Active Speaker Newbie - Ex Sceptic Come Good!

[Sounding Great]

Hallo All, A new boy here, but I hear this is the place to come to find out about such things.

I've been studying and working in the field for some time now and am just looking at actually buying some kit. A few people have recommended looking at active speakers -which in all honesty I had been told by people at college to not bother with, but am now thinkin might be the way.

I do a few speech only events and bits of corporate AV work and I'm wondering if there might be some good reccomendations for a speaker I could use for doing those jobs as well using for occasional monitor use? I had originally thought about finding one with a 15" so it would cover all area for monitoring, but I think that might not be ideal for the speech work and a bit heavy too. So I reckon I'm going to plonk for some 12"'s and they'll cover me all round!

I'm not that bothered about them being plastic or wooden, I can keep them looking tidy and I don't think the plastic look offends too much.

So far people have recommended Turbosound TX121's, QSC HPR, FBT Verve, Mackie SRM450's. Not too sure what you might reckon on these?

[Dolomite]

You won't/can't go too wrong with active units. My personal recommendations are to forget the Turbo & QSC (both far too heavy, and middley/honking sounding), have a listen to the FBT's and get yourself in front of some RCF's! They're much, much superior to the Mackie's, have brilliant service and spares availability in the UK (not that you'll need it) and have a great array to choose from. I'd recommend trying, the ART312A, ART322Ai (a classic), ART712A, ART522A, ART722A, NXM12A (someone I know just brought an NX system - it's amazing, like ART, just a bit warmer) and of course if you're feeling upto it you could be stunned by the TT22A. I recently got blown away doing a gig with some KV2 EX12's and whole heartedly recommend them, but with the amazing selection of units, service, value & flexibility of RCF I think I'd plonk with them overall. You won't be dissapointed.

[tomrbland]

In, my opinion powered are great if you aren't trying to fly anything or aren't to fussed about the weight. The HK systems have got to be my favorite but I have actually used 2 BOSE L1's (which aren't designed to be used as mains) for very small acoustic acts - I was pleasantly surprised. But thats just my opinion I'm sure other people will have much more valid input with reasoning more than "I like them!".

 

Hope that helped a little bit.

Cheers

Tom

[Biro]

JBL released the PRX600 range Yesterday, its very worth looking at.

[Sounding Great]

Ooh - lots of response so quickly! Thanks..

 

I'll take on board what you say about the Turbo's & QSC, people had recommended them because of my need for doing speech and had thought the sound would work, but I've just looked at the weights and I think I'll put them on the standby lists.

I'm interested in what you're saying about the RCF's, I hadn't worked that much with them or know that much although an engineer I know swears by their drivers. But they do seem to have all bases covered, don't they?! And if it is true what you say about their service and spares (one factor I have been put off JBL - and won't pursue that albeit kind suggestion) then they could be the ones for me. I will only have the occasional need to fly, what's the best RCF box and what's the difference between 312 and 322 and 712 & 722 for instance? and are the hallowed TT's worth the investement?

[Alec]

What's the best RCF box and what's the difference between 312 and 322 and 712 & 722 for instance? and are the hallowed TT's worth the investement?

 

The key to the ART series is that the first digit indicates (roughly) the power of the amplifier (and also the "series" of the speaker line). The second digit indicates whether it's a 1" or 2" HF driver, and the third digit whether it's a 10", 12" or 15" driver.

 

So, the 312 is 350W, 1" HF driver, 12" bass driver. The 312 is 400W (slight flexibility), 2" HF driver, 12" bass driver.

 

The 700 series is the same as the above, but with 750W of amplification.

 

Also, across the series, the 300 & 500 series shared the same cabinet design, but went to lighter neo drivers for the 500 series (although the 310 was already neo). The move to the 700 series saw a change in cabinet design with enhanced bottom end as a definite result for all the cabs. The latest line is the 400 series which, as far as I can see, is lower power, lower cost, but still neo drivers. I'm guessing that they're like the 700 series "lite" version, but haven't heard them so can't comment properly - and not sure of the cost saving over the 400 series.

 

The general view is that the 722 is the cream of the crop - I concur with this having had a shootout of the 325, 710, 722, 725. I also love the 710 for its size/performance, though.

 

Haven't tried the NX/TT lines, but all who have do rate the TT highly.

 

All of this not cheap, but just over GBP900 for the ART 722s. The TT22-A is quite a bit heavier, and a lot pricier (about double!) than the ART 722 - the trade-off for the addional quality.

[waster]

I would reccomend Meyer UPJ-1P for speech. Use them all the time for corporate work. Often with delays and fills of UPM-1P.

 

Great sound, great build quality, very reliable, consume very little power.

[bassfreak]

The RCF TT+ range are every bit as good as people say they are fantastic sounding rig.

[Dolomite]

You won't/can't go too wrong with active units. My personal recommendations are to forget the Turbo & QSC (both far too heavy, and middley/honking sounding), have a listen to the FBT's and get yourself in front of some RCF's! They're much, much superior to the Mackie's, have brilliant service and spares availability in the UK (not that you'll need it) and have a great array to choose from. I'd recommend trying, the ART312A, ART322Ai (a classic), ART712A, ART522A, ART722A, NXM12A (someone I know just brought an NX system - it's amazing, like ART, just a bit warmer) and of course if you're feeling upto it you could be stunned by the TT22A. I recently got blown away doing a gig with some KV2 EX12's and whole heartedly recommend them, but with the amazing selection of units, service, value & flexibility of RCF I think I'd plonk with them overall. You won't be dissapointed.

 

Have been thinking about this statement all day - whilst setting up a rack of Sennheiser RF for a client, and have to go back a bit on what I said. Although certainly RCF do have it going on when it comes down to service and spares availability (as well as haveing a great range). The EX12's I used were so sweet, that I can't do anything but recomend them/KV2- especially for easy use. But it's down to the ear of the beholder I guess...

[Sounding Great]

oooh so much useful infomration and help - big thanks Alec for giving me guidance on the RCF lines. Some amazing suggestions there, just wish I could stretch to KV2, RCF TT or Meyer etc but on my budget I'm going to be lucky to afford ART 300, though think I can just afford them. Someone had said good things about the KX series to me as well, although they're a bit out of my range in regarde to weight & use.

I'm going to arrange to listen to some Mackies & some RCF ART as well as some FBT's I think. I was looking on the RCF website and saw they've got some 400W 8" ART's coming! I reckon they'd be great for vocals, but not for my other applications. Anyway cheers all for now

[mervaka]

I must disagree with your instant dismissals there. I run a QSC HPR system as my bread and butter rig. yes it does honk a little if you push it too hard, but look at the price you pay for them. spares are cheap, too!

[Sound In Gloucestershire]

qsc HPR at 2k a pair are some of the worst speakers ive heard