Active amplification

[Mantaray]

Has anybody out there used any active amplification at all?

I knew a bassist who used a DI only, a good small mixer(mackie 1202 vlz pro) and mackie srm 450s. That guy had a serious and loud sound.

I'm considering it a bit. You save loads of money and you get awesome power and quality and not bothered by accessories such as crossovers etc...

 

[Lync]

If you have the sound system and a good monitor mix, why not? Just get a Tech 21 Bass Driver and an Aphex Bass Xciter for a huge tone.

Lync

 

[cgworkman]

yeah- the tech 21 DI comes as a rack mount version now - easier than ever.

 

[Aussie Mark]

Has anybody out there used any active amplification at all?

I knew a bassist who used a DI only, a good small mixer(mackie 1202 vlz pro) and mackie srm 450s. That guy had a serious and loud sound.

I'm considering it a bit. You save loads of money and you get awesome power and quality and not bothered by accessories such as crossovers etc...

Are you saying this was his stage rig (ie. not the FOH PA)?

Let's see. A DI. A mixer. 2 full range speakers with power amps built in. That equals 4 components to carry. 4 leads (you guys call them "cords", right), and 16 connections that could develop a fault.

Why is this any simpler or more "active" than a rack mounted preamp, poweramp, and a couple of speaker cabinets.

Please clarify

 

[Disquieter]

Re: Re: Active amplification

Are you saying this was his stage rig (ie. not the FOH PA)?

Let's see. A DI. A mixer. 2 full range speakers with power amps built in. That equals 4 components to carry. 4 leads (you guys call them "cords", right), and 16 connections that could develop a fault.

Why is this any simpler or more "active" than a rack mounted preamp, poweramp, and a couple of speaker cabinets.

Please clarify

don't you know!?!

more handles = easier to carry!

a handle on the rack for the preamp, the case for mixer, and each (heavy) mackie powered speaker.




It's a fun setup that moves sound, but it doesn't put out the lowend unless you have a subwoofer in there too.

But in the end, but seriously, look at it:
good preamp: 200 - 900+ dollars
mixer: 400 dollars
mackie srm450 (x2) 1500 dollars
good cables: 100 dollars
speaker stands (if you want any sort of good sound or projection) 120 dollars

total for the simple effective package: $2420 - $3120

no let's see... for that price, you could buy a used aguilar db750, and an aguilar 4x10. Or maybe some accugrooze El Whappo....

seriously, buying a quality bass rig is way better than buying a quality PA to play bass through.

That would make a great PA though, sans the bass pre, plus a pwrd subwoofer..


EDIT: btw, those prices are the Musicians Friend prices for the pieces you mentioned.

 

[johans]

i agree on bass rig than a powered pa

 

[LeftyLB]

I agree that the Active Mackie is the way to go for the PA but not for the bass only solution.

We have a pair of 450's, 2 active bins and a 20 channel Mackie desk. The result is an awesome PA. This set up can push out 2K, but what it does not solve is the on stage sound problems.

2 weeks ago I invested in a GK400RB head and 2x10 cab and running this alongside the Mackie rig has proved to be a great success so far.

LB

 

[Psychicpet]

Actually..... I must disagree, some of the best tone I've ever had was going out of a U5 into a Mackie srm450 , absolutely amazing. It did take a bit to get used to because it's a PA speaker and therefore there aren't any really pronounced mid frequencies that usually occur in bass cabs, so the flat response thing is a little hard to get used to but once you do the sound is great!

peter