Urgent Speaker Help Needed - Alto TS115A vs W Audio DSR15A vs Proel V15A

[Casual77]

Hi all,

I'm in need of some urgent advice. I'm going to buying a pair of 15" active speakers in the next few days and need some advice on which way to go.

If I make a purchase by 9pm today I can get either:

A pair of Alto TS115As with matching covers for £447
or
A pair of W Audio DSR15As with matching covers for £433

These both come with a 12 month manufacturer's warranty

Alternatively, I can spend a bit more and get:

A pair of Proel V15As with matching covers for £600. These come with a 3 year warranty.

I'd appreciate any thoughts on which would be the better option from a sound quality, build quality and reliability perspective. Or if there is anything else that you think I would be better considering for under £600 I'd be interested to hear your suggestions.

Thanks.

[Benny Smyth]

I used to own a pair of W Audio PSR 15a and at the time, I thought they were very good speakers (they are now the property of another forum member, so he can chuck his tuppence in about to verify that). Assuming W Audio have improved in their evolution, then I'd maybe choose them over the Altos. The Altos sound pretty good too, to be fair.

Would it need to be a 15"? I'm sure that I'm in the minority on this, but I think a 12" sounds better on most speaker ranges. If you consider 12", then you have a few more options. If you can stretch the budget/be a smart shopper, you could get your sweaty paws on a pair of Yamaha DBR12s. Less money than the DXR range (and lighter too), 7 year warranty and they sound pretty damn good.

[Sapphire Disco]

I would get these if you buy any of the others you will end up upgrading in a year or two if you get the Yamahas you could add a sub or two for much bigger gigs.

http://www.gear4music.com/PA-DJ-and-...A-Speaker/1387

[Retrodisco]

FBT X-Lites would be the route I would take personally. FBT is the dogs doodahs.

[Excalibur]

FBT X-Lites would be the route I would take personally. FBT is the dogs doodahs.

From what I heard of them at Coalville, they wouldn't even make my shortlist. Very, very disappointing indeed.

Plenty of kit outshone them completely, including my LD rig. For the £600-700 mark, here's a contender from LD. GT 15

They're a slightly cheaper version of my 12" cabs.

Wooden cabs on all these, very pretty, and very nice sound. Add even a cheap sub, and you're sorted.

[Retrodisco]

From what I heard of them at Coalville, they wouldn't even make my shortlist. Very, very disappointing indeed.

Plenty of kit outshone them completely, including my LD rig. For the £600-700 mark, here's a contender from LD. GT 15

They're a slightly cheaper version of my 12" cabs.

Wooden cabs on all these, very pretty, and very nice sound. Add even a cheap sub, and you're sorted.

Strange that, working in a PA shop, I prefer them over the 20 other sets we have here, I love the sound from them.

[Casual77]

I should have known my post would open a can of worms for myself!

Both the Yamahas and the LD cabs look great but both cost significantly more than the Proels which were the highest cost option of the three I put forward... and then there is the significant cost of covers on top of that which would take both options to almost double the cost of the W Audio DSR15As. I must admit I wasn't overly blown away by the FBT speakers at the Liversedge meet either.

The question is where should I draw the line? If I say for instance that I am tempted by the DBR12s there will probably be a post from someone suggesting if I am paying that much I may as well push the boat out a bit more and go for the DXR12s instead! I've got my first gig lined up for a week on Friday so I need to get something suitable sorted by say next Tuesday at the latest and my overdraft has already taken a real battering!

Are any of the three originally mentioned worth considering? I can get 12" versions of any of them but the cost would only be about £20 per pair less and then presumably I would be in immediate need of a sub to go with them which would be another £250ish minimum on top.