Stacking all my speakers on each other.

[funkymook]

I've got a few gigs coming up where the space is going to be very tight and and an awkward shape to place speakers.

I'm thinking of stacking my two bass bins and having my RCF 310's on a duel speaker horn on top - so basically it's a tower (I'll strap the bins together so it'll be solid).

What would be the best way to set this up to get the best out of it, would running in mono be better than stereo for instance?


Any hints or tips would be appreciated.

[Paul James Promotions]

I would run the subs as mono and ideally from the same amp channel so that they are receiving an identical signal.

[Sapphire Disco]

Should sound good with the subs stacked , I would run it all mono if your top speakers are going to be together as well.
Best to use two amps with an active crossover if you can, if not I'm sure it will sound fine just switch the amp to mono.

[funkymook]

Thanks folks - it's a powered system with built in crossovers so no external amps. The signal will be going to them via a small A&H mixer so no problem giving it a mono signal.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Aren't the RCF subs mono anyway?

[funkymook]

Aren't the RCF subs mono anyway?

Not sure if the L/R inputs sum the signal into mono, I suppose it must below the x-over frequency if it's coming out of one speaker, and then puts a stereo out to the tops - but I usually run each side with a separate L/R signal, so there would be some stereo separation with the subs (depending on the recording of course).

[Kernow]

Is it just the setup space that's tight or the entire venue ?

[funkymook]

Is it just the setup space that's tight or the entire venue ?

The set-up space mainly - in one I about 4 foot either side of an archway going into another area - so my micromax stand on one side and my stacked speakers on the other.

[funkymook]

Tried out the stacked speakers at my local pub last night.

I did get a bit more advice from a sound guy - he recommended running in stereo as normal and also having the bottom bass speaker upside down (he did explain why at the time, but I can't remember all the science details).

So after testing it in mono and stereo, the stereo did sound better, didn't experiment with the bass bins, just did as he advised and inverted the bottom one.

It sounded great, I kept having a walk around to listen (and chat to friends, it's a very relaxed gig when I play there), sound travelled well and the bass was excellent - I'd happily use that configuration again, and apart from anything else not one drink on my bins all night.

[djeddie]

Tried out the stacked speakers at my local pub last night.

I did get a bit more advice from a sound guy - he recommended running in stereo as normal and also having the bottom bass speaker upside down (he did explain why at the time, but I can't remember all the science details).

So after testing it in mono and stereo, the stereo did sound better, didn't experiment with the bass bins, just did as he advised and inverted the bottom one.

It sounded great, I kept having a walk around to listen (and chat to friends, it's a very relaxed gig when I play there), sound travelled well and the bass was excellent - I'd happily use that configuration again, and apart from anything else not one drink on my bins all night.

I'd imagine it's so that the ports are together allowing them to couple. This will give a better sound... if you're in a perfect room for sound, but I doubt anyone would really notice the difference.

[Paul James Promotions]

I did get a bit more advice from a sound guy - he recommended running in stereo


Quite suprised at that, as mono bass is good practice for PA work. Stereo mid/hi will make the system sound 'brighter', but bass should be run in mono, especially if you're stacking subs together.

[funkymook]

Quite suprised at that, as mono bass is good practice for PA work. Stereo mid/hi will make the system sound 'brighter', but bass should be run in mono, especially if you're stacking subs together.

It was probably advice for my particular situation and set-up (all powered, no external x-over).

Easy enough for me to run the whole system in mono or in stereo, bit more kerfuffle just running the bass bins in mono and tops in stereo, and for my purposes probably not enough difference to warrant it.