sound system recommendations

sek [espionage] · Post by **sek [espionage]** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 3:38 pm

Any P.A heads in here?

I thought it would be a good idea to start a thread about optimal PA rigs for Dubstep events.
Seeing as how Dubstep has a pretty grass roots sort of approach to things I'd imagine there are quite a few people out there throwing events with little to no actual knowledge of PA engineering.

Perhaps this thread could be of help to them (and me!)
As a dj and bedroom producer I can say I know a fair bit about music and production there of. But, the world of power conversions, ohm ratings, impedance and amp settings is very alien to me. I'm sure I'm not alone????

What would you guys recommend for a room say.... apx 2400 square foot?

Speakers
How Many?
Type?
Size?
Powered / Un powered?
Wiring configuration (daisy chained? if so, how?)

Amps
How Many?
Type?
Power Rating in reference to Speakers
Amp setting (Bridged, Mono, Stereo = Sound difference for each setting, which is best??)

Other stuff: Cross-overs, Speaker placement, Sound isolation, Acoustic treatment[ etc..

Post up some tips guys!!

mrjiggyfly · Post by **mrjiggyfly** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 5:47 pm

I don't know shit about any of this, so sorry I can't really help,but the most ridiculous system I've ever heard was a Funktion 1 rig at a club in San Francisco.

I think you may need to win the lottery first ,from what I've heard the prices are out there

http://www.funktion-one.com/home.htm

showguns · Post by **showguns** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 6:40 pm

MRJIGGYFLY wrote:I don't know shit about any of this, so sorry I can't really help,but the most ridiculous system I've ever heard was a Funktion 1 rig at a club in San Francisco.

I think you may need to win the lottery first ,from what I've heard the prices are out there

http://www.funktion-one.com/home.htm

yeah man. the funktion one rig i've heard here in la is thunderous.

jeddere · Post by **jeddere** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 9:02 pm

You'll find loads of information on soundsystems over at www.speakerplans.com. The forum there is a pretty good source of knowledge if you do a few searches. Most of the posters run own their own systems or PA companies.

The main types of speaker are horn loaded (Function one systems etc), reflex loaded (with the driver visible at front, like on a hifi) or bandpass (driver usually hidden in the box but with ports not a horn.

Horns are very efficient but you need more of each box to get them to work properly and give the lower frequencies. Reflex boxes are usually designed to play a wider frequency band. As horns are more directional they work much better outdoors than reflex/bandpass speakers. Does really depend on where your using it and what you require though.

Subloaded is in a room about the size you were asking and they have used the Dissident rig twice which sounded excellent

. Theres more stuff on their site, its a roughly 12K horn loaded rig using 4 each of 4 different speaker designs, each playing a different frequency band.

A rough guide used for amp ratings is twice the RMS of the speaker. This allows you to put a sine wave through the speaker of twice its RMS (speaker can handle that). If you look at most dubstep (and other music with big basslines) the music wave is basically a sine wave with the other higher frequencies superimposed. Interestingly, Kingstown has two bass notes making a stagered sine wave - check it out.

Wiring up your amps will depend on what speakers you are powering. You can show the amp different loads (in Ohms) by wiring speakers in parallel/series. Then pick an amp with the required wattage for the speakers at that load, be it bridged or stereo. The wattage will be split up between the speakers.

crazydave · Post by **crazydave** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:25 pm

GRAMPS system @ last month's dubpressure in Brighton = madness...

shonky · Post by **shonky** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:35 pm

Crazydave wrote:GRAMPS system @ last month's dubpressure in Brighton = madness...

He's on here from time to time, diamond geezer, top junglist/basshead, etc.

Without a doubt the finest system devoted to bass I ever heard. Dubpressure was cool as fuck, real heavy and loud, but didn't go away with my ears squealing. Find Gramps on the member list and get in touch, he knows his stuff

kaps · Post by **kaps** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 7:12 pm

anyone have any pics of GRAMPS system? seen him post on speakerplans a bit...

shonky · Post by **shonky** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 7:29 pm

Couldn't find any pics, but I think he also now runs KSL and the rigs made up of Void Looney bins

http://www.proaudioparts.co.uk/looneybin.asp

For which you should believe the claims in the blurb. Best sound I've heard out in many years

chef · Post by **chef** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 5:54 pm

Shonky wrote:
Crazydave wrote:GRAMPS system @ last month's dubpressure in Brighton = madness...
He's on here from time to time, diamond geezer, top junglist/basshead, etc.

Without a doubt the finest system devoted to bass I ever heard. Dubpressure was cool as fuck, real heavy and loud, but didn't go away with my ears squealing. Find Gramps on the member list and get in touch, he knows his stuff

Seen, yeah that system was rocking at the last Dub Pressure, part of the reason im rolling back up there tonight. I love when people are serious bout sound systems.

bedward · Post by **bedward** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 6:09 pm

pictures of looney bins (for sale)
which are subwoofers. u still need at least 2 other sets of spkrs/amps for top, middle, and maybe upper bass, for the full 4-way glory.
most ppl go 3-way but that still compromises efficiency/fidelity.
obviously it's cheaper & involves less setting up, though.
link to bins pics found on this thread here.

sound system recommendations

sound system recommendations

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