System for Frat House

[EJ1]

My friend is looking for a PA setup for his frat house for around $1,000. A PC is going to be their source so they would need a small $50 mixer, correct? They want distinct mids and highs with awesome bass (rap, apparently). I have no idea what to look for speaker (and/or sub) or amp-wise. Maybe one of you guys can help me out. Would they need a dedicated sub to go along with the 2 PA fronts? Thanks.

 

[GlocksRock]

Check out some Cerwin Vega speakers, they get loud and have good bass.

 

[MidnightSensi]

My friend is looking for a PA setup for his frat house for around $1,000. A PC is going to be their source so they would need a small $50 mixer, correct? They want distinct mids and highs with awesome bass (rap, apparently). I have no idea what to look for speaker (and/or sub) or amp-wise. Maybe one of you guys can help me out. Would they need a dedicated sub to go along with the 2 PA fronts? Thanks.

How big is the room? From the PC I'd connect into an inexpensive mixer for level control, then XLR out to a crossover. You can even use a crossover for limiting output and use the computer as your volume control (basically set the crossover levels so that the max the computer can be turned up is less than the speakers will blow/amps will overheat at).

Usually a pair of PA speakers are combined with a pair of subwoofers. If its in a bar room of a frat though, a lot of times just top cabs are used because there isn't the space for subwoofers.

I'd look into the lower end JBL top/mid boxes, I think they are called JRX series or something.

Subwoofers anything I'd recommend is already over their budget, I think just the cabling, mixer, crossover, main speaker amp, and main speakers will be tight at under 1000.

For an amplifier the Crown XLS series are pretty affordable and would be fine to pair with the JBLs. If you didn't get subwoofers I'd go with the 15" JBL cabs rather than the 12" cabs and probably use an XLS402 for power. With a cheapo Behringer crossover and some sort of mixer that would be tight but possible to get under 1,000.

http://www.fullcompass.com/product/246462.html <--JBL cabs

Those JBLs will have decent response down to 45Hz or so which should be fine even for rap music in a bar room.

If its going into the basement or main party room then they'll need to up the budget and get subwoofers/a decent PA system.

There are lots of different routes you can go, this is just one. Let me know what you think and I can recommend stuff more along your friends/your needs. I've used tons of different PA speakers, subs, amps, mixers, crossovers, processors, limiters, etc. etc. etc.

Cheers

 

[EJ1]

Thanks for all of that info. I'm getting dimension info from him now. I think they auditioned some Peavey PV 215's ($500/pr), but said they lacked in bass output. Here's what I'm thinking given maybe a $1500 budget:

Peavey PV 215 (x2) - $500
Behringer EP2500 for the mains (650w x 2) - $350
Behringer EP1500 for the sub (1400w x 1) - $300
Subwoofer?

Why would you recommend a crossover? What sub would you recommend and how would that be cabled with the amp and mixer?

 

[annunaki]

Thanks for all of that info. I'm getting dimension info from him now. I think they auditioned some Peavey PV 215's ($500/pr), but said they lacked in bass output. Here's what I'm thinking given maybe a $1500 budget:

Peavey PV 215 (x2) - $500
Behringer EP2500 for the mains (650w x 2) - $350
Behringer EP1500 for the sub (1400w x 1) - $300
Subwoofer?

Why would you recommend a crossover? What sub would you recommend and how would that be cabled with the amp and mixer?

FYI: with price matching from www.zzounds.com you can get the EP2500 for about $260 shipped. At that price you might as well get three of them. Make sure to have 3 dedicated 20A circuits though.

I got mine for $256 shipped.

 

[MidnightSensi]

The wideband cabs aren't going to sound like home speakers, they are designed to play louder and be crossed over to a bass bin (in practice most two speaker DJ setups have two subwoofers also, unlike home systems where one is the normal). You'll need a crossover for a subwoofer, that a Behringer would be fine for 80 bucks or whatever it is, but I'm not a fan of their amplifiers. They are cheap and make numbers, and lots of people use them first getting started but they don't travel well, break and their support sucks. If its all they can afford, fine, but, look into QSC, Crest, Crown if they can spring for the money.

For a subwoofer in that budget there really aren't too many options, I'd probably grab a JBL JRX subwoofer. They are okay. The jump to a nice subwoofer is a big jump in cost, the JRX series are like entry level portable DJ subwoofers. To get a Bag End, Danley, Meyer, etc subwoofer is a lot more money.

Basically the setup would be:
Computer > 1/8" to 1/4" RCA's (or get a sound card with RCA or XLR outputs which is ideal, they usually use a seperate box or a breakout cable)
1/8" in to stereo 1/4in RCA > Mixer
Mixer > XLR > Crossover
Crossover > XLR > Low (summing) to Subwoofer amplifier
Crossover > XLR > High (L & R) to main amplifier
Then each amplifier to the speakers/sub.

 

[MidnightSensi]

I should add that if its a bar room, I'd consider buying the JBL 15" and if they want a bit more bass boosting it from iTunes equalizer. It can't be done too much, and it will give up a bit of excursion headroom, but if its a small room it probably wouldn't make a difference. If its a big room, I wouldn't do this. If it's a basement or something, then they'll for sure need subwoofers/bigger budget to warm any eardrums.

The bar rooms I'm remembering from college were generally pretty small, and they'd load big pro speakers in them. Some of the larger, richer ones used flyable speakers with subs.

Basically the idea in college is to get as close to nightclub spl levels as possible on a low budget, disregard sound quality, and get chicks drunk.

 

[EJ1]

Basically the idea in college is to get as close to nightclub spl levels as possible on a low budget, disregard sound quality, and get chicks drunk.

Precisely what they are going for. The room is 37x23x11. Thanks for explaining how the crossover would be connected. So what could we do with $1500 because you seem to have the knowledge and experience with brand names and models.

So I guess we'd need 2 speakers, amp for those speakers, 2 subwoofers, amp for those subwoofers, crossover, mixer. We might be able to utilize their existing subwoofers if needed to cut on costs.

 

[MidnightSensi]

I honestly don't have any burning recommendations in that price range. I mean, frats use all kinds of junk equipment like the B-52 systems and such but I can't explicitely recommend that stuff and sleep at night.

Search around on bhphotovideo.com and fullcompass.com and see if something catches your eye and I can let you know if it would work or not. The problem I'm running into is that you can buy inexpensive tops, but they are each made to be paired with a subwoofer.

The Cerwins might be the way to go, and if the receiver starts to overheat you can pair them with a professional amplifier. That starts to be more cost effective. Cerwin Vega! CLS-215 dual 15s are like 500 bucks each from my Google search. With the left over 500 bucks you could probably find a receiver that works. Make sure it has pre-outs, because if your buddy is really cranking it and it is overheating then he can always add in a professional amplifier later.

 

[highfigh]

My friend is looking for a PA setup for his frat house for around $1,000. A PC is going to be their source so they would need a small $50 mixer, correct? They want distinct mids and highs with awesome bass (rap, apparently). I have no idea what to look for speaker (and/or sub) or amp-wise. Maybe one of you guys can help me out. Would they need a dedicated sub to go along with the 2 PA fronts? Thanks.

Crown and other companies make amps with the crossover built in. That would be a good thing to look into. Some also have compression/limiting. For $1000, it's going to be tight but one thing I would definitely recommend is to go to the local music stores and see what they have for used equipment. Craig's List is another source that I would check out.

One thing that can be really annoying about a large room with all of the speakers on one end is that by the time you get the level right at the far end, it's too freakin' loud at the end with the speakers. For that reason, I would place speakers for their best and most even coverage along the wall/ceiling cornice and use at least two subs, one on the end wall and one on the adjacent wall, about 1/3 in from opposite corners. With the right speakers, it'll sound better all over, instead of just really loud at one end. If the speakers can be mounted to the ceiling, using speakers with wide dispersion patterns, mounted for best coverage will be even better.

This will also keep some liquored mess from toppling the PA speakers on top of himself, or others, along with the attendant lawsuit.

 

[highfigh]

My friend is looking for a PA setup for his frat house for around $1,000. A PC is going to be their source so they would need a small $50 mixer, correct? They want distinct mids and highs with awesome bass (rap, apparently). I have no idea what to look for speaker (and/or sub) or amp-wise. Maybe one of you guys can help me out. Would they need a dedicated sub to go along with the 2 PA fronts? Thanks.

What city? You didn't say and it's not in your profile.

 

[zumbo]

http://www.amazon.com/Cerwin-Vega-CLS-215-3-Way-Speakers/dp/B000EHWDQS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1228269097&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Cerwin-Vega-CLS-15-3-Way-Speakers/dp/B000A0BBAI/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1228269097&sr=1-4

http://www.amazon.com/Cerwin-Vega-CLS-12-3-Way-Speakers/dp/B0009Y4T5Y/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1228269097&sr=1-2

 

[GlocksRock]

http://www.amazon.com/Cerwin-Vega-CLS-215-3-Way-Speakers/dp/B000EHWDQS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1228269097&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Cerwin-Vega-CLS-15-3-Way-Speakers/dp/B000A0BBAI/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1228269097&sr=1-4

http://www.amazon.com/Cerwin-Vega-CLS-12-3-Way-Speakers/dp/B0009Y4T5Y/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1228269097&sr=1-2

this reitterates post #2

 

[zumbo]

this reitterates post #2

Yes, but adds a face to the voice. And, actual contact in formation.

 

[ChunkyDark]

Depending on how the money shakes out you might consider an elemental sub http://www.edesignaudio.com/index.php?cPath=2_41
They are well built and have a truck liner bed type finish to avoid damage from spilled beer. They more money, but well respected sub.

If your looking at DJ equipment don't forget to check out your local pawn shop/craigs list/ect. Sometimes you can score some deals from people who had more money than business plans.