Hey there,
I am planning to buy a starter PA set for myself which I would use for small applications (eg:. weddings, school events, local small speeches and concerts). My budget is about 1000$ without cables, mikes etc. So only for speakers/amp/mixer.
I have been using Behringer Xenyx QX1832 mixer with Stage Line STA-500 amp and 2 IMG STAGE LINE PAB-415/SW speakers at school for about 250 people for 5 years.
I have never been satisfied with the sound quality but the loudness was mostly enough.
I have been looking around and made a small gig, then I contacted the people at Thomann and they said to throw out everything I thought and buy a satellite system. I have checked them but they do not seem very appealing compared to their price.
First of all, I have always loved the way that everything is separate (mixer, amp, passive speaker) but I need to save space so which one do you suggest and why?
- Stay with the "everything separately" way
- Active speakers
- Passive speakers
The other thing is the speakers. I am the man who thinks that bigger is (most of the times) louder and the satellite systems suggested look so small and weak.
Here are what I considered:
- the box PA 252 ECO MKII
- Behringer VP2520
- HH Vector VRE-215P (or active) - Here, I would ask for opinions on this speaker. Does anyone know something of it? It looks "perfect on paper" but google did not help at all this time. It looks too good to be true. Cheap, big, lightweight.
And the systems I was suggested:
- the box CL 106 top with 112MKII sub
- the box Miniray - And here is the one that mostly raised all of my questions. This one is so small but very promising. Do you know anything about it? How can it be so small but powerful.
I know I am measuring in watts and not in efficiency etc. so please advise.
At the moment I have nothing but the dream and money to do this. The system I used was the school's equipment.
Thank you all in advance for every help. 😀
I am planning to buy a starter PA set for myself which I would use for small applications (eg:. weddings, school events, local small speeches and concerts). My budget is about 1000$ without cables, mikes etc. So only for speakers/amp/mixer.
I have been using Behringer Xenyx QX1832 mixer with Stage Line STA-500 amp and 2 IMG STAGE LINE PAB-415/SW speakers at school for about 250 people for 5 years.
I have never been satisfied with the sound quality but the loudness was mostly enough.
I have been looking around and made a small gig, then I contacted the people at Thomann and they said to throw out everything I thought and buy a satellite system. I have checked them but they do not seem very appealing compared to their price.
First of all, I have always loved the way that everything is separate (mixer, amp, passive speaker) but I need to save space so which one do you suggest and why?
- Stay with the "everything separately" way
- Active speakers
- Passive speakers
The other thing is the speakers. I am the man who thinks that bigger is (most of the times) louder and the satellite systems suggested look so small and weak.
Here are what I considered:
- the box PA 252 ECO MKII
- Behringer VP2520
- HH Vector VRE-215P (or active) - Here, I would ask for opinions on this speaker. Does anyone know something of it? It looks "perfect on paper" but google did not help at all this time. It looks too good to be true. Cheap, big, lightweight.
And the systems I was suggested:
- the box CL 106 top with 112MKII sub
- the box Miniray - And here is the one that mostly raised all of my questions. This one is so small but very promising. Do you know anything about it? How can it be so small but powerful.
I know I am measuring in watts and not in efficiency etc. so please advise.
At the moment I have nothing but the dream and money to do this. The system I used was the school's equipment.
Thank you all in advance for every help. 😀
Last edited:
My observations:
- Stage Line STA-500 has only 125W/8 ohm (200W/4 ohm) per channel, you need 300W/8 ohm (500W/4 ohm) per channel amplifier for IMG STAGE LINE PAB-415/SW.
- One pair of active speakers has better performance/cost ratio than a pair of passive speakers + amplifier. Sell the STA-500 amplifier, of course.
- IMG STAGE LINE PAB-415/SW should be decent, maybe needs better crossover.
- Instead of poor quality double 15" boxes, for the same price buy good quality single 15" boxes.
- CL 106 top with 112MKII sub is a joke.
- The box Miniray is cute, but I am not convinced about sound quality.
My advice: buy one pair of brand name, quality active single 15" + horn boxes and sell the Stage Line STA-500 amplifier.
EDIT: Oh, you don't need a poll.
- Stage Line STA-500 has only 125W/8 ohm (200W/4 ohm) per channel, you need 300W/8 ohm (500W/4 ohm) per channel amplifier for IMG STAGE LINE PAB-415/SW.
- One pair of active speakers has better performance/cost ratio than a pair of passive speakers + amplifier. Sell the STA-500 amplifier, of course.
- IMG STAGE LINE PAB-415/SW should be decent, maybe needs better crossover.
- Instead of poor quality double 15" boxes, for the same price buy good quality single 15" boxes.
- CL 106 top with 112MKII sub is a joke.
- The box Miniray is cute, but I am not convinced about sound quality.
My advice: buy one pair of brand name, quality active single 15" + horn boxes and sell the Stage Line STA-500 amplifier.
EDIT: Oh, you don't need a poll.
Last edited:
Sorry, forgot to mention that the system was the school's and now I don't have anything. 😀
You have confirmed what I think of the satellite systems. 😀
Do you have any suggestions for which brands to look out for?
I am a JBL fanatic and I like Behringer, too. What can you tell me about Mackie or db Technologies?
You have confirmed what I think of the satellite systems. 😀
Do you have any suggestions for which brands to look out for?
I am a JBL fanatic and I like Behringer, too. What can you tell me about Mackie or db Technologies?
Mackie shows up a lot as needing repair, some component incinerated.
Check out Peavey PV15 powered speaker. I own the Peavey SP2-XT and love the sound.
Test with piano CD's to hear inaccuracy. calibrate your ears with a known major brand grand piano (Steinway, Baldwin, Bechstein, Yamaha, Bosendorfer). Go to a concert with live sound.
That's how I ended up with the SP2-XT. Modern SP2 sound slightly better and weigh less. but SP2 you need a separate amp, plus fat cables. I use 2.5 mm speaker wire.
JBL is the inheritor of the Altec Lansing patents. They have a consumer audio line with +-10 db specs, and a pro audio line with +-3db specs. Buy the pro audio line. My Peavey's are copies of the Altec Lansing VOT, and did a great job for the price. JBL pro line is not stocked for audition here.
Behringer shows up a lot as needing repair, and manuals are copyrighted and not for sale to the home repairman. Great 7 year life reputation. The Peavey amps I bought used *****ed out at about 15-18 years of age, and the SP2-XT speakers are fine at 18 years of age. Peavey gives away schematics and sells repair parts, too. They have a European operation in Greece I believe. Remember what country the baby formula was fake and schools and bridges fall down due to concrete with too much sand in it.
Check out Peavey PV15 powered speaker. I own the Peavey SP2-XT and love the sound.
Test with piano CD's to hear inaccuracy. calibrate your ears with a known major brand grand piano (Steinway, Baldwin, Bechstein, Yamaha, Bosendorfer). Go to a concert with live sound.
That's how I ended up with the SP2-XT. Modern SP2 sound slightly better and weigh less. but SP2 you need a separate amp, plus fat cables. I use 2.5 mm speaker wire.
JBL is the inheritor of the Altec Lansing patents. They have a consumer audio line with +-10 db specs, and a pro audio line with +-3db specs. Buy the pro audio line. My Peavey's are copies of the Altec Lansing VOT, and did a great job for the price. JBL pro line is not stocked for audition here.
Behringer shows up a lot as needing repair, and manuals are copyrighted and not for sale to the home repairman. Great 7 year life reputation. The Peavey amps I bought used *****ed out at about 15-18 years of age, and the SP2-XT speakers are fine at 18 years of age. Peavey gives away schematics and sells repair parts, too. They have a European operation in Greece I believe. Remember what country the baby formula was fake and schools and bridges fall down due to concrete with too much sand in it.
Quality is what you are not getting with any of those choices and reliability is usually the first casualty of such penny pinching. IMO you would get much better performance with some used gear from a well know Brand such as JBL, EV, Yamaha, even Peavey than with a bunch of brand new chinese junk.
As far as what works better and is easier to move for a mobile operator that is easy.. a sub/sat system. 2x15s just don't compare, they are big and heavy and you simply cannot position them for optimum performance which is with the hi frequency drivers overhead and the low frequency drivers on the floor. I own some 215s but they only come out for really big events and are usually paired with double 18 subs, for everything else I use 12+1 cabs with one or two 18" subs and all those boxes are self powered, this is what I suggest you look for.
Those really small "line array" systems are a joke in comparison, if you pay big money for a highend version they are quite good but you don't get anything more than a pro looking home theater system at the $1000 level.
As far as what works better and is easier to move for a mobile operator that is easy.. a sub/sat system. 2x15s just don't compare, they are big and heavy and you simply cannot position them for optimum performance which is with the hi frequency drivers overhead and the low frequency drivers on the floor. I own some 215s but they only come out for really big events and are usually paired with double 18 subs, for everything else I use 12+1 cabs with one or two 18" subs and all those boxes are self powered, this is what I suggest you look for.
Those really small "line array" systems are a joke in comparison, if you pay big money for a highend version they are quite good but you don't get anything more than a pro looking home theater system at the $1000 level.
Last edited:
It warms my heart to see people recommend Peavy still. I grew up 20 minutes from Peavy HQ in Meridian, MS, and the engineer at my family's radio station was personal friends with Hartley Peavy. The Peavy engineering staff took a 2 day canoe trip every year and stayed on the bank of our engineers property, and they would jam all night with homemade battery powered amps. We had 4 SP1s at our radio station for live events, and those things were so good. I've probably replaced the black widows 4 times every cabinet over about 15 years of at least weekly use.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.