Mackies, Class D or Build myself?

[bank]

Dear All,

I'm planning to upgrade my PA system in the near future, as my current system isn't up to much. Now, the title is quite varied, comparing a Pair of mackies to some Class D's or Self build.

Quick explaination, I thought I could just swap my drivers over in my current speakers to some better ones, after research apparently not so thought I could just build some.

Researched this, with a little help from colint and tony (the speaker man), and thought I should build some, they came to around £520 for a pair of 15" mid / tops 400w each side at 8ohms (with b&c driver, etc).

But I have been looking at mackies longly, and decided a pair of C300z are £120 cheaper, which comparitively makes them a good idea, as they'll be lighter, I won't have to build them and they sound pretty good. (found price at turnkey.co.uk)

Though, lastly, some people seem to be saying class-d's aren't all that bad (haven't heard a pair myself) and for the same money I could get both tops aswell some bass bins, with money to spair (saving for an amp too).

Any advice? Still really like the idea of building some though.

Thanks

[Corabar Steve]

(found price at turnkey.co.uk)

Who have just gone into administration,

[bank]

Who have just gone into administration,

Ok, maybe I'll have to look some where else, otherwise what would you recommend?

[One Vision]

Hya Bank, I have just purchased the deal below.
http://www.whybuynew.co.uk/Ex-Display-Peavey-Pro-Sub-&-Pro-15-Package.html

Now usually I am used to playing out of the Peavey UL system which is very, very good so was spoiled a bit when it came to buying my own kit.
I had only herd the Peavey pro15 tops alone and wasn't impressed, but then was comparing with the UL15s which are roughly priced at £600 just for the tops.
Anyway I purchased the Peavey pro15 package, set them up with the bass bins and fired them up and to my amazement I was impressed even with only having limited control via the 4 channel graphic on the Numark cm100 mixer, a very good powerful sound was to be had.
My mate brought his 10 channel desk mixer over yesterday just to see what kind of difference we could get from these speaker as I was thinking of buying a desk mixer so I have a bit more control.
Well with a few tweaks here and a few tweaks there the system came alive and in my honest opinion was awesome to say the least so will be buying a desk mixer.

I am not saying these are the best speakers around but regardless of the price bracket they are very, very good and this is from running from a single amp, so once I buy a second amp so the tops and bass are separate they will be even better still with better response and deeper bass according to Peavey so I look forward to buying the next amp with joy.
£429.00 for the package and free next day delivery
http://www.whybuynew.co.uk/images/uploaded/PeaveyPro15ProSubPck.jpg

[wensleydale]

how much value do you put on your time.
in many cases you can make many things you would buy, but i for one dont want to have to spend 2 days making something to save £50.

[soundmaster mobile disco]

Are you feeling strong?This will be a cracking sound system but i imagine it will also be very heavy to move in and out of gigs!

[spin mobile disco]

I use the c300z's and can't really fault them other than weight. Very powerful very clear sound. They are pretty robust as well. Been using my 2 mackie tops with audiences of up to 350 people with no problems. (when matched with a DB sub15)
A very good reliable speaker.
I know class D has its following but if I had the choice between peavey or class D I would take the peavey myself.

[Vectis]

I can vouch for the Peavey Pro arrangement too as this has been my staple for about 2-3 years now. However, I recently semi-retired the two Prosubs (I used the 'P' active versions) in favour of a single DB Sub 15 which I think gives a cleaner low-end and I rarely play venues that demand more than a single sub. My audio line has a 31-channel EQ in the mix and KARL-D rightly points out that there a couple of frequency points where the Pro's can use a little "lift" - around 1K and again at about 20K - but otherwise they deliver a good clear and loud output.

For smaller gigs of under 100 I often don't even need a sub as the Pro-15s low end is pretty nice on its own. I drive 'em with a Behringer EP1500 and rarely get the slider over half way. Bargain! :thumbs_up:

Although it has to be said that some people have documented difficulties carrying two at once due to the 'teardrop' handle design, this has never bothered me :D (cheap Rob dig)

With quality gear available this cheap, you'd be mad to even try to build yourself... you probably couldn't even buy the materials for the cabs let alone the cones and crossovers for this sort of money!

[pagan_flame]

Errrm... very similar to VV - I have just retired my Peavey Pro 15's in favour of a dB Tech sub 15, have a 16 band EQ in line as well... but am running Mackie SRM 450 tops as fullrange. I haven't run this flat out yet, nor have had any 'tuuurnipupp' calls either... :D :beer1:

I do however have a pair of Class D CD 158's (& power amp), which are surprisingly good for the price and act as a backup or additional set as required.

I'm contemplating a pair of passive subs just now, more for show than anything else! So maybe Class D again or Peaveys.

[wensleydale]

i think the general feeling is that speaker prices have come down in recent years and technology has increased therefore most of the big names are more than adequte for the majority of events your average disco needs them for.

i've got some rcf art 310s and some mackies too- i've never been tempted by a sub because of space issues with transport and whilst it would undoubtedly make it better i think its very much a case of "you only miss it when you had it to start with" and I am certain that the average customer doesnt know if I have one or not.

What am I saying here?
For the money you mention you could get a variety of speakers and be happy with them, however everyone on here would have differrent opinions.
I got the Mackies for £300 which was good value but still use the RCFs out of choice for almost every event.
Weight size and construction were also big issues for me as well as sound.

[bluishbob]

I have recently got a new set of class D s and they are brilliant. I love them and in comparison with the peaveys we have at school (not the messengers but injection moulded type ones) sound just as good.

I would bear in mind however that if you make your own cabs they will be much harder to sell (or wont be worth what they deserve) if/when you come to sell them.

[Tom]

My bet would be to listen to all 3 at the same time if possible. That way you can hear the characteristics of all the speakers. :)

[bank]

Thanks KARL-D for the info, I seen some of those tops at my local sound control, had a little fiddle, they look quite good, sound ok too, but then the eyes get drawn to the mackies and interest in them wonders. Looks like a great deal you got there, though I really don't have space to fit that in the car. Presuming they're quite heavy? Don't really want to be lugging them around.

wensleydale, thats a good point really, its not that I would be saving money, but it seems like a fantastic project; from what I've been told about the components I would be buying, the speakers would sound great.
I wasn't really thinking about subs, not enough space really, and I've never used one as yet so not missing anything ;) RCF are really out of my league, looking at the prices.

Thanks for the info on the c300z's, spin mobile disco, I've looked at the specs although thought that seeing as they're moulded surprised they're heavy. Hmm, sounds probably the best bet, they resell at a good price if you sell them on don't they?
The main reason I mentioned Class-D, is because people have been saying surprisingly good things about them, which made me wonder.

Initially I haven't really looked at peaveys, thanks for info vectisvibe, but they will definitely be too big. I can see where you are coming from, most systems are pretty good, I thought building something myself would have a better sound, the prices I've got to the components total is more than a pair of mackies or the whole peavy shabang.

pagan_flame, oh I was thinking that some of you guys were using them as your main system, would you say they are as good as a pair of mackies, or just good for the price (if you catch my drift).

bluishbob, I hadn't really thought about that, would probably make them impossible to shift at a later date as other people won't understand what is in them. Thanks for the details on the class-d's, I don't really have myself set on those so think I'll leave them.

KMA Disco, that would be great, just need to get hold of a pair of each (and build some) then test them :o Don't think I'll be able to do it for some reason :rolleyes:

[Excalibur]

The advice we always give, and it's still the best advice, is to hear all the ones you're considering. Personal taste comes into it, price also, and availability locally to some extent. If you can't hear what you want in shops or dealers, see if anyone on here is using what you're intereted in near to you. Good luck in your search.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

The advice we always give, and it's still the best advice, is to hear all the ones you're considering.

Agreed.

[One Vision]

Hya bank you would be quite surprised just how compact the Peavey pros are and reasonably light too.

RRO 15 tops
Dimensions (HxWxD): 25.6'' (650mm) x 18.1'' (460mm) x 15.4'' (390mm)
Weight: 48.5lbs (22kg)

RRO 15 bass bins
Dimensions (HxWxD): 19.9'' (505mm) x 26'' (660mm) x 19.1'' (485mm)
Weight: 58.4lbs (26.5kg)

[JAMdisco]

The advice we always give, and it's still the best advice, is to hear all the ones you're considering. Personal taste comes into it, price also, and availability locally to some extent. If you can't hear what you want in shops or dealers, see if anyone on here is using what you're intereted in near to you. Good luck in your search.


Agreed.

Seconded!

This is what I did (with Excaliburs help) and enabled me to make (IMO) the right choice. :D

[Dillmiester]

The advice we always give, and it's still the best advice, is to hear all the ones you're considering. Personal taste comes into it, price also, and availability locally to some extent. If you can't hear what you want in shops or dealers, see if anyone on here is using what you're intereted in near to you. Good luck in your search.

If only there were places where you could listen to the likes of DB, Mackie, Peavey, and Class D, side by side. Now that would be a good store to visit.

[Twinspin]

at electromusic in doncaster you can listen to all the makes apart from Class D

they do sell

Peavey
DB Technologies
Mackie

etc etc.

[Tony Scott]

Just like to thrown in that self build is extremely rewarding, if you go for B&C drivers and it's designed correctly you'll get a fantastic sounding system.

You can get loads of help at: http://www.speakerplans.com/forum/

With a bit of time and effort you can get some great results, go on self-build you know you want to!

[Excalibur]

Tony, there's no screen in your telly in the bottom pic! ;) :D

[Tony Scott]

Tony, there's no screen in your telly in the bottom pic! ;) :D

:lol:

........oh well, been meaning to get an 42" LCD anyway! :D