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View Full Version : Testing the waters...



EBiddy
05-01-2012, 12:25 AM
I hesitate to ask this after seeing some of your rigs, but I digress...

Is there anyway to purchase a set of performance level speakers suitable for college house parties under 250? That's preferable, but I'm willing to go to ~400. I currently use Numark NPM5's for practicing, and they work very well for that purpose. However, I doubt they could pump out enough sound for actually gigging house parties.

Any advice would be appreciative, thanks!

Synaxis
05-01-2012, 12:37 AM
How large of a house are we talking about?

There is a good deal on some GSR's going on, that might work for you:

http://www.djforums.com/forums/showthread.php?4888-M-Audio-GSR-10-Review

But in short, I'm going to say "no."

EBiddy
05-01-2012, 12:39 AM
How large of a house are we talking about?

There is a good deal on some GSR's going on, that might work for you:

http://www.djforums.com/forums/showthread.php?4888-M-Audio-GSR-10-Review

But in short, I'm going to say "no."

As small as an apartment (where I'll most likely be starting)...moving up to townhouses, then to basements with the occasional gig at my fraternities house. I'm gonna go ahead and say apartment-basement.

Is going used a good option? I was advised against it as you don't get a warranty (drunk girls...) and they've been moved around alot.

Should I be avoiding stuff like this then? http://www.123dj.com/speakers/gemini/gsm1585.html#value

Al Poulin
05-01-2012, 07:34 AM
As small as an apartment (where I'll most likely be starting)...moving up to townhouses, then to basements with the occasional gig at my fraternities house. I'm gonna go ahead and say apartment-basement.

Is going used a good option? I was advised against it as you don't get a warranty (drunk girls...) and they've been moved around alot.

Should I be avoiding stuff like this then? http://www.123dj.com/speakers/gemini/gsm1585.html#value


Gemini produces mostly JUNK unfortunately. I doubt those will get loud enough for the types of parties you plan to do. They are also passive, so you would need an amplifier. do you have an amplifier?

Al

Al Poulin
05-01-2012, 07:42 AM
These are a very good deal, are self-powered, VERY LOUD and you could start with a single one on a stand if you wish at under 400$. The mixer section is excellent and ultra flexible with XLR, 1/4" AND RCA inputs. The horn is a big 2" voice coil titanium unit that, while not the smoothest sounding, gets very LOUD. I have a set of the smaller Titan 12As, and they are what I use for teen dances and grad parties where perceived volume is more important than sound quality. Free shipping too. Regular price on these is about 2X what they are currently selling at.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wharfedale-Titan-Active-15-PA-Speaker-/170774502192?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27c2f41b30

Al

Al Poulin
05-01-2012, 07:44 AM
Here is some more detailed technical info :

http://www.wharfedalepro.com/Home/Products/CLASSICPRODUCTS/TITAN15ACTIVE/tabid/320/Default.aspx

Al

Al Poulin
05-01-2012, 07:57 AM
Other decent choices (all sound a little nicer than the Wharfedale BUT are not as loud) :


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Samson-Auro-D415A-15-2-Way-Active-Speaker-/170814627853?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27c558600d


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yorkville-YX15P-15-2-way-Speaker-YX-15p-B-/110663279666?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c40ba432


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Peavey-PR15D-15-400-Watt-2-Way-Lightweight-Powered-DJ-Speaker-PR15D-/300700524395?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item460325df6b

mr.doom
05-01-2012, 08:10 AM
With 250 people you will need a couple of sub$. Rent, borrow or start saving for the right tool for the job.

Al Poulin
05-01-2012, 08:16 AM
He can always start out with a single powered speaker to do smaller stuff and later add a second one, then a sub... A 400$budget pretty much limits his options at the moment.

Al

mr.doom
05-01-2012, 12:09 PM
Hey Al, have you tested a M-audio GSR budget box yet?
I wonder how they compare to the Behringer and Mackie Thumps?

Subzeero
05-01-2012, 01:23 PM
With 250 people you will need a couple of sub$. Rent, borrow or start saving for the right tool for the job.

Is there anyway to purchase a set of performance level speakers suitable for college house parties under 250? That's preferable, but I'm willing to go to ~400.


I could be mistaken, but I took what he wrote to mean under $250 and willing to go up to $400.



But I do agree that renting makes sense in order to save money to buy good speakers. I did that for two years.:)

Then I bought used EV SX300s and a used JBL MP418 subwoofer, all in beautiful condition at a very good price.

I have not ever regretted doing that.

I have purchased other subs and tops since then for bigger crowds, but the EVs and JBL sub are really light and get most of the gigs, which are usually less than 150 people.

EBiddy
05-01-2012, 01:26 PM
Thanks for the suggestions.

Unfortunately, I do not have an amp...I have a guitar amp but I highly doubt thats what you guys are referring to.

This may sound rediculous, but is there anyway to hook the guitar amp up to my NPM5's and use that? Would that fill an apartment out? And then save the money for a sub? (So the total would be 2X NPM5's with a guitar amp and a sub.)

Unfortunately money is limited right now because I'm saving for flight school, my plan was to use any profit I made gigging to go towards better equipment. That was my end goal anyway, to essentially have djing pay for itself.

jayhwk
05-01-2012, 05:24 PM
Here's what I'd do with your budget: forget powered, and forget new.

Troll Craigslist every day looking for a pair or old, used Electrovoice SH1502ER loudspeakers or similar models from other brands. They're heavy, old, efficient, and pretty decent sounding. Buy a QSC Model 1400 or MX700 amplifier and make a few cables out of lamp cord. Don't pay more than $425 for the whole set-up ($250 on speakers, $125 on amp, $50 on cables)

Guitar amps are not designed for accurate reproduction and do not have the same dispersion characteristics that a loudspeaker for DJ use would need.

trauma11
05-01-2012, 08:07 PM
You're going to want two powered 15' tops for that scenario. Powered for ease of use and 15" drivers for frequency range. I've played 50+ of the same type of parties you speak of when in college and used various setups, that's what I settled on. Occasionally I'd add in a powered 18" woofer. When the end of the night rolls around and everyone, including you, is hammered, you are going to want the easiest, tightest, lightest set up to stumble back to your dorm/apt with.

On a greek note, it's always nice to have a fresh class of sober drivers each semester.

Edit: Read a few more posts, misunderstood the first. 250-400 doesn't get you very far in PA land. Ask fraternity to kick in if they dont have a sound system.

DYM
05-01-2012, 09:37 PM
Ask people for money :tup:

EBiddy
05-02-2012, 12:39 AM
You're going to want two powered 15' tops for that scenario. Powered for ease of use and 15" drivers for frequency range. I've played 50+ of the same type of parties you speak of when in college and used various setups, that's what I settled on. Occasionally I'd add in a powered 18" woofer. When the end of the night rolls around and everyone, including you, is hammered, you are going to want the easiest, tightest, lightest set up to stumble back to your dorm/apt with.

On a greek note, it's always nice to have a fresh class of sober drivers each semester.

Edit: Read a few more posts, misunderstood the first. 250-400 doesn't get you very far in PA land. Ask fraternity to kick in if they dont have a sound system.

Sobers are always the best haha. My fraternity already has a DJ who's much more established than I am and plays at a few bars as well. He has some nice speakers but I doubt he'd be too willing to lend them out. Eventually I'd like to cycle in to the rotation but I just started two months ago and don't want to just rush in and steal his thunder.