Small Powered Subs

I just got a couple of EV 1 x 12" + Horn PA cabs for my little semi-acoustic band. We'd like to add a single or maybe a pair of subs just to bring out the kick drum a little. Most of what I see are big and have 18" speakers. A 12" or a 10" in the right cabinet would work fine for us. It doesn't have to pump low end like a car stereo. Just a little reinforcement of the low end. Any suggestions?

I would consider non-powered speakers as well, but I'm trying to keep it simple.

I'm using a Yamaha 15 in. powered sub 800 watts which works pretty well. Not super heavy but still a bit to lug. I have had some issues with it over the years ( a few shorts from vibration I guess ) but still not a bad speaker. I think they make a 12 in which an old drummer of mine uses in his practice space and live some times which might be a better choice for you. Hey Paul, can I send you a PM?

Sure, send me a PM.

I use a JBL sub in my jam room.
I used to use it with a midi rig & do a single but I got to hate doing a single and fall out of love with midi.
If you weren't so far away I would try & sell it to you but shipping would kill that deal. :cry:
http://www.jblpro.com/catalog/general/Product.aspx?PId=96&MId=3
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/215042-REG/JBL_EONSUB_G2_EON_Sub_G2_Powered.html
http://www.audiomaster.cz/download/techpodpora/jbl/j033m.pdf

JJ

Just a thought but are you sure you need one? We manage fine in our rock and roll band without one, and our bass drum is very quiet on its own so we do use the PA quite a bit for it. With careful EQing at the desk we manage fine.

It depends on the size of venues you are playing I suppose, but for a semi-acoustic band you may be OK as you are...have you spent a lot of time out front at gigs checking the sound out?

I rarely see bands that have too little gear and are too quiet...I often see bands that are too loud and have more gear than they need!

Just a thought but are you sure you need one? We manage fine in our rock and roll band without one, and our bass drum is very quiet on its own so we do use the PA quite a bit for it. With careful EQing at the desk we manage fine.

It depends on the size of venues you are playing I suppose, but for a semi-acoustic band you may be OK as you are...have you spent a lot of time out front at gigs checking the sound out?

I rarely see bands that have too little gear and are too quiet...I often see bands that are too loud and have more gear than they need!

I agree. We stopped using our sub about a year ago. It was one more thing to haul and set up. Haven't missed it for a minute!

I'd like to have a pair for when I'm doing sound for other bands, but I think for the most part, our group could live without them. The bass player thinks they'd be an asset. Our drummer has a real light touch. Not a bad problem to have!

You might want to consider just going to slightly larger PA cabs, and not using subs...say 15/horns. Trade in the 12's for 15's, you'll find a big advantage in sound when it comes to bottom end and I doubt you'd need subs, except large venues.

the smaller 12" powered subs just don't have it IMO.

The JBL PRX 18" powered sub is the real deal. I checked out the PRX line of powered speakers. A full PA setup with 4 PRX 18" subs,4 PRX615 tops and 4 PRX612M monitors. All powered in a live setting with full band. In a private show for Crown/Harman employees. i used the new Soundcraft SI compact digital console too.

If you want to really step up the 15" powered VRX sub rocks,that the only 15" sub that sound legit to me. All others are a compromise,they only do DJ compressed music well in a small medium room.

We only use a pair of 10`s , only on big gigs do we borrow a sub , generally a RCF 15 active. works fine. Not a fan of 15`s as a main pa , as I think the vocals suffer through such a big speaker. 10`s seem to chuck the vocals out more. Just add the sub when needed, on all our youtube videos there is no subs

We only use a pair of 10`s , only on big gigs do we borrow a sub , generally a RCF 15 active. works fine. Not a fan of 15`s as a main pa , as I think the vocals suffer through such a big speaker. 10`s seem to chuck the vocals out more. Just add the sub when needed, on all our youtube videos there is no subs

That is why you use the aux sub setup. Look for my tutorial on running a sub on and aux send. Search my profile for thread I started. Running is on an aux will allows you to send only what you want to the subs(bass guitar,kick drum,maybe some synth or keys) is keeps the guitars and vocals clear and just in the tops.

I sold off the 15" three ways. If I can't get them on a speaker stand by myself, I don't want them. Not to mention real estate in the van. We really don't need much low end, but it would be nice to just give it a little oumph. Before we got the EV's we were playing with a single powered RCF 12" cab on a stand behind the drummer with no monitors. Having the EV's allows us to have two mains and up to four monitors. We want to aquire a reputation for NOT being loud.

We're mixing from the stage with no snake. I can't imagine playing anyplace that requires more that isn't providing their own rig and soundperson. I do have a 24 channel board and snake for larger shows or hiring out.

Thanks for the reviews, JCSouthpawtele!

http://www.chinatoytrade.com/Upload/Product/arkmodel/20094215227624962.jpghttp://www.hawaiitravelbureau.com/mauitours/sub3.jpg
http://www.chinatoytrade.com/Upload/Product/arkmodel/2009421535908955.jpghttp://www.chinatoytrade.com/Upload/Product/arkmodel/20094215319037697.jpg

Funny, this is was my first thought when I saw the thread title.

http://www.chinatoytrade.com/Upload/Product/arkmodel/20094215227624962.jpghttp://www.hawaiitravelbureau.com/mauitours/sub3.jpg
http://www.chinatoytrade.com/Upload/Product/arkmodel/2009421535908955.jpghttp://www.chinatoytrade.com/Upload/Product/arkmodel/20094215319037697.jpg

I just bought pair of JBL PRX 618s- xlf's they sound great. Along with the Eon G2 tops we have decent small/ mid size sounding PA.

We were using a pair of Yorkville LS200P's. They have a 10" speaker and they're small enough to still fit in most vehicles. The sound is... OK. The bass frequencies are there, but they're not very 'focused'.

There's a lot of good gear out now that's small, light weight, and pretty powerful. JBL. QSC, and the new Yamaha DSR series has gotten good reviews.

http://www.chinatoytrade.com/Upload/Product/arkmodel/20094215227624962.jpghttp://www.hawaiitravelbureau.com/mauitours/sub3.jpg
http://www.chinatoytrade.com/Upload/Product/arkmodel/2009421535908955.jpghttp://www.chinatoytrade.com/Upload/Product/arkmodel/20094215319037697.jpg

Can you fire torpedos and stuff? Very cool! I just don't play enough pool parties.

That is why you use the aux sub setup. Look for my tutorial on running a sub on and aux send. Search my profile for thread I started. Running is on an aux will allows you to send only what you want to the subs(bass guitar,kick drum,maybe some synth or keys) is keeps the guitars and vocals clear and just in the tops.

I think you misunderstood me, I know how to use a sub:wink:
Its I just don`t like using a pair of 15"`s with horns as main speakers for PA.
By using smaller speakers on top , I think you get a faster tighter response on vocals. when you are playing a much louder gig then add sub in to help push bottom end like the drums and bass.

I just got a couple of EV 1 x 12" + Horn PA cabs for my little semi-acoustic band. We'd like to add a single or maybe a pair of subs just to bring out the kick drum a little. Most of what I see are big and have 18" speakers. A 12" or a 10" in the right cabinet would work fine for us. It doesn't have to pump low end like a car stereo. Just a little reinforcement of the low end. Any suggestions?

I would consider non-powered speakers as well, but I'm trying to keep it simple.

I have a pair of the EV 12" powered subs I'd like to be rid of. My memory says they are model Sb120a. They are not really worth much. If they'd do OK for you I can pack and ship them. I'm in Ohio. They are relatively light, and I seem to remember them being 300-watt.

I think you misunderstood me, I know how to use a sub:wink:
Its I just don`t like using a pair of 15"`s with horns as main speakers for PA.
By using smaller speakers on top , I think you get a faster tighter response on vocals. when you are playing a much louder gig then add sub in to help push bottom end like the drums and bass.

Yes,I see what you meant. I personally like a 12" or a 2-12" top PA cab compared to a 15" top or 2-15"top PA cab. To me they have sweeter guitar and vocal tones. A 15" top and its low mids tend to muddy things up when not crossed over correctly.

I just got a couple of EV 1 x 12" + Horn PA cabs for my little semi-acoustic band. We'd like to add a single or maybe a pair of subs just to bring out the kick drum a little. Most of what I see are big and have 18" speakers. A 12" or a 10" in the right cabinet would work fine for us. It doesn't have to pump low end like a car stereo. Just a little reinforcement of the low end. Any suggestions?

I would consider non-powered speakers as well, but I'm trying to keep it simple.

Paul,

My limited experience with EV products tells me they are top notch products. I would spend a little time tweaking the EQ on the bass drum to see if you can bring out the sound you want to hear.

If that doesn't work, then maybe add a single 15" sub to the system. Powered may be the way to go for you, but I don't know for sure.

What works for me:

Mackie older PPM 408M powered mixer. 250 watts @ 2 ohms/180 watts @ 4 ohms. 2 amps, so we power Mains & Mons with the mixer; seperate 9 band EQs for each amp.

Mains: 2 Peavey PR15 speakers up on tri-pods. At 4 ohms = 180 watts FOH. We play small to medium size private clubs (Moose, Eagles, VFW, etc). As long as you're not trying to sound like a LOUD DJ, you can add kick drum/bass guitar and these handle it fine.

For the larger clubs we play, we add a Peavey PV118 sub to the mains. The sub has a built in cross-over so I run from the Mackie to the sub, then chain out to the PR15s. No added amp, this load comes close to the 250 watts the amp puts out. But I'm not any louder than before, just adding the sub for a little more "thump" in the mix from the kick drum. The sub only handles from 40 to 125 Hz, so the only part of the EQ that gets adjusted are the first 2 sliders (63 & 125 Hz). This adds more low end without being any louder.

Monitors: The 2nd amp from the Mackie powers 4-Yamaha BR12m 12" monitors. 250 watts for monitors. Also 9 band EQ for these. The Yamahas are a great sounding 12" monitor with a small footprint.

FWIW, Peavey also makes a PR-Sub, which is the PR15 without the HF horn installed. I'm still thinking of adding a set of these to our system and doing away with the PV118. The previous band I played in used a set of PR-Subs with a set of PR15s and it sounded great to me, very well balanced. But the band leader wanted more low end from 18's, so he sold the Peaveys and went with powered speakers/sub instead. :sad:

Just my 2 cents, and this works very well for my 4 piece band which plays a wide variety of music/styles. Hope some of this helped. :lol: