I've just got myself work doing parties and functions etc and I'm now needing to buy new speakers. I used to own JBL EON15 G2 but ended up selling them last year as I thought I would not use them again.

I've been looking at the Mackie SRM450. Has anyone got these or know how good they are? I did like my JBLs but believe they maybe better ones out there for around the same price. Looking to spend around £800. Also would prefer Active speakers.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Cheers.

I've now downgraded to CDJ400 and DJM400 if this is any use. Really miss my CDJ1000s and DJM800 - Boohoo.

I've used both the SRM's and the JBL's and of the two, the JBL's win out. The SRM's have better bass it seems, but they have a tendency to overheat. The JBL's will keep going till they blow up (I know, I've done it).

The other brand I'd look seriously at is QSC's line of actives; I've heard them (but never worked with them personally) and they've always blown me away. Pulse has some; he'll tell you they're heavy but they sound amazing.

-r-

They're heavy but they sound amazing.

Check out the EV ZX5 series

i think if you look around and listen you will be disappointed with Mackie. JBL is expensive, and QSC right now is pleasing alot of people, and dollar for dollar is your best choice IMO.

JBL tried and true.
My EON 15G2's have been taking a beating physically for 5 years and still sound great. I have expanded first with one JRK 18SP, then two and now I even own two EON10 G2's also.

But a word of advice buy cases to protect them because the do look ****ty when they are scratched up.

I'll second the cases suggestion - when I ordered my speakers, my speaker bags didn't arrive for 2 weeks after the speakers (for some weird reason - backordered maybe) but I had 2 gigs to go to during that time. As careful as I was within the first 2 weeks of owning these new gorgeous speakers, I still managed to mark up one of the boxes and grill.

A $40 cover is totally work making things look (and sound) fantastic.

hi guys. have used the mackies,jbl,qsc,ev and after trying everything out and keeping most i now rate the RCF art 525'sas one of the best sounding speakers for the money. 1 unit weighs in at 15KG so easy to transport. rated at 750w rms a side there is plenty there to fill a room. i use these on gigs for upto 250 people as they really fill the room. the sound is first class.
i also agree with the guys saying about speaker bags. if there plastic cabs and you dont have them, they will end up a mess.

iain

iainalpine-
Am I right in saying you don't need subs with the 525's? And where did you get them? I buy most of my stuff in from the UK so any info would be great.
Cheers

No full range speaker, active or passive, will perform as well without subs as with. There will always be some kind of bass there, it's just a question of how hard it hits in your chest. That said, the question isn't "do they need subs" but "do I need subs for the events that I'm doing".

I've done events with EON15G2's that didn't need subs (in fact, most of the events that I use EON's for don't need subs; things like weddings and small corporate parties). But we threw 4 of them + 2x dual 18's into a small club once and blew people's ears off. So it all depends on your event.

Adding a small sub, such as the little EV single 18" (don't know the model number, it's changed many times, used to be SxA180 I think) can certainly do wonders, but it's not always necessary.

-r-

Hi DJ GMC,

sorry for the delay in getting back to you. the input from ryan is correct, you really need to look at the gigs you are going to be doing to decide if subs are required. that aside, i will turn up at just about any normal size gig and only take the RCF's. i have 10 guys working for me and they have all comented on the kick from them and how low the bass can go. infact if i have a bigger gig on like this weekend which is for around 700 people i will take 4 of the RCF's and it will rock the place.
i looked into the powered market quite alot as until 2 years ago had always used passive cabs. the main thing that struck me was the running temperature of some of the cabs. the likes of mackies etc run really hot even when your not pushing them and tend to go thermal and shut down. the RCF's run pretty cool but do heat up when pushed but have never went into thermal shutdown even when im raping them on the likes of an old school night.
i bought the speakers from a company called images based in scotland. ask for barry when you contact them. very helpful guy.

Iain

quote:

No full range speaker, active or passive, will perform as well without subs as with.

One of the 10 DJ Universal Truths. Nice Ryan

Hey guys, thanks for the input! Much appreciated. What I meant to ask was what was the bass frequency like more than "do I need subs" and Iainalpine adressed this question for me.
Thanks again!

quote:

Originally posted by PeterMichael:
One of the 10 DJ Universal Truths. Nice Ryan

I can't tell if you're making fun of me or not... lol

quote:

Originally posted by iainalpine:
the main thing that struck me was the running temperature of some of the cabs. the likes of mackies etc run really hot even when your not pushing them and tend to go thermal and shut down.

I should point out something; Mackies do go thermal if you DON'T run them with a sub. They were designed to do some good bass on their own, but their problem is that they do bass so well that people assume (somewhat correctly) that they don't need a sub as well. The problem there is that people do too large of parties with them and don't use the subs they should. So be careful with them if you go that route.

On the other hand, EONS NEVER go thermal; they destroy themselves before that happens. That same party where we threw 4 of them into a club, we crossed over the signal and so no bass was getting to the EONS. At the end of the night we had 1 non-functioning cab, so we replaced it the next night and the same thing happened to a different speaker; and we couldn't figure out why.

What we figured out later was that EONS use the bass frequencies to cool their cabinets; they're sealed with the exception of the two ports on the front. When the big 15" cone moves from the bass, hot air comes blasting out; if that cone doesn't move (such as when there's no bass) the air doesn't move, and things can eventually bake in there (as happened to us).

This would have been avoided had we used the EONS for their intended purpose; as in, NOT a club show with subs, or at least not crossing things over.

The lesson here is that every speaker (active or passive) has it's limitations, some of which you won't find out about until you go past them. But be aware of that, pair them with subs (or not) when appropriate, and you'll do great.

-r-

This message has been edited. Last edited by: RyanJ,

The more I hear sub set-ups the more I think I may get one. I only use powered for ease of me back and for the fact that I always have a back-up speaker on hand. I have run 1000's of events over the years, and had a few Amps thermal out. My powered speakers all have heat syncs on the back and really seem fine at the end of any event. The average time they run for is 5-8 hours on and playing tunes. I try to use the appropriate ampount of sound for the situation, and for now if I need that push it is a PeeVee Impulse 200 on the floor (12" 2 way 550W) that gives me the bass. The main tops I use are Yamaha SM400s rated at 450W, for most events thay sound nice and have all the sound I really need.

As an older and wiser DJ then most of you, I will pass on a little wisdom that you can take for whatever it's worth.

1.) No one has ever said "You were awesome, Great music and a great job", BUT it just wasn't loud enough....

Just play the appropriate volume to the appropriate crowd and you'll be fine.

Ryan, I'm not making fun at all. Truly a truth.

Jay, I agree with your numbered statement as well, my only thought is if you are trying to make a killer impression and you can effectively reinforce the sound like a true monster, it will add to the entire event.

I used to play alongside of a DJ who brought in to every event-

on each side he had a stack consisting of 2 18", 15" 2 way, and fastened on top was a 2" horn, all JBL M. 3 big crown amps, and a rediculous Martin light show. It absolutely made a difference when the bass physically moved you, but it wasn't a single marketable item, it was a factor in an overall ass beating you would receive being there. Still to this day have never heard anything as strong and nice.

But agree, not practical or essential. But if I was trying to belittle the competition and wow the crowd that would definitely be something to think about.

/me hates Eon and Mackies. They always sound like they're farting. Ryan's suggestion that they need a sub to match is 100% but even still, I don't like 'em.

It's a lot more work, it's more money, but will it make a difference??? Yes, it probably will.

My new want set-up is 2 x QSC 12" powered and a 15" cerwin powered sub, or 2 x 15" RCF powered and my Peevee 12" on the floor???

What's everyones take on simply adding a third speaker on the floor to boost up the bass?????

Going back to the original statement. It's simply a matter of a sub by design adds a dimension of low bass that simply can't be delivered by a regular 2 way cabinet. (not talking about some of the 3 way cabs out there)

really if you do the math on it, it's impossible for the 15" or 12" driver to provide lows if it's also decently covering else up to 3k to 5k.

quote:

Originally posted by PeterMichael:
...(not talking about some of the 3 way cabs out there)

really if you do the math on it, it's impossible for the 15" or 12" driver to provide lows if it's also decently covering else up to 3k to 5k.

PM's got the math right. I have some 5-way cabs that STILL can't compete in bass with subs.

The basic reasoning is because bass is such a completely different animal from any other sound range. Why do you think SO much research has gone into subwoofer design? Why is there SO many different versions of subwoofers (sealed, bandpass, ported, reflex, etc. etc. etc)? Simply because it's its own science.

Ultimately it comes down to how much AIR can be moved by your subs, because that's what you'll feel, that's what you'll hear. The more air that moves the more bass you got. Applying an old car adage: There's no replacement for [air] displacement!

Jay - adding a third will sound great, as long as it has stereo inputs. Mono isn't bad, but if you play Stuck In The Middle With You and it's on the OTHER channel, the beginning will sound REALLY funny

-r-