I'm looking to replace a Bose L1 system (too fragile) with a small, portable, virtually indestructible, PA that is good enough quality to cover acoustic music, and also to cover just vocals in a pub gig situation.
I'm also looking for small, ideally active, monitor speakers.
I'm looking for the second-best-of-the-best.
I've been looking at LD systems active monitors which appear to be some kind of rebranded internal-crossovered active monitor retailing at $250 approx, and at d&b M4s which are approx $2500 per unit. Somewhere in the middle maybe?
At present I have a Peavey active monitor with a slave that goes off this system, and they are great for the purpose (hire to people who might break them), and eminently portable, maybe I should just go with more of those?
But as far as the first question goes, I'm looking at Fender Passports, Peavey etc and thinking there must be a brand I just am not aware of a bit above that level.
My main rigs are Bose 802/302 systems, but they are hella expensive and although the 802s on their own are excellent they require a bit more thought in setting up, not to mention a very losable control box, and the bass bins weigh a ton - basically I'm not really happy sending out those systems without an engineer.
I remember a band who used to hire a permanent room from me had what seemed to be quite a nice system with a single sub with the amp built into that, and extremely small satellite tops, but whether that would do a 200-person pub at quality I don't know, also they left years ago and I have no idea what it was.
Any ideas?
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I love the QSC actives personally. They're loud, not boxey sound
I love the QSC actives personally. They're loud, not boxey sounding or muffled, they're sleek, great construction, and price comparable to equivalent class Mackie actives; not to mention tonally better than the mackies by far in my opinion. They're built like tanks though, it is definitely a hellacious shoulder exercise putting those things on speaker stands. One of my older mentors has an EV setup that he uses. The speakers are passive and feather light. He is a hold out on the active loud speaker movement and he explained his thought process to me concerning the active versus passive debate, and it was this: With a heavy amp all you'll ever have to do is put it in a road case on casters and then lift it to go in the van/truck/whatever lift it to take it out and then roll it where ever you want it. You're average PA speakers don't have wheels, you have to lug them around, and lift them at least head level to get them on stands. The EV's go up easy and then your rolling case carries the mass. Tonally I would say the QSCs and the EV are equals i.e. they both sound very good IMO. [URL=http://www.zzounds…] EVs, and http://www.musician… . Come to think of it all of my suggestions are probably only pertinent in North America. I hope I helped.
I'm a big Peavey fan so would recommend more if you are happy wi
I'm a big Peavey fan so would recommend more if you are happy with the one you have. But being made in the States makes them a bit pricey for you in the UK. Also look at QSC and RCF. Avoid the Passport/Stagepas type setups.
I have passive Peavey Impulse 200s (older version of the 1012) which I like a lot. I recently heard some powered PR15s and they sounded "tubby". There is a powered version of the Impulse that is likely a few notches up from PRs. I've never heard 15" Impulses so I don't know if they share the tubby sound of the PR.