mjriley Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 Hi all,I'm torn between whether to purchase 2 of the Behringer B1500D or B1800D subwoofers for a relatively large school hall installation.As usual budget is the primary concern but I originally specified for 2 B1800D subs and we can afford them but after coming across this deal link I'm wondering if the B1500D's are any less suitable than the B1800D's.We are looking for the maximum bass output possible so I'm uncertain whether the savings will be regretted later down the line. Regards Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramdram Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 Listening test is what you need. If you are spending a fair bit of cash you would not buy them without doing the comparison thing, Shirley? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brainwave-generator Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 For a £900 'kit' PA of very low standard, you're not going to get a listening test are you? Maybe if you spent £20,000 on a Turbo Aspect they might bring it to the school. Not for a £900 package on DV. OP: For school hall stuff, and bearing in mind the fairly low power mid tops, I would be inclined to think that 15" should be more than ample. It will also allow the mid tops to sound a bit nicer, and I would personally say the package is a pretty good deal. Does the school prevent used purchases? Only reason I ask is that a set of the older-type Mackie SA active stuff would probably get you an even better sound for not a lot more money. You wouldn't have enough for subs too, but the SA1530 will probably kick more by itself than the mid top and sub in the set you mention. The SA stuff is really quite good, a friend of mine had a pair of SA1532s and you could do live music for up to about 300 people comfortably, without any need for subwoofers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyMitchell Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 I'm torn between whether to purchase 2 of the Behringer B1500D or B1800D subwoofers for a relatively large school hall installation. Glancing the specs, there's very little difference between the two boxes, the 18" plays a humanly inaudible 1dB louder and (surprisingly) no lower than the 15"...on that subject, I'd take the 35hz quoted with a pinch of salt and would guess it's probably @ -20dB :** laughs out loud **: as if were more credible, then why not publish the data Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjriley Posted September 17, 2011 Author Share Posted September 17, 2011 I would also have expected the 18 to go lower.Am I right in assuming that the 18 would give a punchier bass better for a larger space.Also would 2 of either of these be large enough for an average largish school hall. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbsy Posted September 18, 2011 Share Posted September 18, 2011 I'll stress that I don't know the Behringer subs at all. However, as a general rule of thumb: --a 15 inch sub will give a punchier, clearer sound. --an 18 inch sub will give you more of a "thump" that you feel rather than hear but with less clarity. Obviously, there are exceptions to every rule and how you use the gear changes things but as a general guide... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivemaster Posted September 18, 2011 Share Posted September 18, 2011 Please consider also the rest of the system. You will need to select a system crossover point, and the frequency that suits an 18" may not suit a 15" driver and may not suit the mid and top cabs that you already (seem to ) have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rajchumberis Posted September 18, 2011 Share Posted September 18, 2011 In my experience (not specificially behringer, but with others) the 15s generally give a much better punchy sound but 18 will have your place rattling If it's anything like the school halls ive seen. Can you hire them and try it out?! Don't forget to get a graphic eq unit. Because either sub, you'll know that there will be a resonance frequency. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted September 18, 2011 Share Posted September 18, 2011 4 boxes for £750 as the school aren't worried about VAT. You'll get the typical plastic box sound with some bass added in. The reality is that you get a lot for a little, so is fine on the value for money stakes, and ultra hi-fi isn't the aim. Schools and colleges used to buy the Peavey 2s for this kind of thing and while they too were a little compromised in the total quality stakes, they were frequently abused, over driven and physically bashed around - so were considered good value for money! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramdram Posted September 18, 2011 Share Posted September 18, 2011 You will get a listening test down in Cornwall! The folk down here are happy to do any demos you want. For items a lot less than said speakers. They want the sale. I would suggest that they would want a good working relationship after that as well. You were not serious about anything under £20k is just bought off the shelf, now were you. A thousand pounds may be rather a lot for some places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjriley Posted September 18, 2011 Author Share Posted September 18, 2011 I'm looking to buy tops also. Currently looking at the Behringer 315D's but wondering if I should go for anything more powerful.The reason we're looking to buy subs as-well is to provide a bass thump for charity events etc. so clarity is well down the list of requirements.My proposed method of installation is to connect the 2 tops to the main L+R out and run the subs off an aux but am currently unsure as to how to remove the low frequencies from the tops.We currently have 2 stereo graphic eq's so I'm planing to put one on the main L+R, one channel of the second on the subs and the remaining channel on the monitors. My primary reason for looking at Behringer is because of the great value for money rather than great fidelity, and at active speakers to get rid of the amp rack + inbuilt limiters so less chance of damage. Regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramdram Posted September 18, 2011 Share Posted September 18, 2011 The primary reason Behringer appears to be great value for money is owing to the build quality. (I have a "B" sound desk, bought in a hurry, at what seemed to be a bargain price and frankly it is really a doorstop). I note the deal you linked to mentioned a 4 year warranty...might just be an idea to mention the kit is going to be for a school. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjriley Posted September 18, 2011 Author Share Posted September 18, 2011 Personally I've never had a problem with any Behringer products but I've never had any of their speakers.What I need to know asap is if I need a crossover to properly use 2 behringer 315d full range boxes with 2 B1500 or B1800d subs? Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brainwave-generator Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 Personally I've never had a problem with any Behringer products but I've never had any of their speakers.What I need to know asap is if I need a crossover to properly use 2 behringer 315d full range boxes with 2 B1500 or B1800d subs? Mike I'm not sure but most active subs at this level tend to have built in active crossovers on their inputs. So you plug the full-range source into the sub, set a x-over frequency on the knob, and then send the remainder to the box above it. That's certainly how the Mackie ones work and Mackie are mainly where Behringer get their small-PA ideas from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjriley Posted September 19, 2011 Author Share Posted September 19, 2011 That is how the behringer subs work but I want to run the subs off an aux for more control but don't want the low end sent to the high-mid boxes.Would a crossover achieve this? Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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