advice on amplifiers for Martin Audio Blackline F12+, S18+

[likos]

Hello,

I am in the process of building a small PA for small time gigs and Dj parties. I m looking into a pair of Martin Audio F12+ and another pair of S18+ speakers but I m not confident on what amplifiers I match them.

In some online shops I see that they offer this set with a MA3.0 which is offers 900watt@8ohms to drive the whole set. However Martin Audio suggest that for optimum performance and output the F12+ should be driven by a MA2.8s (1100W@8ohms) and a MA18K (!!!) which delivers 2800W@8ohms. Is this really necessary for the system or could I get away with only a MA2.8s for the beginning since the MA18K costs too much.

Can u suggest alternative brands more cost effective for this system? I mean I want the extra kick since I want to do DJ parties but hey..

Also, do u think buying one S18+ and driving it with a MA2.8S in bridge mode(3KW@8ohm) can be adequate?

 

 

thanks,

Giannis

[ChazHS]

I'd personally say that Martin Audio are going VERY overboard with the amount of headroom in their quoted amps.

 

The F12 is a 300W AES (long term rating) and they reccomend a 400W - 1000W into 4ohm amp. I'd personally go for a 600W RMS @ 8ohm per-side amp.

 

The S18 is a 750W AES (again, long term) and they reccomend a 600W - 1500W into 4ohm amp. I'd go for something around 1200W RMS @ 8ohm per-side.

 

The cheaper way to do this in terms of amplifiers is to have one amp for the F12s in stereo, and an amp for each sub bridged. Something like the QSC PLX 1804 would be ideal for the tops and a pair of QSC PLX 1802 bridged for the subs would make this system fly.

[likos]

I'd personally say that Martin Audio are going VERY overboard with the amount of headroom in their quoted amps.

 

The F12 is a 300W AES (long term rating) and they reccomend a 400W - 1000W into 4ohm amp. I'd personally go for a 600W RMS @ 8ohm per-side amp.

 

The S18 is a 750W AES (again, long term) and they reccomend a 600W - 1500W into 4ohm amp. I'd go for something around 1200W RMS @ 8ohm per-side.

 

The cheaper way to do this in terms of amplifiers is to have one amp for the F12s in stereo, and an amp for each sub bridged. Something like the QSC PLX 1804 would be ideal for the tops and a pair of QSC PLX 1802 bridged for the subs would make this system fly.

 

thanks for the info ChazHS.

However I discovered some used lab gruppen fp 3400 and I think I choose them one for the f12+ and a bridged for one s18+

[mike7172]

Hey Giannis

we use F10's as front fills and drive them crown XTI1000 amplifiers!

hope this helps

 

M

[RobertKendall]

Crown XTI2000 for the F12s

Crown XTI4000 for the S18s

[ChazHS]

Crown XTI2000 for the F12s

Crown XTI4000 for the S18s

 

Do yourself a favour and avoid the XTi series of amps - they don't do the speakers justice. I had 4 XTi 2000s which I sold and replaced with Crown K2s, much better!

[johndenim]

Didn't Rob Beech use the xti's on his MA boxes?

[ChazHS]

Didn't Rob Beech use the xti's on his MA boxes?

 

Possibly, I know he also uses MacroTechs - so I'm sure he will be able to comment on the difference a higher quality amp makes.

[soundiesam]

We had the f15 and the f18 and we used the PLX 1806

[likos]

thnx for the help guys! not sure yet, have to accumulate all this feedback.

Concerning the controller I found a BSS minidrive 334T used in good price. Do you think this can protect and serve the system as good as the dedicated m3+ ?

[tinnitus_man]

Martin F12+ is 300 Watt AES 8 Ohms

Martin S18+ is 750 Watts AES 8 Ohms

 

You would normally use an amplifier twice the wattage - Note look at the specifications on the amplifier and ensure it's twice the wattage into 8 Ohms. Most companies will show the wattage of an amplifier at it's maximum output and this could be into 2 Ohms.

 

It's better to run an amplifier into 8 Ohms even though it may be rated down to 2 Ohms - less distortions THD also it will run much cooler and be more reliable. The average Joe won't hear the difference to be fair, it's only people that have a well toned ear that hear these things.

 

Lab Gruppen amplifiers are real nice and I respect them - MLS switches and dB setting so you can make it less wattage if need be and it also has limiters on! They are good, but with one consideration - I Used to work for a hire company and we did some tests (ears only) using a Lab Gruppen amplifier and a stack of subs and it didn't sound as good as a Crown VZ5000 or a Yamaha PC9500 amplifier. This was going back about 5 years now. It's all to do with low frequency and current drawn from the PSU and also something to note that the Lab Guppen supplies only enough voltage to it's output transistors at a given wattage! - this keeps the amplifier cool this may have been why it didn't sound as good. (A lot of amplifiers do this now) and then there's class D amplifiers a different animal all together using a type of pulse width modulation using a microprocessor to get the best sound. Amplifiers are coming on leaps and bounds these days and wattages are going through the roof as line arrays subs are getting bigger in wattage hence amplifiers had to change.

 

I think in this post what amplifiers are good to power the Martin F12+ and the S18+ sub?

 

Get something that is twice the wattage.

Use a processor yes dbx XTA BSS to name a few these will all do it There even Alto as well if you want something cheaper.

I would recommend Crown QSC Yamaha lab Gruppen (with consideration of the above and to be fair - it's a lot to do with budget.

A mobile rig really could do with compact.

Have you considered an active system? like RCF? The actual speakers are used in some of the big brands out there!

RCF ART 722 Active uses larger HF drivers than the Martin F12+ this brings down the cross over frequencies down to 1200 Hz it is a clearer sound.

 

If you want we can supply any of the above why not visit our website? http://www.ultimateproaudio.co.uk We can do deals just contact us and chat email us and we will even call you back!

 

Stuart

[adamski1010]

Crown XTI2000 for the F12s

Crown XTI4000 for the S18s

 

Do yourself a favour and avoid the XTi series of amps - they don't do the speakers justice. I had 4 XTi 2000s which I sold and replaced with Crown K2s, much better!

 

+1. I have a rack of K1s and K2s and love them. Use them for powering biamp'd RCF Event 6000s. Excellent amps. Far better than the XTi's I used to have (in my opinion anyway...)

 

Cheers

-1

[Lighty]

I would suggest Powersoft for your system. They sound great and minimise the size of rack required to run the system. I would always suggest putting the maximum sized amp that Martin suggest and setting your LMS or M3(+) to match them. Martin will supply the limit/eq settings for BSS and XTA. I personally wouldn't use DBX or cheaper but appreciate budgets may not stretch.

[mike7172]

hi there,

we power out F10+ units on crown XTi 1000's

I'd drive the low end with XTi 4000's although we don't use S18's so I couldnt say for sure without seeing a spec.

all the dsp crossover etc etc is built in and although its not glamorous it kills the need for an XTA or Omnidrive.

 

 

Hope this helps

 

M