Advice on Speaker system for fraternity parties

[jnbrex]

Recently, the speaker that my fraternity has been using for our parties and mixers broke. We have a budget of ~$500 and are looking for a speaker system to play music in a 20 x 20 ft room.

Because the system will mostly be used for dance music, the bass is of paramount importance. Loudness is also preferred over clarity.

We always use an aux cord connected to a laptop to play our music, so unless anybody has a better suggestion, you can assume that that is the input we will use. Aside from the aux cord, we have no speaker equipment at all.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Look for Cerwin Vega and these: http://www.amazon.com/America-400-Watt-Speaker-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B002ISZEV2
thank I don't live near any campuses

but if had some more money these would be it:

 

[JohnnieB]

CV, for the money, will attract more cops than you can shake a box of donuts at.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

A pair (2) of JBL JRX212 professional speakers for $448 delivered ($224 each speaker).

http://www.amazon.com/JBL-JRX212-Live-Sound-Monitor/dp/B00CYNTFB6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418391787&sr=8-1&keywords=jbl+jrx212

I use these for karaoke in our 18' x 20' x 12' open room. They are very efficient, clear sounding and can play extremely loud.

 

[jnbrex]

To clarify my post, we have no speaker equipment at all, and an amplifier would have to be included with the speakers within the 500 dollar budget if the speakers are passive. So unfortunately, speakers like the above JBLs are too expensive.

 

[its phillip]

To clarify my post, we have no speaker equipment at all, and an amplifier would have to be included with the speakers within the 500 dollar budget if the speakers are passive. So unfortunately, speakers like the above JBLs are too expensive.

And this is for a frat? Cut your drinking for a weekend and increase your audio budget.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

To clarify my post, we have no speaker equipment at all, and an amplifier would have to be included with the speakers within the 500 dollar budget if the speakers are passive. So unfortunately, speakers like the above JBLs are too expensive.

Cerwin Vega it is then.

2 new CV speakers for $346.
http://www.amazon.com/Cerwin-Vega-VE-8-2-Way-Audio-Speaker/dp/B000EHYHJY/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1418397787&sr=8-9&keywords=cerwin+vega+speakers

1 used Yamaha AVR for $160.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00M3NZDN6/ref=sr_1_39_olp?ie=UTF8&qid=1418397956&sr=8-39&keywords=receivers&condition=used

 

[zieglj01]

And this is for a frat? Cut your drinking for a weekend and increase your audio budget.

Bingo!

 

[jnbrex]

That isn't how fraternities work. We have a certain amount of our budget allocated to social, a certain amount dedicated to housing, etc.... We probably spend less than 50 dollars on parties (social budget) on the average weekend. I had to practically beg our treasurer to even set aside this much for a new sound system.

 

[jnbrex]

I got advice from another forum to buy these:
Package: (2) Rockville RPG15 2,000 Watt 2-Way DJ/PA Powered Speakers With a 15" Woofer and a 3" Voice Coil + Rockville RVSS2-XLR Pair of Adjustable Pro Speaker Stands + (2) XLR Male to Female Cables + Carrying Case

I can't post the link to the Amazon page because I'm still under the 10 post limit, but they are $394.95 and include everything described above.

What do you think about those speakers? It seems like that package would be perfect for us because we will occasionally have to move the system for different locations, including outside / on a porch. After doing a little more research I think that active speakers are better for us because of their increased portability and durability. Does anyone have any objections to those statements or know of a product similar to the one linked above that is more efficient for sound quality and loudness / cost?

 

[zieglj01]

erased

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Here is another option for speakers - BIC towers for $130 each delivered.

http://www.amazon.com/BIC-America-Venturi-Speaker-Single/dp/B00011KLOI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1418412958&sr=8-2&keywords=bic+speakers

Here is a Yamaha AVR for $220 delivered.

http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-RX-V375-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B00B981F38/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418413141&sr=8-1&keywords=receivers

Total = $480 delivered

 

[jnbrex]

Is there any way that costs could be cut on the receiver? We are never planning on hooking this up to anything besides a laptop AUX cable, so if we could get a cheaper amplifier that could power the speakers just as well that would be preferred.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Is there any way that costs could be cut on the receiver? We are never planning on hooking this up to anything besides a laptop AUX cable, so if we could get a cheaper amplifier that could power the speakers just as well that would be preferred.

How much cheaper?

You can also get a Yamaha 5.1 AVR for $175 delivered from Amazon (by Amazon):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00B981F38/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used

Connect your iPhone or iPod to the front panel of the AVR via USB and you are set.

I personally trust Yamaha, Denon, or Pioneer a lot more than cheap amps.

These AVRs have pretty good speaker protection circuits and cheap amps probably don't. Cheap amps may also have more noise/ higher noise floor, and also ground loop humming issues.

 

[lsiberian]

Is there any way that costs could be cut on the receiver? We are never planning on hooking this up to anything besides a laptop AUX cable, so if we could get a cheaper amplifier that could power the speakers just as well that would be preferred.

You don't want a receiver. You want pro speakers an amp and a mixer and you should be shopping on craiglist on amazon. You will find some great deals on DJ and band setups that didn't make it. Seriously craigslist is your friend.

 

[jcparks]

If you just need loud for parties get the Rockvilles. No one will be doing any sort of critical listening at a frat party, and I'm sure design doesn't play a big role in your shopping decisions...