DR200 + T39

[SoundInMotionDJ]

Unfortunately, I don't have pics.

The stage is about 30ft wide with stairs going down on either side. I can't block the stairs. The actual corners of the room each has a door that can not be blocked: the main entrance, two fire doors, and the door to the concession area.

Stage right is a big partition blocking the view of the ladies room door. There is not enough room leftover on that side to put a stack of subs.

Stage left is do-able. There are some doors that are seldom used. So I could wall load the subs there, and I might try that next time.

The stage is about 4ft tall...so it's not a "wall" for wall loading purposes. The back of the stage is covered in heavy drape that sits about 4ft from the actual back wall. I dare not touch the drape according to the last person who tried.

Center clustered seemed to be a reasonable place for the subs. They did nearly gag when I said that the V-stack of T39's sticking out almost 4' into the room would be staying right there. A line of chairs across the front of the stage convinced them that the subs would not be a "trip hazard."

The hardest part of the setup at this venue is that the same people have been setting up the same way for 15 years! For instance, I had to hear about how "...whenever we used subs in the past, we always put 'em on the corners of the stage..." ALL NIGHT LONG! Change is tough.

--Stan Graves

[SoundInMotionDJ]

Another "no" vote.

The longer I listen to my DR's and T39's the more I like the real separation between the highs/mids/lows and the more I have to come to really appreciate the clarity of the sound.

BUT...apparently it is very much an acquired taste for some.

This weekend I put the system into a "small/medium" ballroom. The room was 60ft wide, 70ft deep, with 14ft ceilings. The system was two DR200's on stands, about 30ft apart, centered on the "front" wall - and two V-coupled T39's, wall loaded in the middle of the "front" wall. During the sound check, I setup the system to use about 60w in the DR's and about 90w in the T39's.

The sound across the back of the room was even, rich, and very present. In the middle of the dance floor the sound was very full and more than loud enough.

The DJ booth was on the "front" wall, and was "behind" the DR's. The subs were about 10ft from the booth. Because I wall loaded the subs, the overall mix was not even at the DJ booth. This caused some problems for the DJ who was there - but that is certainly nothing new - finding a mobile DJ booth in the FOH is fairly rare.

The other DJ commented that the tops sounded like they "were in a bucket." He commented on how "bright" the sound was. I took him onto the floor, and out where the audience was and he agreed that the mix was much better out there.

I have a limiter in the system (DCX 2496). Late on Saturday (I was not there) he pushed the sliders up and got into the limiter. The sound started to "bounce" and exhibited classic "attack" and "release" artifacts from a limiter. He did not understand this, even after a demonstration on Sunday.

Based on the "brightness" and the "bucket" sound, and the problems caused by the limiter - he requested the direct radiator system that I provided last year.

Hmmm...more work ahead....

--Stan Graves

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

There's a cure for a DJ who's more interested in how the system sounds behind it than in the audience: Headphones.

[jeffbabcock]

People indeed like what is familiar. And indeed many are used to the sound of direct radiator subs spilling content into the low mids. Especially DJ's.

Regarding being overly bright.... Have you considered converting the DR200's to a biamp setup? Applying some delay to the HF section to time align it with the LF woofer section will make them seem a bit less bright.

[Dave Non-Zero]

There's a cure for a DJ who's more interested in how the system sounds behind it than in the audience: Headphones.

I would say there there is a name for someone who is more interested in how the system sounds behind it than in the audience: a DJ.

(exception given to DJs on this forum. )

[DJPhatman]

There's a cure for a DJ who's more interested in how the system sounds behind it than in the audience: Headphones.

Or do as I do 99.9% of the time and mix from in FRONT of the speakers. Unless you are on the mic a lot(such as a band) placement of the speakers behind you allows you a better mix position. When I use the mic, I move to a no feedback zone that has been determined during sound-check. Even when attendees get the mic, I place them in these zones, far enough away so that even some movement will not cause feedback.

[gdougherty]

Another "no" vote.

The longer I listen to my DR's and T39's the more I like the real separation between the highs/mids/lows and the more I have to come to really appreciate the clarity of the sound.

BUT...apparently it is very much an acquired taste for some.

This weekend I put the system into a "small/medium" ballroom. The room was 60ft wide, 70ft deep, with 14ft ceilings. The system was two DR200's on stands, about 30ft apart, centered on the "front" wall - and two V-coupled T39's, wall loaded in the middle of the "front" wall. During the sound check, I setup the system to use about 60w in the DR's and about 90w in the T39's.

The sound across the back of the room was even, rich, and very present. In the middle of the dance floor the sound was very full and more than loud enough.

The DJ booth was on the "front" wall, and was "behind" the DR's. The subs were about 10ft from the booth. Because I wall loaded the subs, the overall mix was not even at the DJ booth. This caused some problems for the DJ who was there - but that is certainly nothing new - finding a mobile DJ booth in the FOH is fairly rare.

The other DJ commented that the tops sounded like they "were in a bucket." He commented on how "bright" the sound was. I took him onto the floor, and out where the audience was and he agreed that the mix was much better out there.

I have a limiter in the system (DCX 2496). Late on Saturday (I was not there) he pushed the sliders up and got into the limiter. The sound started to "bounce" and exhibited classic "attack" and "release" artifacts from a limiter. He did not understand this, even after a demonstration on Sunday.

Based on the "brightness" and the "bucket" sound, and the problems caused by the limiter - he requested the direct radiator system that I provided last year.

Hmmm...more work ahead....

--Stan Graves

For small setups like this where you have spare DR200's, perhaps consider setting up a monitor for FOH and balance it with the subs like the house mix.