Need a Better Ceremony Rig

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DJ Ducky

DJ Ducky

Resident Duck
Mar 21, 2008
3,096
36
West Lafayette, IN
ampindiana.com
The J Mac and I just did our first wedding ceremony this weekend, and we used a Peavey Escort System for PA and music. We never had the ability to test it in an open area, aside from outside our house, so we did not know what to expect. Unfortunately, the sound was far beneath our standards! We needed to deliver the sound across a small crowd of about 130 people, and we were on a patio that overlooks a golf course.

We had purchased this system because other DJs online had mentioned that they use it for ceremonies. Perhaps those are small, indoor ceremonies in very tiny rooms and I was mistaken. Regardless, I'm going to try to get my money back, and if I can't, perhaps there's someone on eBay who's looking for a cheap system for small events in tiny venues.
:sqmad::sqembarrassed::sqmad::sqfrown:

With that said, we still want to bring a compact system to ceremonies, so we still want 10" or 12" speakers. We have a spare amp and we found a 6-channel live sound mixer to purchase. We have a CD player and mics ready to go - we just need speakers.

Does anybody have any recommendations for good, passive 10-12" 2-ways that won't break the bank (under $800)?
 
Too bad you didn't run across my review of the Peavey Escort before you purchased it!

My preference for ceromony systems are the Fender Passport 150 and 250 (the 500 is just too bulky) The Passport 150 will blow away the Peavey Escort!
 
Thunder said:
Too bad you didn't run across my review of the Peavey Escort before you purchased it!

My preference for ceromony systems are the Fender Passport 150 and 250 (the 500 is just too bulky) The Passport 150 will blow away the Peavey Escort!
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Doh! I wish I had seen a review from you too, then!! Is the Passport a passive system?
 
DJ Ducky said:
Doh! I wish I had seen a review from you too, then!! Is the Passport a passive system?
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Sort of! the amp and mixer is built together (much like the Escort)

It is suit case sized, sets up in seconds!

http://www.fender.com/passport/pdfs/Fender-PD150-1sheet.pdf

http://www.zzounds.com/prodsearch?form=search/ppc&cat=2746&cat2=3080

Plug in wireless mics and an MP3 player add longer speaker cables you have a system you can hide in the bushes for an outside event and easily cover a 3000 sq foot area.
 
Another portable system you may wish to look at is the Carvin Stagemate. It's battery or AC powered and has a nice tone from what I understand. I've read some good reports on this system. :)
 
I didn't realize it until I went back and looked at the links I posted, they now have Passports with CD players built in.
 
Fred Wright said:
Another portable system you may wish to look at is the Carvin Stagemate. It's battery or AC powered and has a nice tone from what I understand. I've read some good reports on this system. :)
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I own a Stagemate and recommend it to everyone who asks. No matter where I am, I can always find a use for this speaker (and my Sennheiser wireless beltpack receiver). Examples:

1.) Last Friday night's wedding was in a room with an adjacent patio. Many of the guests went outside to enjoy the nice weather, so I set up the Stagemate and had music playing in seconds.

2.) On Saturday night, I was running sound for a hypnotist/comedy act at a country club. I used my 2 Bose L1s, one on each side of the stage, but the club manager told me that people in the back were having a hard time hearing the hypnotist (who was not exceptionally good at speaking INTO the microphone). I ran out to the van, came back with the Stagemate and took it right to the back of the room. In less than 3 minutes I had solved the problem beautifully without needing as much as a power outlet.

Hands down, the Stagemate is the most versatile, compact and powerful system you'll find for less than $400.
 
DJ Ducky said:
The J Mac and I just did our first wedding ceremony this weekend, and we used a Peavey Escort System for PA and music. We never had the ability to test it in an open area, aside from outside our house, so we did not know what to expect. Unfortunately, the sound was far beneath our standards! We needed to deliver the sound across a small crowd of about 130 people, and we were on a patio that overlooks a golf course.

We had purchased this system because other DJs online had mentioned that they use it for ceremonies. Perhaps those are small, indoor ceremonies in very tiny rooms and I was mistaken. Regardless, I'm going to try to get my money back, and if I can't, perhaps there's someone on eBay who's looking for a cheap system for small events in tiny venues.
:sqmad::sqembarrassed::sqmad::sqfrown:

With that said, we still want to bring a compact system to ceremonies, so we still want 10" or 12" speakers. We have a spare amp and we found a 6-channel live sound mixer to purchase. We have a CD player and mics ready to go - we just need speakers.

Does anybody have any recommendations for good, passive 10-12" 2-ways that won't break the bank (under $800)?
Click to expand...

Don't let peeps here dissuade you - for the application your doing and the price range you mentioned, I would look into a pair of Behringer Eurolives. For the budget you mention, you could even get the powered versions and save lugging around the amp. The molded passive cabs are light as heck too.

Having the small powered would come in great for other misc. scenarios needing satellite systems or single-mic amplification where music and a mixer is not needed, etc.

Look into them.
 
We use the Fender PD 250...great for ceremonies and small parties (make sure you buy a cover for it). Don't go with the PD 500...it's a box of digital crap. I bought one a month ago and just turned around and sold it. The sound quality is nowhere close to the PD 250. And the PD 500 peaks wayyyy to soon.

We're actually going to buy another one of the PD 250's for a backup.
 
Well I don't use a Passport for ceremonies, but for our Marching band, we used a Passport 250 for an oboe solo, and we really had to watch the levels because once we got a complaint from a judge that the solo was too loud! This was also a huge stadium of at least 150-200 people watching the competition, the judges way at the top in the judging booth, and about 100 kids blasting horns in the same direction. I'd buy one anyway.
 
While passing through Craigslist recently I found an ad for an Anchor Audio Liberty 4500 system, with two tripods, the satellite speaker and a wireless mic.....all for the princely sum of $50.

To make a long story short, these contain two large batteries that when they need replacement the system does not get loud and goes into protect. This is most likely why the previous owner sold it so cheaply. Isn't the throw-away society we live in great! I pulled the batteries, found a new set for $100 shipped and now have what the Anchor people sell for almost $3K for $150 out of pocket.

I like it, it works well and it can cover a good sized crowd. I don't know about $3K though......my buy in price was much better! I will say that it is built well.

Best,

Paul
 
Just an FYI: I purchased a second Carvin Stagemate this morning. While one is plenty for ceremonies, having two independently-powered units will allow me to do some really cool things and drop them virtually anywhere some extra sound is needed.

Carvin sells the "blemished" Stagemates on eBay for $340, which is where I bought my first one and purchased the second one today. It would take you a very long time to find the blemish (a 1-centimeter ding in the Tolex covering) and the unit comes with the same warranty as the "new" units. Worth the $40 savings? You bet.
 
trafficgoo said:
We use the Fender PD 250...great for ceremonies and small parties (make sure you buy a cover for it). Don't go with the PD 500...it's a box of digital crap. I bought one a month ago and just turned around and sold it. The sound quality is nowhere close to the PD 250. And the PD 500 peaks wayyyy to soon.

We're actually going to buy another one of the PD 250's for a backup.
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I first thought this too when I bought the PD-500....But it's Room Dispersion is outstanding..Almost like a Bose L1 System...Every Gig I have done with the PD-500 including Small Wedding Receptions have resulted in either a tip or referral or both....For the record the PD-500 is exactly the same size and weight as the PD-250...I have never owned a PD-250 but presently own the original P-250 and PD-500.
 
DJ Ducky said:
No thanks...I'm staying away from powered systems from now on.
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aren't almost all the things mentioned here powered systems?

what is the thought process in having to go passive? It it because you had the bad experience with the peavey?


My requirements for a ceremony system is it needs to sound excellent AND be able to be taken down and packed away very quickly. A good quality powered system is very helpful in accomplishing that.

I was going to buy a carvin stagemate right before the L1 compact came out. I've heard great things about the stagemate. For me, I'll get more use out of the compact than simply ceremonies.
 
Scott Hanna said:
I was going to buy a carvin stagemate right before the L1 compact came out. I've heard great things about the stagemate. For me, I'll get more use out of the compact than simply ceremonies.
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You absolutely will. FYI - I picked up two Bose L1 Compacts the day after I bought the second Carvin Stagemate. Do I own too many speakers? Absolutely. However, I'll always have the right gear for the job, no matter how big or small, at my fingertips.
 
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