HK LUCAS 1000

[Dale King 0]

Downsizing. - see main post.

 

Gone:

2x Behringer Bass Bins (15")

2x Behringer 12" Monitors (I used as full range cabs)

2x Behringer Mid High Cabs (10" and 1" compression driver)

2x Studiomaster 700D amps

and a back up amp, that's gone too.

 

All the above very very good equipment. Can't fault it at all.

Apart for the size and the weight.

 

So, after much prompting from my brother, Kingy, who has used HK stuff for quite a while, I decide to go active and small.

 

Enter the HK Lightweight, Ultra Compact Active System. (LUCAS)

You get a bass bin (15" - just the one) and 2 satellites (8" with a 3/4" compression driver). Being active, the bin also contains 3 amplifiers, a 600W for the bin, and 2x150W for the tops.

 

A bin with 3 amps?? HEAVY!!!! - So you would think, but no. The bin is about the same weight as one of my old Behringer bins. (Book says 94lb - I won't argue)And it's on wheels, so you don't have to carry it far usually! The two sattelites sit on top of the bin, so 1 journey and you are in. And in there lies the best thing about it.... The size... The bin is 30'x18x22... A lot smaller than most bins, and it's got the amps inside too!!!

 

The sound quality is superb, as you would expect from HK (and for the money!!).

And there are so many nice touches. XLR or jack input, nice 3 colour LEDs show you the system status, a circuit breaker instead of a fuse... There's lots of filters and limiters in there too, too techincal for me, all I know is it sounds excellant!!!

 

I was AMAZED at the power the system has for the size, my regular venue has a sound limiter and I was turning it down all night long, but with real quality sound.

And a 5 year guarantee if you register the product.

 

DOWNSIDE:

Well there are a few points.

1) £1700 (Most expensive thing I have ever bought for the disco)

2) Very easily damaged paintwork (I have had to buy the padded jackets for it)

3) 1 piece of equipment to fail - unlikely, but possible.

4) One bin takes some getting used to. (I like my show to be symetrical.. and 1 bin looks strange - to me anyway)

 

So anyway, all in all, I love it. Wish I'd gone for the smaller 600 system now, which would have been plenty and saved me a couple of hundred quid, but the 1000 is superb. (The 600 system is even smaller physically too - it's TINY.)

 

Anyway, sure this will open the Active vs Passive debate again, but all in all, modern technology is so reliable, I've taken the plunge, and the LUCAS really is the way to go for small discos.

 

Overall Rating: 9.9 out of 10 (Can't give it 10, or I'd sound like a HK advert)

 

[Hugmaster 0]

Hi

 

Before I bought my mackie 450's, I seriously looked at the Lucas 1000 system.

 

However, hearing it in the showroom isn't like hearing it where it's meant to be heard and I'd heard one or two people say that it's a little under powered when pushed hard.

 

Wow, who charged you £1700.00? when I was doing my looking around I was quoted £1200.00

 

That's why it was such a close run thing between the Lucas and the Mackie systems.

 

There is now a Lucas 2000, lol, however this wold make 2 journeys so not really worth it as I could put wheels on my current base bins and balance the mackies on top and wheel the lot in, lol

 

Glad you're pleased with the system though.

 

Darren

[maccasghost 0]

http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/thumbup.gif yo dude good choice, i have been using the lucas for the last 3 years and have nothing but praise for it. like the advert says it is (lightweight ultra compact audio system) i would recomend it to anyone the size and the sound is amazing.when you set up there is only 5 leads to plug in and the sound is always great.no controls for little fingers to play with, don't be put off by size give it a try. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/cool.gif

[Kingy 0]

Just to add another tuppence to the equation, as Dale (likkle bruvver) says, I have been using HK for a while now. A fortnight ago I went through a Mackie Active system whilst working with a band I know very well ( short of set up space) and I was genuinely dissapointed by the mackie bottom end. the system was very loud, but very middy. I did not like the sound one bit. Shame really because I like the SRM 450 (?) mackie cab.

 

I checked and there was no in line eq by the way!

 

I have two elias systems and an actor rig, all active and I love them!

[DJ Marky Marc 0]

I just cant understand how you guys are getting away with doing gigs with such a small sound system ?

 

I listend to a lucas system in a pub and I thought it sounded rubbish!

 

this is not a pop at your setups just a confused DJ who would like to know more !

[Kingy 0]

QUOTE (DJ Marky Marc @ Sep 27 2004, 01:20 PM)

I just cant understand how you guys are getting away with doing gigs with such a small sound system ? I listend to a lucas system in a pub and I thought it sounded rubbish! this is not a pop at your setups just a confused DJ who would like to know more !

Just out of interest, what are you using? http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/533.gif

 

Its all a personal taste thing really......... http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/whistling.gif

[DJ Marky Marc 0]

im using 2 x JBL M Pro M225 top cabs and 2 x JBL M255s sub bins !

[scotty 0]

Now im confused I wanted the Mackies but the HK Audio seems to be getting good reviews from a few of you - I think I will have to hire each of them out before I spend all my hard earned cash !!! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/wacko.gif

Edited September 27, 2004 by scotty

[Hugmaster 0]

Hi

 

I can't really comment as I've only heard the Lucas 1000 system in a showroom, less than ideal.

There's no doubt the Lucas system has a fantastic base sound, What I like to call "black man's base" I'm sure the more sensible among you will know what I mean and that I'm not being in any way racist.

 

the problem with judging a sound system at a venue is that a system will only ever sound as good as the DJ using it. meaning, if a DJ has not got a clue about how to get the best out of a system, he/she could have a best one on the market and it would still sound crap.

 

With a little judicious EQ, the mackie's sound very very good, with a base bin or two added they sound bloody fantastic.

 

We get nothing but praise regarding our sound system, which is always nice to hear, but when it comes from fellow professionals, that's just damn good ego massage http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif

 

Once you pay over a certain price for a system, and you know a little about sound, most systems will sound pretty good, then it comes down to personal preferences.

 

Darren

[Kingy 0]

QUOTE (DJ Marky Marc @ Sep 27 2004, 05:27 PM)

im using 2 x JBL M Pro M225 top cabs and 2 x JBL M255s sub bins !

Ah! You see, it is personal taste then, I find them very harsh on the top end and far too heavy. I also used to have a lot of blown diapragm problems with the series when I used to sell and repair JBLs.

 

All down to personal taste!

[DJ Marky Marc 0]

QUOTE

1) £1700 (Most expensive thing I have ever bought for the disco)

 

HK lucas system is listed at £849 inc VAT on more than one web site ? are we all talking about the same thing ?

 

is this what your on about HK system

 

because I cant see this being big enough for anything more than a small house party !

[DJshaggy 0]

Slightly Different system from what i can tell we are talking about this one

 

Here

 

I think its more than powerful enough for most function rooms and I am too of the gang bigger is often better.

 

These systems always suprise me with their power though! i recently got a pair of 200 watt powered cabs for a gift and they dont half pack some punch!

[Kingy 0]

Dale has the Lucas 1000 system. On the surface it may look small, however, dont let looks put you off!! This beast bites!!!

 

I myself have two ELIAS systems and an ACTOR system.

 

Each ELIAS consists of a pair of 15" Bass bins and a pair of 8"+ horn. The bin carries three amplifiers per cab, ie 1x300watts for the bass 15", a 150w for the top and a spare 150w amp for either a monitor or additional cab. Interestingly the top cabs are 8 ohm each but the amps are all rated into 4 ohms, enabling me to double up on BOTH tops, giving a combination of a pair of fifteens and potentially 4x top cabs per side. (Confusing eh?) The clever part is that all crossovers and limiters are contained within the bass bin, therefore offering optimum compatibility.

 

The ACTOR has an amplifier per cab. The system consists of four 1x15" bass bins and two bi amped 1x12"+horn. This system again has on board processing and I dont usually use these for Disco, they are for bands. I often put a ten piece soul/disco (EW&F type) band through them, they sound excellent, I really like them and get lots of posative comments.

 

If I combine the lot, boy does it go some!! Considering I only do golf clubs, hotels and the such like, playing very much "Middle of the road" type music, I think I would struggle to find better, pound for pound!

 

Prices are all over the place, depends where you go. As an ex-trader, I am very fortunate that I still get trade prices from my many contacts within the trade. Problem with HK stuff is it has to come through a distributor in this country, so they make their profit on it too, where as some of the web sites will import it independantly so can cut the costs involved.

 

That aside, I love it!

[DJ Marky Marc 0]

Ok well its the small version I have heard and i thought it sucked , next time one of you lot is in the south/london area ill pop in and have a listen to the bigger version....

[dj007 0]

the hk lucas 1000 is a very nice set up for £1,200ish

when i heard it i was amazed at the low bass and even more amazed at the150w 8" tops

they are so small but kick some serious sound out.

if you use a car to transport your gear about you may have trouble where to put the sub unless youve got a hachback. and at 135.3lbs its quite heave.

thats sadly the main reason i didnt get one.