Plywood vs Moulded Active Speakers

[music-2-play]

Hi, I'm currently trying to decide between purchasing either:

Mackie sr-1521z 15" active speakers

RCF 325 15" Moulded Active Speakers

Both are very matched in price (about £1050 a pair), and can both kick out about 400w RMS a side, but the Mackie's are made from Plywood, and the RCF are a moulded polymer. The mackie's are also about twice the weight and quite a lot larger...

I've heard both (the Mackie's at a gig, where I was playing with a band that had them...and they were **** loud, even without a sub) and the RCFs (in a showroom), and I find the moulded speakers just have a less well rounded sound than chipboard, mdf or ply cabinets....The plus for buying them however, is that I could travel a lot lighter.

I was just wondering:

1) do you think the sound of moulded speakers is substantially worse that a wood cabinet, or enough so, to justify having to carry 46kg vs 22kg?

2) and if you had around £1000 for a pair of active pa's, whiich would you recommend?

[music-2-play]

Oh by the way, the ****, was d----a----m----n--- - Is that worthy of censoring?

[Excalibur]

Until recently I;d have advised avoiding moulded speakers like the plague, BUT: now I would qualify it to say moulded are excellent for tops, but I'd still prefer timber for full range or subs.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I think you'll find the 325A's are more like £1300 a pair now and I agree with Excalibur.

[music-2-play]

I think you'll find the 325A's are more like £1300 a pair now and I agree with Excalibur.

At

http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/shop/flypage/product_id/4142

they're going for £1099 a pair - I did see them for £1050 a pair -- If I remember where, I'll post.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

At

http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/shop/flypage/product_id/4142

they're going for £1099 a pair - I did see them for £1050 a pair -- If I remember where, I'll post.

And if you read, they don't have them in stock, which is a very old sales ploy.

You'll pay for them, then the sales staff will ring you or email you and tell you they are awaiting stock. They won't come in for a while and eventually when they do, they will be at the more expensive price.

Cynic, moi?

[music-2-play]

And if you read, they don't have them in stock, which is a very old sales ploy.

You'll pay for them, then the sales staff will ring you or email you and tell you they are awaiting stock. They won't come in for a while and eventually when they do, they will be at the more expensive price.

Cynic, moi?

ha ha, perhaps...

[PropellerHeadCase]

And if you read, they don't have them in stock, which is a very old sales ploy.

You'll pay for them, then the sales staff will ring you or email you and tell you they are awaiting stock. They won't come in for a while and eventually when they do, they will be at the more expensive price.

Cynic, moi?

To be fair, Darren, I've found Dolphin to be very good.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

To be fair, Darren, I've found Dolphin to be very good.

So have I as I've ordered from them in the past, but that doesn't mean they play by the rules.

[music-2-play]

Well, I think it's one of those things where I can't lose... If I went ahead a and ordered them for £1100 and they turn up, all well and good...If I order them and a week later I get a call saying they only have them for £1300, I'm not obliged to buy them (and wouldn't out of principle), as my contract with Dolphin would be 1 pair of RCF 325s for £1100 and they can't unilaterally increase the price, once the contract has been formed.

So, for the sake of 5 mins online, and the chance of having a high quality pair of actives for £1100, I say it's worth a try.

Anyway, I'd just be looking at buying a pair of the RCFs. For the sake of setting-up time, and my back, would you say it's acceptible to use these speakers as full-range cabinets for events with 100-200 people. I have a fairly well trained ear, from years of mixing tracks, but is the average punter going to think 'I don't know -- those speakers just lack a little depth and roudnness", or will they just think 'sounds loud enough to me'? Also with the 15" 325s, is there a benefit in getting a 15" timber subwoofer to accompany them, as I work alone, and think a pair of 18" subs will be too unweildy.

I have a larger JBL system (the JRX 125s with huge MDF cabs), that I use for 200+ guests, but I'd say 90% of my jobs are around 100 people weddings and corporate functions in a moderately sized room, where my 15" full-range cabinets are more than sufficient (I have the Behringer 1520 passives, which are about 400w RMS a side) and for the money, particularly good value.

I've always managed to avoid a dedicate sub until now, and if I can't reasonably use the RCfs 325s on their own, I'll only end up carrying more gear, whic is the oppostie of what I am aiming for...

Hmmm

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

would you say it's acceptible to use these speakers as full-range cabinets for events with 100-200 people. I have a fairly well trained ear, from years of mixing tracks, but is the average punter going to think 'I don't know -- those speakers just lack a little depth and roudnness", or will they just think 'sounds loud enough to me'? Also with the 15" 325s, is there a benefit in getting a 15" timber subwoofer to accompany them, as I work alone, and think a pair of 18" subs will be too unweildy.



The 325s are more than loud enough on their own for 100-200 people, venue dependant of course. Adding the sub will give you more reinforcement and the added depth of sound, but generally punters won't notice or care about that.

For the larger gig, I use an RCF705 AS sub which matches nicely. The only thing is, if you are using the 325s on high pass out on the sub, the sound is still good, but not as good as if you were using a speaker with a smaller driver, say a 310 or 312 etc.

The combination still sounds very good though.

[music-2-play]

For the larger gig, I use an RCF705 AS sub which matches nicely. The only thing is, if you are using the 325s on high pass out on the sub, the sound is still good, but not as good as if you were using a speaker with a smaller driver, say a 310 or 312 etc.

The combination still sounds very good though.

Would that be because the 10" or 12" cone has less mass, it is more adept at producing the low-mid and midrange frequencies left after the subwoofer stage - smaller drivers usually have a tighter time-domain-response [matt thinks that's the correct term, but is not 100% sure]?

[Excalibur]

Would that be because the 10" or 12" cone has less mass, it is more adept at producing the low-mid and midrange frequencies left after the subwoofer stage - smaller drivers usually have a tighter time-domain-response [matt thinks that's the correct term, but is not 100% sure]?

In my very humble opinion, I've always understood that the basic principle was to decrease driver size with increasing frequency. All well and good in a multi speaker/enclosure system, but a trade off in a 2-way cab, thus why most of us go for 15" drivers in case we use them as full range. I have no doubt that a 15" sub/12" top arrangement is the preferred solution in a smallish system. I wouldn't want to use the 12" cabs as full range though unless it was a very small venue. You will have to forecast how many times, if ever, you will use the tops on their own, and make your choice accordingly. Good luck.

[Tom]

I wouldn't want to use the 12" cabs as full range though unless it was a very small venue. You will have to forecast how many times, if ever, you will use the tops on their own, and make your choice accordingly. Good luck.

I use 12" tops and have never had a problem. The bass from the mackie's are quite impressive to be fair.