Kit

[Corabar Entertainment]

There are always plenty of heated debates about kit on here..... and everyone refers to everything as either 'budget' or 'top end', but there doesn't seem to be anyone who considers any makes as 'in between'. I raised this on a thread a little while ago and got zero response, so I thought I would start a thread to see if anyone responded.

Limiting yourself only to makes that are suitable and practical for mobile use (so no makes of lasers costing £10,000 please :) ), what makes do you consider

1. Budget
2. Mid Range, and
3. Top Range

It may be that you have different makes in different brackets depending on which bit of kit you're taking about, so feel free to have sub-categories for different peices of kit - ie, speakers, amps, cd players, mixers, lighting, etc

(I thought that this might also be useful for any new DJs out there who are trying to get a rig together, without having had years of experience of what the different makes are like)

[Thames Valley Discos]

Numark-Budget
KAM- budget
Denon-mid range
JBL-mid range
QSC-mid range
Not sure on top end gear as i never look beyond the above mid range price

[A1DL]

OK Angela... my tuppence worth (by no means an exhaustive list)

Top -
Decks/CD Players: Technics, Denon, Pioneer
Mixers: Formula Sound, Allen & Heath, Cloud, Rane,
Loudspeakers: JBL, EV, Martin Audio
Amplifiers: Crown, QSC, LabGruppen
OB:Klark Teknik, DBX, BSS, XTA
Misc: Shure, Sennheiser, Klotz, Vandamme, Neutrik, Rubber Box
LX - Martin Professional, Pulsar

Mid -
Loudspeakers - JBL, Peavey, Mackie
Mixers/CD Players - Numark, Citronic
LX - Abstract, Martin Professional, NJD


Low End -
Anything by Soundlab, Skytec, Boost, Prosound, Gemini, Behringer, KAM, JB Systems


I've put JBL and Martin Professional into both "top" and "mid" categories as their range is representative of such.

[Paul James Promotions]

Here's a few....

Budget:

Skytec
Soundlab
Gemini
Numark
Prolight / Acme
Peavey Hi-Sys
Zoom / Source
Showtec / DAP

Mid Range:

The better JBL products
Mackie
RCF
HK Lucas
The better Peavey products
NJD Datamoon / Predator
Martin Mania range
QSC RMX

High End:

Nexo PS Range
Void
QSC Powerlight
Crown Macrotech
Allen & Heath
Rane (mixers)
Martin Mac range

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I think you need more catergories here, as some manufacturers could go into 2 different sections.

[Paul James Promotions]

Klark Teknik, DBX, BSS, XTA, LabGruppen



Some good kit there, how I would love a rack of Labs :teeth:

None of those really suitable for DJ work though, more for pro audio hire.

Rubber box are a superb company, just had a big distro from them, cracking service.

[A1DL]

Some good kit there, how I would love a rack of Labs :teeth:

did you see Dave Catlin's pic on the (old) squatjuice site Jamie?
8 racks of FP 6400s, 8 amps per rack

That still gets my first prize for the best rig porn ever :teeth:

[Paul James Promotions]

did you see Dave Catlin's pic on the (old) squatjuice site Jamie?
8 racks of FP 6400s, 8 amps per rack

That still gets my first prize for the best rig porn ever :teeth:

Stop it :cry: :cry: :cry:

:teeth: :teeth:

Here you go....

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

So, how can an NJD Datamoon be in mid range when you can buy them for little over £100 then Jamie?

And yes it is a good effect - I had a couple....

[A1DL]

Rubber box are a superb company, just had a big distro from them, cracking service.

which box no. did you get Jamie?

we've been sourcing quotes this week for a 63a TPNE, probably will go for the flightcased option rather than rubber.

tony

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Mid - Numark, JBL, Abstract, Martin Professional, Peavey, Mackie, Citronic, NJD


:omg: :omg: :omg: :sad:

[Paul James Promotions]

which box no. did you get Jamie?

we've been sourcing quotes this week for a 63a TPNE, probably will go for the flightcased option rather than rubber.

tony

'Off the shelf' item RUB270H1. £595 + VAT

Anyway, back on topic! :teeth:

[A1DL]

:omg: :omg: :omg: :sad:

oops, sorry Daz, to be honest they're bloody good, in fact top kit on the mobile circuit, I guess the politically correct thing would have been not to mention said manufacturer!

have you got some sophisticated internet spider that searches and alerts you anytime someone posts the "M" word anywhere on the web? :teeth: :teeth:

[Paul James Promotions]

So, how can an NJD Datamoon be in mid range when you can buy them for little over £100 then Jamie?

And yes it is a good effect - I had a couple....

Yeah they are good.

Perhaps you would like to put foward your list of opinions? :teeth: :teeth:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I was joking Tony!

I think the trouble is with this thread, is that we need to be a bit more specific with the catergories, 'cos as you said for the mobile circuit, I probably would put them in the top range section.

However, I wouldn't be classing them alongside MA, Funktion1 and Nexo - but then who generaly uses those for 'doing a disco'?

EV, I would put in the top range section, but I heard the SX300s side by side with the Mackie SRM450 and thought the Mackie's were far better sounding - but that's another thread!

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Yeah they are good.

Perhaps you would like to put foward your list of opinions? :teeth: :teeth:

I will later...

Got to go out now.. :)

[Corabar Entertainment]

So, how can an NJD Datamoon be in mid range when you can buy them for little over £100 then Jamie?

And yes it is a good effect - I had a couple....Perhaps 'Budget' should be relabelled? Shall we take price out of the equation? (although I know that a lot believe that price and quality go hand-in-hand, it isn't always the case in life)

..... and I did emphasise that it should be practical for mobile use (ie within the reach of most mobile DJs)

.... and say that you could sub-categorise for different pieces of kit!!!!!!

[Paul James Promotions]

I was joking Tony!

I think the trouble is with this thread, is that we need to be a bit more specific with the catergories, 'cos as you said for the mobile circuit, I probably would put them in the top range section.


Or you could be specific of which product or range you are referring to, as well as the manufacturer, as I have done on a few....

[Paul James Promotions]

Perhaps 'Budget' should be relabelled? Shall we take price out of the equation? (although I know that a lot believe that price and quality go hand-in-hand, it isn't always the case in life)

'Low End' would probrably be better. I have put the Datamoons in the Mid section based upon the product performance, not the cost.

[A1DL]

EV, I would put in the top range section, but I heard the SX300s side by side with the Mackie SRM450 and thought the Mackie's were far better sounding - but that's another thread!

Agreed Daz, the SRM450s produce a much stronger sound than the SX300s without bins

tony :beer:

[A1DL]

Ang, I have categorised my list now, hope that's better:teeth: :lightbulb :beer:

[dj_ags]

I would agree with most of the suggestions made here...apart from one made (no guesses which one :) )

I don't agree with Jamie's suggestion of the Peavey HiSys speakers being classed in the "budget" or "low end" catagory of equipment.

But thats for another thread!

[dj_ags]

So here are some of my suggestions.

Budget:

Skytec
Skytronic
Soundlab
Warrior
Gemini
Citronic
Numark
Behringer
Kam
RCL
Showtec
Chauvet
Pro Sound ( :) )

Mid Range:

Abstract
Prolight
Stanton
Carlsbro
Wharfedale
Crest
Studiomaster
Peavey
NJD
QSC
Mad Lighting

Top End:

Crown
JBL
Bose
Technics
Mackie
Denon
DB Technologies
Pioneer
Martin Audio and Lighting
Dynacord
HK Audio
EV
RCF
Cerwin Vega

There we go, those are my suggestions.

[A1DL]

So here are some of my suggestions.

Budget:

Skytec
Skytronic
Soundlab
Warrior
Gemini
Citronic
Numark
Behringer
Crest - definitely not budget!
Studiomaster - Mid, not Budget
Kam
RCL
Showtec
Chauvet

Mid Range:

Abstract
Prolight
Stanton
JBL - EONs, Mpro & SF/JRX are Mid Range, SR/SRX/SRX700 & VRX 900 definitely top end
Peavey
NJD
QSC
Mad Lighting
Crown - Macrotechs definitely top end

Top End:

Bose
Technics
Mackie
Denon
DB Technologies
Pioneer
Martin
Technics
Dynacord
HK Audio
EV
RCF
Cerwin Vega

There we go, those are my suggestions.


agreed on the whole, apart from exceptions shown in red

[Arnold_disco]

So here are some of my suggestions.

Budget:

Skytec
Skytronic
Soundlab
Warrior
Gemini
Citronic
Numark
Behringer
Kam
RCL
Showtec
Chauvet
Pro Sound ( :) )

Mid Range:

Abstract
Prolight
Stanton
Carlsbro
Wharfedale
Crest
Studiomaster
Peavey
NJD
QSC
Mad Lighting

Top End:

Crown
JBL
Bose
Technics
Mackie
Denon
DB Technologies
Pioneer
Martin Audio and Lighting
Dynacord
HK Audio
EV
RCF
Cerwin Vega

There we go, those are my suggestions.

You would be suprised because prosound use the same drivers as carlsbro.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

You would be suprised because prosound use the same drivers as carlsbro.

Which are still budget...

[Steve 'B']

Agreed Daz, the SRM450s produce a much stronger sound than the SX300s without bins

tony :beer:

100%. Mackies are the nuts.

[Dragonfly]

i love my mackies ...... told the wife they are getting connected to the tv and stereo wen i give up discos.

[flatliners]

budget denon pioneer nexo qsc
mid sound lab skytec sherwood
top fal monos and synergy eclips

[flatliners]

sorry about that post just my joke

[PropellerHeadCase]

I am surprised at the inclusion of Numark in the budget or mid-range as compared to Denon.

Putting Numark on a par with Citronic is laughable - Citronic is undeniably budget.

I used to use Denon (2500F), now I use Numark (CDN88). Apart from a couple of minor usability issues I find the Numarks to be far more reliable, especially with regard to coping with shakes, shudders and knocks.