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Hi there! I'm considering buying a speaker for a voice PA for my band rehearsals. (Thinking about the peavey PR serie), but I'm wondering if I should buy the 10, 12 or 15" version... Do you have some advices for me? Btw, they are equally loud (400w) and the only use for them is for voice with a loud rock band...

thanks

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Kev Mon, 07/04/2005 - 13:57

You say equally loud ?

I can't find a site that give me good info ... there seems toi be a Pro Lite series as well ??
... 270 watts of total power (200W for the lows, 70W for the highs, peak),

not enough

you do need something like 400 and 800 peak

For loud rock with quad boxes for guitar, I don't think 10 inch will be enough and even at 12 or 15 I think you would need a pair for a lead singer and a bit of stage prowing.

12 inch can work BUT in the rock world 15 inch and 2inch horn is a well worn path and tends to give the best bang and reliability factor

Randyman... Mon, 07/04/2005 - 14:22

I've got an older pair of Peavey Impulse 200's, and they use the 12" BW, and a 2" compression driver. 2 of them is pure heaven for vocals (off of a CS-800x - like 285 watts RMS per enclosure and its P-L-E-N-T-Y loud). Blows away 99.9% of the monitors at the clubs we play at IMO. I always get compliments from the singers when I actually have to use our PA for a gig. These are really "mains", but they kick royal ass as stage monitors.

I can't comment on Peavey's newer series, but get the descent stuff with the BW woofers, and the 2" compression drivers (like Kev said). 15" is pretty much a standard, but my Impulse 200's will certainly "get it" - even with a full 8x12" Mesa stack behind you...

You will probably need some kind of 15 or 31 band EQ to help kill feedback. Full Compass is running a KILLER sale on Symmetrix "531E" 31 band mono and stereo graphic EQ's (like 65% off!!!):

http://www.fullcompass.com/Products/pages/SKU--28458/index.html (looks like their server is down :( ) It s a mono 31 band EQ for $215 (retail was like $599).

:cool:

Kev Mon, 07/04/2005 - 20:37

Tunesmith1801 wrote: 12" is better for vocals.

I can't agree with that 100%

as with Randyman... above,
I too have some special 12 inch and 2 inch passive monitors that I roll out for the important customers.

it is unusual to pair 2inch with 12 or 10
I also have horn-loaded 10 as main FOH for projection

but
there are some voices that suit and prefer the 15 inch

IF the vocalist calls for something else to be added to the floor then a 12 can be in trouble if you don't have a HiPass filter to protect the MAX cone excursions

moonbaby Tue, 07/05/2005 - 07:20

Being that you are located in Australia, you may have a more limited variety of gear that is available to you. I'm sure that Mr. Peavey has plenty of sound gear "down under", due to his UK manufacturing facility.
Yamaha has a line here in the States that competes with his stuff.
It features Eminence castframe woofers and 1.5" drivers. Their 12"
floor monitor is a very good deal. I believe that for VOCALS you will find that a 12" has more "cutting power" than a 15". The 15" may handle drums and keys with more power, but that energy is wasted on the voice.
Also, have you investigated any IEM (in-ear monitor) systems? They are starting to show up in a lot of different price ranges...

moonbaby Tue, 07/05/2005 - 11:43

All things equal, the 12" will "cut through" the noise of the band better than a 15".....FOR VOCALS! If you are going to run other players through the monitors (drums, bass,etc.), than the 15" will be better.
Hiwatt stacks, eh? The originals by Dave Reeves? Or are these the recent re-makes? I have to say that the original Hiwatts are some of the LOUDEST amps I have ever had to work with. A 50-watt with 4x12" Fanes will kill a small rodent at 10 meters! I still think that a Shure or Sennheiser IEM system will be best for your future....definitely helps you from going deaf at those volume levels...

anonymous Tue, 07/05/2005 - 11:53

moonbaby wrote: If you are going to run other players through the monitors (drums, bass,etc.), than the 15" will be better.
Hiwatt stacks, eh? The originals by Dave Reeves? Or are these the recent re-makes? I have to say that the original Hiwatts are some of the LOUDEST amps I have ever had to work with. A 50-watt with 4x12" Fanes will kill a small rodent at 10 meters! I still think that a Shure or Sennheiser IEM system will be best for your future....definitely helps you from going deaf at those volume levels...

yeah it is just for vocals.. no need to mic a SVT and killer drummer!
Actually the guitar are an original 50w HiWatt (70s) unfortunately we don't have the cab with fanes... and the other amp is a 69 Traynor Bassmaster (clone of marshall jtm45, early plexis...) with no master volume.

So yes, we play quite loud! I think I'll go with 12"

Kev Wed, 07/06/2005 - 15:17

moonbaby wrote: Being that you are located in Australia, you may have a more limited variety of gear that is available to you.
... Also, have you investigated any IEM (in-ear monitor) systems? They are starting to show up in a lot of different price ranges...

Was that directed at me ?
I make my own systems .. and that goes for the drivers too.
All credit for the drivers goes to Mik
http://www.lorantz.com.au/
but he has let me help wind, glue and assemble some of my drivers.
People here know I am DIY to the core.

I already said that my best passive floor units where in fact 12's.
I have a couple of regular clients that just want to use the 15's. These are big male vocals and sometimes want a little extra added to the vocal send.

Yes I have an IEM system as well.
Again not everyone is willing to use them.
IEM systems require more infrstructure to make them reliable and safe.
Digital mixers with multiple sends and a bult-in reverb and lots of limiting does make life easier.

Big_D Wed, 07/06/2005 - 15:44

I don't totally agree with the statement that 12's cut through better. It really depends on the voice(s). I've had both 12's and 15's and liked both. I'm with Kev in that the deeper voices sounded better and cut through better with 15's.

I'm running my old favorites EV S152's and I won't be changing as they sound great on everything.