Could I have your opinion on a PA speaker package for a country/rock group?

[mthomps]

http://www.proaudiostar.com/live-so...e-ex2-excursion2000-speaker-package.html#info

We are close to purchasing gear to start gigging. The goal is enough clean headroom to work in bars and small halls. A few hundred people maximum and that is being generous. Beyond that, I'd like as simple and fast a set up/tare down procedure as possible. I will be training four others along with myself to do the process and none have the technical proficiency to absolutely know where things go without having to be trained. A concern I have is that the main's amplifiers are housed inside the subwoofer cabinet.

We will be purchasing a Presonus StudioLive 16.4.2 for FOH and in ear monitoring, as well as a multi-track feed of the performance.. Through my research I've concluded a powered reinforcement system with a studiolive will be the best option for our situation.

What do you think of these choices?

 

[Crowder]

Being in the same situation you're in, I would advise against this speaker package. It will probably work fine when you're in exactly the right size/shape of room that it's suited for, but you will be frustrated with it if you end up in a situation where it's not enough PA. It doesn't seem to be a scalable system (though I guess you could buy two of these and use one on each side of the stage). It looks like it was designed for DJ's more than bands.

We have a Presonus 16.0.2 board, one JBL PRX618S powered sub, and five PRX612M powered cabs. This system has worked great for us so far, whether in our practice space, in a club, or even outdoors. I like that it's totally scalable. We can buy or rent one more main or one more sub if we need to get a little bigger. We can carry just the board and two mains if we're just playing an acoustic set. With the Yorkville set you're always going to have to carry the sub. That's a huge disadvantage IMHO.

I will be interested to know how the StudioLive works for you with the IEM's. We are using 2-3 of the PRX612's as stage monitors most of the time and that works for us, but it seems like IEM's are becoming the norm.


FWIW I got a lot of my JBL stuff from ProAudioStar and they're good peeps. UniqueSquared in Atlanta is also great. Typically they will sell lots of "Open Box" or "Store Demo" stuff that is brand new, unopened, no signs of use. Out of the six speakers I have bought, the only issue I have is that the "on" LED on one of the PRX612's doesn't light up.

 

[Snap]

The best compromise between price and performance that I've heard in any PA system lately is the QSC K, and KW series.

JBL has some pretty decent mid-range stuff, but stay away from Peavey and Yamaha (low-end PA gear, Yamaha digital mixers are top notch however).

 

[fisticuffs]

EV Live-X. Build your own powered or unpowered. I'd say 2 subs, 2 12"s and whatever you need for monitors. The whole system can be powered or unpowered depending on your preference.

 

[mthomps]

Thank you for the input fellas. The lack of scalability mentioned by you, Crowder, has put me off of that Yorkville package.

I am now considering this set up, if you wouldn't mind looking.

http://www.proaudiostar.com/live-so...elx112p-two-way-powered-loudspeaker.html#info

with:

http://www.proaudiostar.com/live-sound/yorkville-ls801p-powered-subwoofer-formerly-ls800p.html

A little bit of forum research reads that this sub is superior than 2 of ev's subs in the same product line as the mains I linked to. But as always, this information is taken with a healthy dose of salt.

 

[335guy]

That Yorkville sub is an impressive performer, as are the EV uppers. The biggest downside to the Yorkville is the weight.

 

[mthomps]

As I understand it the sub does come with some sort of caster system to at least tilt and roll it?

Even if not, weight is not much of an issue as I lift heavy things for a living and I will slip a dolly under it.

 

[saneff]

I HIGHLY recommend the newish Mackie HD1221's. Honestly, check them out. Me and my crew researched PA's extensively and they were a pretty clear choice over the QSC's and the EV's. They are 12's and the clarity, bass, and overall sound is fabulous. And boy can they get loud. Holy smokes. And they remain clear when cranked. Just awesome.