Cant get new alto ts sub 15 active to work with my behringer pa system

[kylejay]

hello guys im new to all this dj equipment. I just purchased a new alto ts active 15 inch sub and connected it to the sub out jack on my behringer epa900 pa system. I plugged my laptop into the pa system and i plugged my alto sub into the sub out jack. the pa speakers play music normally and there is power to the sub but no sound coming out of the sub or base or anything at all from the sub. I have no idea what i am doing wrong any help would be appreciated. thanks

kyle

 

[steve149]

Well welcome. When you get a chance, introduce yourself.

According to the manuals, your Behringer PA system has an "un-balanced" 1/4" output for a sub (TS connector). Your ALTO sub has a "balanced" XLR input. Normally this will still work (connecting an unblanced signal to a balanced one), but there is no mention of un-balanced in the ALTO manual.

SO .. 1st, make sure you have the proper cable (1/4" TS to XLR Male) and then connect to the Left channel/Mono input on the Sub. If that doesn't work, you may want to research whether the sub will allow an unbalanced input connection.

If you do get it to work, make sure you keep the sub cable relatively short. One issue with un-balanced cables is they do not reject noise as well as balanced ones and you may pick up hum if the cable is too long.

 

[kylejay]

Well welcome. When you get a chance, introduce yourself.

According to the manuals, your Behringer PA system has an "un-balanced" 1/4" output for a sub (TS connector). Your ALTO sub has a "balanced" XLR input. Normally this will still work (connecting an unblanced signal to a balanced one), but there is no mention of un-balanced in the ALTO manual.

SO .. 1st, make sure you have the proper cable (1/4" TS to XLR Male) and then connect to the Left channel/Mono input on the Sub. If that doesn't work, you may want to research whether the sub will allow an unbalanced input connection.

If you do get it to work, make sure you keep the sub cable relatively short. One issue with un-balanced cables is they do not reject noise as well as balanced ones and you may pick up hum if the cable is too long.

Thanks for the reply steve. The cables are hooked up in the proper spots like you said and I did research and the alto ts active sub 15 allows both balanced and unbalanced inputs. This is a real stumper. I just spoke with the guy at the dj store that sold me the equipment and he is stumped too. He is looking into wether the sub out input on my behringer epa900 needs to be activated I have no idea what he is talking about. Im lost and have been researching everywhere to try and resolve this issue. Thanks for the info steve appreciate it much. Maybe someone on here has encountered this and can help thanks so much happy to be apart of this cool forum.

kyle

 

[jokerswild]

Have you tried sending your FullRange signal to the Sub? The sub will handle it just fine as it uses internal Low Pass filters itself and doesn't necessarily require an external crossover.

 

[kylejay]

Have you tried sending your FullRange signal to the Sub? The sub will handle it just fine as it uses internal Low Pass filters itself and doesn't necessarily require an external crossover.

Hi thanks for your reply this is all greek to me sorry i dont know what a full range signal is. Im running my two main speakers into the back of the pa, my laptop is connected to the front and the sub is plugged into the sub out jack. If in laymans terms you could tell me what the fullrange signal is and how to connect it to the sub ill try that out thanks so much for your time ....kyle

 

[ahoustondj]

i dont know what a full range signal is.

 

[steve149]

Have you tried sending your FullRange signal to the Sub? The sub will handle it just fine as it uses internal Low Pass filters itself and doesn't necessarily require an external crossover.

Based on the manual, the Behringer EPA doesn't have line outs, only tape outs, which wouldn't be controllable. [MENTION=4281]kylejay[/MENTION], full range outputs are line outputs carrying the full signal (not just the sub frequencies) .. your L/R speaker outs are full range, but they are also powered, so won't work in this case. That sub is designed to have the L/R signal sent to it and it has a built in crossover to handle the sub frequencies and to pass on to a set of powered tops just frequencies above 125Hz.

I would try to get someone who has another system to try this with balanced outputs to be sure. A mic cable from their XLR Left or right mixer output (or maybe even from your mixer output if it has a balanced output) straight to the sub. Maybe the sub's left input is bad?

 

[Ausumm]

Perhaps, Mister teacher...
you should take this opportunity to school one of those newbies you are so concerned about.
You know, the people just starting out who should hear about the proper way of doing things.

Kyle-
Since it is an active sub, with an XLR input...
try plugging in a wired microphone and talking into it.
Start with the volume level at ZERO and slowly work your way up.
It's a simple way to see if the sub is working.
If you hear NOTHING, the issue is probably with the sub, and not with the way you are wiring it.

 

[ahoustondj]

Perhaps, Mister teacher...
you should take this opportunity to school one of those newbies you are so concerned about.
You know, the people just starting out who should hear about the proper way of doing things.

Kyle-
Since it is an active sub, with an XLR input...
try plugging in a wired microphone and talking into it.
Start with the volume level at ZERO and slowly work your way up.
It's a simple way to see if the sub is working.
If you hear NOTHING, the issue is probably with the sub, and not with the way you are wiring it.

One does not build a house starting with the roof. You first have to lay the foundation. This person knows almost nothing about hooking up gear. He bought himself some toys without first learning how to use them. Why help someone like that to go out there and saturate the Market? This is why they built Powered speakers for people like that. Without these new technologies those folks would be sitting on the sidelines watching the shows. I'll help those who first know how to help themselves.

 

[steve149]

One does not build a house starting with the roof. You first have to lay the foundation. This person knows almost nothing about hooking up gear. He bought himself some toys without first learning how to use them. Why help someone like that to go out there and saturate the Market? This is why they built Powered speakers for people like that. Without these new technologies those folks would be sitting on the sidelines watching the shows. I'll help those who first know how to help themselves.

And I bet he's glad you spent some effort helping build the foundation.

 

[ittigger]

I agree - you spout off so much about helping the new people see and do the 'right' thing. A teacher does not wait for those that want to help themselves, they teach those willing to learn - or placed in an environment to learn. A proper teacher does not refuse help / assistance / knowledge sharing to anyone within their lane of knowledge.

and FWIW, without new people coming in and learning what we do / sharing information / teaching them / learning from them, then at some point, what we do will cease to exist.

 

[ahoustondj]

I agree - you spout off so much about helping the new people see and do the 'right' thing. A teacher does not wait for those that want to help themselves, they teach those willing to learn - or placed in an environment to learn. A proper teacher does not refuse help / assistance / knowledge sharing to anyone within their lane of knowledge.

and FWIW, without new people coming in and learning what we do / sharing information / teaching them / learning from them, then at some point, what we do will cease to exist.

I will help newbies (DJs) not Wannabes. This is not kindergarten. I would expect that someone calling themself a DJ would at least know the Basics. It is not my job to "Teach" anyone to be a DJ. There are lots of Videos, Books, DVDs and the likes to help people who are willing to learn to be a DJ. My stance is very different to your's and Steve's. You two are Hobbyists and if you want more Hobbyists swimming in your Pool then knock yourselves out.

When I entered this profession as a business in 1978 I was fully prepared and up to date on things at that time. I came in with a background in Electronics and started out with a brand new investment in a full FOH System, Club Style. For the 10 years prior to that in 1968 I watched and learned and collected a library of my own. I built amplifiers, Speakers and other Audio equipment. These guys today don't want to spend the time to know what it takes to be successful. They see a DJ at work and feel that it is an easy sail, so with their limited budgets, they go out and buy entry level gear and start calling themselves DJs. I won't subscribe to that crap and neither will I promote or contribute to it. You guys who do this as a Hobby have your day jobs so you don't have to feel protective about your craft. I will help my peers, even if they are "newbies" on this Forum.

 

[steve149]

I will help newbies (DJs) not Wannabes. This is not kindergarten. I would expect that someone calling themself a DJ would at least know the Basics. It is not my job to "Teach" anyone to be a DJ. There are lots of Videos, Books, DVDs and the likes to help people who are willing to learn to be a DJ. My stance is very different to your's and Steve's. You two are Hobbyists and if you want more Hobbyists swimming in your Pool then knock yourselves out.

When I entered this profession as a business in 1978 I was fully prepared and up to date on things at that time. I came in with a background in Electronics and started out with a full FOH System. 10 years prior to that in 1968 I watched and learned and collected a library of my own. These guys today don't want to spend the time to know what it takes to be successful. They see a DJ at work and feel that it is an easy sail, so with their limited budgets, they go out and buy entry level gear and start calling themselves DJs. I won't subscribe to that crap and neither will I promote or contribute to it. You guys who do this as a Hobby have your day jobs so you don't have to feel protective about your craft. I will help my peers, even if they are "newbies" on this Forum.

Then don't interject in the threads you have no plans to contribute to and let those of us that have the ability and desire to help others do their thang.

 

[ahoustondj]

Then don't interject in the threads you have no plans to contribute to and let those of us that have the ability and desire to help others do their thang.

Well now! Look who is talking! 99% of the Threads go off on a tangent and some even over the cliff!

 

[Ausumm]

This person knows almost nothing about hooking up gear. He bought himself some toys without first learning how to use them. Why help someone like that to go out there and saturate the Market? This is why they built Powered speakers for people like that. Without these new technologies those folks would be sitting on the sidelines watching the shows. I'll help those who first know how to help themselves.

I can't think of a better way to learn than to actually try it.
And I believe it is you who always says he wants to present the proper way, for the benefit of the new guys.

I will help newbies (DJs) not Wannabes. This is not kindergarten. I would expect that someone calling themself a DJ would at least know the Basics. It is not my job to "Teach" anyone to be a DJ. They see a DJ at work and feel that it is an easy sail, so with their limited budgets, they go out and buy entry level gear and start calling themselves DJs.

He never called himself a DJ.
He's not trying to get gigs, he is not under cutting the established DJ's.
Isn't coming to a forum like this to do research,
the same as shadowing another DJ, reading a book or watching a video?
How much you wanna bet the books and videos suggest that you start out by buying gear and practicing.
Those books and videos are doing exactly what you say you don't like.
They are teaching wannabe's how to become a DJ and flood the market.
I would think spending your own money to buy gear, shows a commitment to want to learn.

 

[ittigger]

Sorry for derailing your request for assistance Kyle - you just happened to pop in at the wrong (or right, depending on how you look at it) time.

Please take a moment to introduce and tell us about yourself.