Help finding speakers

clint_silver

Am DJing at weddings/functions, am currently using 2 x 300w powered speakers. Theyre ok for small to medium rooms but theyre pushed to max for even the medium rooms. Anyone got suggestions for something stronger either self powered or amp? Hoping someone will know what Im looking for. Hoping to not spend anything more then a grand. (second hand is ok). Im not using this as a "equipment wanted" as it may be a while before I go for it but I wouldnt turn down a look at something if someone has something they'd part with.

Also looking for lights, Ive got 2 cans at the moment that are again just about doing the job but am looking for 1 self contained unit, Ive seen guys use them by just sitting them on a table and they hit the ceiling and do the business by spreading mulit lights out (lots flashing etc). anyone know even what theyre called?

Not long at the game so sorry if Im sounding a bit untechie...

cheers.

Savman

clint_silver wrote:

Am DJing at weddings/functions, am currently using 2 x 300w powered speakers. Theyre ok for small to medium rooms but theyre pushed to max for even the medium rooms. Anyone got suggestions for something stronger either self powered or amp? Hoping someone will know what Im looking for. Hoping to not spend anything more then a grand. (second hand is ok). Im not using this as a "equipment wanted" as it may be a while before I go for it but I wouldnt turn down a look at something if someone has something they'd part with.

Also looking for lights, Ive got 2 cans at the moment that are again just about doing the job but am looking for 1 self contained unit, Ive seen guys use them by just sitting them on a table and they hit the ceiling and do the business by spreading mulit lights out (lots flashing etc). anyone know even what theyre called?

Not long at the game so sorry if Im sounding a bit untechie...

cheers.

Well regarding powered speakers you'd wanna be looking at either tops with a 15" woofer (as apposed to a 12" woofer) OR maybe bass bins.

Without subs its hard to see how your sound will reach every corner of the room but you'd not get 2 good subs AND 2 goods tops for under a grand

If you just want to avoid 2 extra subs, the best option for active tops you have would be:
Mackie SRM450 http://www.musicstorekoeln.de/en/global/0_0_G_0_PAH0000350-000/0/0/0/detail/musicstore.html
dB Tech Opera 405 http://www.musicstorekoeln.de/en/global/6_71_PBOXAKTIV_289_PAH0003373-000/0/0/0/detail/musicstore.html
RCF 322 http://www.musicstorekoeln.de/en/global/6_71_PBOXAKTIV_303_PAH0002947-000/0/0/0/detail/musicstore.html
JBL EON15G2 http://www.musicstorekoeln.de/en/global/6_71_PBOXAKTIV_281_PAH0001071-000/0/0/0/detail/musicstore.html

I'd probably recommend the JBL's 'cos they're lightweight, 400w, self powered and have a 15" woofer.

Savman

Regarding lighting, there are literally hundreds to chose from that do the job you describe but to be honest a lot of them cheaper ones can look very bad if out of sync with the music or each other when using more than 1.

Martin probably make the best intelligent lighting and if its DMX compatible it means you can have 1 master light and 3 or 4 "slaves" which mimic the operation of the first unit. This means as a visual spectacle your lighting will all change colour at the same time, for more info and demo videos check out www.martinpro.co.uk

Your best bet is any of the following ranges:
MX
CX Colour Changers
Acrobat
Raptor
Ego
Mania

the rest (ie Macs etc) would be way beyond your price range. I use the Martin Minimacs meself and they're expensive but great, need very little fiddling around and its like they've a mind of their own.

If you do opt for the cheaper lighting don't get anything on Thomann or Music Store that's under €100. Showtec & Stairville make similar products and I'd say the Showtec "Bat" might be suitable for your purpose.

:cool:

turbot

with regard to speakers, if they are pushed to the max, then I'd assume they sound distorted.

It's often possible to considerably increase the volume by improving the AMP, and using the same speakers without distortion.

You are more likely to wreck a speaker by playing it on a low power amp at the max where it distorts, than using a louder volume via a high power amp at a max volume of 2/3 rds of the amps capacity.

I'd suggest you look on ebay for the equipment, especially if you can have it driven over to Ireland. I currently have some hifi kit in London I'm waiting to have my parents bring over that is quite heavy and bulky (too much to ship) so if you arrange a pick up from London, maybe we can split costs on delivery?

Savman

turbot wrote:

with regard to speakers, if they are pushed to the max, then I'd assume they sound distorted.

It's often possible to considerably increase the volume by improving the AMP, and using the same speakers without distortion.

You are more likely to wreck a speaker by playing it on a low power amp at the max where it distorts, than using a louder volume via a high power amp at a max volume of 2/3 rds of the amps capacity.

I think he said he's using powered speakers so the only way he can add power is by either adding on or getting new speakers altogether. Only recently I "went active" and its hard to see the traditional set-up of poweramp+speakers lasting much longer for mobile set-ups.;)

clint_silver

Guys, thanks for the replies. Savman, absoulte gentleman for putting together such a quality reply, def put me on the right track. Yeah, Ive actually got 3 x 300w ALTO 300w speakers I got from sound gear in ballymount. 2 normally do, any medium sized room require the 3rd being used. Theyre decent but as I said, once youre hitting a room bigger (or 100-120 people upwards) then theyre not doing the business.
I agree about the powered speaker + amp becoming less and less important, portability is key for me, so the less gear I have the happier I am. The 1k mark was probably a starting point I had in my head, so wouldnt mind going the extra bit for the JBLs. Would you think that you lose anything power wise by going the active road as opposed to the speaker/amp?

I googled a few places for the showtec bat and there seems to be 2 types with the mirror type being the one to go for. Is this...
http://www.new-line.nl/webshop/view.asp?i=11242

--edit just found it on musicstore but this is the bat 1 where as the one above is the bat 3
http://www.musicstore.de/en/global/0_0_G_0_LIG0001644-000/0/0/0/detail/musicstore.html

the one you were referring to? Looks the dogs..
really savman, thanks a mill for going to the trouble for the detail.

turbot, I wont rule out a pick up from ebay, will have a root but am a few weeks away from doing anything unless I spot a bargain. cheers anyway.

Savman

No biggie, would rather offload some of this useless info in my brain onto someone else

yep that's the Bat I'm on about, there's 3 versions I think but the most important keywords from that first link are Musiccontrolled, Stand-alone and Master/Slave - means you can select between those 3 modes of operation

I do weddings meself albeit in a bands format, there's nothing worse than the DJ following the band whacking on his multi-coloured lights moving all over the place out of sync, especially considering its so easy to get a Master/Slave set up going, its not that dearer either and it adds a bit of mood I reckon.

Regarding speakers, you lose nothing power-wise going active over passive, for ages I had my eye on those JBL's for wedge monitoring purposes (7pc band) but I decided against them because we wouldnt have really needed the 15" woofer, instead I opted for the dB Stage Opera m12-4 (275w active).

The good thing about JBL's is that they are light enough and you can get this for transport:
http://www.musicstore.de/en/global/9_62_LEFFEKT_245_PAH0002423-000/0/0/0/detail/musicstore.html

Should you decide to add bass bins at a later stage you could also look at the matching subs:
http://www.musicstore.de/en/PA_Homerecording/6_71_PBASSAKTIV_281_PAH0001462-000/0/0/0/detail/musicstore.html

Remember to always check the weight before buying, it really is the difference between a life of peace and monthly trips to the chiropractor (anything over 25kg is a 2 man lift), I use HK Audio & dB Tech meself and anything that needs to be heavy is on friggin wheels or else it doesn't get bought

Hope that helps :cool: :cool:

clint_silver

Remember to always check the weight before buying, it really is the difference between a life of peace and monthly trips to the chiropractor (anything over 25kg is a 2 man lift), I use HK Audio & dB Tech meself and anything that needs to be heavy is on friggin wheels or else it doesn't get bought

I hear ya. Aldi did a fold up hand truck for 25e recently so i picked up 2 of them. The business.
VERY funnily enough Im in a 6 piece wedding band myself and do dj afterwards. If youre in a 7 piece Im sure we know each others set up. Theres not that many bands of our size out there. The altos are our monitors. Quick change afterwards on to poles and me uncles bob.

legend, savman!!

Savman

:d