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rickryan.com

rickryan.com

DJ Extraordinaire
ODJT Supporter
Dec 9, 2009
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Hendersonville, TN
www.rickryan.com
As many of you know, I own 2 MLS1000s. Recently, I bought a single EV Evolve 50M. This past Saturday I worked a country club with a fairly large room. I used one of the MLS1000s to supplement the 50M. Now, I'm ready to buy another 50 and trying to decide between the 50 or the 50M. From what I know, the only different is that the 50M has the mixer app, which is fantastic. I'm trying to decide if I need it on the 2nd unit.

The MLS1000 has a master/slave mode where the head unit controls the 2nd. I don't see the same thing on the 50M so I assume you'd take the "Mix Out" from the 50M, then feed it to a channel input on the 2nd unit. I'm not sure if the mixer app can switch between system or if you'd have to manually adjust the volume of the 2nd unit. There's about $500-$600 difference in price between the 50 & 50M. Does anybody here have any experience with these? Any advice?
 
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I posted over in the EV FB group and already have some good info. I think I'm going with a 2nd 50M. It has a "Smart Link" feature that looks cool. You run a cat5/cat6 cable between the units and it automatically bridges them to either mono or L/R. It also doubles the number of inputs (12). Not much of an issue with my singleact but it sure would be nice to have for other scenarios down the line. As for the MLS1000s, I'm planning to sell them and my buddy in MS may be buying them for his American Legion. I'm hoping to get $750 for the pair. Fingers crossed.
 
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Just ordered another 50M. The guys on the EV FB group told me all the great things about having a matched pair so that few hundred difference just wasn't worth it. Now I gotta get humping and pickup a few mobile DJ gigs this winter. I'm tempted to use them at my venue but honestly the Harbingers I have hanging sound great and they're already perm-installed.
 
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You have purchased a lot of speakers over the years. I think more than me lol.

I won't be buying any more unless one breaks. What I currently have is sufficient for years to come.
 
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DJ Ricky B said:
You have purchased a lot of speakers over the years. I think more than me lol.

I won't be buying any more unless one breaks. What I currently have is sufficient for years to come.
Click to expand...

True that. I don't regret the MLS1000s. They've paid for themselves and it gave me a chance to delve into the stick systems. They're very good but the Evolve 50M is a different class of system. I had the Bose L1/M2 and to me this 50M just destroys it. At the end of the day, I got to use the MLS1000s for about $300. BTW, here's a shot from last Saturday night at the country club. It was a fun gig and they paid very well.
464821255_10160206986477307_3223034491039412476_n.jpg
 
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Right now I am thinking about the JBL EON One MK2 or the Evolve 30M. They are the same price and about the same weight. I just need to decide on the primary role these speakers will fill. There is a lot to like with both. The Evolve mixer solution seems better but, I have a more capable digital mixer that I can use, if I needed it. I really wish I could hear both side by side. I don't think I have ever heard the JBLs, but on paper, I am leaning towards them for the following reasons.

JBL MK2
* Stick pieces pack into the sub (easier to travel with)
* Built-in battery
* USB power
* Wider dispersion (140 degrees vs 120)
* Comes with a cover
* I already use the JBL EON Compacts and I can use one app to manage all of them at once
* Looks (personal preference)

I think I will wait till after NAMM. After all, there could be a shinier new object on display there.
 
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sawdust123 said:
Right now I am thinking about the JBL EON One MK2 or the Evolve 30M. They are the same price and about the same weight. I just need to decide on the primary role these speakers will fill. There is a lot to like with both. The Evolve mixer solution seems better but, I have a more capable digital mixer that I can use, if I needed it. I really wish I could hear both side by side. I don't think I have ever heard the JBLs, but on paper, I am leaning towards them for the following reasons.

JBL MK2
* Stick pieces pack into the sub (easier to travel with)
* Built-in battery
* USB power
* Wider dispersion (140 degrees vs 120)
* Comes with a cover
* I already use the JBL EON Compacts and I can use one app to manage all of them at once
* Looks (personal preference)

I think I will wait till after NAMM. After all, there could be a shinier new object on display there.
Click to expand...

The mixer app on the Evolve is a game changer for me. I no longer use an external mixer and this app is easy to use and rock solid.
 
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rickryan.com said:
True that. I don't regret the MLS1000s. They've paid for themselves and it gave me a chance to delve into the stick systems. They're very good but the Evolve 50M is a different class of system. I had the Bose L1/M2 and to me this 50M just destroys it. At the end of the day, I got to use the MLS1000s for about $300. BTW, here's a shot from last Saturday night at the country club. It was a fun gig and they paid very well.
View attachment 55657
Click to expand...
lookin good Ryan!
 
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rickryan.com said:
The mixer app on the Evolve is a game changer for me. I no longer use an external mixer and this app is easy to use and rock solid.
Click to expand...
I'm sure it is. I really like that you can run a Cat6 cable between the speakers and combine the two mixers. That was great feature planning on EV's part. The question I need to answer for myself is how often will I need 4-8 mic inputs without also needing monitor sends. The sends are a key differentiator between a speaker's built in mixer versus a standalone mixer. I suspect my need for -8 inputs without sends won't be that often.

BTW, I know many use column speakers as dual-duty FOH and monitors so the need for monitor sends is diminished. This application works in some scenarios but not others. One of those situations where the layout requires separate sends is my own backyard. I had a 6-piece band at my July 4th party. I used 5 monitor sends for that band.
 
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sawdust123 said:
I'm sure it is. I really like that you can run a Cat6 cable between the speakers and combine the two mixers. That was great feature planning on EV's part. The question I need to answer for myself is how often will I need 4-8 mic inputs without also needing monitor sends. The sends are a key differentiator between a speaker's built in mixer versus a standalone mixer. I suspect my need for -8 inputs without sends won't be that often.

BTW, I know many use column speakers as dual-duty FOH and monitors so the need for monitor sends is diminished. This application works in some scenarios but not others. One of those situations where the layout requires separate sends is my own backyard. I had a 6-piece band at my July 4th party. I used 5 monitor sends for that band.
Click to expand...

Since going to the stick systems I've never once needed monitors. The dispersion off those towers sounds cleaner and much better than a floor wedge. If it were a large stage, high volume situation then I'd say differently but in smaller situations, it's easier to monitor straight off the tower.
 
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That's pretty good. Hard to believe you had a cold.

BTW, that is the perfect situation for using columns as both monitor and FOH. You need monitors or IEMs when you have a band using a lot of backline amps and they need to hear their own vocals. If their amp is closer than the column, they won't hear the vocals well enough.
 
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sawdust123 said:
That's pretty good. Hard to believe you had a cold.

BTW, that is the perfect situation for using columns as both monitor and FOH. You need monitors or IEMs when you have a band using a lot of backline amps and they need to hear their own vocals. If their amp is closer than the column, they won't hear the vocals well enough.
Click to expand...

I agree. For a solo/duo, I can't see any reason to need either IEMs or wedges. I also started using a POD Express pedal for amp simulation. Makes it easier to mix.
 
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What else do you like about the column speaker you bought? The Harbinger system may be OK for certain situations but I know the EV system is certainly a much better class of system.

What we generally say is buy the right thing to begin with so you don't have to buy again. That's why I bought the QSC K12.2 speakers and haven't regretted buy them. Those speakers are great! The sound is crystal clear with a lot of power. Not that I need to blast the speakers at every event I do. Yet if need be you can push them without fear of damaging them. Of course all speakers have limitations. My partner had a pair of the original Mackie Thumps and was pushing them too hard and the speakers got damaged. That situation we were in he didn't need to push them that hard like he did.

For me personally I wouldn't have bought those speakers. I would have looked for better speakers even if it meant spending more money.
 
MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
What else do you like about the column speaker you bought? The Harbinger system may be OK for certain situations but I know the EV system is certainly a much better class of system.

What we generally say is buy the right thing to begin with so you don't have to buy again. That's why I bought the QSC K12.2 speakers and haven't regretted buy them. Those speakers are great! The sound is crystal clear with a lot of power. Not that I need to blast the speakers at every event I do. Yet if need be you can push them without fear of damaging them. Of course all speakers have limitations. My partner had a pair of the original Mackie Thumps and was pushing them too hard and the speakers got damaged. That situation we were in he didn't need to push them that hard like he did.

For me personally I wouldn't have bought those speakers. I would have looked for better speakers even if it meant spending more money.
Click to expand...

The 4 main things I like about the 50M:

1) crystal clear
2) wide dispersion of sound
3) lots of bottom end, very tight and punchy
4) the mixer app is outstanding
 
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Rick, any comparison between the 50's and a typical 15" powered top PA speaker? I've heard the 30's in person, but not the 50's. I do like the very clean look they provide, but not sure if the cost is justifiable in my case. If I could trade in my 12's and 15's and get a pair of 50's, I probably would. I do some outdoor events, but not really enough that I need a lot of speakers, or far through of sound.

I did feel that with the 30's I heard, if they were close to a wall, the sound projected out of the back of the subs and was really loud in the dj booth compared to other subs I've heard. Do you experience that at all with the 50's?
 
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DJ Forbes said:
Rick, any comparison between the 50's and a typical 15" powered top PA speaker? I've heard the 30's in person, but not the 50's. I do like the very clean look they provide, but not sure if the cost is justifiable in my case. If I could trade in my 12's and 15's and get a pair of 50's, I probably would. I do some outdoor events, but not really enough that I need a lot of speakers, or far through of sound.

I did feel that with the 30's I heard, if they were close to a wall, the sound projected out of the back of the subs and was really loud in the dj booth compared to other subs I've heard. Do you experience that at all with the 50's?
Click to expand...

To me, any of the stick systems will have more clarity than traditional 12s/15s and way more dispersion/coverage. The 50M has a ton of bottom end to it and it's really tight. In fact, I find myself turning down the bass. The other thing that I'm particularly pleased with is the mixer app. It has completely eliminated the need for a traditional mixer. My first stick system was a Bose L1/M2 (double subs). That was a good system but these new EVs destroy the Bose (my opinion). I'll tell you also, I'm sure the bigger RCF may sound better, but the sub on this 50M is about as much as I care to carry in by hand.
 
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Update: I bought a 2nd EV 50M and tonight is its first trial run. I have to say, that SmartLink system is superb. Just run an ethernet cable between the systems, tell it which system is the sender, tell it mono or stereo, and you're up and running. It's slicker than snot.
 
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