Recommendations for Pro Main Speakers to Use with Powered Mixer
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Posted on Sep 05, 2010 05:55 pm
lee9786
Member Since: Sep 05, 2010
Hello I'm looking to get some input into purchasing main speakers to my yamaha EMX-5000 powered mixer. Here's the manual
www.mmproductions.co.uk/R...x5000-12man.pdf . I'm looking to hook up the system with a standard "two-channel connection." So basically plugging each main speaker to its respective output. From what I've gathered, 8 ohm speakers would be preferred for this settup to get the maximum output out of my amplifiers.
The powered mixer consists of two 500watt internal amplifiers. Does anyone have any recommendations for main speakers? My band does utilize an electronic drumset so some low end is needed. One set of speakers I was looking at was the Wharfedale Pro LIX-C15. They sounded pretty good when hooked up.
Here's the link
www.ebdj.com/xcart/Wharfedale-Pro-LIX-C15.html
The ratings on the Wharfedale Speakers were
300 Watts Continuous
600 Watt Program
1200 Watt Peak
I've read on here that "continuous" and "program" mean the same thing so why there are two different ratings for the same thing is confusing. Since my powered mixer's peak is at 500watts it seems to me that speakers with a peak of 1200Watts could be unnecessary. Maybe I could find a better set of speakers for this system. I'm also looking to find a speaker I can move by myself. I had a tough time moving around the Wharfedale speakers. Any info is greatly appreciated.
Mike
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Sep 05, 2010 08:59 pm Hey Mike.
Yeah...... Manufactures have yet again confused and changed the ratings. What they have done now, is to make the continuous rating an "A" weighted rating. Program a "C" weighted rating. And peak stayed the same.
What this translates into is "A" is speech, and "C" is music. It was always bad enough that they had used several different words to mean the same thing before in the past. Now they trying to confuse the public even more by giving a third rating!
JERKS!!
The thing to look at is the "C" weighted rating. Program. This is the RMS value. And is reflecting real world conditions that your speaker will be used in.
You stated that your mixer is outputing 500 watts @ 8 ohms. And your program rating is 600 watts. To me, this is what I want to have. I always want just a touch more then what the power amp is producing. This avoids distortion, and also square waving.
If you are happy with the sound that the speakers are giving you, then your golden. If not, then I can suggest other manufactures to look at if you wish.
Sep 06, 2010 07:19 am Thanks Rob! The Wharfedales sounded pretty good. The thing with them though, they were definitely a two man operation moving them around. Now that might be unavoidable for what I'm looking for in speakers, but ideally if I could set up solo that would be perfect. Any other suggestions would be great.
Thanks for all the help.
Mike
Sep 07, 2010 05:11 pm Hey Mike and Rob,
If I read the manual right, the 500 watt rating is at 4 ohms. At 8 ohms it looks like it is 325 watts. I think that would impact which speakers fit in the sweet spot.
Sep 07, 2010 08:56 pm No, your right Solid. I didn't even look over the manual. So, we need to look at either 4 ohm speakers, or 2 8 ohm speakers per side that are 250 watt ratings.
Good catch!
Sep 09, 2010 10:45 am Thanks for the catch on the 4 ohm rating. Because mostly of weight issues but also versatility with the settup, I've been playing with the idea of getting four 250 watt 8-ohm speakers/floor monitors. If I did this though, I'd be looking to get only two right now and then the other two later. I'd daisy chain the two speakers to one of the 500 watt internal amps. I currently have a powered monitor so I could just use this for the time being for my monitor. At a later stage I could purchase two more of these speakers and use them as either mains or monitors depending on the gig. The big question is if I did this would it damage the amplifier in any way if a speaker is not plugged into it? I guess it would depend on the setting on the mixer. If I have it set on the Aux1/mono setting I guess It'd be fine according to the manual.
I did find a couple
www.seismicaudiospeakers....-p/sa-15m.3.htm
This one looks like it meets the specs and for $219 for a pair it seems a lot less expensive than other options. I just wonder if you get what you pay for here.
I compare that one to this one
www.google.com/products/c...0CAcQ8wIwADgA#p
It's ~$400 for one. Almost four times the price of the Seismic. I'm sure the yamaha is a lot better, but I wonder if it's that much better.
Sep 09, 2010 01:47 pm Here's a seismic main/monitor speaker that seems to get good reviews at least from one guy
www.seismicaudiospeakers....s-p/sa-12mx.htm
Here's a youtube video of him breaking it down. I guess Seismic has a reputation for being junk. This guy likes them though.
He even does an equalizing test
I wonder if 12" would be big enough for what I'm doing or if I should be looking at the 15" which is $20 more expensive.
www.seismicaudiospeakers....h-p/sa-15mx.htm
I do need some bottom end for my kick pedal. The 15" has a 350 RMS and 700 peak as opposed to the 12" which has 250RMS and a 500 peak. Would the a 350RMS/700peak be needed though if I'm daisy chaining this since the max the amp could put through it would be 250watts?
Sep 09, 2010 11:58 pm For your first question, your fine to leave them unpluged. You won't hurt anything that way.
And I do agree with you on the 15" speakers. A 15" will be able to get a deep low end with a 15 then you would a 12".
@ 350 rms, means that the speakers can absorb 700 watts of energy. And 1400 peak. It's a little higher then what your amp is kicking out. You can run this. You just have to keep an eye on things to make sure that your not clipping anything. Quick little bursts of Red is fine. Solid Red is not.
And remember, it's going to be the low end that will cause things to clip more then high end will.
