I'm looking for a speaker system, that is cheap but has good quality.
Whole speaker system price: $700 or less, preferrably.
Whole speaker system price: $700 or less, preferrably.
Speakers!
- Thread starter mainsociety
- Start date
same advice as the music thread. don't waste your money. go to work for someone else, save up some money, and buy good quality used gear. With $700, you'll end up getting crap that wont last a year and you'll be back to zero again.
but if you really need to spend $700, plenty of no name Chinese options on ebay. Good luck, and come back to this thread next year and let us know how it worked out.
but if you really need to spend $700, plenty of no name Chinese options on ebay. Good luck, and come back to this thread next year and let us know how it worked out.
No such thing as cheap AND good. If you're on a budget you will need to make some compromises. You will need to buy quality used equipment, but in order to do that you need to know what to buy. This will take some research and a bit of time. Quality brands of speakers: Electro Voice, Yamaha, RCF, Yorkville just to name a few. Some models to consider: EV SX100 or SX300, you can also find some older and very heavy EV speakers out ther for sale for very good prices on craig's list, Yamaha S112 or S115-stay away from the BR series, Yamaha has the powered MSR400 on sale now for $499 each and they are kickass, but a pair of those new has already blown $1,000+tax of your money, RCF ART310 or 310A, RCF312. You will be tempted by low end entry level doo doo like Peavey PR or JBL JRX-don't do it they are crap.
Well, I'm not sure if you can do much of anything with $700, but here's my advice for speakers. If you're going the passive speaker route and don't want to drop a ton of money look at JBL and their JRX series. I know I'll get a ton of crap for saying this, but here's the deal. A lot of DJs look down upon these as "band speakers" or "entry level" speakers...but we run the model before the JRX (ours are SF 15's) and with a decent EQ they sound very nice. Also the reason JBL has gotten a rep as "band speakers" is because a lot of bands use them due to their durability.
Another passive option is B-52. Once again I'll get crap for this, but in college I used a B-52 rig that would smoke some of the local DJ's professional systems (EAWs, EVs, Mackies). I can personally attest for the extreme durability of these speakers (think year in, year out doing 40-60 college parties per year).
Another passive option is B-52. Once again I'll get crap for this, but in college I used a B-52 rig that would smoke some of the local DJ's professional systems (EAWs, EVs, Mackies). I can personally attest for the extreme durability of these speakers (think year in, year out doing 40-60 college parties per year).
As mentioned above plus a few suggestions
Active:
2 - RCF 312a = $1000 ( if the deal is still going )
2- Carvin PM15A = $599 ( with 2 free cables )
Passive:
2 EV LiveX 12" Passives + QSC GX5 = $1000
Active:
2 - RCF 312a = $1000 ( if the deal is still going )
2- Carvin PM15A = $599 ( with 2 free cables )
Passive:
2 EV LiveX 12" Passives + QSC GX5 = $1000
Hmmm, double-posting? I'll repeat what I put in the other thread..........
(given your budget)
2 - Carvin LM15s
1 - Peavey IPR3000 amp
Forget powered speakers.
(given your budget)
2 - Carvin LM15s
1 - Peavey IPR3000 amp
Forget powered speakers.
$700.00 will barely get you a quality power amp these days, let alone a full PA rig.
Yeah, you may shop for used gear but that's a roll of the dice. Professional SR gear tends to maintain resale value anyway so it won't come cheap.
Here's what I suggest: Research and plan your PA needs then build it over time. You could start with a pair of top cabinets and amp to drive them. If you need more than that, a sub cabinet for example, plan the purchase and save for it.
J Mac's right, the B-52 line has been very popular with DJ companies for many years. They get the job done.
Hope it helps.
Yeah, you may shop for used gear but that's a roll of the dice. Professional SR gear tends to maintain resale value anyway so it won't come cheap.
Here's what I suggest: Research and plan your PA needs then build it over time. You could start with a pair of top cabinets and amp to drive them. If you need more than that, a sub cabinet for example, plan the purchase and save for it.
J Mac's right, the B-52 line has been very popular with DJ companies for many years. They get the job done.
Hope it helps.
Well, I found a system, and I don't need one that will last for 6 years! Only one for 1-2 years, then we,ll have gas money and can get everything top of the line.
Here is a possible $700 craigslist "speaker system":
$400 Speaker pair - If you have a strong back I would get some used Yamaha Club Series 115 speakers or used Peavey SP series, both are rugged and sound OK at medium volume levels. Like most speakers, they need some EQ once you get them loud to remove the slight boom and obnoxious honk. These are both heavy wood boxes and many people are dumping them on the used market due to weight, not sound issues.
$250 Amplifier - used QSC GX5
$50 Mixer - new Behringer Xenyx 802
However, you also need to spend another $200:
$25 Microphone - new Behringer XM8500
$75 Speaker stands - store branded
$100 Cables - used speaker, microphone, audio source -> mixer, mixer -> amp
That's $900 and about as low end as I'd go. You could go cheaper, but most of this is already used gear and the reliability curve drops off a cliff at much less than this.
Good luck and have fun!
$400 Speaker pair - If you have a strong back I would get some used Yamaha Club Series 115 speakers or used Peavey SP series, both are rugged and sound OK at medium volume levels. Like most speakers, they need some EQ once you get them loud to remove the slight boom and obnoxious honk. These are both heavy wood boxes and many people are dumping them on the used market due to weight, not sound issues.
$250 Amplifier - used QSC GX5
$50 Mixer - new Behringer Xenyx 802
However, you also need to spend another $200:
$25 Microphone - new Behringer XM8500
$75 Speaker stands - store branded
$100 Cables - used speaker, microphone, audio source -> mixer, mixer -> amp
That's $900 and about as low end as I'd go. You could go cheaper, but most of this is already used gear and the reliability curve drops off a cliff at much less than this.
Good luck and have fun!
DjDennis
RIP- My Dad (2011), Sister (2013) and Mum (2017)
K
Kirby Ball
Guest
I'd shop a used QSC RMX 2450 and a pair of Yamaha Club Series S115V's. The Yammies will walk all over the JRX JBL's, and I'm a JBL guy! I've not been impressed at all with the GX series QSC's, at least the 2450 can handle a low-impedance load, and still be useful as Junior moves up the food chain.
I would think this would be doable from C/L for just a tad more than our young and impressionable friend has to spend. He must learn patience and the art of negotiation however. Not long ago I picked up a brand new QSC PLX 3402....the guy said it wouldn't work with the balanced inputs. He had bought it, tried it once and put it back in the box. $300 later I was driving home with it. It worked perfectly with my balanced cables when I got it home!
Best,
Paul
I would think this would be doable from C/L for just a tad more than our young and impressionable friend has to spend. He must learn patience and the art of negotiation however. Not long ago I picked up a brand new QSC PLX 3402....the guy said it wouldn't work with the balanced inputs. He had bought it, tried it once and put it back in the box. $300 later I was driving home with it. It worked perfectly with my balanced cables when I got it home!
Best,
Paul
Wow, did you get a steal! i have one I used about 10x.... til I got my Bose and didn't need it. But I really don't want to sell it. I would if the money was right, but it goes great with my JBL MPros.
Papa, which MPros do you have? I had a pair of MP 415's and I wish I never sold them. LOL, stupid is as stupid does.
Best,
Paul
