How are "PA" speakers at bass?

[jdogric12]

The keyboardist in our band has been playing through some EV ZLX 1000W 12's and loves them. Would they be ok for bass pedals? (Minitaur, like a Taurus sound) I want to really rumble the room with them.

 

[GCDEF]

If you added a sub. On their own, they'd work, but don't expect the walls to shake.

 

[335guy]

The published specs by EV state the ZLX-12P goes down to 65 Hz, and that is probably at -3 db or greater. IMO, that's not going to make a room rumble. At a very moderate volume, that speaker could be used for bass pedals, but it won't get the deep fundamental notes. I'd look elsewhere.

 

[MLG Audio]

Yamaha dxr 12 in FOH mode may be a good solution.

 

[jdogric12]

Thanks gang!

 

[GCDEF]

Yamaha dxr 12 in FOH mode may be a good solution.

They still wouldn't let him "rumble the room" the way a good sub would. Not even close.

 

[Yer Blues]

I agree a sub would be a good idea.
On the flip side, are you sure all the venues you play at want the room to rumble? In my experience, this is not always the case.

 

[RustyAxe]

Most powered speakers can handle bass at reasonable volumes. Most do NOT have the speaker excursion to "rumble the room" without significant distortion ... leading to sudden death.

 

[jdogric12]

I agree a sub would be a good idea.
On the flip side, are you sure all the venues you play at want the room to rumble? In my experience, this is not always the case.

I think we're one of the few bands that packs the place. They'll like. And the band we're covering (tributing? is that a word?) requires chest-thumping bass.

 

[orogeny]

I think we're one of the few bands that packs the place. They'll like. And the band we're covering (tributing? is that a word?) requires chest-thumping bass.

then you want a sub (and a good eq for that channel!)

 

[chrisjnyc]

Yea, most powered PA speakers roll off a lot of low frequencies. It's a catch 22, as you don't want them to distort when you crank up the PA, but it lops off a low end. Get a sub and you will feel the difference!

 

[335guy]

If your band's PA system doesn't have subs, then you should consider getting them and plugging the bass pedals into your band's PA. Alternately, if you want a separate system for just the bass pedals, consider a good bass amp. Some 4 x 10 cabs can get down to 30 Hz, and will cover the upper ranges of the bass pedals as well. Of course, you'd need an amp head as well. A quality rig like like that could cost as much as $1500 ( new ) or more, depending on what you bought. But an active 18" sub + and active upper PA cab could cost as much. With a bass cab and amp head, you would have a more compact setup and more tone shaping capabilities.