upstarts needing amp info.

Is this amp OK?
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Nancy B
Posts: 23
Joined: Mon Nov 05, 2018 3:56 pm

Re: upstarts needing amp info.

#46 Post by Nancy B »

Tom,
Welcome to the forum Nancy, and Richard. As you have found out, there is a lot of good advice here, and readily available. :)
Thanks Tom, yes the people here are very helpful, available, patient, and kind.
May I suggest that you go ahead with a pair of DR250 tops, and a pair of Tuba45 subs.
Good suggestion, we're looking for something more. What exactly we're looking for is being hashed out right now. We think we're finding our answers soon, depending on CoronaOperator, EDM and Hip Hop sound-system specialist's answer as to whether we've come to our logical conclusion or not; we're either going to have 2 DR 250's with 4 Lab 45's or 4 dual Lab 12 T 60's, we're 88% sure it's the former, 4 Lab 45's. We're wanting to play very bass heavy shows, up close, for 150 people max, outdoors, over night for three night get away extraordinary vacations; Richard's built an incredible library and he wants to showcase his music. The first page of this thread shows the genres and styles he's collected over the years and cataloged on his digital dj controller's program, Serato DJ (now: Pro.) We also would like to construct one or two Table Tubas + one or two TLAH systems. What is your opinion, given our music preference of choice, should we opt for two Tuba HT's instead of two Table Tubas?

We would like an ambient/downtempo/idm/experimental-electronic room and chill out/downbeat/acid jazz/nu-future jazz/jazz-house/hi-tech jazz room. These parties will last for three days and the music will rotate depending on where we are in time, between night and day.
Use the premium drivers for both (3012LF or Lab12 in the subs, doesn't matter since the result will be the same). Then tune your system and run it. If you need more, build more.

You will need DSP between your mixer and the amps, and the models have already been covered.
Got it. Would you refresh our memory? What's the best DSP for our purposes? We're willing to splurge to get the best on all components for exquisite quality and surest safety!

And when you say mixer, do you mean mixing board or do you mean the mixer coming off of Richard's digital DJ controller? If it's the former, would you please recommend one for Pioneer DJ products?

How about other sources like CD player/iPhone for indoors?? If we're using a CD player or iPhone should we also use an amp+DAC connected to the CD player/iPhone to make things sound better? Most of these tunes are aac, all the rest are 320 kb/s mp3.
As far as amps go, non-T, H, D amps are preferred for the subs.
We're choosing the Lab 12's ... that's pretty much final. What amp would you recommend? What's the best out there given our application? Again we're 88% sure that we'll be using 4 Tuba 45's.
The tops don't mind the non-iron amps. (opposites. Did you get that? :) )
No... what do you mean? :)
Having about 150% of the wattage needed is a good thing because it will allow your amps to remain cool, and, you would be limiting the amps, using DSP, to protect your subs.
How will we measure wattage? Should we measure sum total of all watts, subs and speakers?

Thanks TomS,

Nancy & Richard B

CoronaOperator
Posts: 1648
Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 7:07 pm
Location: Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada

Re: upstarts needing amp info.

#47 Post by CoronaOperator »

Nancy B wrote: Thu Nov 08, 2018 1:43 am
So ... we're figuring you still mean four T45's and not four dual Lab 12 T60's? (sorry, Bill, this just had to be asked "one more time.") So, it's 4 Lab 45's, we've followed your train of thought to the logical conclusion.
A dual driver cab counts as 2 cabinets ... because they are, they are just glued together to make one big one.

Now to really make your head spin, even though I've been recommending T45's all along, if you have your heart set on T60's then it's your build, build what your heart desires. Moving them around sucks but it looks like you won't be going far with them and outdoors you have lots of room to setup. They also make really nice dance platforms, those 2 gogo girls in the video I posted with chimpo playing are dancing on mine. I'm moving to T45's because I don't have that venue anymore so I have to move these suckers around all the time and some of the newer venues I play at don't have as much room to setup.

Also, it's completely normal to jump around on your decisions, it's tough to decide with all the choices available. It took me 6 years here before I made up my mind and finally built my pa system. Look at my joined date right under my name on the left then look at my build threads date in my signature. I totally understand all the questions you are having. It is a lot to process. Whatever you choose it will sound amazing. Every time you fire up a BFM system you will get a ear to ear sh*t eating grin on your face. Ask the others. A couple weeks ago I brought my DR's in the house for the first time ever and fired them up, you can't fake a smile like this:

Image
Built:
17" width 10" driver Autotuba
2 x 29" width dual Lab12 Tuba60
6 x DR250 2510/asd1001
In progress:
2 x DR250 2510/asd1001
For best results, point the loud end of the array towards the audience

Nancy B
Posts: 23
Joined: Mon Nov 05, 2018 3:56 pm

Re: upstarts needing amp info.

#48 Post by Nancy B »

We're glad you're happy and we're pleased to see you with an authentic smile on your face! Nice! :)

What you say makes a lot of sense. With Richard's "library work" on processing tunes into Serato for all these years, hunched over because there were never good seating, he doesn't have the strongest back!

Okay. T45's! And we're very grateful. If you have any odds and ends you can share us re: our post response TomS, feel free to chime in!

By the way, if any of your friends do use iTunes, some "insiders" say -- while some "insiders" deny -- that it's closing up shop for downloads March 2019... not sure if this bs or not but it's worth investigation, maybe, if your friends don't use online record pools (which lots of hip-hop DJ's do!)

All the best!
Nancy and Richard.

CoronaOperator
Posts: 1648
Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 7:07 pm
Location: Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada

Re: upstarts needing amp info.

#49 Post by CoronaOperator »

Last tid bit: follow the plans - to the letter and start a build thread. There will be stumbling blocks along the way and this community will get you through them. If you post pictures along the way, we can cheer you on as well as spot any issues before they become a problem.

Thanx for the tip on itunes, I'll pass it along although my guys are the ones uploading to itunes, not downloading :wink: .
Built:
17" width 10" driver Autotuba
2 x 29" width dual Lab12 Tuba60
6 x DR250 2510/asd1001
In progress:
2 x DR250 2510/asd1001
For best results, point the loud end of the array towards the audience

Nancy B
Posts: 23
Joined: Mon Nov 05, 2018 3:56 pm

Re: upstarts needing amp info.

#50 Post by Nancy B »

;) You're welcome. About itunes, again this might just be industry hype (bs.) we're wishing you and you guys all the best. Peace. :)

Grant Bunter
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Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2011 11:12 am
Location: Ilfracombe Queensland Australia
Contact:

Re: upstarts needing amp info.

#51 Post by Grant Bunter »

Hey Nancy,
Can I recommend you keep the table tuba/TLAH question out of the equation for a little while, just until you settle your primary build.

You asked earlier if there was more to consider, and the answer is, yes, always :)
But to make it a little easier, I have been purposefully drip feeding you bits at a time to allow you to process as you go.

You've been asking, right from the outset, about amps.
And I've been avoiding responding, because the amplifiers you will need depend entirely on you build decision.

Here's the spanner in the works lol.
2 x lab12's in a T60 is better than a single lab15 because it has higher output (more displacement and more power). It can be about other things as well.
The rub is you can also use 2 x lab12's in a T45, as CO said above, that's really two cabs combined.
In order to wire these together and still allow an amplifier to work, you need to wire dual loaded cabs differently (using series and parallel wiring as you mentioned earlier, which changes the amplifier requirement) or buy more amplifiers.

Given where you're at right now, I'd almost be tempted to say, get cracking on 2 pairs of DR250's, while you still work out the subs.
That's a hard call though. Many people here say they felt more confident tackling a DR build after building some of Bill's sub designs first.

I'm not sure if this has been asked, but what is your woodworking experience?..
Built:
DR 250: x 2 melded array, 2x CD horn, March 2012 plans.
T39's: 4 x 20" KL3010LF , 2 x 28" 3012LF.
WH8: x 6 with melded array wired series/parallel.
Bunter's Audio and Lighting "like"s would be most appreciated...

CoronaOperator
Posts: 1648
Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 7:07 pm
Location: Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada

Re: upstarts needing amp info.

#52 Post by CoronaOperator »

Grant Bunter wrote: Thu Nov 08, 2018 4:20 am
Given where you're at right now, I'd almost be tempted to say, get cracking on 2 pairs of DR250's, while you still work out the subs.
That's a hard call though. Many people here say they felt more confident tackling a DR build after building some of Bill's sub designs first.
Yes, the DR's take the longest ... but the subs are easier to build and kind of warm you up and get your tools in order and skills up to par.

I agree that amps come after you actually commit to building and decide on your cabinets. I've been avoiding that too. That's like putting your cart before the horse.
Built:
17" width 10" driver Autotuba
2 x 29" width dual Lab12 Tuba60
6 x DR250 2510/asd1001
In progress:
2 x DR250 2510/asd1001
For best results, point the loud end of the array towards the audience

CoronaOperator
Posts: 1648
Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 7:07 pm
Location: Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada

Re: upstarts needing amp info.

#53 Post by CoronaOperator »

Grant Bunter wrote: Thu Nov 08, 2018 4:20 am Can I recommend you keep the table tuba/TLAH question out of the equation for a little while, just until you settle your primary build.
Agreed, don't bite off more than you can chew, one project at a time. A cheap home stereo can suffice until you get the main attraction going.
Built:
17" width 10" driver Autotuba
2 x 29" width dual Lab12 Tuba60
6 x DR250 2510/asd1001
In progress:
2 x DR250 2510/asd1001
For best results, point the loud end of the array towards the audience

Rich4349
Posts: 855
Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:18 am
Location: Kankakee, IL

Re: upstarts needing amp info.

#54 Post by Rich4349 »

Nancy B wrote: Thu Nov 08, 2018 2:37 am ... These parties will last for three days and the music will rotate depending on where we are in time, between night and day....
Don't bury the lede: WHERE ARE THESE PARTIES GOING TO BE?!?!?!? And how do you get invited!? :lol:

Maybe you could testdrive someone's system, or likely, several someones' systems and see how much you really need? (want!)
2 DR250s, 2 27" Lab15 T-60s, 2 30" Neo Titan 39s, 1 Autotuba...and looking for more!

himhimself
Posts: 599
Joined: Fri Nov 13, 2015 9:34 pm
Location: Vancouver BC & Bloomington IN

Re: upstarts needing amp info.

#55 Post by himhimself »

I love my 2 t30's and can't wait until I have time to build 2 more. Coupled inside a large rock climbing high ropes gym, they could pretty much shake the chalk dust off the holds and sounded really smooth. Don't discount the 3012lf's - they weigh so much less than the lab12s. Like everyone else said, just go... unlikely you'll be disappointed regardless, just annoyed you waited as long as you did.
2xT30 (20", 3012LF)
2xT30 (21", 3012LF)
4xOtop J-array (Beta12, melded/straight piezos)
Truck Tuba (MCM)
Next up: 2xJack12 or family of table tubas

User avatar
unkycraig
Posts: 29
Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2021 5:09 pm
Location: El Cerrito, CA

Re: upstarts needing amp info.

#56 Post by unkycraig »

Hello,
I have some long term decisions to be made for amplifier choices. I seem to be focusing on QSC D & H class amps.
So far What is local and available QSC for this system today is a RMX 4050a, or a GX7.

I will be running 2 Tuba 24s 3010LFs then they will go thru and hit a pair of DR250 2510s 20 tweeters.

I have a GX7 that I was assigning to monitor duty. It has enuf guts to run the full rig tho.

Does the 4050a justify the almost double cost for the H class and higher watts? They seem to spec some sets down to 2 ohms(not getting anywhere close to that) Im going to have 4 ohms/side.

Any issues with GX or the RMX series people could sound off on?

Availability is driving this stuff. Not ideal.
In Progress: Omni 12 Tallboy Bass
Complete: 4 Tuba 24, 2 SLA PRO 4x6

In the wings: DR250(probably not), 4 Wedgehorn 10s(probably), 2 More SLA 4x6s,

Dbx Driverack PA2
Dbx EQs 215, 2231
Dbx X-O 223xs
3 QSC GX7
3 JBL JRX212s

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Seth
Posts: 2730
Joined: Thu Sep 10, 2009 8:06 pm
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Contact:

Re: upstarts needing amp info.

#57 Post by Seth »

Hey Craig... you might want to start your own thread instead of tagging your questions on the end of a 4 page long thread that's 3 years old and not really on topic.

This forum isn't all that busy, so it's not the end of the world. But, general forum etiquette is to not respond to old threads, conversations that have long been completed. It's a bit of a faux pas.
Build in process - 2 WH6, one Alpha 6a loaded, one PRV Audio 6MB250-NDY loaded

Two 2x6 shorty SLA Pro's
One T39, 16", 3012LF loaded
Tall AutoTuba, 20" wide, 2x 8" MCM 55-2421
TruckTuba, 8½" wide, 2x 8" MCM 55-2421

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Bill Fitzmaurice
Site Admin
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Joined: Tue May 02, 2006 5:59 pm

Re: upstarts needing amp info.

#58 Post by Bill Fitzmaurice »

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