PA system for ambient room

[barrance]

Hi all. So I'm looking to buy a soundsystem for a quite specific environment and I was hoping you could help me with some suggestions/advice. I'm going to be running some side rooms at dance music events, in all sorts of different venues. These side rooms are to be somewhere in between a social spot and a place to really listen to all sorts of ambient/downtempo music. It will for the most part be in small rooms, with likely a fair amount of low end sound bleed from elsewhere. As such, I guess im looking for something that has plenty of powerful, clear low end to try and make background low frequencies from other rooms less noticeable, but in general overall volume is not a priority. In an ideal setting, with no sound bleeding from elsewhere, I would want enough sound to feel a little of the low end when within a few metres, and enough overall volume to be able to sit in the sound and listen without low volume talking a few metres away being too much of distraction, while also being able to have a conversation with someone next to you without too much difficulty.

 

So far I've been most interested in the Yamaha DBR15/DXR15s. Their portability/ease of use is definitely a factor, and they sit around my rough budget mark of £1k. Does anyone know if these would be a possible suitable candidate? My plan is to do a few events at first with rented speakers, trying various ones I would consider buying and making a decision. I guess I was hoping someone could help me narrow down the candidates to a few good options! All options are on the table here. I have no problem lugging around subs/amps etc. if it made for better sound at a similar price. But yeah, somewhere in the £1k area, probably up to 1500 is where im looking.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

 

 

[Brian]

I'd be going for a sub or two along with a pair of 10" boxes.

[barrance]

Any recommendations in that kind of area at all?

 

Many thanks!

 

 

 

 

So something in the area of a yamaha DXS12 and 2 DXR12s? Who else should I be looking at in terms of brands for this kind of thing? Ive been looking at Yamaha at the moment basically just because they are relatively affordable and I love HS8s!

[empyfree]

No idea of budgets, but a couple of Nexo PS8’s paired with Ls400 subs would be lovely. Or if you want simple then a couple of RCF evox 8’s.

[sunray]

My experience of this situation is to go the other way and reduce the low end in the side rooms system rather than compete

[MarkPAman]

If you can stretch the budget a little, a friend has this dB Technologies system which he often uses for the sort of thing you want do. It may be louder than you need though.

 

I think it sounds stunning.

 

If that's too far out of budget, then there are smaller systems, and systems with less built in DSP in the same range, which I've not heard, but imagine they are probably worth a listen too. This one for instance

[beware]

HK? The Lucas system maybe?

[kerry davies]

Everybody will have their own favourites, I had my own Lucas systems and loved them but I wouldn't use them for this, too long-throw.

 

In secondary chill-out, lounge rooms you might need more power that you think and definitely more mid-range. We used the "subs and sticks" active systems like the Yamaha, RCF and others but my main point is that whatever you decide do not buy anything on our say so. Not until you have tried out several options in live gigs by hiring in kit.

 

The variables here are far too wide and scattered to nail down specifics. The size, quality and who runs the main PA makes a difference as does the DJ, genre, style and audience in the main room. Sometimes getting the best results can be as simple as playing in mono rather than stereo and the only way to find out is to try it.

[barrance]

That's great, thank you. Yeah that was my thinking, get options down to a vague shortlist from any suggestions, then have a try renting out different types for a few events.

 

 

 

 

Any opinions on LD systems?

 

Any suggestions for anything similar to something along the lines of:

 

2 Yamaha DXR12s and a DXS15 sub

 

That ES1203 db technologies system

 

 

 

 

This caught my eye, but a review describing lack of detail in the low end raised an eyebrow

 

https://www.ld-systems.com/en/series/dave-g3-series/dave-18-g3-compact-18-inch-active-pa-system/?force_sid=6eeopjrjs9232c8f4bvdcv05p2