Tops

[Landon]

Which do you prefer... 12's with subs, 15's with subs or both?

[Landon]

I have used 15's before and love the low end which they provide; however, 12's are more accurate and do very well with subs. If I needed a lot of SPL and still wanted the 12's as tops, I would probably add a couple 15's to the rig

[michaelhoddy]

Really depends on the rig and room. But if we're talking smaller club-style setups with one or two boxes over subs per side, then 12's all the way.

I love 12's over double 15's for smaller rooms. The other setup I like a lot is 4 VRX932 over 2 single or double 18" subs. I don't really do ultra-loud stuff or really large rooms any more- too much work, and that's what real PA companies are for!

[Landon]

The other setup I like a lot is 4 VRX932 over 2 single or double 18" subs.

Now that is what I am talking about Those VRX cabs are crazy nice with a couple of those flying subs!

[Krynos]

I'd take a single 15" speaker over a single 12". But I'd take a dual 12" speaker cabinet over a dual 15".

Gotta have 2 or 4 subs per side either way.

[Landon]

I'd take a single 15" speaker over a single 12". But I'd take a dual 12" speaker cabinet over a dual 15".

Gotta have 2 or 4 subs per side either way.

I think vocals sound much better through a 12" speaker due to the physical accuracy. I don't need any subs for my current venue where they play acoustic folk... I just use a couple 15's.

With your recommendation I'd say you DJ? That is a lot of low end for most small live performance venues.

[cmchamp]

My preferred outdoor vocal rig (southern gospel/inspirational) is:
Dual 18" subs under 1972 Altec Voice of the Theatre A7's.
AWESOME - but heavy.

[Krynos]

Not a DJ.

I mix for a lot of Rock bands in a 300-500 venue. Most of the time low end is lacking in most bars/clubs. You gotta have that extra headroom to really make the drums sound good. Lot's of low end, lots of bass. But not forgetting the crisp clean mids and highs. I think your just in a different position than I am.

[Landon]

Yeah, that makes more since now. I can see how a larger rock venue could soak up a lot of low end. I suppose you could also get away with positioning the subs in the corner or near a wall to help that out as well.

[Bugzie]

To cmchamps: Does that mean that you wouldn't luagh when I use a pair of Klipsch LaScala's as side fills???????? I had people look at me with a WTF? look when I rigged a good sized stage with them. Then come up to me afterwards and tell me that it was a "phenominal" monitor mix. Monitors were 4 QSC HPR122i's.

[bobbymars]

brings back great memories . . my band used up to 8 lascalas for mains powered by phase linear and mixer by heathkit . . this was back in high school . . 40 years ago but also used alot of A7s from Stanal Sound . . . bobby

[Dave Burris]

For my larger system I use dual 15" cabinets for mids and they can double for lows when there isn't enough room for the dual 18" subs. Powered via MacroTech 2400 they can do the job quite nicely.

Most gigs these days are smaller rooms and I use either 2 or 4 VRX932LA. Many times even with these I don't have room for the subs.

With a good mix in these small rooms it still sounds pretty good. Just don't move the air on the low end as much. I would prefer to use the VRX subs as well but don't always have the space.

If I were designing a concert system for tours I would probably design in quad 12" for mids where I could count on the need and space for subs.