d&b Speaker Hire

[Funksta]

Hi guys,

 

First post so please excuse any non industry gaffes!

 

I am sorting out my wifes birthday, and am looking at speaker hire to go with my CDJ 1000's and 1210's.

 

The company is trying to push me into the following, but I feel it is excessive for my needs:

 

2 of each:

 

d&b Q7 Top Loudspeakers

d&b Q-Sub Loudspeakers

d&b D12/Q Power Amplifiers

 

A very tidy little rig indeed, but I feel it is somewhat excessive given that it is a moderately sized bar environment, that will have parents and family as well as friends, ergo we will not be needing to rip up the dancefloor, merely have music at a decent volume but whereby people can still hear themselves think.

 

I was looking for advice on the following:

 

Could we run the above with just one of the D12 amps?

 

Could I even use the D6 instead of the D12 given that we really don't need all that power?

 

Would I get a decent quality sound from just using the top cabs and a D6?

 

Thanks in advance!

[i_hate_fisicks]

If you feel it is excessive for your needs, then hire a cheaper system. Or a smaller D&B system perhaps if that's what you want. 2 tops and 2 subs doesn't seem excessive to me. But if you think that said tops and subs are too big, ask for smaller ones. E series perhaps.

[Doug Siddons]

Its a good rig, as to your requirements you don't have to ramp it. Hire companies are unlikely to want to hire out half a rig but you could get away with one top one amp one sub if its just background.

[simonwest]

In respect to your speaker hire requirments, the system that has been mentioned as a system that will just work (as long as the hire company have looked after it), sound good and provide your needs very well...

 

If the price is high, then alternative systems are everywhere,

 

How many people are you trying to cover and of what size is the room?

 

I've had great results from Turbosound TQ445's on powerdrives (up and angled down with yoke) with a couple of logic twin 15 bass bins powered from 2 crown xti4000's....

 

For a straight forward DJ set up and birthday party atmosphere most systems will do a job, it all depends on how good you really want it to sound vs. how much you want to pay.

[Dave SA]

It's overkill. Where are you?

[TonyMitchell]

Could we run the above with just one of the D12 amps?

 

yes, but in mono (and with no redundancy)

2 x Q-SUBs off one channel

2 x Q7s off the other

 

Could I even use the D6 instead of the D12 given that we really don't need all that power?

 

yes, peak is only a couple of dB lower off a D6, and a D6 will run two Q boxes per channel

 

Would I get a decent quality sound from just using the top cabs and a D6?

 

No. For DJ music reproduction, in fact any music reproduction other than low level background music, you will need subs. Q7 is not designed as a full range cabinet for music reproduction.

 

 

A couple of points (speaking as a d&b provider)

 

- Whilst the D6 is a "cheaper" and smaller amplifier, many d&b rental houses will not have them, and only have D12s. This is because the D6 doesn't run all of d&b's boxes, therefore it can be better to just run D12s that will do everything. Also, the D6 was onlky introduced a couple of years ago, whereas the D12 has been around since 2003

 

- Depending on the provider, opting for just one D12 may not save you money. Our D12s are racked in threes, a few days ago a rack went out on a job to run just four E3s, however it's easier to wheel a rack out than to keep de- and re-racking amplifiers & cabling.

[RobertKendall]

How much have you been quoted?

 

Where abouts are you?

[Shaggy]

You are not being over sold, that is a good sounding system that is suitable for the job at hand. As has been said you could get away with running the system in mono with one amp. Alternatively, there will certainly be cheaper systems available. While I mostly work for other people, with my own gear I do a lot of this sort of thing and just use two active speakers (RCF Art312a in my case) and one or two subs (Art705as). Someone near you will probably have a similar rig which will come in at a cheaper price than a D&B system.

[RumbleO]

You are not being over sold, that is a good sounding system that is suitable for the job at hand.

+1 to that.

I would say that the quality of this set-up will surprise you with your ability to please all of the people all of the time; (and thus contribute massively to the success of your wife's birthday.)

It can be loud without being noisy.

Those on the dance floor will be excited by the music.

Those sat at tables will be able to talk through (rather than shout over) the music.

Please tell us afterwards your impressions and how the night went.

[mostlyharmless]

I've happily used the Q7 tops without subs for almost the exact situation you are describing.

 

If you want a disco, which is a disco and nothing else then use the subs.

 

If you want a small dance floor and room round for the bar, then don't worry about the subs. I'd take the D6 and the tops.

[TonyMitchell]

If you want a small dance floor and room round for the bar, then don't worry about the subs. I'd take the D6 and the tops.

 

Nooo...please don't hire Q7 without the SUBs for this job, it's the wrong tools for the job.

 

Paul has the perfect answer in post #2 - if Q is too big/powerful/expensive for this event, look at the E Series. Lovely little boxes.

 

Hire a pair of E12s on sticks with a D6. E12 has a 12" driver and plays 10hz lower than Q7 so is much better suited as a general purpose full range box for smaller applications.

[mostlyharmless]

It really depends what it is we are defining the job as. I'm thinking birthday party with music kind of event, I would 100% agree that the subs are needed if you are playing the music at any reasonable level.

 

Other options are the e series etc, although I'd prefer neo ps or turbo nuq.

[Dan Gruner]

It's overkill. Where are you?

 

No it isn't "overkill" at all. There's nothing wrong with being specified a high quality compact system such as this, regardless of the event!

 

Dan

[Dave SA]

It is very plainly overkill:

 

Max. sound pressure (1m, free field) @ 138 dB SPL - not that you'll need me to tell you the numbers Dan. That's a little over the top of the OP's requirements.

 

You are of course correct in that there's nothing intrinsically ''wrong'' with being specified such a system. It's just expensive and not necessarily of any benefit to the client. I wouldn't feel right pushing my D&B for a birthday party disco to a client. I have other more 'modest' boxes for that application, that will keep them happy and do the job excellently at half the price. Perhaps I'm just a big softie?

 

You COULD, undoubtedly use this system and yes, get great results - especially as you have some good quality audio sources. However your wallet will be lighter for it. You could ask if they have any EPAC's to drive the system (or at least the tops) if you do decide to take these speakers. Iguess you have to ask yourself will your wife have a better birthday with this sound system or would she prefer some new shoes? ;)

 

Good luck with it.

[charlyfarly]

I agree. D&B sounds just as lovely driven very gently as well as LOUDLY. Good stuff these intelligent amps! ;)