Your opinion QSC sub vs. others

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I'm currently using a pair of passive, 15" cabs and a QSC GX5 amp for subs (on larger jobs where I need more than the Bose L1). I'm considering to upgrade to a single QSC Ksub and might buy a 2nd down the road. I'm thinking I could hide the ksub under my table (besides, all that bass feels oh-so sexy:sqcool:). Just wondering what you guys think of this unit vs. some of the other 15s or 18s out there.

I'm doing 90% weddings, 100-200 people. Ocassionally, I pickup school dances or corp events that go up to 500.
 
Before you get new subs, you might want to look at your amp. I would only use the GX5 on subwoofer as a backup amp. I have a GX5 and PLX3002. I have tested my subs, both my old Yamaha SW118's and my new Growlers on the GX5 and it just doesn't have the oomph of the PLX. Granted the PLX3002 is rated at 550 watts, giving it a 50 watt advantage, but in reality 10% more amp power is inaudible. Also the GX5 has a built-in 20Hz high pass filter and compared to the the 5/30/50 Hz options on the PLX. However, I think the reality is the GX5 is not a 500 watt RMS amp. I you read the spec carefully you will see that the power rating on the GX5 is rather unique. Most amps are rated at 20-20K Hz and about 0.1% THD where the amp produces long term clean power. The secondary EIA rating of 1KHz at 1% THD is showing you where the distortion curve is ramping up and anything beyond that sounds terrible, but this is still a long term operating value. The GX series of amps are rated at 1KHz and 0.1% clipping. What does that mean? Anyone? Bueller? I would guess this is similar to a peak power output number and the actual RMS number is much less. Another oddity to the GX5 is the rating of 500 watts with both channel driven but 600 watts with a single channel driven????

From the published power requirements which they are much less likely to adjust using their own measurements standards, the GX5 pulls the same 6 amps at 1/8 power pink noise at a 4ohm load as the RMX1850. The RMX1850 and the GX5 both a class H power supply so how does the GX5 produce 500 watts at 8 ohms and the RMX1850 produce only 350 watts at 8 ohms.

All this adds up to the GX5 definitely not being a 500 watt 2 channel subwoofer amp. Probably closer to being a 350 watt amp, maybe less...



Scott
 
scharris_99 said:
Before you get new subs, you might want to look at your amp. I would only use the GX5 on subwoofer as a backup amp. I have a GX5 and PLX3002. I have tested my subs, both my old Yamaha SW118's and my new Growlers on the GX5 and it just doesn't have the oomph of the PLX. Granted the PLX3002 is rated at 550 watts, giving it a 50 watt advantage, but in reality 10% more amp power is inaudible. Also the GX5 has a built-in 20Hz high pass filter and compared to the the 5/30/50 Hz options on the PLX. However, I think the reality is the GX5 is not a 500 watt RMS amp. I you read the spec carefully you will see that the power rating on the GX5 is rather unique. Most amps are rated at 20-20K Hz and about 0.1% THD where the amp produces long term clean power. The secondary EIA rating of 1KHz at 1% THD is showing you where the distortion curve is ramping up and anything beyond that sounds terrible, but this is still a long term operating value. The GX series of amps are rated at 1KHz and 0.1% clipping. What does that mean? Anyone? Bueller? I would guess this is similar to a peak power output number and the actual RMS number is much less. Another oddity to the GX5 is the rating of 500 watts with both channel driven but 600 watts with a single channel driven????

From the published power requirements which they are much less likely to adjust using their own measurements standards, the GX5 pulls the same 6 amps at 1/8 power pink noise at a 4ohm load as the RMX1850. The RMX1850 and the GX5 both a class H power supply so how does the GX5 produce 500 watts at 8 ohms and the RMX1850 produce only 350 watts at 8 ohms.

All this adds up to the GX5 definitely not being a 500 watt 2 channel subwoofer amp. Probably closer to being a 350 watt amp, maybe less...



Scott
Click to expand...

350 sounds about right for that GX5. I've always thought it was a bit wimpy but really hate the thought of having to carry around a boat anchor. Have you guys tried one of the new Peavey lightweight amps?
 
I plan to switch to the new Crown lightweight amps as soon as they are available.

We have a K sub in our arsenal. To me it can't handle more than about 50 people it's weak compared to our every day Black Widow 18"s we use for karaoke. We use it when a place has stairs or small 30 - 40 people karaoke parties with powered tops.
 
A nice compact sub that I love is the Yorkville LS 700p. It's small enough to hide under a table and provide enough low end for a crowd of up to 200. I use this sub religiously. 1 LS700 would eat the 2 QSC K subs.
I love QSC. I heard the K series speakers in Atlantic City last year and I was not impressed.
 
I have a Yorkville LS 700 P. It broke right after the 2 year warrenty was up. I thought it was a great sub while it worked. We also had Mackie SWA1501's. The Yorkville sounded just as good as the Mackies. The Mackies blew up 5 times in a year, I never made it though an event after owning the speakers 6 months.

I would just question the realibility of Yorkville speakers. I had a pair of NX 55p's that went into limit very easily.
 
Depends on the sound you want. A KSub sounds much different than a HPR181.

The KSubs are phenomenal in my opinion for an acoustically balanced system for speech, jazz, pop, rock, etc. R&B you're better off with an 18" sub.

The comment of "50 People" isn't true to point. It's how you use the cabinet and the application, placement, room acoustics, etc. There are so many variables. It's not like an install and you're spec'ing for one place. And, here lies the problem. We all need a cabinet that covers ALL applications, and there just isn't a cabinet that works for everything for the best audio.

Shoot for what you play the most of and accomodate as best you can for the rest. Even better, give yourself some options. Audio doesn't have to be new to sound great.

Here is just one of the sites for pre-owned sales of top gear. http://www.grace-audio.com/site/home/
 
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