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[MintyDave 0]

I have had some interest in my gear that im selling which will pave the way to a new sound system. After a lot, and i mean a lot, of thought (yorkshire man + spending money = :sad:) i have decided that a set of active mid tops like srm450v2's/rcf/db technologies are what i want.

 

However im not too clued up on the full meaning of the specs and how to weed out the weak form the poor. class-d? SPL? etc

 

Typical example

RCF ART 322-A 400w weighing in at 23kg - Not a digital power amp?

 

SRM 450 v2 - 400w 18kg - Digital power amp?

 

DB Technologies somethingorother digital Butt ugly! but 14kg 400w digital power amp and switch mode psu

 

How do you tell these apart when chosing - is it personal taste - my ears are not good btw as i suffer with a specific mid/high frequency which hurts my ears and i tend to eq to my comfort zone

 

The price on the above ranges from £881 to nearly £1300 - is there any real noticable sound quality difference. If i could streach my budget is it really worth while at this level.

 

open to suggestions on other makes of course.

Cheers

[Norfolk DJ 0]

Hi

 

I'v sound tested all of these quality speakers. The only other one I would recommend being the JBL Eon 515.

 

Personally I own the Mackie SRM 450 Version 1, and am thinking of upgrading to the RCF's. The Mackies are excellent, good quality general function speaker. Version 2 is lighter than version 1. Some folk complained that the Mackies thermaled when pushed hard, but I have never seen this in the 3 years which I have owned them.

 

The drivers are 12 inch and don't even consider taking subs unless you are playing to 130 plus people. They are fine. price wise you can pick up Version 2 new for £799. B stock versions 1 for about £650.

 

The RCF's are a tad better quality than the Mackies but more expensive. IMO I doubt whether the extra £500 is worth it unless you go for the 312A or 322A which are 350watts compared to the Mackies 400, in which case I would then head to the RCF as I would forfiet the 50watt to have the RCF. Pricewise, you should pick up a pair for £850 ish. The Dealer called 'Decks' does his best prices over the phone.

 

The DB's are very good indeed and underrated and better priced than the Mackies and RCF's. They will do the job well and give you decent quality leave you wish some cash. Very tempting to go for these.

 

Finally, the JBL Eons are a great speaker. A mate of mine has just bought the 515's and reckons he will never need to use a sub again. Pricewise, they in the RCF range.

 

Personally, if money was an issue, I would buy DB and know I had a good quality buy. If you can and want to spend the extra I would be tempted by the RCF, Mackie and JBL in that order, but that's simply my opinion.

 

Rob

 

 

Update

 

musicstore.com are doing the DB's for less than £900 a pair. Worth considering and Thommans.de are doing them for about £935.

 

 

 

 

Edited January 3, 2010 by Norfolk DJ

[MintyDave 0]

thanks for that Rob

 

I wont buy online unless desperate. i would travel to a retailer and ask for a demo, somebody who has various options and buy from them. If they have the stuff in stock and are willing to spend the time with me they deserve the trade as opposed to making them do all the hard work for nothing.

 

i was a bit worried about the rcf's being lower powered but i assume the overall output would be the same due to possible better spec and more efficient drivers etc.

 

cheers

Dave

[Norfolk DJ 0]

thanks for that Rob

 

I wont buy online unless desperate. i would travel to a retailer and ask for a demo, somebody who has various options and buy from them. If they have the stuff in stock and are willing to spend the time with me they deserve the trade as opposed to making them do all the hard work for nothing.

 

i was a bit worried about the rcf's being lower powered but i assume the overall output would be the same due to possible better spec and more efficient drivers etc.

 

cheers

Dave

 

I wouldn't worry about the RCF being 50watts less than the mackies. I think the quality is better. I have just bought and RCF 902 AS sub. Fantastic quality, but you pay for it. I would happily buy the RCF's over the Mackies.

 

I managed to ge my local dealer to match th internet price and throw in a couple of XLR leads :Thumbup:

[stoke53 0]

Ive got the LD Systems powered 12" cabs the wooden ones not the plastic ones fitted with B & O amps and they sound very good looking to purchase the subs to go with them now.

 

 

Alan