Speaker purchasing conundrum!!

Ian Coughlin

Sophomore
Jan 11, 2011
133
0
16
New York
www.dtgentertainment.com
I’m currently stuck between a rock and a hard place. My current inventory consists of three rigs (although I only consider “B” a complete rig):

A) 2- JBL SRX715’s
1- Crown I-Tech 9000HD

B) 2- QSC KW 122’s
2- QSC KW181’s

C) 2- QSC K10’s

I also have access to a buddies rig which consist of:

D) 4- JBL VRX932’s
1- Crown I-Tech 8000
4- EM Acoustics EM-215’s
1- Powersoft K10

My go-to rig that gets used the most is the QSC KW’s. I feel comfortable covering up to 100 people in a small-medium sized venue at the db levels I require for the events I cater to. I can stretch it to 200 people max depending on the party and genre of music required but hit the limiters much sooner. Example events would be college formals, small to medium sweet 16’s and weddings. I use this rig on a weekly basis.

The QSC K’s are actually used more on DJ monitor duty for my bigger rigs/gigs and used stand alone less often than the KW’s. They go out for dry rentals, monitor duty and where ever basic DJ services are needed; small events such as birthday parties, christenings, retirements, etc.

The SRX rig gets used about once or twice a month and I deploy with the KW181’s. I’m not a fan of this set up and the highs easily outrun the lows. The SRX’s alone I feel comfortable covering a couple 100 people with. Example events would be medium to large college parties/events, sweet 16’s, weddings, etc.

I use my buddies VRX rig mostly for high school proms, a few large events at local colleges, and an occasional large sweet 16. Unfortunately these events (excluding the sweet 16) all take place over 2/3-month span in the spring. Right now I only have this rig booked for two gigs.

My original plan/intent was to end up with a three I-Tech 9000HD amp rack as a fundamental building block for all my rigs. With that I can power up to 4 SRX715/VRX932 and 4-8 SRX715/VRX918s, bi-amp the highs or run up to 4 SRX712/VRX915 monitors.
Variable #1, “formal season”, once in early December and again in the spring I average 20 gigs in a two-week span. Some days I have 3 gigs all about the same time and at different venues, thus require 3 separate rigs. For these days I either rent or have the DJ bring his own speakers if he owns a decent pair.

Variable #2, Id like to start providing live sound services

Variable #3, I guess you can say I have “Evan Bass syndrome”

Variable #4, my newfound love for Danley and Powersoft

With that said, should I stay my course? Flip the SRX/I-Tech rig for more KWs? Flip the KW rig for more SRX/I-Tech? Flip it all for JBL VP? Other suggestions?

Thank you,
Ian
 
Re: Speaker purchasing conundrum!!

Matt,

Thanks for the reply. I feel active vs. self powered is an entire different can of worms. I know the KWs cant hold a candle to the SRX gear. The only active replacement for SRX/I-Tech I would consider would be the VP series, both of which don't fit half of my clients budgets...
 
Re: Speaker purchasing conundrum!!

I was looking at it as…keeping it all 1 flavor; self-powered or passive. I think as a small company, it’s better to stay with one or the other.

Do I want to carry an amp rack or two? Or do I want to carry more power cables? Or do want to buy specialty cables (ie: ProCo Siamese cables)?

IF you want to build around the Itech amps, use the SRX715 as your main box for small to medium shows. And I would purchase the 4 SRX718s that way you can take in 1-4 for the show depending on the room. If you need a bigger rig, you can always cross-rent the VRX932 for tops.

IF you want to stay self powered: Buy the most expensive/loudest/top-of-the-line box that you like and use it on A, B & C rigs. For example: if you buy the RCF TT22A/TT25A, its pole mountable (JBL VP’s aren’t) for those small shows and then ADD subs to the package as the shows get bigger. You could probably get away with the NX-S21A or4Pro-6003AS for subs. Then your example rigs are: A) TT25s stacked on 2 Subs... B) TT25a pole mounted on 1 Sub... C) TT25a on sticks. (I brought up RCF as an example, because I’ve been looking at them and trying to set-up a demo).
 
Re: Speaker purchasing conundrum!!

I love the idea of one flavor, it bothers me having different gear in the shop for a few reasons.

VP offer a pole cup option, most of my applications wouldn't be ground stack so its not as big of a concern of getting in the way. RCF's sound great but lack the DSP of the VP (or I-Tech).

OT- funny you should mention RCF and demo, a good buddy of mine has a full 4-PRO rig. Don't know where in MD you are or rather how far from Long Island but feel free to PM me if you want to set up a demo.
 
Re: Speaker purchasing conundrum!!

I love the idea of one flavor, it bothers me having different gear in the shop for a few reasons.

VP offer a pole cup option, most of my applications wouldn't be ground stack so its not as big of a concern of getting in the way. RCF's sound great but lack the DSP of the VP (or I-Tech).

OT- funny you should mention RCF and demo, a good buddy of mine has a full 4-PRO rig. Don't know where in MD you are or rather how far from Long Island but feel free to PM me if you want to set up a demo.



IMHO, The TT22 or TT25 should have no problems performing on the same level as a SRX715 even with the Itech amps. If your ok using SRX and KW line boxes with good results you probably dont need VP level boxes.The TT line or even the NX line from RCF will perform amazingly.
 
Re: Speaker purchasing conundrum!!

OT- funny you should mention RCF and demo, a good buddy of mine has a full 4-PRO rig. Don't know where in MD you are or rather how far from Long Island but feel free to PM me if you want to set up a demo.


I am demo'ing a few boxes: NX L23A & M25A for mains (might try and slip the TT22 in there). I am also looking at 12-SMA & 15-SMA for wedges and S21A & S25A for subs.
 
Re: Speaker purchasing conundrum!!

I am demo'ing a few boxes: NX L23A & M25A for mains (might try and slip the TT22 in there). I am also looking at 12-SMA & 15-SMA for wedges and S21A & S25A for subs.

Try to get the TT25A's instead of the TT22A's. I normally don't care for 15" 2 way speakers, but the TT25A's are great.
 
Re: Speaker purchasing conundrum!!

Looking at the TT line I don't think it fits my needs. The majority is line array and the trap boxes (TT25a) price isn't much cheaper than the VP series gear. I'd rather take a step up than sideways.

The TT25s are are $1200-2000 cheaper than the VP-DP (depends on the model) The VP-DPC cost about the same as the TT gear. The 12s & 15s in the VP boxes are the same as the SRX7## but the VP boxes have a higher rated Peak (on paper). The VRX915 & VP7215/##DP use the same drivers.
 
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Re: Speaker purchasing conundrum!!

When you factor in the cost of two SRX715's and another Itech your looking at more money than a pair of TT22/25s. Personally, I dont think it would be a side step, I feel that a TT## would be a decent upgrade over the SRX715.