Need advice on finishing up my SR system

[Kfilloon]

Need advice on finishing up my PA system

I have 2 Eminence DEFINIMAX™ 4018LF 18 inch sub speakers mounted in 2 reflex cabs
Nominal Basket Diameter 18", 457.2mm
Nominal Impedance* 8 ohms
Power Rating**
Watts 800W
Music Program 1600W
Resonance 32Hz
Usable Frequency Range 36Hz - 0.2kHz
I have a QSC PLX 3402 powering the two subs 700 watts per channel @ 8 ohms. I have a DBX 223XL 2 way crossover and a DBX EQ. I want to use this system to power our bands practice sessions in a 24’ X 30’ basement. We play heavy rock, mic everything, use Roland v drums and also DI the Ampeg SVT 7 bass guitar rig. I need to build some mid high cabs to go with the subs and amp I have. I also have a QSC RMX 850 power amp to run the mid high cabs. What would be the best speaker, horn and xo setup for the top end? I’m thinking a 12 inch 2 way would do the job. The subs sound good XO at around 100hz. Any advice from the pros here would be great.
Thanks, Ken

[jefffluker]

Re: Need advice on finishing up my SR system

Twin 12 2-way with a 2" compression horn.

[Kfilloon]

Re: Need advice on finishing up my SR system

Twin 12 2-way with a 2" compression horn.

Thanks for the reply
I'm not sure but, wouldn't that set up over power my single 18 inch subs in the small room were playing in?
Also making a choice on drivers has been a real challenge. So far the Eminence Kappalite 12 inch 3012HO and the B&C 12PLB76 seem like good drivers for the midrange. I'm clueless on what brand compression driver and horn to use for the top end.
Ken

[wg_ski]

Re: Need advice on finishing up my SR system

A 2x12/2" works well with 4 TH18's. You would want more subwoofage with those. Or go ahead with them and never have to upgragde tops.

Every B&C product I've touched has been worth the money - subs, mids and tweets. If you're looking for performance, they are a great place to start. Eminence Delta Pro 12 is a really good budget midbass. But don't use anything less if you're doing anything serious. Selenium is the bomb for a low budget HF driver (1" or 2"). But 1" B&C's in the $125-200 price range can be safely crossed over lower than the $50 Seleniums.

[Kfilloon]

Re: Need advice on finishing up my SR system

This system will never leave my basement. All of the venues we play at have their own systems.
How about this set up?

B&C 12PLB76 Mid driver
Selenium D220ti compression driver
H6512 waveguide
PXB2:1K6 crossover
L- Pad for fine tuning

Thanks, Ken

[wg_ski]

Re: Need advice on finishing up my SR system

I'm sure it would work. The weak link will be the crossover - off the shelf crossovers never sound as good as they could. If there is any possibility of going active between LF and horn in the future, you will probably want to do that. It's much easier to dial in an active crossover and equalizer than to force an off the shelf passive to work right. Unless you already know how to mod them. If you already know how to build (and measure) crossovers, I would build 4th order - starting with text book values and then modifying the woofer roll-off Q so that it gets rid of the breakup rise. This is so much easier to handle in processing gear ahead of the amps.

Getting a passive crossover "right" will make the difference between it sounding like an $300-400 speaker and sounding like the $900 speaker that it could.

[Hackomatic]

Re: Need advice on finishing up my SR system

If budget is not part of the equation, then the B&Cs are great . . HOWEVER, I would highly recommend using the Eminence Delta Pro 12's wg_ski mentions . .outstanding bullet proof driver . . and spend the difference on an amp and active crossover or DSP unit. You will be much better off that way and have gear that is pretty obsolete proof and usable with other speaker combos if that need arises.

Seems like a whole lotta speakers for a 24 x 30 room! ;)

[Kfilloon]

Re: Need advice on finishing up my SR system

I want to say thanks to all that has posted.
I have had a change in plans for the build and decided to take your advice on tri amping the system.
One of my band mates had a set of hardly used kappa pro 15a's so, I also changed my mind on the compression drivers and horns. I know most have said the 12" mid driver would sound better and I may try that in the future.

But for now here is the new list:

Kappa pro 15a mid range
B&C DE-250 compression drivers
QSC PL-000446GP waveguide
DBX EQ
3 way active crossover
AMPS:
QSC RMX 850 horns
Crown xls 1500 mids
QSC PLX 3402 on subs

Someone mentioned that's a lot of speakers for a 24x30 room but we have rehearsed this way before and it sounds Killer!
You don't have to crank it all the way up to sound good.
I have the cabs built and will be loading drivers first of the week. I will post my thoughts on how they sound together and any issues that may arise in trying to tune the system. I can post pics if anyone is interested.
If anyone has more advice or suggestions feel free to post I'm all ears.

Thanks again,
Ken

[Kfilloon]

Re: Need advice on finishing up my SR system

Thought I would post a few pics of the project.

[sn95]

Re: Need advice on finishing up my SR system

Looks good

[Hackomatic]

Re: Need advice on finishing up my SR system

Do the little port holes get ports?

[Kfilloon]

Re: Need advice on finishing up my SR system

Do the little port holes get ports?

Do you mean plastic inserts?

[Kfilloon]

Re: Need advice on finishing up my SR system

I had a chance to fire these speakers up today.
So far I'm quit impressed, the Mid Top cab sounds good Xo at 2.8K.
Right now the EQ only has a little pulled out at 400 Hz everything else is flat.
Looking forward to experimenting more.
Ken

[Hackomatic]

Re: Need advice on finishing up my SR system

Do you mean plastic inserts?

yes