Crown XLS with DBX Drive Rack PA+

[djslik]

I am building a Titan 48 with two Otop 12's to use as a DJ Rig. I am looking at purchasing 2 Crown XLS2000's and a DBX Drive Rack PA+. I would like to possibly run the subs on one amp and the tops on another. I am building a pair of Jack 10's maybe 12's to use a monitors and I'm not exactly sure how this system will all work together?

So I basically have the following:

(1) Titan 48
(2) Otop 12's
(2) Jack 10's
(2) Crown XLS
(1) DBX Drive Rack PA+

Is this setup going to work correctly or will I need a different Processor than the Drive Rack. From my understanding the Drive Rack PA+ is a Crossover/EQ unit in one.

[Chris_Allen]

The Crown XLS Drivecore has already got a crossover, so to keep things simple I wouldn't get a driverack and go for a manual EQ instead. Digital ones are great but manual ones are far easier to dial in quickly to eliminate room modes.

In regard to the driverack, general opinion appears to be the low end ones aren't very good but the high end are excellent.

If you are using a Jack as a monitor to play to yourself, you will only need one! Use that money to build another T48 instead. You don't really need the low end for monitor, the bass coming out of a Titan will fill the room. If you need the timing signal in the mix, you can pick that up at around 150Hz anyway, well within the range of a top. Shame the wedgehorn 8 doesn't have a flatter response, it would probably be perfect!

Crown make fantastic amps - money well spent.

[Ken Lustgarten]

You really should consider 2 T48's from the start to go with the OT 12's. I would recomend that you also skip the jacks, for monitor use a pair of wedgehorns with an 8" driver will serve your needs.better.They can also be eqed flat if need be for other purposes.

[SeisTres]

As this is some of the stuff I have, I guess I'll chime in.

Even if you do buy the drivecore's, you'll still need the HP filters from the driverackPA which also includes limiting for tops and subs as well as parametric eq's which i've learned to favor for a speedier room eq than the graphic digital graphic. So in short, you will still need it and I prefer having everything on one unit (saved presets and whatnot) than on different ones. And yes, the driverack PA's will get the job done.

If you want to run stereo and don't need much spl, i can understand the two tops/one sub, but usually, you need at least a 1:1 ratio of subs to tops indoors and 2:1 ratio outdoors.

For the monitors, as directivity (too much or too less), low extension, nor fidelity have any bearing on monitoring for one person, I think anything more than a ported 10" with a single piezo is a overcomplicating things since everything else is more complicated, more expensive, heavier and bigger.

[Bruce Weldy]

The Crown XLS Drivecore has already got a crossover, so to keep things simple I wouldn't get a driverack and go for a manual EQ instead. In regard to the driverack, general opinion appears to be the low end ones aren't very good but the high end are excellent.

Not sure that I'd agree with the general opinion....or even colonel opinion.

The XLS does not have a limiter, so you would have to buy one of those too. I use a DriveRack PA and love it. No issues and it does everything you need. I'd much rather have my crossover in the DriveRack so I have total control.

There are several other pluses to a DriveRack device over a standalone EQ....compression, feedback eliminator, limiter, graphic EQ, parametric EQ, and the ability to save settings - that alone makes it worthwhile, not having to reinvent the wheel everytime you return to a venue that you've been in before.

I bought mine on Ebay, so it doesn't have to be too expensive.

That's my private opinion.....

[djslik]

Well Northern Light is having their Cyber Monday sale right now so I'm going to have to make a decision very quickly.

I have the option of either

Package 1: to run 2 Otop 12's and Titan 48(potentially 2 Titans)
XTI 2000

Package 2: to run 2 Otop 12's, Titan 48 (Potentially 2 Titans), and Jack 10 monitors.
XLS2000 (for the Titans)
XLS1500 (for the Otops)+Jack 10 monitors
DBX DriveRack PA+

Do I need to get a Drive Rack for each amp or will 1 cover both of them?

Now in reference to the Jack as monitors I plan on using them as stand alone speakers for small parties and gigs. House parties and BBQ's would make sense because I don't want to bring everything along. 1 Amp, 2 Jack's, and an ipod make for a really good BBQ or house party without hauling all the gear.

[Chris_Allen]

Not sure that I'd agree with the general opinion....or even colonel opinion.

I've not used one myself, so only relaying information.

The XLS does not have a limiter

It does, but it is only a peak limiter.

I bought mine on Ebay, so it doesn't have to be too expensive.

Yep. Checked ebay, there are a few used Driveracks and a few used ultradrives.

[Chris_Allen]

Do I need to get a Drive Rack for each amp or will 1 cover both of them?

No. You just need the one.

[djslik]

Should I just buy the XTI series of amps and forget the DBX Drive Rack PA+ all together.

[SeisTres]

Should I just buy the XTI series of amps and forget the DBX Drive Rack PA+ all together.

you definitely could as the xti does everything you need to run the tops and subs off a single amp. It is a favorite among forum users here. But just don't get the xti1000 as it struggles even with the lower power drivers. Like this, you would be able to run two tops and two titans (or three if you wanted) and then just power the jack a small, cheap amp.

As it seems you seem fine with running mono, I would build one jack for the smaller parties as it does pretty ok even with one, and anything bigger than that, you bring out the big guns.

[sine143]

Why xls's? for tops it'll be fine, but for subs, why not pick up a cheap iron amp like the behringer ep 2500. you'll get enough power to throw at your subs, and it wont break the bank (although it might break your back)

[chunkylover73]

I use a Crown XLS1500 to power my tops and a Crown XLS602 for my subs. I also use a Driverack PA+ for signal processing. I have absolutely no complaints with this setup, I basically run through the wizard on the driverack before a gig, tweak a couple of things like the crossover and high pass filter (the driverack sometimes does weird things with that) and I'm good to go. I find it excellent for my situation (I play in a cover band where I do my best to mix the sound from the stage) and I've had zero complaints about the sound quality. As you know, the OTops are definitely loud and clear, but eq'ing them is a necessity, and the RTA on the driverack does an excellent job of it.

[Bruce Weldy]

Well Northern Light is having their Cyber Monday sale right now so I'm going to have to make a decision very quickly.

I have the option of either

Package 1: to run 2 Otop 12's and Titan 48(potentially 2 Titans)
XTI 2000

Package 2: to run 2 Otop 12's, Titan 48 (Potentially 2 Titans), and Jack 10 monitors.
XLS2000 (for the Titans)
XLS1500 (for the Otops)+Jack 10 monitors
DBX DriveRack PA+

Do I need to get a Drive Rack for each amp or will 1 cover both of them?

Now in reference to the Jack as monitors I plan on using them as stand alone speakers for small parties and gigs. House parties and BBQ's would make sense because I don't want to bring everything along. 1 Amp, 2 Jack's, and an ipod make for a really good BBQ or house party without hauling all the gear.

I like your plan with this exception...

Instead of the XLS 2000, go with the XLS 1000 for the subs. Bridge it at 4 ohms (yes, it is designed to do this and it will not hurt the amp), it puts out 1100 watts which gives you enough power and some headroom. I have it and use it this way. It's a 9 pound amp for less than $300 and I'd take it over a heavy behringer any day.

And as stated before.....only one driveRack is necessary.

[djslik]

The only other question I have is whether or not the XTI has the ability to use an RTA mic. I'm still new to EQ'ing so it will help me when setting up the system. As of right now the only advantage I see to the XTI is that I can eliminate the DBX Drive Rack, but I won't give up the drive rack if I can't use an RTA mic.

[Bruce Weldy]

The XTI doesn't do any automatic EQing. So, no RTA mic.

You can't go wrong with the DriveRack. But, read up on it before pushing buttons. Map out just what you want to do. Fire it up in the house and get used to the menus. Heck, I even set crossover points, etc. before it ever got hooked up. Make sure you know how to save the program. You don't want to get it set just right, then power everything down .... did that, lost all the settings I had just made. Now, I remember save as soon as I make any changes.

Learn it before you use it....it'll be much easier.