Alright, people recently I have been asked to do more and more private gigs at halls, for my friends and at a local bar in my town which does not have a sound system. I find these gigs alot of fun…Anywas I am looking for a pair of PA speakers either brand new or used for around $1000. Obviously, I expect that if they are used they will be better brand then say a brand new pair which falls within this price range.
I searched the forum but couldn’t find anything that meet my needs. Honestly I want these to last for years aaaand 600W RMS and greater would be what I am looking for to handle events with say 150-200 people. I also want them to be powered (active).
Any suggestions? New or used? My last pair of Technical Pro speakers I bought were shit and they blew in like 6 months! Never buying that brand again!
From what I see Mackie is a prime brand. I own a single TH-15A and it is more than fine for house parties and such, but I hear their are better models.
Also I hear the rule of thumb is that any pair that is less than 15" should be purchased with a sub.
They are, the 15" thumo i have is great, but i hear the sound quality on soe of the better models are better in some ways. With the budget OP has, those upper models can possibly be an option.
are you looking for a pair of speakers that is 600 watts rms? or 600 watts rms each? mackie thumps are only 400 watts rms for the pair. the mackie srm-450’s are much louder. the jbl eon’s are also good from what i hear. i’ve heard the jbl prx612’s personally and they’re very loud. all these speakers you would have to find a used pair or else they’re too expensive for you. make sure you hear the speakers first before you get em whatever they are.
Also take a look at the B-52 Matrix system. It’s right under a grand, and for the money, is said to be the best bang for your buck. Tops and sub as well.
Unless you want to spend a lot more and put something really serious together, that’s what I would look at.
The B-52 Matrix System comes in right at your price point, and at 700Watt RMS.
You can pick up two 15" Mackie Thump powered monitors for around $550, and that leaves you with about $450 to get a powered 15-18" sub. I would recommend getting an 18".
The second option is probably going to sound better, but may end up going just a hair over the 1k budget…
I’d definitely go the Mackie route. They are 15" as opposed to the Matrix’s 10" tops. They will definitely give you a better bottom end (the tops). As for the sub, if Exokinetic’s math is correct, I’m not sure what sub you could buy with the spare $450, but you could always save up a little more and buy a decent sub, I’d go 18", and have a much better set-up.
Edit: Actually, where are you seeing the Mackies for $550 a pair? Would love to jump on that. Cheapest I saw was $350 each…
The thumps also have a pretty extensive EQ controls on the back, as well as not knowing how things were gain staged…
Really is best to listen to them yourself in store, with music that you know the sounds of so you can hear how the speakers are coloring the music, and arnt being fooled by something in the track, etc.
A buddy at the house I have been staying at has two of the 15’s in his room for mains in the practice booth, and I find it hard to complain, and in such a small room, the bass is plenty, and the mid/high range is actually rather clear and intelligible.
I have 2 thumps and coincidentally the same 18 Gemini sub that was linked. I got the thumps for 400/pair on craigslist and I got the sub with a guitar center coupon and it ended up at about 400 out the door. got stands for free from a friend and added about 40-50 in cables, so I got my whole system for under 900. so it’s definitely possible. and I would definitely recommend it as a house party/small bar setup. good luck
Good suggestions. The thumps seem like a great speaker, everyone seems to give them good reviews but I am looking for something 600 rms for each speaker and the thumps fell a little short. The other Mackie speakers with more wattage are appealing. I am a little hesitant about the behringer speakers. I don’t know how long they would last in the long run.
