Poor man’s QSC speakers?

[teletail]

Hey any suggestions for high quality speakers for those of us that can’t afford QSC? Even used they are pricey.

I’m in a trio (guitar, bass , drums), one vocalist, maybe two on occasion, low volume, nothing mic’d, small to medium size rooms.

Budget? $500 to $600 for a pair used. Could go a little higher if necessary. I’m thinking 10’s should be fine.

Thanks!

 

[scelestus]

I like my Yamaha DBRs. They're 12s, but were $400 or $450 each new with a 7 year warranty. The 10s are less expensive.

 

[mfguitar]

You can probably find some Mackie 450s used for around $500 per pair. I used these for many years and still have them in the rehearsal room. They do have a little weight to them We currently use some JBL IRX series for monitors, awesome sound for the money, have plenty of range, and are extremely portable. We have the 8", only 2, and they cut like a knife with a 6-piece pretty loud band.

 

[northernguitar]

Not sure if Yorkville gear ever makes its way down south, but if you see it for a deal price, I will vouch for its reliability. Built rock-solid just outside of Toronto.

 

[tacobender]

We have had great luck with EV powered speakers. I also have QSC 12.2 10.2 and subs and the EVs are no slouch.

 

[clydethecat]

I agree with @scelestus, Yamaha powered speakers are quite good.

Yamaha DBR10 700W 10 inch Powered Speaker

700W Bi-amplified Active Speaker with 10" LF Driver, 1" HF Driver, Onboard Mixer, and DSP (each)

www.sweetwater.com

Maybe you could find some used DBR 12 in your price range? But sometimes it's hard to make the used equipment you want appear on the market on demand...

You could use the DBRs as monitors too, so sometime in the future if you wish to upgrade your mains, the old mains could be repurposed as monitors.

 

[schmee]

I've been quite surprised with the Alto line. I have a pair now for a few years, no issues. I've played two outdoor events where the sound people had them for monitors and they were fine. I helped a person get 4 Alto's for a fancy home theatre and they have been fine also. I think you can get two NEW 15" for that money.

Mackie and JBL are great but $$$$. You can find Mackie powered speakers used at a good price though. But it may take some time. I bought a pair of 15" a couple years ago for $350, sold them the next week for $450 quick sale.

Wish I had kept them as my drummer that had the JBL subs and mains we use for outdoor gigs moved away!

I'm not trusting Yamaha like I used to. I bought their big mixer and the CL D amp failed, so did my buddy's similar 6 channel mixer. My guess is it's a similar CL D amp that's in their powered speakers.

 

[uriah1]

Yamaha and mackies

 

[rand z]

Yamaha, JBL and Electro-Voice all make fine, affordable, speakers.

Used... an even better deal.

BTW, unless you're pumping some serious bass through them, 10's are my pick for acoustic music and/or vocals.

Better clarity and dispersion than 12's.

imo.

 

[RomanS]

Yamaha!

 

[pedro58]

QSC has a cheaper line. I have the CP8, and I like it a lot. I've gigged with it a few times. There is a 12" version that would maybe work better for live venues.

 

[RomanS]

QSC has a cheaper line. I have the CP8, and I like it a lot. I've gigged with it a few times. There is a 12" version that would maybe work better for live venues.

I use a pair of QSC CP8s as monitors for my rockabilly/classic country band. I have used these as FOH speakers for my other, all acoustic, no drums band, and while they do sound great, IMHO they are not loud enough as main speakers if you play rock, with a drummer.
But they do sound great for vocals, just a bit underpowered...

 

[sax4blues]

BTW, unless you're pumping some serious bass through them, 10's are my pick for acoustic music and/or vocals.

Better clarity and dispersion than 12's.

imo.

Big 2nd on 10", I wish I would have converted sooner than I did. Any shows which required more the venue/event supplied the big PA.

 

[KC]

Another vote for the DBR10. I've used mine mainly as monitors behind a pair of low end eon612 JBL 12" speakers out front but I have used the 10" for front-of-house and I think they sounded better than the JBLs. Mine were $680 for the pair brand spanking new, with warranty -- the way people price their stuff on craigslist around here, I don't think you're going to beat that on a used pair.

 

[haggardfan1]

I'll second the Alto vote. I have, among other brands of PA gear, an Alto Live 2404 mixer and a pair of TX8s (at least i think that is the model, I'm at work)for monitors.

All have performed flawlessly for the money, and the monitors weren't expensive at all.

Edit: TX208, sorry.

 

[stephent2]

Yup, the QSC CP series. I have a CP-8, amazing sound, period.

I'd go w/ the CP-12 for out front.