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Amp(s) for Double T39/DR250 Setup

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 12:50 am
by Nordo
As far as sound reinforcement is concerned, this is a real newbie question, so please bear with me. :oops:

I am looking at building two DR250s with two T39s.
Before I commit, I am trying to estimate the all-up cost so need an idea of what amp (or amps) would be needed to power these four cabinets.
Do the T39s need separate amps?
Also what would be a good mixer (10-12 inputs)?

Cheers :)

Re: Amp(s) for Double T39/DR250 Setup

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 1:08 am
by Dan30
Find something that'll do 800w per channel at 4ohms. With this you can run both the DRs and the T39s off of one power amp.

If you're gonna run sound for bands I'd go with a 16 channel. I plan to get a Yamaha one next month.

Re: Amp(s) for Double T39/DR250 Setup

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 1:36 am
by J_Dunavin
For what purpose? Live sound?
One big amp would give a nice easy set up, but for some reason I always prefer separate amps. Whichever way you go, don't forget to add a active crossover.

Re: Amp(s) for Double T39/DR250 Setup

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 3:14 am
by Nordo
Sorry guys, I should have added that the setup will be for a three piece blues/rock band (guitarist/singer; bass; drummer/backing vocals). Will be used in small to medium venues (up to 250 people). Total of 9 to 10 mics.

Another newbie question. Would the active Xover be incorporated in some sort of pre-amp, mixer, processor?

Re: Amp(s) for Double T39/DR250 Setup

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 1:07 am
by osse
Buy a behringer dcx2496, a ipr1600 and ipr3000

If you use only one Amp you will run everything in mono as you need different xover settings on Dr and t39, which is less than ideal, for obvious reasons.

Re: Amp(s) for Double T39/DR250 Setup

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 2:55 am
by Nordo
Thanks.
I've done a bit of research and realised I need an active crossover and two stereo amps.
Thanks for the recommendations. :D

Re: Amp(s) for Double T39/DR250 Setup

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 6:32 am
by Grant Bunter
Nordo. Look at overseas for the amps. The peaveys mentioned above have switchmode power supplies, so will plug straight in to our 240V. They can be landed for less than the ebay starting price on Aussie ebay. And their weight is significantly different to my 35kg (each) Jands 920's.
Actually, look at this thread:
http://billfitzmaurice.info/forum/viewt ... 43&start=0
I think I worked out in a post there that you could land the 1600 WITH DSP for cheaper than the start price here...

The best price I've seen so far for the DCX in Aust is on ebay, around $340, but haven't looked right into that yet myself.

Re: Amp(s) for Double T39/DR250 Setup

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 8:30 am
by osse
Itsnew2me, Do you mean that the American models will work with 240 without modifications??

Re: Amp(s) for Double T39/DR250 Setup

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 12:49 pm
by LEVLHED
+1 for the Peavey/DCX recommendation!
I don't know about the power supply part, maybe go hunting for answers on the Peavey forum.

Re: Amp(s) for Double T39/DR250 Setup

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 2:22 pm
by Grant Bunter
osse wrote:Itsnew2me, Do you mean that the American models will work with 240 without modifications??
So Sorry for bad info guys and gals.
It must have been another amp I was looking at around the same time.
Units are not multi power, so you need a unit particular to your countries power requirements, according to the Peavey website.
Such a shame...
They are cheap as chips in the USA

Re: Amp(s) for Double T39/DR250 Setup

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 3:07 pm
by LEVLHED
before I posted I took a quick google but did not find anything conclusive.
I did see mention of changing/removing a jumper and changing the fuse. The Peavey forum is going to be your best bet...or just a call to their service dept.

Re: Amp(s) for Double T39/DR250 Setup

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 4:44 pm
by Nordo
Years ago I bought some amps (sub plate amps) from the States. I replaced the transformers with 240v ones. I probably did an overkill on the transformers, but they cost more than the amps. And I bought the transformers from the manufacturer. :shock:

I thought most electronic gear these days either would run on any input voltage, or you could dial in your voltage on the back.

Re: Amp(s) for Double T39/DR250 Setup

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 5:04 pm
by Gregory East
Xti amps are omnivorous. Pretty nifty with the inboard processing they.have there's no need for another processor.

Don't forget monitors.

EQ is mandatory. Call me oldfashioned but I can't imagine tweaking EQ on a gig without manual sliders.

Those Yamaha desks with compressors on a few channels come recommended.

Re: Amp(s) for Double T39/DR250 Setup

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 9:29 pm
by Titanium Hand
Gday Nordo, I'm in Australia too.
Gregory East wrote:Xti amps are omnivorous. Pretty nifty with the inboard processing they.have there's no need for another processor.
I heeded Gregory's advice along with others and went for the Crown XTi 2000. Its a Great package and as I bought it at run out prices was scored for a song. I only required a replacement cord from Jaycar which was $12.95. I was originally looking at the XLS models until I was alerted to the power problem.
You may also consider Parts Express ( I shopped AudioSavings via ebay) I emailed them requesting a special order 240v unit for the XLS 1500, they happily obliged, still way cheaper than AUS prices.

Have you worked out where you will be purchasing your Drivers?

Re: Amp(s) for Double T39/DR250 Setup

Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 2:14 am
by Grant Bunter
Nordo,
What are you using now? Can you salvage anything from your current rig?
Funnily enough, I'm highly likely to go the same way as you, 2 x T39's and 2 x DR250's.
I will also do 4 x Wedgehorn 8's a little further down the track. If I needed to do more after that I would add 2 more T39's. (Then if I went crazy I would double all the FOH)

I went at our band's (my) PA a little the wrong way around, maybe.
So far, I have a rack with 31 band graphic for each FOH and Aux send, in 3 dual 31 band EQ's,
2 dual channel compressor/limiters, and three separate FX units, one over L and R mains (basically reverb) and the other 2 assignable (say delay for Vocals and ambience over drums).
Add a CD (actually a DVD) player and that's 13 rack units filled.
Yet to get a processor for speaker management, but I'm thinking the BBE DS26.
It seems, if you get the right DSP amps, you don't need active crossovers also.
Now, the bonus is, a mate gave me a Soundcraft spirit live 16 channel desk.
16 into stereo or summed mono with 4 aux sends. With 4 vocalists in our band wanting individual sends, managing FX becomes tricky.
(16 channels also just covers our 5 piece band, if I leave out the CD player lol.)
It's in a roadcase. He replaced it with a spirit FX for him, same configuration, but effects are on board, same chip used by Lexicon. Handy as, rack mountable.
Now the FX16II is out, better yet. $1250ish here. Look at it!

I've used yamaha 16 channels desks, and a whole heap of others too, still like soundcraft best. If you can find something similar with more sub groups however, that is what I would go for instead...