PA Advice

[andy132435]

Hi All.

I need some PA advice. I'm putting together a duo(clubs/hol parks). It will be track, guitar and vox. I need a decent,lightweight compact system.

I've run a band for the last 15 years, so I'm out of the loop on which PA's duos use/purchase.

I think my Logic 1296 rig (which will be going in the classified section) maybe too large!!

Thanks in advance..

[sam.spoons]

It depends on the size of venue and nature of the music you'll be playing, metal lead guitar plus full band backing tracks will require a significantly bigger system with a sub or two than an acoustic guitar with bass and light percussion on the track. There are many very good 10" or 12" & Horn active boxes around which will do the latter nicely add a sub and you're on the way to achieving the former. Yamaha DXR and DSR (10/12s) are great as are QSC K12s (I have K12s and DXR10s) but there are others, RCF, JBL and others do similar. I listened to 10 different active boxes a couple of years ago and preferred the K12s to anything else in the £500-1000 range. The Yamahas were close call so I bought the DXRs for monitors.

[andy132435]

Thanks for the quick reply. I will check out the K12s.

The material is pop/rock/motown etc.

Always full band tracks minus guitar.

I know that I will need a sub.

Cheers Sam

[sam.spoons]

It's worth checking out a few speakers, I love the K12s but would have been happy with the DXR12s had I not been able to get a deal on my QSCs. The Yamaha DSRs are more expensive but very nice too. Others prefer the DSR to the K12, RCFs score highly on here too so go and listen to whatever your dealer has in stock.

[andy132435]

Will do. I know that I've been spoilt having the Logic 1296 rig for the last 12 years so I need to keep my mind and ears open.

Thanks Sam

[themadhippy]

if you like logic and got the budget the inspired audio optima 5 might be worth a look

[Jon Wiles]

The Inspired Audio kit is made by Chris Scott who started Logic.

we have a set of the Optimas in our hire stock. They sound great.

Another option from them is the Inspired Audio MQ12 or 15 and subs. I could arrange a demo and get some prices for you for you. They are based in Nottingham.

 

Jon

[pdherring]

Sam and me always pipe up on these conversations when people are comparing new powered PAs. Im the one singing from the Yamaha song sheet so to speak. I have DSR112s and DXR10s amongst other things. You will not regret the DSRs if you can afford them the clarity to my ears out ways anything else in this price range. Have a chat with Ian at Mercury AV as he always does me a fantastic deal on Yamaha gear. The ONLY issue I have with the DSRs is the weight. Being that they are wood cabs rather than ABS. I would suggest if weight is an issue a set of DXRs and DXS subs. The price is good, the sound is fantastic and the weight is very good compared to the DSRs. On the other hand if weight and money isn't a problem go for the DSR112s and the DSR118w

[sam.spoons]

Sam and me always pipe up on these conversations when people are comparing new powered PAs. Im the one singing from the Yamaha song sheet so to speak. I have DSR112s and DXR10s amongst other things. You will not regret the DSRs if you can afford them the clarity to my ears out ways anything else in this price range. Have a chat with Ian at Mercury AV as he always does me a fantastic deal on Yamaha gear. The ONLY issue I have with the DSRs is the weight. Being that they are wood cabs rather than ABS. I would suggest if weight is an issue a set of DXRs and DXS subs. The price is good, the sound is fantastic and the weight is very good compared to the DSRs. On the other hand if weight and money isn't a problem go for the DSR112s and the DSR118w

 

Yup http://www.blue-room.org.uk/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif

[OneEng]

The advice you have gotten so far looks quite good to me.

 

It depends on what is MOST important to you IMO.

 

If small size and low weight is really important, then the DXR10 over the DXS12 sub would be a really nice and light system.

 

If you need more power and want to thump a room with hard hitting kick and bass, then the DSR112 over DSR118 will be better (although I personally prefer the PRX718XLF sub in this price range).

 

There is quite a difference in both output and weight between these two rigs.

 

How big of a gig do you think you need to cover?

[soundman57]

I'm also an Inspired Audio user and have Optima 5's + B215 boxes which work really well together for a range of applications.

However, while the system is compact and efficient I think it's a big step up in the budget and probably beyond what Andy is likely to want to spend.

Also, there's not the same portability compared to active speakers so we're not comparing like for like. The flight cased Optima 5's weigh a tonne (well not quite but they're darn heavy).

 

I'm based near to Inspired Audio's premises and have been very impressed by the developing range of products from Chris Scott and his team.

I've used some of the other passive speakers from Inspired and they deliver great sound but AFAIK there's no active speakers available so far but I dare say some may be in due course.

 

Otherwise I'd agree with people that active speakers from QSC, Yamaha, RCF (and Logic Systems too) are a good solution.

[Jon Wiles]

The Inspired boxes can run active if used with the right amp/dsp setting.......AFAIK, I have just quoted some of their cabs for an install with the active option

[peza2010]

The Inspired boxes can run active if used with the right amp/dsp setting.......AFAIK, I have just quoted some of their cabs for an install with the active option

 

hmmmm (sorry ynot)

In the previous posts I pressumed people were using active to mean "amp built in", as apposed to bi amping a box?

 

The market is pretty saturated with suitable boxes... how much do you wanna spend op??

[themadhippy]

the Inspired optima stuff runs off its own dsp/amp that can be configured to suit the number and type boxes