i'm planning on going to bigger equipment

[HNW Discos 0]

basically i'm considering getting a bigger pa system. i currently have 1400max 700 rms that's with both amps. now i've been looking at getting bigger kit but don't know wot to get or if it's worth getting it. help please. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/533.gif http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/042.gif

[partychris 0]

When i wanted to go bigger i just got another soundsystem the same so if i need twice the power i take out both sets, but if not just atke out what i have been taking out, also depends on how often you will be using a large sound system?? if its only a couple of times a year, Hire it, will save you money.

 

[DJ Marky Marc 0]

what % of your bookings do you feel you need a biger sound system for and would having a bigger sound system mean you can take on extra work that pays more ?

 

I would like to think that you can never have too much sound, if your willing to carry it about and it all fits into your Van or car there is no reason why you should not treat your self to somthing big....

 

But big can be achived in verious ways, not all of them with out some serious financial input....

 

lets say your average gig has arround 100 people and from your post it looks like you have 2 amps im guessing you are running 2 top cabs and 2 base bins ?

 

this is more than enough for most people and if a bigger gig comes in you can hire...

 

now to the bigger stuff

 

if your taking bookings in places that have over 200 people i would say that a larger sound system would be better as you can always turn it down..........

 

how big will depend on your cash flow and the size of the transport you use...

 

when it comes to deciding what sound system to get make sure you audition a few before you commit your self.

 

just because somthing looks good on paper does not mean it will work well on the road and jsut becuase lets say EV have a good name for them selfs does not mean every speaker in the range is good for your aplication.

 

you can do things in stages but dont buy budget just because you over spent on some other part of the setup. plan it out and test the idea first....

 

Amps are just as important as the speakers them selfs and if you run your amps hard you will find you cause damage to your speakers so allow some head room in the setup as you never want to run a sound system at 100% of possible volume it will sound bad and they wont last long.....

 

if your not already running bass bins then get some, you will be suprised at the diference this makes to your sound system......

 

hope this helps a little and your welcome to come hear my big JBL's

[ChrisPointon 0]

Perhaps you should first explain the reason why you feel that you need to upgrade? if you think that you do?.

 

After all, something is only good value for money, or a bargain when it is Really required, and can totally be justified. Beyond that, it is simply a waste!.

 

(Remember that when the missus next goes shopping http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/smile.gif )

 

Things to consider:-

 

(i) Do you really need an upgrade, or is it just for the sake of getting bored with your existing system

 

(ii) Is your present system coping okay with the venues that you cover currently

 

(iii) Can the purchase really be justified (Be honest with yourself)

 

(iv) Is there anyway of making your existing system more efficient - after all a sound system is only as good as it's weakest link in the chain

 

(v) Wattage and Power isn't everything, being too loud at some family type functions can be just as damaging to your reputation as going out with a 30W Realistic Hi-Fi Amp http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/fear.gif

 

 

 

[cj_65 0]

(Um, well I did originally start out with a hifi amp - but only for kids

parties honest 8)

 

I've been gradually upgrading for a while now. The thing that

prompted me to do it was when I had requests to increase the

volume on two consecutive nights and I was worried about

damaging my amps/speakers in the old set up.

 

After that I kept wondering whether it was loud enough every time

I went out with the system...

 

I agree with what Chris says about weakest links but once I'd bought

a very basic system, I decided to save as long as I could before

upgrading anything so that when I did do it, I'd get something I'd be

happy with for a while.

 

 

[DJ Marky Marc 0]

So ask your self what you want people to see and hear when you are at a gig ?

 

how much space do you have in your car ?

 

whats the biggest gig you are likly to attempt buy your self?

 

whats the budget for a new system ?

 

and then ask here on the forum , every one has there own faves so take a look at how we all aproch our gigs and see what system would suit you best ...

 

[ChrisPointon 0]

QUOTE

The thing that prompted me to do it was when I had requests to increase the volume on two consecutive nights and I was worried about damaging my amps/speakers in the old set up.

 

There are legitimate reasons for upgrading, granted.

 

These include clipping your existing system so hard that it's painful to listen to, and risks damaging your PA. If this happens frequently and you aren't blasting the place out volume-wise then you system can't cope and it is time to upgrade. After all, you can use your old system as a working back up can't you, so it won't be wasted http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/smile.gif .

 

But:-

 

There are DJ's who blast their systems out at full power just because they like it loud and feel that 'clip' means that the amp is working. So whatever system they have will be running full pelt, and simply won't be enough http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/rolleyes.gif . It's a bit like the old 'My XR2i is faster than your XR2i' teens of the late 80's!. I hope that no DJ on here falls into that category, but they do exist and I can almost feel some people nodding in agreement as they read this, because they have witnessed one of these DJ's at work at some point http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/smile.gif

 

If an audience member asks you to turn it up, consider whether it is because:-

 

(i) You really are too quiet, and your system DOES need upgrading

 

(ii) He's slightly deaf

 

(iii) He is sat in the other room

 

(iv) He's just got out of his car which has a 2000W bass system and he's still suffering the hearing shift

 

(v) He's aged about 13, and used to getting his own way at home. Resist the temptation to clip around the ear.

 

Ultimately the only reason you should upgrade is if you agree that its example (i) and your amp clips at almost every function. All of the others are isolated reasons and nothing to do with your system! but more to do with one or two members of your audience and their own Personal listening preferences.

 

After all, you wouldn't alienate 148 members of your audience just to please 2 peopleby playing a totally unsuitable track would you?, so why do the same with the volume level?.

 

If this sort of thing happens at almost every event, and you feel personally that you are too quiet, even at the point that 0db is reached on your Amp's VU meters, then it is time for an upgrade or at least a review of whether you can better your system, and remember that it always seems quiet to us because we are behind the speakers, and being subject to it every week our hearing sensitivity adjusts to suit, so step out into the audience once in a while!.

 

At private functions, people do like to talk, and don't like to be blasted into the next room. People leaving your room because you are TOO loud is the last thing you want, but equally hearing the conversation clearly, word for word of the couple 50 feet away from the disco could also mean that you are TOO quiet!.

 

Ideally when you play at an average Wedding or 21st you should be able to go to the back of the room and make out the lyrics of the song clearly, but also be able to hear the bar staff when they ask for your order, and see people at the back chatting without leaning over the tables shouting to each other. The same applies to the mic, if your mic is garbled at the back of the room then invest in a better one!.

 

Also remember that old people and young children have a more accute and sensitive threshold of pain in response to loud(er) music levels, so compensate by reducing the volume slightly at gigs with the majority of the audience consisting of this age group.

 

Also consider the type and size of venue that you do. Spending £2000 on a new system for a venue which you do once very year is not really an option. Borrowing / Hiring for these makes more commercial sense!. Your gonna look pretty daft taking 4, 1000W speakers which are 6ft high into a Pub which is the size of somebodies living room!.

 

If you do a lot of large venues every few weeks then it does make sense to get your own large PA, but as CJ65 says, if you do save up for a system, then make sure that it is the right one for you, and will last you for years. Otherwise you may as well just waste silly amounts of money.

 

 

[HNW Discos 0]

reason i need to up grade is because i've been asked to do p.a for a community fete. also i'm runnin 4 speaker cabs nd 2 bins.

[DJ Marky Marc 0]

if this is a one off then hire beg and borrow......

[DJ_Ajay 0]

Bigger isn't always better......

[HNW Discos 0]

i've also been told now that their looking to have out door events for children everyother week. nd want me to be there with music nd that as well as organise a battle of the bands sort of competition. no pleasin some people when u say u'll help out for a day.lol na i'll be glad i can make more money then. should be a laugh http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/fear.gif http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/scared.gif

[Dynamicdiscos 0]

I have just invested in a bigger sound system only yesterday. Even with the new kit I will still be running just under 1k but that's more than adequate. The majority of my work is childrens discos so a small sound system and an extravagent lightshow is all I need. But I need that little more to allow me to do slightly bigger venues and maybe marques if the opportunity arrises.

 

I can honestly say that I had never pushed my 120w system to it's limits until I had to played an 18th in a small pubs conservatory. It's amazing how much sound you loose through glass! So it kind of got me thinking.

 

 

[YourBigEvent 0]

Funny how you mention 120w, most oldies on here started with a 100w mono system, except Mikee, who started with a 2.5w dynamo.

[norty303 0]

It's slightly worrying to hear talk of clipping amps to get more power. A small clipping amp is far more damaging than a large amp run within its limits because it causes the signal to get squared off which effectively tries to make the cone stay extended at each end of its travel. This causes the voice coil to heat up and potentially burn out. A good driver should be able to deal with an amp roughly twice its RMS rating without suffering a mechanical failure but your ears are a good guide for when something is amiss. To get more volume you can either add more cabs or get ones with a higher power handling, the downside of more cabs is more space required, the upside of more powerful cabs is they don't take up any more space than the existing ones. Also, volume is as much about perception as anything else. A 300w mid/top cab won't actually be much less noisy than a 500w one but adding a good 1500w sub (or 2 ;) ) will give your system so much more presence and with a good crossover your tops can go a lot louder once they're not trying to produce the bass tones. My top boxes will go roughly half as loud again (before maxing out the amp) once they're not playing anything below 180hz

[YourBigEvent 0]

Doesn't matter how big you are, you always want bigger.

[Kingy 0]

QUOTE (ADS Entertainments @ Feb 14 2005, 09:24 AM)

Doesn't matter how big you are, you always want bigger.

Said the actress to the Bishop............. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[HNW Discos 0]

QUOTE (ADS Entertainments @ Feb 14 2005, 09:24 AM)

Doesn't matter how big you are, you always want bigger.

true true.

well the gigs been nd gone decided to hire in a 1.8kpeavey kit nd liked it so much i haven't given it back.lol. i gave cash instead. £700 cause it's jus been sitting around so i thought i could use it for jobs nd jus turn it down. but heather my buis partner has seen bigger nd she wants it. for £800 and it's 2.5k should be a laugh if she buys it out of her own money nd not the company's.lol.