Am I nuts?? Passive system

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That’s not too crazy. I still use my passive systems for my larger Outdoor Movies. The systems aren’t effected rain or 95 Degree heat. It’s just heavy. I have plans to upgrade the amps, it that’s about it. The system 23years old and still going strong. But I don’t know if I would buy any new passive speakers. Now everything I buy new now needs to be insanely light so I can lift it.
 
Mid-range, I might look at the Yamaha CZR12 .. the passive counterpart to their new DZR line. Also, the JBL STX812m seems worthy.
 
Hey gang kinda wanna try passive again, thoughts on mid price range cabinets and amps, 12 in speakers preferred

I don't think you're nuts, but I'm curious on the logic.

I love active speakers because they're convenient and it builds in redundancy for me immediately even with just a pair. But there's always pros and cons. What's your thought on the switch?
 
You will not find a lighter 12" than the Peavey PR Neo 12 . About 22 pounds and commonly available used for $200/pair. Just make sure it says "Neo" on the sticker on the back.
 
I love active speakers because they're convenient and it builds in redundancy for me immediately even with just a pair.
Yes...and...No. If you're running two tops and two subs, all active, and you loose a top because the amp fried - you now run mono with one top. I run two tops and two subs, all passive, and one of my amps fries, I also switch to mono (one channel of the still working amp drives both subs, the other channel drives both tops), but my DOUBLE mono trumps your SINGLE mono. However, they are more convenient - especially if you're running garden hoses with the AC and signal together. :laugh:
 
Yes...and...No. If you're running two tops and two subs, all active, and you loose a top because the amp fried - you now run mono with one top. I run two tops and two subs, all passive, and one of my amps fries, I also switch to mono (one channel of the still working amp drives both subs, the other channel drives both tops), but my DOUBLE mono trumps your SINGLE mono. However, they are more convenient - especially if you're running garden hoses with the AC and signal together. :laugh:
But you would have about 10 minutes down to reconfigure the amps and the crossover and then worry about the amp power .. especially if it was the sub amp that went .. :)
 
Things can just happen. What is very important is to buy quality gear that sounds great. Less likely to fail, will sound great also knowing the limitations of your speakers is very important. I know some DJs who come in a nice club to play see some big speakers and think what a great system. So they think to impress the people in the place is to blast the sound to where things are running into red on the meters. Bad idea and that's an inexperienced DJ doing this. These places today don't have a system like they did in Club Zanzabar or Paradise Garage. The system in Zanzabar with the speakers, amps and lights cost at that time $100,000.00. The system was 9k watts. Nobody has that kind of money to spend today in most places. What I know is if I see the red clipping light come on then it's time to dial the volume down on a pair of powered speakers so you don't blow something damaging the speaker.

Normally if you're doing an event and you are pushing speakers with the clipping light staying on, then that usually means you don't have enough sound to do the event properly. Meaning you need more sound if it's tops or subs.
 
I run passive for outdoor ceremonies and other short duration jobs. It has two advantages for me. First, there are limited available outlets outdoors. I just need one for my rig. Second, It reduces the number of cables I have to wind. Ceremony breakdown is usually during cocktail hour. I want it to be quick.

My ceremony system uses a ~3 lb 1/2 rack space Extron amp designed for commercial installations. It has plenty of juice for my EV ZX-1s. My whole rig fits in a 4U padded case with a shoulder strap. The mixer has 4 stereo and 4 mic inputs. I also fit two wireless system in there. It is a very portable rig.
 
Nothing wrong with passive, but amp technology today allows an amp to be customized and tuned to a cabinet while not adding much to the size or weight. Combo cables (power+signal) allow a single cable solution.

I think Passive is perfect for outdoors (especially potentially wet gigs) as well as installed systems. The downside is the additional rack(s) for amps, processing, etc. My Yorkville Unity system, with 3 QSC amps, was my best sounding system. I don't miss the weight though .. :)

And Mix .. that amp rack had 9000+ watts available as well ..
 
Hey gang kinda wanna try passive again, thoughts on mid price range cabinets and amps, 12 in speakers preferred

So did you ever go Passive Tunes?
 
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I don't have any active speakers. I know I'm the outlier, but by god I swear I can hear the damn plastic cabinets and I hate them. Also ends up being a cleaner setup with passive, in my opinion.
 
All active here. I'm favoring wood over plastic & they are active & not that heavy.
EV EKX 12" tops
Used eons for years which had a harder , thicker cabinet than the newer .
I swear I hear quality the sound drop off on the plastic later in the event as the volume go's to the three beer level and up.
Plastic starts to flex with volume & heat.
 
Yes...and...No. If you're running two tops and two subs, all active, and you loose a top because the amp fried - you now run mono with one top. I run two tops and two subs, all passive, and one of my amps fries, I also switch to mono (one channel of the still working amp drives both subs, the other channel drives both tops), but my DOUBLE mono trumps your SINGLE mono. However, they are more convenient - especially if you're running garden hoses with the AC and signal together. :laugh:
That's why you buy top quality name brand gear so you don't worry such a thing happening. High quality name brand gear has a reputation to up keep so their gear will keep selling. Also it's about know how to use the gear properly. My partner had a pair of the original Mackie Thumps and was pushing them to hard and blew a woofer. He switched things out and put the Peavey Black Widow speakers in them from other speakers that were in the garage. I call those speakers Mackie Junks. :laugh:
 
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That why you buy top quality name brand gear so you don't worry such a thing happening.
'Quality' gear will break as well, especially if you're not using it properly.

High quality name brand gear has a reputation to up keep so their gear will keep selling.
Quality gear is usually operated by people that are knowledgeable of when and how to use their tools. That is what helps keep the reputation up.

Also it's about know how to use the gear properly. My partner had a pair of the original Mackie Thumps and was pushing them to hard and blew a woofer.
The demonstration here is that you didn't know how to use the gear properly (otherwise it wouldn't have blown). This is not the only time this has occurred with equipment you all were using.

He switched things out and put the Peavey Black Widow speakers in them from other speakers
that were in the garage. I call those speakers Mackie Junks. :laugh:
Changing to Peavey Black Widows doesn't erase nor fix the problem.
 
He switched things out and put the Peavey Black Widow speakers

I'm not sure where to start with this :dontknow: . I suppose if you just want sound to come out of them it's all good
 
'Quality' gear will break as well, especially if you're not using it properly.


Quality gear is usually operated by people that are knowledgeable of when and how to use their tools. That is what helps keep the reputation up.


The demonstration here is that you didn't know how to use the gear properly (otherwise it wouldn't have blown). This is not the only time this has occurred with equipment you all were using.


Changing to Peavey Black Widows doesn't erase nor fix the problem.
PAY CLOSE ATTENTION! He was the DJ playing at the event and not me. He was pushing those cheap speakers too hard and the woofer blew. That's what HE decided to do not me. Since he installed the Black Widow speakers nothing has blown since then. This is what he decided to use at the time. He tried to get me to buy a pair and I refused. I never even bothered to listen to them in GC. I wouldn't use them at all. They had several pairs in a bar I was playing in and all of them were blown. Those are lighter then the Yamaha DSR 15's I bought many years ago. They also is no comparing the two. The Yammies blow them out the water.