Speakers

[ChadT]

Hello fellow keyboardists!

I’m looking to upgrade my speakers and am presently using JBL 2328Ps. They’re only 150 watts and what I’d like to procure is something louder that can be used for both studio and live applications. In conjunction with that, I’m also using an M-Audio Studiophile BX10S sub-woofer.

My experience has been that these speakers and sub cause distortion when bumping the bass up, leaving a flat middle that I’m forced to be reluctantly comfortable with. Plus the sub drops out and goes into standby mode when it overheats.

I’ve heard that the JBL 6238’s are the next and better step up, but they’re super expensive and I don’t know that they’ll serve both live and studio needs.

I’m very open to suggestions and recommendations on louder studio/live speakers and sub woofers, especially of an affordable nature.

Many thanks for any and all feedback!

 

[EdK]

I'm not familiar with the JBLs you have but I personally stay away from JBLs in general mainly because (unless they've chained them in recent years), they use titanium ribbon tweeters which are too bright for my taste.

I'm no expert but I would recommend that your mains have at least 12" woofers to handle some of the low end that the subwoofers don't. That's probably why you're experiencing the distortion as I suspect the 8" woofers in your setup are being overdriven.

I don't use any subs at all in most situations and whenever I need the extra "bottom", I normally hire a sound company in live situations who have the gear to handle the larger venues. i.e. more than 300 or so guests, large ballrooms, outdoors, etc.

My personal setup includes a Mackie 808s powered mixer and two Community MVP36 mains (about 10 years old now and still going strong with 15" woofers and horn tweeters). That's all and my keys sound great through them (Korg Triton Studio and Korg M1) and as you may know, Korgs are generally very bottom heavy.

Although not a well known manufacturer for typical band situations, I like them a lot better than JBLs, Electro Voice, Samson, etc that you typically find at your local music stores.

Community no longer makes the MVP series but I believe their I-series are their current equivalents.
http://www.communitypro.com/products/iseries

Regardless of what you end up getting, your ears will be the best judge of what you prefer.

Ed

 

[delaware dave]

More bass than you can stand. Look for a used or B-stock

http://www.proaudiostar.com/elx115p-two-way-powered-loudspeaker.html

Unless you are a stereo nut, one is all you need live. I have the 12" version and with one i can walk bass on a hammond clone and it covers it without breaking a sweat. My friend has the 15" for his pink floyd band and the low end is incredible.

 

[ChadT]

Many thanks to you both Ed & Dave! After careful review, I decided to purchase a pair of the EV ELX115Ps. I couldn't be happier! No sub-woofer necessary and the bass is phenomenal. No overheating, no problems, just clear, clean and very loud sound. Just what the doctor ordered! And yes, I bought them as B stock from ebay for about $462.00 ea. Will likely be selling my aforesaid JBL setup to hopefully recoup the expense for the upgrade. Good thing I don't have any neighbors because they would not like these nearly as much as I do!

Many thanks again!