Buying a PA System

[Big Fat Sammy]

I'm buying a PA...but I want to make sure I get the best for what I need....which is portability, ease of use, and reliability.

Mostly just for vocals in medium sized venues, with a loud band.

Also want to get a package deal.

This is what I'm thinking of so far....

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=live/s=packaged/search/detail/base_pid/601414/



Is there any website with user reviews for PAs like harmony-central does for guitars?

Is there any others in this price range that would be better?

Will 400X400 watts be loud enough?


Any input would be appriecated.
:)

[ashstralia]

i'd say that's perfect for the job, bfs.

should be plenty loud enough, but if your guitars are really
cranked, you may want to add a powered sub later.

[Big Fat Sammy]

Thats what I needed to hear, thanks!

:)

[ashstralia]

no worries bro!
and have a 5 star.

[Big Fat Sammy]

Back at ya!!!!!

[Nitro Express]

I had a Yamaha PA amp and it was a real piece of shit. I would go with Carvin instead. Much better quality for the same price range. You can check out what they have at Carvin.com

[Big Fat Sammy]

Im checking those out right now,,,thanks!

[jackassrock]

I use one of these (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=live/s=packaged/search/detail/base_pid/630106/) and it works great for me. But I also use a Crown amp to separately power the monitors.

[Big Fat Sammy]

Ok here's what I came up with....


http://carvin.com/products/single.php?ItemNumber=P1200-1540&CID=SYS1


With the 2 monitors added.

Thats 333watts per side and 333 for monitors.

[jackassrock]

to get the same amount of gear as the Yamaha setup you have :

Carvin package 1199.99
Shipping 59.99
Extra speakers 359.99
2 more mics (conservatively) 149.99
2 speaker stands 119.99
4 mic cables 79.99

and your grand total = $1969.94
not including extra shipping for the extra gear (inckluding speakers that weigh a lot).

[Big Fat Sammy]

Originally posted by jackassrock
to get the same amount of gear as the Yamaha setup you have :

Carvin package 1199.99
Shipping 59.99
Extra speakers 359.99
2 more mics (conservatively) 149.99
2 speaker stands 119.99
4 mic cables 79.99

and your grand total = $1969.94
not including extra shipping for the extra gear (inckluding speakers that weigh a lot).

I see what you are getting at.....

but this Yamaha package http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=live/s=packaged/search/detail/base_pid/601414/

is $1,799.99


but with the Carvin I get 200w more power, plus 4 more channels.

I wish they had the 12 channel mixer that you use in a package deal....and if I ever need more volume I could add the extra Amp for monitors.

Still shopping....:)

[Big Fat Sammy]

They do have it....minus the monitors

I think I could add the extra amp to the 8 channel yamaha package as well

[Nitro Express]

My experience with Yamaha mixers and amplifiers is they are horrendousely non-road worthy. For example, the front panel of the amplifier I had was flimbsy guage sheet metal and the potentionmeters and jacks mounted to the circuit board were mounted to this flimbsy metal. Well, some pressure on a plug cracked the circuit board and ruined the whole amp.

The electronics seemed to work ok. The amp and speakers sounded ok, but pluging and unpluging plugs into the sockets broke the circuit board! Pure 100% flimbsy!

Carvin equipment is built for the road. Everything is mounted to heavy guage metal. Remember, if the chasis can flex, the circuit boards are suseptable to cracking.

[ashstralia]

the 'brick' type all in one mixer/ amp/ fx units are all sturdy enough,
and portable for the smaller venue.

just don't drop one.

[Big Fat Sammy]

Originally posted by ashstralia
the 'brick' type all in one mixer/ amp/ fx units are all sturdy enough,
and portable for the smaller venue.

just don't drop one.

Is the brick type the flat boards with faders, rather than the "head" type w/ knobs?

I like the flat ones best....gotta go with a road case if these things are flimsy....my circut board on the Marshall JCM600 broke for that reason!