How high should my FOH speakers be placed? Subs?
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Posted on Aug 04, 2010 03:09 pm
PunkRockMike
Member Since: Jul 24, 2008
I do live sound outdoors and have tried placing the speakers lower that head hight and over head hight. I wasn't happy with either. Also, I am looking to add 2 subs to the mix. Any thoughts on how many watts would be good. Again it's outdoors and a crowd of 300-500. My FOH speakers are 500 watts max 1,000, that might help. Thanks
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Aug 04, 2010 04:07 pm Hey, what's going on dude? Haven't seen you around here in a while.
Remember, that wattage doesn't tell me anything. I need to know what the SPL is of your box. Still, you want your top boxes to be above the peoples heads. High end is very easily deflected, and or absorbed by human bodies. You want to be able to get the throw out of them. So, the higher, the better.
For subs that are going to be doing an outdoor show, your more then likely to need horn loaded bass bins. This will give the bass a longer throw. Front loaded bass bins (that don't cost an arm and a leg) tend to be more for night clubs. Something that is not that far of a throw.
The only ones that I can think of off the top of my head, would be something like the EAW SB1000's, or the Turbosound TSW721's. But, both of these start around $5k per box. I don't think that is the price that your looking for. I'll have to do some research on line, and see what I come up with. I'm just at work now, and I won't get a chance until around 8pm tonight.
Aug 04, 2010 09:54 pm Well......... I wasn't able to find an affordable horn loaded sub. But, I was able to find subs that I have used before in the past that work well. And sound very good.
www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MRX528S/
Aug 05, 2010 02:26 pm Wow, that's awesome that you remembered me. I haven't been on in a long while. Things are good, just began another summer doing live sound again. I'm trying to get my boss to upgrade our setup with subs this year and maybe a new board.
So higher is better, thanks for that. As far as the SPL of my box I don't know it. I am using the Yamaha Club Series SV115 (not 100% on the model #), maybe that helps? I like the JBLs you linked me to, I looked into those, but it was just too much money for us right now. It's hard because it seems like you get what you pay for and buying a sub for like $400 and only getting 300 watts seems like a waste.
What do you think of the PV Series PV118 sub? It's 400 watts and seems to be more in our budget.
Aug 05, 2010 08:03 pm PV are OK. I won't bad mouth them. One of the greatest things about PV is the fact that it doesn't cost an arm and a leg to repair the drivers.
Just for an outdoor show, I would suggest a double 18. The single may not give you the oomph that your looking for.
Aug 06, 2010 11:17 am Right on, thanks. Maybe we'll rent a pair first before making a purchase.
