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thanks to everybody for all of your experiences with various speakers/amps. I like the idea of powered speakers for convenience. Setup would be no more than plugging one cord from the mixer to each speaker... the other devices could stay permanently plugged into the mixer in my rack.
Cost wise it appears to be about the same price to buy regular speakers and a rackable PA amp, So that approach could end up being equally convenient. So my decision would probably end up being made on what I could find on Ebay or Craig's list at a good price.
One other question: if the powered part of an active speaker fails, can it still be used as a passive speaker? Or do you lose both speaker and amp at the same time?
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Citaat:
One other question: if the powered part of an active speaker fails, can it still be used as a passive speaker? Or do you lose both speaker and amp at the same time?
Some active speakers do have the ability to be used as a passive speaker. But you would have to carry a spare amp to power it.
On the other hand: If you use passive speakers and your amp blows up, you're left with no sound. If one of your active speakers should fail, you will still have the other one to carry on with your show...
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Quote:
Setup would be no more than plugging one cord from the mixer to each speaker.
Not true.How do you think these powered speakers get their power?
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Both Mikenl and Silvertones make good points. Powered speakers do require AC line cords of some type. Some manufacturers have semi-proprietary cables for these - so they don't get kicked out during a performance. For example, we use a set of ElectroVoice SxA360 powered mains (nice size for a roughly 100-200 person venue) which have Neutrik 'speakon' type of connectors - not for the audio, but for the AC power. These have a 1/4 turn locking mechanism. Works great for the intended use - but don't lose that cable! Not so easy to replace. We really should have a spare set made and keep them in a different case, etc. What's interesting is that the audio connects on these speakers are NOT speakon connectors, just a bog-standard combo 1/4" / XLR jack. Here's a back-view of them: http://www.keymusic.com/gfx_productcode/91176/2/Electro-Voice-SXA360.jpg-Scott BTW one nice thing about these is that if you want to you can press them into service as floor monitors as well - their wedge shape is designed just for that. Many of these powered main speakers are designed for such use - including the JBLs that I would not recommend - simply because of those cold solders (hopefully their QC has that taken care of by now).
Last edited by rockstar_not; 05/20/11 04:59 AM.
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That is why i like powered speakers, the fact that if one fails the other one can get you thru. On the other hand, they are expensive and difficult to repair.
Darn, equipment there is not perfect solution.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
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Scott, those connectors are called Powercon. Same principle as Speakon.
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Yup guy says to me, those are the way to go they don't come out. Then the sales guy trips over the cable, which would have come out, but the speaker topples. I just said no.
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Quote:
Quote:
Setup would be no more than plugging one cord from the mixer to each speaker.
Not true.How do you think these powered speakers get their power?
Obviously the devices themselves need to be plugged in.
I was referring to the convenience of not having to individually plug cords from multiple other devices to a separate mixer,getting them in the correct labelled inputs every time. With this approach all that stuff could stay perpetually connected to the mixer, and only the mixer itself would have to be patched to the power amp/speakers
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Quote:
Yup guy says to me, those are the way to go they don't come out. Then the sales guy trips over the cable, which would have come out, but the speaker topples. I just said no.
Mr. Salesman didn't have the cables run properly nor the tripods set correctly. Run them down around the pole and around one foot of a tripod and unless the person tripping weighs 500 lbs the speaker should stay just where it is.
No guarantee on the speaker not toppling with a typical AC line cord if he didn't have it run this way anyways. Simple physics problem. Cables not run around and down a speaker tripod is a recipe for disaster and a potential lawsuit in waiting as well.
-Scott
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If he had tripped over the line cord with a standarde IEC connector at the back of the speaker, he could have damaged the IEC socket beyond use...
But *nothing* can be designed to account for every case of abuse, although one can come close, most musicians wouldn't pay the price for that much overdesign anyway, not with other companies selling "the same thing" for much less.
--Mac
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Citaat:
, most musicians wouldn't pay the price for that much overdesign anyway, not with other companies selling "the same thing" for much less.
"same thing". You're right on the money there. You get what you pay for, not more, not less (you hope not less)
I will go for quality any time when it concerns gigging material. I HATE crappy stuff that needs tinkering and crossed fingers to work.
The mechanics in the garage won't work with crappy tools either; they work with pro-level tools and not with cheap imitations (hey a wrench is a wrench). There's a reason for that.
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Well I'll give you that pros WANT to work with pro gear but that's not always possible.A real pro can deal & make less then top shelf equipment work.
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