Dave could you be a little more specific to apps of which this
console would be used for. About how many channels are needed? Sounds like something relatively
portable. Would this
console be setup in a formal
FOH setup. Or is it just for a rehersal space or smaller events where an
FOH setup is innappropriate.
I understand some people just don't like the mackies, while they don't have the top notch surgical EQs and preamps as a midas does. They are still a pretty good buy, the VLZ-Pros are a fairly solid
line of mixers. I've worked with them constantly this past year, it's not my first choice but I happier to see a
mackie than a behringer or a lower end soundcraft. I personally don't like the lower end soundcrafts as much, they feel a
bit more cheap. Esepecially with all the integrated crap, there is no reason to spend your money on cheap throw-ins.
Since you mentioned
peavey powered, I'm guessing you want something like a 1604 VLZ at the max. Since your not up for a
mackie, which I think is a better buy at this range. The best alternative is the mixwiz, I doesn't have as many routing options as other mixers do, but it is a great sounding
mixer. Built nicely too. However if you want a highly reliable
system with premium preamps and a nice strong surgical EQ, I'd go with a Midas Venice. They're fantastic consoles, there are many who'd prefer a basic midas with top notch components over similar priced
console with more features but less components. Just compare the Verona to other consoles in the price range. You can get VCAs and way more inputs with the prices of some of those veronas. But you don't get that outstanding Midas sound and qualty. They have top notch components and they're are quite modular. Used on the
road by many.
Depending on the amps I say no about the powered
mixer. If its a little
portable system sitting in a rehersal space thats fine. Also if it'd be mixed from a
stage cable runs no longer than say 35' I guess go for it. A long speakon run isn't a good idea, you lose more
power per length than any other run. Its better to leave the long runs up to your balanced signals, and your powered and unbalanced signals shorter. Personally I don't like powered mixers, it's just a bunch of cheap components thrown together. Feel cheap, and often way too underpowered for most
passive speakers. The amps are really cheap too, it's not the greatest thing for your speakers in a long runs. I prefer dedicated equipment, less can go wrong that way.
Whether powered or non-powered, it really depends on the apps. Most powered speakers (excluding powered
line arrays and high end cabs) aren't concert material. The
mackie SRM-450s are an industry workhorse, and are used all the time as professional backups. Many powered systems have a lot of heat problems, I've heard some nasty stories about powered speakers over heating because of the amp stuffed in there with
speaker. Active systems don't nearly sound as good as a decent
passive system IMO. They can sound quite fake and unnatural, just like the gigging band at your local bar with their "pro-sumer" gear. Most of the time you get better freq response that way too, dedicated gear usually have higher quality components than intergrated gear.
I personally disagree with
DMX's statement about the advantages of powered speakers with matched amplifiers and amps tailored to the
frequency response of the speakers. The amps put in most powered speakers are so cheap that really none of that matters long term. I've probably seen more blown/busted active speakers than I have
passive. They're just as easy to bust, and usually the intergrated amps are prone to
clipping, higher levels of harmonic
distortion, and the extra
power cables often clutter up the
stage. While I agree with
DMX if he is teaching an idiot, because the average idiot does not know how to properly match amps and speakers. There are plenty enough amps out there to match the
power of any
speaker. There is are reason why
speaker and amp manufactuers give out engineer spec/data sheets. Since you obviously aren't an idiot, Dave, you'd know to match amps and speakers properly. Ideal matching requires all specs taking into consideration. However there is a basic rule, which you probably already know...
Min =
RMS x 2 x 0.8
Max =
RMS x 2 x 1.25
Peavey's stuff is quite durable gear(lasts much longer than many higher end manufacturers), more so their older gear.
Peavey were the PA kings in the 80s, but I don't feel their gear is as nice as it used to be. The newer stuff seems to lose the quality over frill for cheap moto characteristic
peavey has always been known for. All there gear has been highly cosmetically upgraded and it just feels cheap. I really like
yamaha for low end PA systems,
yamaha isn't known for anything in the high end market either than their consoles and processing. So all their
loudspeaker efforts are devoted to a single market, which results in better made gear. Earlier this year I put together a small 5.5k
portable system. I looked a JBL quite a
bit but their lower end mains are crap (SF series, mpro is an improvement thogh). The freq response wasn't nothing compared to other cabs costing just slighty more. It seems like the only reason JBL makes those speakers is just get a peice of that specific market. JBL is known for their higher end gear: SRX series, VerTec
line array,
etc. That's why I went with Ev, just a higher qualty
speaker for the money.