Posted: 9/13/2006 4:07:18 PM EDT
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I want to set up a system for outdoor parties. I'm thinking a Crown Amp XLS802D (500 w/channel) at around $600, a set of speakers on stands .....this is what I need the most advice about if you have some or are familiar....items like JBL's or Yahamas? I plan to run this off my computer so I don't need any other input devices. 1. Crown Amp or any other rec's 2. Speakers ....brands..stands ? Going out shopping..just looking and will check back later at the suggestions. |
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What's your budget? I don't like crown amps. Thin sounding, underpowered for the ratings and prone to breakdown. QSC is what I run in the PA and monitors in my current band's system. I've owned and used Crowns, Microtechs, Crests, Yamahas, Mackie Amps, Peaveys and Altecs. Settled on the QSCs after many years. Crest is very good too if you mod them a bit. If you have the bucks Mackie makes some killer powered speakers. SRM350 or SRM450 on stands. Add a powered SWA1501 sub or two, and you have a portable great sounding LOUD system. |
As far as amps go you really can't go wrong with QSC. it is a good choice. Everything is going to be based on price.... what you want to spend. |
$5-600 for the Amp, $5-600 for the speakers. My local Guitar Center has QSC, in fact I think QSC Corporate is just down the street in Costa Mesa. Which models in those price ranges? OK, I looked the Mackies upa nd the 450 is around $699 ea, the 350 around $549. Question. How do you interface these with a computer. Have a Mac Powerbook with all the music on it and might as well use it directly. How is the volume adjusted through the computer ....just the output levels? Or is there a pre-amp like unit that should go in between these? I'm guessing the computer can do it AND it has the equalizer in iTunes too. And this is mostly NOT a live music setup so does that change things in your opinion? |
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QSC's lower end amps are noisy, alot of idle hum. Not very nice, IMHO. Crowns are highly overrated too. Yamaha makes a better amp in their price range, and Carvins are a good deal for a sub-$500 amp. For speakers, I'd listen to prospective models before taking opinions about them. I heard alot of bad about Cerwin Vegas, and ended up with a pair because I was thrilled with the quality and sound. So, YMMV. |
I'll check out Yahama and Carvin. I looked at their PA speakers but really didn't notice any PA amps at Guitar Center. Have a Sam Ash nearby too so maybe they have them. Yeah, I always thought Cerwin Vega's stuff gradually became middle quality. |
Yamaha's speakers are so-so, just Eminence loaded stuff with 1" voice coils, pretty much like every other mid-level PA rig. But, their amps are very nice for the $$. Clean and efficient. We run the P7000S (700x2 @ 8ohms), it runs around $650 IIRC. Carvins amps are good stuff, they are also a good budget rig, but to get to their good speakers you have to jump up to the pro line and then you're spending too much. Yorkville makes a much better speaker in the pro line for less dough. I don't recommend the Mackie powered deals, they are VERY pricey and if you crap out one of the amps (and Mackies are not known have the most durable output stages), the whole unit has to get fixed or shipped - and they are a heavy MOFO. Plus, you have to run long signal cables to the rig rather than short signal+long speaker cables (which is better). If you have access to a dealer that carries Yorkville, give the Pulse line a good look. For what they cost, they are very nice cabinets with higher end components. We have a set of TL352C 15+2" driver cabs for our line array, and use CerwinV 1522's for smaller house gigs. Both have been very good for us. |
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Yorkville PR315's would be in my price range. Also looking at powered mixer Yamaha EMX 512SC Thanks for all the advice. I'll post what I end up with. This will just be a home party type setup. Might drag it over to some people's houses or adapt it to small music group but it's not going to get a heavy workout. |
If you're doing light duty, not trying to get overtop of 500 drunken people, then you really don't need much amplification. Remember, a more efficient 8ohm driver will double your output easier than doubling your wattage. 300watts at 8ohms is plenty for that scenario, and if you ever need more buy a bigger amp and subs and bi-amp it. With your target, I'd invest more in quality of speaker than in size of amp, it'll pay off in the quality of the sound vastly more. |
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I've narrowed it down to two powered mixers. Alto PBM8 250 at around $360 (250 wattsx2 into 8 ohms. 8 channels) Probable choice Yamaha EMX 312SC for around $460 (300 watts x2 into 8 ohms 8 channel) and speakers Yorkville TR 315's for $410 ea. (3 way 15 in. bass speaker 300 watt rated) Probably choice or Yorkville E12's at $539 ea with free stands. (2-way 12 in bass 400watt rated) the details say the horn can be rotated for better dispersion. |
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What I use (for DJing) is overkill for what you want, but... JBL MPro 415 mains (8 ohms, 2-way with 15" woofer and 2" compression tweeter) JBL MPro 418S (4 ohm, 18" sub-woofers) These are driven by QSC RMX amps: 1850HD for the 415s, and 2450 for the 418s. I find them to be very clean, though I use good-quality source equipment. People compliment the sound quality often, and it's more than loud enough for anything I've done. I use a dbx 223XL crossover and dbx 231 31-band EQ, as I prefer instant manual control with my rig. If I was set up in one place, or could ensure I always had plenty of setup time before a gig, I would probably switch to a dbx DriveRack PA, but it isn't necessary. IMO, for what you're talking about, either the JBL MPro 215s, or even the JRX series, would be just fine. Couple those with a QSC RMX 1450 or 1850HD amp, and you're good to go. -Troy |
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Ended up with the QSC RMX 1450 (these things are heavy!!) Pair of Electro Voice EZX4's 15" 2 way and stands. (lighter than the JBL 1415's which I almost bought) Yahama MG10/2 Mixer (just enough if some friends want to play or karaoke comes to town.) SKB 4 place rack. Cables Fired it up with some Frank Sinatra this afternoon and you coud hear it from one end of the property to the other, about 600', well 400' for sure. Very cool. The wife liked being outdoors and enjoying the music. I made her a gin and tonic  . Very easy setup and breakdowns. Bought the rig at Sam Ash and the guy in Audio was pretty helpful and knowledgable, He said he did gigs at one of the big Indian Casinos in So. Calif.QSC is a mile from my house so if anything goes wrong no shipping for that guy. Thanks for the input from everyone. |
For a few hundred dollars more, you could have bought from QSC's PLX series of amps. They use different (and more expensive) technology, but the amp weighs 21 pounds vs 44 pounds on the smaller RMX amps. But I have a nice rack with big castors, so moving 90 pounds of amps isn't a big deal for me; not worth the $500 difference at the time. Someday I might upgrade, though... -Troy |
The audio guy at Sam Ash said not to go right out of the computer mic line for music stored on the computer. He suggested going out through USB. How do you do it or do you use the computer files? I found my USB Audio/MIDI Controller sitting around and it looks what he was talking about. USB gives me access to iTunes and I can sent it via RCA line outs (as well as monitor it via phones.) |
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I use a rack-mounted PC with a pro-quality soundcard (M Audio Delta 4-10) with 4 pairs of RCA outputs, running into a DJ mixer with balanced XLR pro-level (+4 dBu) line outputs. Professional audio equipment uses +4 dBu as the standard for a "line-level" signal, while consumer equipment (stuff you can buy at Circuit City) uses -10 dBu, which is a considerably weaker signal. Connecting consumer-level equipment to a pro-level amp without something in between to compensate will usually mean you have to crank up the gain on the amp and introduce a lot of line noise (hiss/buzz) in the process. There are a number of USB 2.0 and (predominantly) Firewire/IEEE 1394 computer audio interfaces that are designed to work with pro audio equipment, and work just fine with both desktop and laptop computers. Some of these companies are: M-Audio MOTU (Mark Of The Unicorn - mostly Mac stuff) RME Digidesign E-Mu Presonus Mackie Lexicon I like the M-Audio products, as they have a large product line, good quality, reasonable prices, and good support. But it really depends on exactly what you're looking for. -Troy |
OK, thanks. I checked the specs on the USB Audio/Midi Interface and the RCA line out was -10dbv. Phones were +4dbv. |