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Question about small soundsystems?

Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:12 am
by coleco
Hey if I could ask a question please who might be knowlage of this stuff coz im an absolute beginner.

I have access to 4 x 300WATT speakers. I can use 2 or 4. I dont know exactly what they are but I think they're full frequency, ie top mid and bass speakers on them? Ok. So basically, I also want a solid subs, I might be able to get access to some. But I'm not sure what will wipe out the hi end? How much sub can I add before compromising the hi end alot?

ITs gonna be playing in a smallish hall. Basically the staff say we can play as loud as we want, aslong as the bar staff can hear the customers. But I think pretty much playing stuff like dubstep isnt too bad, because its mostly bass, and you can sorta still hear eachother, even with a massive solid bass, which is one of the most important aspects for me.

What should I do?

Thanks to anyone who can help :D

Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:39 am
by breakbait
300k :o

Re: Question about small soundsystems?

Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:46 am
by 4linehaiku
lol. Didn't even notice that.
Coleco wrote:ITs gonna be playing in a smallish hall.
Some serious pressure in there I reckon!

Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 1:25 am
by dom
we have a 19k rig at dubpressure and that makes your eyes shake. 300k :o

Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 1:45 am
by fubar
yea I reckon you mite be getting confused there 300k is ridiculously huge.

Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 2:37 am
by grey son
BreakBait wrote:300k :o
DOUBLE :o :o

Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 3:38 am
by hate recordings
i think he meant 300w

Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 1:38 pm
by the wiggle baron
YA CHEST

Or just ya EARS. Depending on if that was meant to be a K or a W :lol:

Re: Question about small soundsystems?

Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 1:41 pm
by LEQ
Coleco wrote:Hey if I could ask a question please who might be knowlage of this stuff coz im an absolute beginner.

I have access to 4 x 300k speakers. I can use 2 or 4. I dont know exactly what they are but I think they're full frequency, ie top mid and bass speakers on them? Ok. So basically, I also want a solid subs, I might be able to get access to some. But I'm not sure what will wipe out the hi end? How much sub can I add before compromising the hi end alot?

ITs gonna be playing in a smallish hall. Basically the staff say we can play as loud as we want, aslong as the bar staff can hear the customers. But I think pretty much playing stuff like dubstep isnt too bad, because its mostly bass, and you can sorta still hear eachother, even with a massive solid bass, which is one of the most important aspects for me.

What should I do?

Thanks to anyone who can help :D
The Bar staff won't have any ears left after hearing Loefah through a 300k rig...haha.

Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 1:45 pm
by breakbait
i was only jokin lol, thought it would be obvious. the valve system is like 100k? i've only heard half of it but it was HENCH.

Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 1:50 pm
by LEQ
Haha, pretty funny though. Never head the Valve rig, wouldn't mind though.

Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:03 pm
by coleco
Sorry! Yeah I didnt mean 300k lol, I wish. I meant 300watts

So, say I use 2x300w speakers, how much sub extention can i add without compromising the hi end alot?

Any ideas guys?

Thanks :D

Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 7:05 pm
by nattyphysicist
ok, so you're running 2 amps? I'd turn up the subs first and then the full range. That way you get the bass level you want. Also, the level of the full range speakers will determine how easy it is to talk in the room, being that talking is mostly mids. Go big for the subs to avoid any dissapointment. You can always turn them down if the ceiling is giving way. Mids and highs do not require alot of power to be very loud. So a 300W full range will be louder than a 300W sub. If you can cut the bass out of the full range, you may get a cleaner result.

I'd be interested to hear what other soundsystem operators have to say about this.

Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 4:48 am
by the wiggle baron
Are you sure 2 x 300w is going to be enough, even for a small room to play dubstep on? 0.o

I played dubstep on what was (apparently) a 10k rig a few weeks back, and punisher VIP nearly tore the damn things apart, really didnt sound right. Mind you, i was the other side of the speakers with headphones on so i cant be sure how loud it was, but it DEFINATELY didnt sound healthy (turned it down sharpish)

They were pretty poor "all frequency" speakers though, much more designed for your drum and bass than your dubstep i think.

I dunno. Its 5 am, im rambling, and possibly drunk.

Have a great evening!

Image

Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 10:01 am
by jeddere
Agree with nattyphysicist, your tops will sound better and be more efficient if you use a crossover to only send them the mid/top freqs.

As a rough guide I use 2 kW RMS "bass" with 500 W RMS mid/top for Dubstep etc.
I would only consider it big enough for a small room/bar for Dubstep though.

Depends alot on the room your using and make sure you get bass bins that play well in the 40 to 50 Hz region, ie. have a -3 dB cutoff around 40 Hz

Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 4:16 pm
by coleco
The Wiggle Baron wrote:Are you sure 2 x 300w is going to be enough, even for a small room to play dubstep on? 0.o
Well I have access to either 2 or 4, I just didnt know weither 4 was going to be an overhaul. Its only a small hall so... also I'm a newbie when it comes to this ;) I'll probearbly use 4 in that case then. So I'll definatly need a crossover.

I've started to arrange some subs with someone else and they said "2 of our 'punishers' will be enough' maybe to use with 4 of the other 300w ones?

Thanks for all the help so far.

Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 4:43 pm
by nattyphysicist
I don't see the problem in getting more than you need, as long as you balance the sound when you set it all up. You can always turn it down if it's to much.

Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 4:47 pm
by coleco
nattyphysicist wrote:I don't see the problem in getting more than you need, as long as you balance the sound when you set it all up. You can always turn it down if it's to much.
yeah someone else said this, and you're right.

Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 8:16 pm
by lycaon_prod
Dom wrote:we have a 19k rig at dubpressure and that makes your eyes shake.
yeh man. all about the eye wobbles. only ever heard one rig with enough pressure to get em movin, but it's now my benchmark for bass...
respect for rinsin it like that!

Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 9:59 am
by jeddere
Let us know how it goes,

I've heard 4 punishers before but would't mind hearing how you get on with 2.