stage monitor

[thewhirlwind]

I'm looking to buy a stage monitor or two for use with a solo singer singing with backing tracks.

initially I was gonna buy a dynacord am12 but I'm now thinking of getting a pair of mackie srm350's to use as monitors

and if anything went wrong with my amps etc these would be a good back up.I've also seen various other stage monitor options i.e. db technolies,carlsboro,wharfdale etc.

I use eaw jfx290 speakers as mains and these seem very resistant to feedback so I don't want to get something too cheap

that might give me alot of feedback problems.

any thoughts of the best way forward or the pro's and cons of using active speakers as monitors?

[timtheenchanteruk]

personally I cant see anything wrong with it, just the usual pros/cons of using active speakers in general, my main ones are weight, need for power by the speakers (probably not an issue when using them as monitors) and if the amp/speaker goes you loose 2 things not just one.

[Matt Riley]

I'd either go for the srm450 which is a lot more flexible and not much more or the yamaha msr100 which is a bit cheaper and I like more but aside from the above criticisms the concept is good.

 

M

[J Pearce]

I've had problems with the SRM350s and 450s overheating when on their side in monitor position (when used as monitors for a rock band in a small venue).

 

That said, if its quiet singer with backing tracks, not hip-hop mega bass at earsplitting volumes you'll probably be fine.

[ian hatch]

I've had problems with the SRM350s and 450s overheating when on their side in monitor position (when used as monitors for a rock band in a small venue).

 

That said, if its quiet singer with backing tracks, not hip-hop mega bass at earsplitting volumes you'll probably be fine.

The Mackie over-heating problem was a subject I was going to bring up on a new post.

We have suffered the same problem with the thermal cut-outs on the 450's.(running not that loud)

I have spoken to a couple of dealers and they have confirmed that there is a problem, but when the dealers spoke to mackie about this, mackie maintains there is no problem with over-heating.

I was thinking about building small cradles for the 450's just to lift them 6" off the ground, (extra air flow?) what seems mad as they are designed to be laid on there sides.

It was mentioned once to me, it has something to do with the direction of the heatcink grill at the back of the speakers?

The funny thing is, you can run the 450's all night long at full whack in the up-right position and there is never a problem.

Any ideas.

[thewhirlwind]

thanks for the replies..

I have heard of mackie srm450's overheating when used as monitors before but not the srm350's

that was one reason for considering them (the 350's) aswell as them being a bit more portable.

anyone know if there any disadvantage to using a powered speaker rather than a specific stage monitor??

[Matt Riley]

there isn't one really... I guess it could be said that it is tidier to run one cable to each monitor, and if you're using pairs on big stages to be able to use 1 amp channel for two speakers, but those are big stage issues and shouldn't really be an problem for you. If you do have problems btw with mackies overheating (I never have and I've used them a lot) then consider affixing a cheap computer cooling fan onto the back of the heatsink to draw air across it better.

[johndenim]

One problem you can have is that although FOH cabs may be wedges, they are really firing at the knees and not the ears where you want them.

 

If it is a solo act may I suggest IEM's?

Your budget would be a big help too regarding the advice you recieve.

 

John Denim.

[Rob_Beech]

if the budget will stretch to a pair of SRM350's then I see no reason why it can't stretch to a reasonable set of IEM'. However the "being able to use if ever anything goes wrong" idea goes out of the window here.

[ferrisio]

IMHO those Dynacord AM12s are absolutely amazing, the sheer volume that comes out of those cabs embarrasses the SRM450s.

 

I found this out when playing in a band and arriving at a venue and seeing a single AM12 for my use. After being a bit arrogant and sneery, I was forced to humbly eat my words!

 

Just a contrasting view to confuse your decision even further! ;)

[thewhirlwind]

One problem you can have is that although FOH cabs may be wedges, they are really firing at the knees and not the ears where you want them.

 

If it is a solo act may I suggest IEM's?

Your budget would be a big help too regarding the advice you recieve.

 

John Denim.

 

IEM's have crossed my mind..they would obviously be good from the portability point of view but I really don't know much about them and haven't used them before.

this may be a dumb question but do you use them in one ear or both?

 

I've read somewhere that if you use them in one ear you have to turn the level up which can be harmful to your hearing but if you use them in both how do you hear the audience etc

 

regarding budget,I don't really have one as such within reason.what wireless iem system are the best to go for? I think the sennheiser ones are around £500 which would be around the cost of a pair of srm350's.

 

im a bit bamboozled at the moment with the best way to go!

[Rob_Beech]

IEM's

 

you cant have it all. you are exactly right, 1 ear and you find yourself needing a higher level, 2 ears and you lose the audience (to a point). The sennheiser set is certainly worth a look, one of the better ones out there.

[Trunker]

Sometimes the accronim K.I.S.S. comes into play don't it?

[thewhirlwind]

Sometimes the accronim K.I.S.S. comes into play don't it?

 

is that keep it simple something or other??

[Trunker]

Sometimes the accronim K.I.S.S. comes into play don't it?

 

is that keep it simple something or other??

 

Yeah, Keep It Simple Silly.