PA Amp Recomendations Please

sax4blues · April 28th, 2008, 04:06 PM

We are putting together a PA for my son’s rock band (2-vocal, 2-guitar, bass, drum). We have a Behringer UB2442FX mixer (please don’t yell at me, I know Behringer is not a favorite here).

I’m looking for recommendation on power amps for 1) good value, 2) power range for main, 3) power range for monitor.

They play small club/hall and rarely outdoors.

Budget is a consideration so not looking for top of the line and we will probably shop for used.

Robin Nahum · April 28th, 2008, 05:43 PM

Yamaha and Peavey are a couple of brands I would consider as they are robust.

Assuming the band is not too loud, I would be looking for around 200-400W per side into 8 ohms for front of house and 100-200W per side for monitors.

I am happy with my Behringer mixers (including a 2442FX) but would not buy their power amps at this stage.

As you start looking at speakers, try to go for something with higher efficiency SPL > 100.

Your other option is to look for powered speakers.

Andy Summers · April 28th, 2008, 05:46 PM

Not sure.

51tele · April 28th, 2008, 06:50 PM

Mackie makes a decent system

Brick · April 28th, 2008, 07:49 PM

Crown Powerbase series amps are showing up used these days. Not too expensive for a solid power amp. Don't chintz on power and your speakers will love you.

marshman · April 28th, 2008, 07:55 PM

I've had a good run with my Carvin rig--I have a bigger one than this, but this should be enough for your needs with a little room for expansion.

https://www.carvinguitars.com/produc...?product=XP880

If I really wanted to gripe, the unit I bought about 8 years ago has undergone serious upgrading, both in features and power, and is actually less expensive.

Apparently still made in the USA, if that sort of thing matters to you.

brandt · April 28th, 2008, 08:26 PM

the guitars and bass have their own amps right? for the cost of a decent new PA you can buy a used or store demo Bose L1 (not the new model). We have it and it works great... best dispersion and plenty of power...

Murphy Slaw · April 28th, 2008, 08:42 PM

Another thumbs up to Carvin.

Their p.a. and bass rigs are very hard to beat.

Robin Nahum · April 28th, 2008, 08:53 PM

If you are very budget-conscious you can run a pair of FOH speakers off one side of a stereo power amp and a pair of monitors off the other.

Make sure though, that each of the cabs is 8 ohms because with two boxes set up in parallel, the amp will see 4 ohms.

Also be aware that this will only give you one monitor mix.

DaBender · April 28th, 2008, 08:55 PM

The Yamaha poweramps are built like tanks, and have handy features such as stereo, parallel & bridge modes, and filters that can be used as an internal crossover. Not dirt cheap, though, and not featherlight.

sax4blues · April 29th, 2008, 02:32 PM

One name I don't see recomended so far is QSC. Their GX line looks appropriate to the amateur. Any thoughts on QSC in general and the GX line in particular?

woodman · April 29th, 2008, 02:45 PM

the Yamahas are worth the money -- full-featured and virtually bulletproof.

Dave_O · April 29th, 2008, 02:52 PM

I use a little Yamaha "brick" type PA head, and a pair of JBL EON15's, which I run off the head. I use the little 8" speakers (100watt RMS each) that came with the PA as monitors. I'm only now getting to the point of buying subs to run under the JBL's. I put kick and sometimes snare through them. And the whole thing fits in my Toyota Tarago minivan with 3 guitars, an AC30 and a bassrig!!!

Tim Armstrong · April 29th, 2008, 03:30 PM

We've played several hundred bar gigs through a Yamaha powered mixer (the box kind) with nary a moment of trouble. It replaced a perfectly nice Mackie mixer feeding a couple power amps (one for mains, one for monitors), and simplified our lives tremendously. Sounds great, easy to use, easy to carry in and out, gets my very highest possible recommendation!

FWIW...

Cheers, Tim

woodman · April 29th, 2008, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Armstrong

We've played several hundred bar gigs through a Yamaha powered mixer (the box kind) with nary a moment of trouble.

same here. plug 'n' play!

anfontan · April 29th, 2008, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marshman

I've had a good run with my Carvin rig--I have a bigger one than this, but this should be enough for your needs with a little room for expansion.

https://www.carvinguitars.com/produc...?product=XP880

If I really wanted to gripe, the unit I bought about 8 years ago has undergone serious upgrading, both in features and power, and is actually less expensive.

Apparently still made in the USA, if that sort of thing matters to you.

I agree that Carvin is a great choice. I have one of the 620 powered heads with 6 channels and 150 watts and it has served me well for about the last 10 years-whether an electric club gig or an acoustic gig with my bluegrass band.

And it has certainly made set up and carrying the PA much less of a chore than the old days.

studio1087 · April 29th, 2008, 08:46 PM

QSC.....they've been bulletproof and priced right forever.

300 watts per channel @ 8 ohms for $299

QSC - GX3 Linky

CDKopf · April 29th, 2008, 11:31 PM

We used a little Fender Passport system. The 180W unit I do believe. They are pricey, but very convenient how they assemble for transport. They are super loud and sound great...

April 28th, 2008, 04:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
sax4blues Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: San Jose, CA Age: 51 Posts: 588	PA Amp Recomendations Please We are putting together a PA for my son’s rock band (2-vocal, 2-guitar, bass, drum). We have a Behringer UB2442FX mixer (please don’t yell at me, I know Behringer is not a favorite here). I’m looking for recommendation on power amps for 1) good value, 2) power range for main, 3) power range for monitor. They play small club/hall and rarely outdoors. Budget is a consideration so not looking for top of the line and we will probably shop for used.

April 28th, 2008, 05:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
Robin Nahum Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia Age: 57 Posts: 1,682 13 Photos	Yamaha and Peavey are a couple of brands I would consider as they are robust. Assuming the band is not too loud, I would be looking for around 200-400W per side into 8 ohms for front of house and 100-200W per side for monitors. I am happy with my Behringer mixers (including a 2442FX) but would not buy their power amps at this stage. As you start looking at speakers, try to go for something with higher efficiency SPL > 100. Your other option is to look for powered speakers. __________________ RN

April 28th, 2008, 06:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
51tele Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: new orleans Posts: 521	Mackie makes a decent system __________________ look at the pictures and laugh at the words

April 28th, 2008, 07:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
marshman Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: SE PA Posts: 879	I've had a good run with my Carvin rig--I have a bigger one than this, but this should be enough for your needs with a little room for expansion. https://www.carvinguitars.com/produc...?product=XP880 If I really wanted to gripe, the unit I bought about 8 years ago has undergone serious upgrading, both in features and power, and is actually less expensive. Apparently still made in the USA, if that sort of thing matters to you. __________________ 42

April 28th, 2008, 08:53 PM	#9 (permalink)
Robin Nahum Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia Age: 57 Posts: 1,682 13 Photos	FOH and Monitors Driven By One Amp If you are very budget-conscious you can run a pair of FOH speakers off one side of a stereo power amp and a pair of monitors off the other. Make sure though, that each of the cabs is 8 ohms because with two boxes set up in parallel, the amp will see 4 ohms. Also be aware that this will only give you one monitor mix. __________________ RN

April 28th, 2008, 05:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
Andy Summers Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: CT Age: 36 Posts: 556	Not sure.

April 28th, 2008, 07:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
Brick Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Jose Age: 58 Posts: 785	Crown Powerbase series amps are showing up used these days. Not too expensive for a solid power amp. Don't chintz on power and your speakers will love you.

April 28th, 2008, 08:26 PM	#7 (permalink)
brandt Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: SF Bay Area Age: 50 Posts: 199	the guitars and bass have their own amps right? for the cost of a decent new PA you can buy a used or store demo Bose L1 (not the new model). We have it and it works great... best dispersion and plenty of power...

April 28th, 2008, 08:42 PM	#8 (permalink)
Murphy Slaw Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Joppa, Il. Age: 50 Posts: 439	Another thumbs up to Carvin. Their p.a. and bass rigs are very hard to beat.

April 28th, 2008, 08:55 PM	#10 (permalink)
DaBender TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Maine Age: 53 Posts: 98	The Yamaha poweramps are built like tanks, and have handy features such as stereo, parallel & bridge modes, and filters that can be used as an internal crossover. Not dirt cheap, though, and not featherlight.

April 29th, 2008, 02:32 PM	#11 (permalink)
sax4blues Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: San Jose, CA Age: 51 Posts: 588	One name I don't see recomended so far is QSC. Their GX line looks appropriate to the amateur. Any thoughts on QSC in general and the GX line in particular?

April 29th, 2008, 02:45 PM	#12 (permalink)
woodman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mint Hill, NC Age: 62 Posts: 5,898	the Yamahas are worth the money -- full-featured and virtually bulletproof. __________________ Truth is stranger than fact ... www.myspace.com/woodymitchellmusic BAND PAGES: www.myspace.com/stragglerswing (Stragglers - Western Swing) www.myspace.com/loafersgloryband (Loafers Glory - '70s country-rock)

April 29th, 2008, 02:52 PM	#13 (permalink)
Dave_O Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 693 6 Photos	I use a little Yamaha "brick" type PA head, and a pair of JBL EON15's, which I run off the head. I use the little 8" speakers (100watt RMS each) that came with the PA as monitors. I'm only now getting to the point of buying subs to run under the JBL's. I put kick and sometimes snare through them. And the whole thing fits in my Toyota Tarago minivan with 3 guitars, an AC30 and a bassrig!!! __________________ The Hammer of the Honky-Tonk Gods www.myspace.com/hardwayband www.myspace.com/mojobros2mantrio http://www.soundclick.com/davemilesandthehardway ... and preface everything I say with IMO,FWIW... and WTF

April 29th, 2008, 03:30 PM	#14 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Berlin, Maryland, USA Age: 49 Posts: 9,552	We've played several hundred bar gigs through a Yamaha powered mixer (the box kind) with nary a moment of trouble. It replaced a perfectly nice Mackie mixer feeding a couple power amps (one for mains, one for monitors), and simplified our lives tremendously. Sounds great, easy to use, easy to carry in and out, gets my very highest possible recommendation! FWIW... Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

April 29th, 2008, 08:46 PM	#17 (permalink)
studio1087 Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Near Milwaukee Age: 44 Posts: 3,961 36 Photos	QSC.....they've been bulletproof and priced right forever. 300 watts per channel @ 8 ohms for $299 QSC - GX3 Linky __________________ JLG Carry On

April 29th, 2008, 11:31 PM	#18 (permalink)
CDKopf Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Spokane, Wa Age: 34 Posts: 368 3 Photos	We used a little Fender Passport system. The 180W unit I do believe. They are pricey, but very convenient how they assemble for transport. They are super loud and sound great... __________________ "We been outta work so long...we had to put together some kinda act just to show the promoters what kinda work we're out of." (Johnny Cash 1958 Hadley's Town Hall Party)