Karaoke Forums

I want a kick butt sound system..........I am running laptop computer with all songs in Sax & Dottie on external harddrive....running off laptop sound card....

I have a good mixer and sound effects...........I have jobs booked and making money but want the sound system to be the best around. My jobs are small to medium size bars, VFW clubs, etc.....I must pack up every night to move..so weight is a big factor...I am getting old with a bad back....

Looking to upgrade in the speaker area first:
Should I go with powered speakers and a sub????? Which brand is highly recommended......do I need a crossover to go between main and sub????

Or...should I go with speakers and sub and use power amps with cross-over???

I am open to suggestions..........will $2500 cover it.????

Good budget. For that amount I would definitely opt for a pair these.
http://www.zzounds.com/item--QSCHPR152I
Also would add the dbx Driverack PX.
http://www.zzounds.com/item--DBXDRPX

This would 'kick butt' by themselves, but will REALLY kick with the matching sub which you could determine later if you need them or not.
http://www.zzounds.com/item--QSCHPR181I
Plus QSC has a 6 year warranty which is nice!

Also may want to consider an external sound interface for the laptop. Laptop outputs will work, but externals will be better. Look into the Lexicon Alpha. Nice unit.
http://www.zzounds.com/item--LEXALPHA

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check out the yorkville nx55 speakers at a local dealer, hearing is believing. Be prepaired, they are expensive. However, they do have a 550 watt interrnal amp each, and only weigh 40# EACH. They are only 12 inch speakers, but you will swear they are much bigger. In most cases, you will not need a subwoofer. I have one, but never need it for karaoke.

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Lonman..............those speakers look great............BUT...............did you notice the weight..........100lbs per speaker..........how can I lift a 100 lb speaker to put on a pole.............

Also---I am confused on the sound card interface.......the unit you suggested would be hooked up by USB cable????? And run the sound from that machine???? Would this give me a better -- cleaner sound????

I noticed the weight afterward. But you did say 'kick butt'

Yes the external would hook to your laptop via USB, then the unit itself would hook to the mixer. Yes it will give muych better sound than most laptop headphone out jacks.

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If this assignment were for myself, and in particular I was trying to get things as lightweight as possible, I'd take a good hard look at the JBL MRX (unpowered) and PRX (powered) series. These speakers have tremendous specs given their weight.

Two powered 12" tops plus an 18" sub has a MAP closed to three grand than $2500 but I'll bet that if you call around and say that you are interested in all three as a package you'll find guys that will shave a few hundred off that. In my case I know that I could easily fit all three in my Hundai Elantra hatchback and wouldn't even have to use my van anymore.

Personally I'd go with the unpowered versions but I have the amps and DRPA for signal management already.

With JBL you have that name that guarantees top resale value if you ever need to. But I'm also like many in this forum a big fan of Yorkville (love my Elites!) and without even hearing the NX55 (EElvis's suggestion) I know that a pair of them coupled with an 18" sub would do you good. They weigh more though.

And it doesn't say JBL on the front.

#1 if weight is a factor and you are looking for a KICK BUTT system that is MOBILE for SMALL TO MEDIUM venues ....forget the SUB ( don't flame me)

Get yourself a pair of 15" powered speakers and a decent mixer.

I've only HEARD good things of the new JBL EONS
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/pr ... sku=500918

They are only 33lbs each and 450watts of power !
You already have a mixer and effects !!!

The bass response from my JBL Eons is MORE than adequite for karaoke. The bass is thumping.... and I've got the 280 watt 315s BTW... plenty of power for most venues.

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Santeecarl, the question of subs or no subs is really up to you. But if you are serious about having "the best around" (your phrase) you are probably going to have to go that route.

I know that in my area there's only one regular room left without them. So around here they're a must if you want to work steadily. But your area... I don't know, and if your singers aren't used to them you may not need subs.

If your typical room is a VFW hall with mostly patrons over 50 years old you probably won't need them either. In my very limited experience older singers would actually rather not have them.

I agree there is no argument that a good SUB can only enhance the overall sound of any system.. But asking for a MOBILE and LIGHT WEIGHT system is contradictory in having the BEST system around. I think for small to medium venues if I had to "sacrafice" something it would be a sub. Around here a sub is not required or even seen of most of the times ( for karaoke in bars ). I believe again SMALL venues to have GREAT SOUND with just the right amount of power and some 15" speakers.

If the point of your sub is to THUMP the heck out of everything, go for it. I use a sub but it is only to complement the 350s I use. I never crank it up so it is overwhelmingly thumpy...in fact, I find that very annoying when I go somewhere to sing and someone has their sub set up to create the same kind of 'boom boom' you get when a car goes by that has a trunk full of speakers & subs. In my view a sub shouldn't even be noticeable...it should only provide a nice bottom end sound. But I'm also not doing rooms that are predominantly diaper gang who crave that boom-boom sound.

good suggestions from everyone....this forum is "top of the line" when getting responses that really mean something. Everyone is helpful...and the ideas posted are good ideas......thanks everyone....

I am really considering going with the powered JBL speakers 15"...only 33 lbs per speaker.......I have decided to leave off the sub for now.....

Now to decide on a good mixer..........any suggestions on this.....

You said in you OP that you a had a good mixer with effects? What do you have now? Does it need replacing?

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I am using a Yamaha six-channel amp/mixer....which has a pretty good reverb feature...so the sound is pretty good.....

but if i change to powered speakers...then i don't need to carry a amp/mixer around....

the yamaha is not rack mountable...which makes it a pain to haul in and out without breaking off knobs, etc......

You have many choices for mixers --only thing I've found is it's hard to find one that meets all my criteria of Rackable - built in efffects - 5/7 band eq - 3 band channel eq. etc.
The new Mackie PRO series are thought to be decent but not rackable
The Yamaha MG series are rackable with effects and compression - but I believe no EQ. There was a post on here about ALLEN AND HEATH which some swear by as top of the line ..but it comes with a price to match.

For a few years I've used a BEHRINGER 1222FX which fit all my needs and it never let me down...some won't touch Behringer. ? If it has to be RACKED your choices maybe limited without adding either an eq or effects units ..which would only help your chances to get the BEST SYSTEM

My dream mixer is the Souncraft EFX8. It has 3 band EQ with swept mids on mono channels, built in Lexicon vocal effects, high quality mic preamps, and it's rack mountable. The only reason I haven't gotten it yet is it costs $399.

When you consider a Lexicon effects unit costs around $200 by itself, this mixer seems like a decent deal and Soundcraft mixers have a reputation for quality and reliability. As I continue to get busier and the money is coming in steadily I WILL buy this mixer.

If someone has a suggestion for a better mixer for the OP and for me I'd like to hear it. For me, built in high quality vocal effects are important. I don't want to deal with an external vocal effects unit because I'm a mobile performer/DJ/KJ and I don't want an extra component to deal with.

This would be my suggestion of a good mixer and NO, it doesn't really cost more when consider it has a USB connection, you won't be needing that Alpha USB device that was suggested

http://www.allen-heath.co.uk/zed/zed-14.asp

Or, with built in FX:

http://www.allen-heath.co.uk/zed/zed-12FX.asp

Oh yeah, it also comes with a studio software (Sonar) for FREE

Are the AH rackable ?

Of course, you'll need to buy the brackets:

http://www.thomann.de/gb/prod_bdb_AR_19 ... ml?image=3

The ZED 12 & 14 have the same dimensions

They sure look like nice units