with a set up like this??

 

Thanks

[Brian]

...a pair of JBL EON15's adverstised s/h locally and thinking of them instead of the mackies- anyone know how they compare?

original EONs or the new G2 model? The originals always sounded harsh to me.

[dan slv-tech]

ive not heard either version of the eons that sound nice, always abit shouty at the top end, and if you try to notch it out it sounds odder still.

Have you looked at active kit from Proel Neos range, amazing but expensive, but very light use powersoft modules in their boxes, or failing that if your on a real budget look at terralec they have some not so expensive no names kit, but it does work and the service is good

 

dan

[G Jones]

Hi,

There are a few considerations you should make:

 

1: Value for money: Yes, in the short term, but after a year the system will be worth a tiny fraction of what you paid for it.

2: Scalability: Can the system grow with me. No!

3: Power to weight: This is quite bulky, older technology. Not much punch for your buck.

 

I would always buy less, but buy better. I would strongly recommend that you listen to the KV2 EX range. Yes, it is more expensive, but ticks all the boxes. It is a staggering range of optimised components and electronics. www.kv2audio.com

 

Gareth

[Adam Peters]

Have you looked at the HK Audio Actor range.

 

Might be a bit out of your price range new but you maybe able to pick up a second hand rig.

 

I use one regularly and it sounds great, is active so no messing with separate amps and is modular and therefore expandable.

[MarkPAman]

If you know of an Actor system for anywhere near the price being disscussed here, let me know & I'll buy it!

[mervaka]

I think the KV2 EX is a little over budget too. however I will agree its a great system (A&H have one they take out when testing the iLive software updates etc)

[i_hate_fisicks]

If I were in the market for such a thing, I would buy this:

 

http://www.thomann.de/gb/the_box_ta_power_bundle.htm

 

I've not heard it, but my general impression of things that Thomann put their name too is pretty good, and these being higher spec than the average ones, I reckon it'll be quite a good system. If you didn't need the subs to start with, you could buy those later, and just get the powered tops. Less than £500 a pair. Bargain.

[techywhizz]

You might want to look at the qsc HPR range. It's great stuff for the price..

[NeilW]

I used the QSC stuff once this summer, can't comment on sound quality as they were in a hospitality area that I set up and then left, although the little I heard whilst testing the system sounded nice enough! The construction seemed very solid, good to have wood rather than moulded plastic, and they coped fine with being thrown around in the truck. It's a shame that it uses a IEC rather than a Powercon for mains, but overall seemed a fairly good product, and worth a further look. Not sure whether it fits into your price range, but another one of the options out there!

 

Neil