Loudspeakers - Choosing Speakers

[lieperjp]

Hello, again.

Really simple question, I guess, but I was wondering how to choose the right speaker. I'm looking to convince the powers that be to purchase some new speakers.

Currently, we are using two 300 watt EV Sx300 speakers(will check product number later) just aren't cutting it. Last night at a rehearsal, the sound guy had to have the vocals clipping for a band to be able to 1) hear the vocals period, and 2) be able to understand the vocals. It sounded pretty bad, too - the clipping was quite noticable. I would like to get some nice active speakers, but am wondering how to pick out the right ones. They would mostly be for talent show applications, but might have some theatrical use. Something like the Mackie SR1530z (active) looks good (a little too expensive), but is there a way to tell if this will be better?

I would guess the answer would also be room-dependent, as well. The auditorium is 115' long; 50' wide; at front it is about 30' from floor to celing, and in back it is about 12' from floor to celing, concrete floors and wood paneled walls. It's not super important the sound quality in the back of the room is as good as the sound quality in the front of the room, as for most of the shows people don't sit in the back 10 rows anyway (or, at least, we discourage it.) I

Price Range: $1000 for sure, probably somewhere between $1250 and $1750, maybe $2500 if I'm lucky.

I have ordered a copy of Yamaha's sound reinforcement handbook, so I hope some answers will be in there. But it's not here yet.

[derekleffew]

While this link: PA Speakers: Buying Guide, may be too rudimentary for you and, a pleasant surprise, below your budget, it does contain some useful information. Is your $1000-2500 per pair or per box? What amplifiers will you be using? What are the primary, and ancillary, uses of the room?

[avkid]

The band apparently needs monitors.

[Eboy87]

Exactly what Derek and Phil said; is your budget per box, and are these being used as monitors or mains? If you like the sound of the EV's, they do make a powered version of the SX boxes, but I don't remember the wattages off the top of my head. The Mackies are ok, not great, but they'll get you through. If memory serves me correctly, the Mackie boxes you mentioned tend to thermal out quickly, so watch the cooling on them.

[lieperjp]

$2000 for everything. (or thereabouts.)

The speakers would just be for events- it would not be a permanent install. The events mainly would consist of talent shows - where the acts are usually light rock bands with minor variation(1,2 or 3 electric guitar, bass, drum 1-2 vocal and 1-3 backup singers), drums not mic'd. They would probably also be used for theatrical shows - mainly just vocal back up for musicals. They would be the main speakers.

The band did have monitors. The blame might lie with the sound mixer, who has the attitude "There's nothing else to do." But yes, last year we blew an amp and I wouldn't doubt that some point this year we will blow an amp or speaker.

[lieperjp]

Originally Posted by Eboy87

The Mackies are ok, not great, but they'll get you through. If memory serves me correctly, the Mackie boxes you mentioned tend to thermal out quickly, so watch the cooling on them.

Then would I be better off getting passive speakers and the appropriate amp? I'm not totally dedicated to the active speaker, it's just that I think in our situation the active speaker might be easier for setup/takedown, especially because there is an outlet 3 feet away from where they would be set up.

[museav]

I agree that it does sound like they may be wanting dedicated monitors rather than trying to get the house system to serve that purpose. But if you really do want new house speakers then there are a number of questions to help define what performance may be appropriate. What type of music and do you have a feel for the desired levels? Are the same speakers used for announcements where intelligibility is important? Are the speakers going to be permanently installed or portable? Will the speakers be flown (which it sounds like may technically be preferable) or on stands or ground stacked? This latter is definitely relevant to the Mackie SR1530z you referenced since per Mackie they are not to be flown or mounted on poles, only ground stacked.

If you want active/powered speakers, is the needed power in the correct locations? Would you have to pull new cable for them? Would they be in a location where they won't easily be turned off accidentally but can be turned off when desired?

[BillESC]

EV's ZX5-60 would be the passive recommendation from me. Double the wattage of the Sx300 and a 60 x 60 degree dispersion pattern for your long throw. You'll want to match it with an appropiate amp capable at least 1200w per side for peaks.

For a little over your budget, EV's ZXA5 active cabinets offer 1250w bi-amped in a 60 degree model and they only weigh 50.5 pounds each. We did a side by side with Mackie's SA1521 and the EV cabs walked all over the Mackies.

[lieperjp]

Thanks, Bill.

Just want to say that they are not going to be used as monitor speakers. We have enough monitor equipment. They will be the main speakers. Our auditorium system was designed for lectures, not loud bands. Even when running audio through it for movies it sounds awful. We set up a system for the three/four talent shows each year and for each theatrical production. For the theatrical production, the EV's do work well as we don't have to drive much through them. But for the talent show type events they do not work well. First off, they are not powerful enough, and second of all not enough low end. Yes, yes, I know a permanent solution would be better, but the auditorium is scheduled for a full overhaul within the next seven years, and a new system will be implemented then. We were originally going to try getting some subs this year, but when I pointed out that we're clipping just to drive vocals enough, we started to look at this.

[lieperjp]

Originally Posted by BillESC

You'll want to match it with an appropiate amp capable at least 1200w per side for peaks.

That leads to another question (for clarification.) When matching an amp to speakers, the peak wattage of the speaker should equal the wattage of the amp? And then, if each speaker has a peak of 1200 watts, could one 2400 watt amp work instead of two 1200 amps?