What is your thoughts? Also DJ Life Clothing drops December 18th 5:00pm EST View all the t-shirts - Hoodies - Stickers that are coming out @ shopdjlife.com/
@@asole100 I should make a video on it. But it's more investing into the company similar to if you went to the bank and got a 20k loan to start a business. Instead I just bought it all out right. Nice tax write as well.
@Dj Rick Webb I completely agree. Heard the same thing from some friends with their own business. Would be a great video btw! Some people trying to start their own business should know.
I totally agree with you that most column arrays suck! Matter of fact they all suck they either fall flat when it comes to bass or they have drop offs or the processing isn't crispy enough. I love the EV's high end hate the flatness of the bose ( but the bose was not made for DJs, it was made for musicians) but they all suck when I comes to bass including DB technologies (specifically the double 12 1203 and 1002 models) However, I am a fan of the very imperfect IP300. I think you do not need 2 subs and 2 ip300s at the front of the room. That is the point of a column's arrays wide dispersion right? You should only need one. I would run one sub and one ip300 next to my rig and another ip300 (no sub) at the sound drop off point 50 feet away for longer rooms. I unlike most djs do not feel the need to have a symmetrical looking setup as long as it sounds good (clients also do not care) but for those that do care, just run some powerful 10s over your 15 inch subs. 1 Ip300 over 1 Yamaha dxs 15, with one IP300 on a stand (using your wireless system) for side fill is more than enough for most rooms (100-175 guests) because the bass will travel during dinner and cocktail and the wide dispersion of the the Ip 300.
I don't think they suck. I think what DJ's and bands don't understand about column arrays is that they are not designed to throw sound. They are designed for wider sound dispersion. These aren't meant for throwing sound, it's designed to more evenly distribute sound over a wider area. I like using them for smaller wedding because you create a hot spot of sound on the dance floor and the back of the room isn't too loud for casual conversation. You just have to understand the different applications.
finally someone who understands and has noticed what's going on. i only ever hear a lot of bass, pressure, etc. not suitable for weddings and birthday parties anyway, but to supply the people with a wide range of efficiency. what a dj always does will is completely uninteresting, people say so, but most of them don't understand it anyway
It's all about application people. You need to know the specs. on the speaker(s) and use them to that specific situation. Also you get what you pat for- don't pay for cheap equipment and wonder why you can't get better sound. Do your homework and pay a little more. You will not regret it afterwards!
Just a quick scan of the comments section, I didn't notice anyone addressing the "Science" of why these types of speakers don't cut it. A couple things . . . No horns. Horns are designed to throw sound at distance. While some of these units have some pretty awesome tweeters, they are not really designed to Throw Sound. Lack of Height. You touched on this a little. Mid-Highs and Highs should ALWAYS be at 6', (1.8 m) Minimum. Low frequencies should be "Felt". High frequencies should be "Heard". When the Highs are hitting the crowd, bodies quickly absorb those frequencies leaving nothing for the back. My 2¢
I've used a pair of Evolve50 column arrays for about 2 years, since they came out. Never had problems with them, even outdoors having to cover an area of about 60 wide by 100 long. Where they do drop off in higher volumes is in the low end. I just set them up on top of 2 18"subs and problem solved, good height and perfect bass to go with them. Side note. I've been working in Broadcast for about 7 years. From camera op to engineering assistant and even audio. I went to school for it and learned audio from an audio engineer with multiple Emmy awards. Trust me, I know what I'm doing and the Evolve50's are great.
Yeah that's basically what I pointed out that you need to add subs to get them higher and add base. But now your like 5k into a DJ system. When you could buy traditional tops and only spend 3k. Wiser investment possibly
@@donatfairs204 I only ad subs when it's outdoor or a bigger crowd than the Evolve50's are meant for. Low frequencies drop about 3db every 10 feet. Specially outdoors where there's no walls for it to bounce off of.
Depends on use I suppose. I have The RCF EVOX J8's and I have no complaints. They look a 100 times better than the ol tripods and sound just as good. Now would I do large venues with them...probably not. But do they beat the old school PA speakers for smaller gigs...absolutely. They spread better and dont have the hot spots. This video goes along with the "facades suck" video. That is just YOUR opinion.
100% agree I have the evox 8. Perfect for weddings. Would I use em for sweet 16s no. Hip hop wedding? Maybe depends on size. Most weddings you want to use back fills cause the people sitting don’t need loud music. Agree with the facade too whoever is gonna use whatever and all that matters is the music
Bruh... Thank you for this video!!! I was looking into and considering possibly purchasing a column array setup... or two. I'll stick with my four(4) EV EKX 15P mains. You nailed this topic. Well done.
The IP300s are not horn loaded tweeters. There's only so much you can do with these size speakers without horn loading. They are intended to have super even coverage 180 degrees around them, and they do that extremely well. I use them for events that need background sound or speech where radial coverage is important. They just aren't built for distance projection. They sound phenomenal in their coverage range, and are very very even 180 degrees across the front of the speakers, they just aren't set up for typical dance floor stuff. The ip300s are much better for fills around a room (or outdoors) for ambient music or speech, particularly when people are moving around the area rather than seated or standing in fixed areas. Other concern using ip300s near each other is comb filtering due to the broad coverage, but again, they're really better suited to setting up around a room or event for audience fill.
Thanks Rick! I've been using a pair of Evolve 50's for almost a year. Mostly 150 person weddings. Love them overall. Brides, planners, venue reps all love the aesthetic, and many tell me (placebo or not) that they sound better than boxes on sticks. Sure, I have my ETX 15sp subs for when I need more than the Evolve's can give me on low end--but that's going to be true with any column array setup that isn't crazy expensive. One thing you didn't mention is that column arrays are much less susceptible to feedback--and since every FOB or MOH giving a speech/toast likes to stand right in front of the speaker with the mic 18" from their mouth, I've had WAY less feedback issues. I also can hear my Evolve's from behind the speakers way better than I could with a traditional point-source, which is helpful for beat matching for me. All in all they're the best for me--but you're not wrong about the height. I wish I could get them higher. Never crossed my mind to put the ELX200-12's under them--that could be a future investment. I was already thinking about getting one or two of those to put beside one of the Evolve's, turning off the sub on the other Evolve to get rid of the power-alley/nulls you get with stereo subs. Anyway--keep the videos coming.
A pair of the RCF EVOX 12, coupled with one RCF 18" 708 sub is the magic combination. Process it with the DBX Driverack PA2 and my clients are happy and so impressed!!! I also use HK Audio Nano 300 speakers as a monitor for large events and that system also serves as a separate system or even a backup if necessary.
A true column array is defined in part by the vertical spacing of the drivers. Just because a cabinet looks like a column array, does not mean it will exhibit column array characteristics including tight vertical pattern control (for more consistent SPL front to back), wide horizontal coverage and a much higher immunity to feedback. Just like any SOS, there are both good and bad. The RCF EVOX line is where column arrays start to sound good, now include the FBT CS1000, RCF NXL-24a, dB Technologies ES1002 and 1203 and you have plenty of good choices. Want better then check out Renkus Heinz IC Live and RCF NXL 44-a and you will forget about your PRX’s pretty quickly. Keep in mind some of the column arrays that don’t fit your needs are the perfect solution for acoustic live performances, more so than POS speakers.
Say hey Scott! I’m an acoustic guitarist one man band. Been staring (on RUclips video) at the Db Technologies es1203. Could you recommend this or something even better? I’ll be playing in NYC for packed crowds both indoors and on rooftop lounges. To keep up with the pressure of playing for totally hip and cool New Yorkers I HAVE to have something totally amazing. Can you help me? Thanks for your thread!!!
@@ironman1290 Hi Ed - if you want to stay with the column array form factor, the DB1203 and LD Systems MAUI 44 G2 are both very formidable, and standouts among a crowded field of units in the under $ 2,500 range. I don't know your budget, but a step above that would be the LD Systems P900 ($4k per unit). Both of these LD Systems would fit the description of "have to have something totally amazing". And if that Isn't enough, you can always go with the L'Acoustics Syva and Syva Low system. This is not a self powered system and would REQUIRE one of their processed amps (e.g. LA4X). One Syva, one Syva Low and LA4X amp would set you back close to $ 18k - $20k (maybe more). Hope this helps.
I couldnt agree less. Now I would agree the ones you tested are not the greatest. But there are a few now that do actually sound great. I am currently rocking the JBL PRX ONE and this thing is a room shaker and great for small to mid sized rooms and can easily handle up to a room of 80 people, (With just one Speaker) and if you pair them up you can handle couple of hundred. I DJ every week with these and I have no complaints. Plus entire setup and breakdown is under 15 minutes. Plus I can carry everything in one trip in and out.
Great wisdom Rick! I just cannot justify moving to columns after investing in QSC 12s and KSC112 sub. But I do envy the space saving and convenience that columns offer. That’s something some part time DJs without dedicated wagons to transport and big garages to store may consider as important.
I have been using the EVOX J8 (pair) for a few months now, very happy with them. Great sound quality and more than enough bass output. I have had no problem hitting the back of the room at 120'. Much more bass output than the evolve 50s. Very quick and easy setup as well. Wide coverage pattern for the tops, 120 degrees. Had been using an ELX200 powered set (10" tops and 12" subs powered) much prefer the J8's. Easier setup, less weight. My only complaint is the tops do not go as high frequency wise as traditional horn loaded tops. But still very clear.
Scott Gleisner I use the same setup with 2 J8 for most of my wedding gigs less than 250 ppl. Walk in and setup is a breeze, don’t need to lug around 15-18” subs. Never had an issue with drop off since coverage of the venue is awesome on these. If I want to add bump, I bring an extra 12-15” sub, but the my type of gigs aren’t “club” playlists. I’ve had the privilege of doing a 400+ wedding in a museum, but I was fortunate enough to be able to borrow 5 Meyer sound upm and upj speakers and only need 2 15” subs. Everyone needs to try the column array and see if it fits the type of music and events. I have had a great .5 year on my 2 j8 and my back as well as my minivan thanks me for investing in the RCFs.
I love the RCF Evox J8s for weddings. The white version looks great and if you put a PAR in front of the J8 it lights up with the color of the PAR. I did a wedding with about 250 people and they worked quit well. Weddings are not like EDM for high school kids who want the room to rattle. At a wedding you want the dance floor to sound great and the people visiting off of the dance floor to be able to have conversation. Just EQ the J8 properly and you will be VERY happy with them. Also, transporting the RCF Evox J8 is soooo easy to transport and set up.
I'm 55 years old and old-school. Just converted back to vinyl. I always wanted a speaker system like those array design speaker because they are easy to carry around. I just picked up a pair of 18 inch subwoofers to go with my 4 conventional 12 inch and 15 inch horn speakers. For me the bigger the better. I'm a rack mount guy and digital keyboard player. Going for the pro sound 🔊 Great information!
I always watch you and other RUclips DJ's talking about what speakers to use and always reviewing new setups, but there one brand I've probably never seen any of you use and I'm curious as to why. QSC. Aside from the pair of Evolve50's I use, QSC is my go to brand. The k12.2 tops are great, loud, clear and even at higher volumes and projecting far, they don't destroy the people up close. If you wanted to make a compact system, I'd go for a pair of k10.2 or k8.2 tops with either a ks112 or a ks212 sub. Even with a ks212 sub and a k8.2 top, you'd barely be just over the price of a single evolve 50 while getting more output and more reach with the QSC setup.
Here is mine and a lot of other DJs problems with qsc. It sounds auto tuned. Qsc messes with the sound in there processing and makes it sound a lot different then the raw track. Other then that its clean and loud it just fs with the audio
Depends on your needs, I own over 8 systems and EV50's is a awesome tool to have for weddings under 200 people but to say they suck is silly. I do over 120 weddings a year and my 4 white EV50's carry 80% of my weddings while looking and sounding great.
The volume drop that you say you've experienced is a bit strange for an array system. Are you sure you didn't had any phase cancellation problem instead?
We didnt I ran multiple trials in open parking lots with my buddies prior to using. We noticed it but since we were blasting at full volume I didnt consider how drastic that would effect lower volume usage cases like cocktail/dinner
The volume drop is idd caused by the angled speakers. I use the bose L1’s, love them, but you have to work differently with them. I spread them out, so they fill the room, don’t need to “throw” the sound. It’s an other way of working, doesn’t sound as bassy though. But unfortunatly, here in Belgium, we have really have “a lot of complaining neighbours” 😂
@@DJRickWeb they aren't designed for outside as sound engineer in the biz for over 35 years you're wrong on this one Rick. The big black box speakers at every wedding isn't necessary these days or pleasing to the eye. Check the photographer pics and look how they shoot around your system when they can. As a young DJ I think you post things just to get a reaction. The EV50's EQ'ed correctly are great wedding speakers.
I run two Evolve 50s and an EKX 18 sub, I have no issues with volume or body to my sound. The height of the poles on the Evolves is not an issue, they are menat to throw sound and that they do well.
I’ve just been helping on an install and we used some of the RCF ones as front side fills and they throw very well for the size of the cabinets. I don’t think they will replace a normal point source just yet so we used some Meyers for mains but for delays or fills these are an amazing buy.
How about the turbosound ip3000 and the ld systems maui 44? Thinking about buying one of those (gravitating more towards the maui 44 because of the extra sub option).
Oh, great to know, i thought they would have better performance due to their specs (sub size, spl, number of drivers and overall height). I personally dont care about portability at all, I usually cary dual 18" subs and 15" tops, a very large dj booth, scenarium, totems, moving heads and even a small generator. The thing here is performance, aestethics and dummyproof setup. Have you ever heard the hk linear systems? I wanna be near to an hk Lsub 2000 A and a linear5 112xa and I thought of a maui44 + maui44 se system to archieve that
Thanks Rick. I spoke with Mojoe this week as well. Took the plunge and bought a pair of RCF J8. I rarely do larger than 200, and when I do, I have a much larger rig to do so. Personal preference is important, and heavy lifting is out for me, back surgery. I also returned my alto stealth haha. They’ll be delivered Tuesday I gig with them on Friday. I’ll let you know.
I bought the RCF Evox 12's. Better base, solid sound, adjustable poles, and can use them for small or larger crowds. A little larger, and more $, but still easy to move around and don't need large inventory of speakers for different kinds of events.
I’m right there with you! Bass!!!! You need bass for dance music period. We have been needing a video like this for a while thanks Ricky keep those record spin bra
@@stevenswall The Evolve bass cabs actually sound dam impressive for a 12"...but it's no 18 and the tops are what really ruins it. If people like pointing their tops directly into other's ears, have fun with that.
Yeah I am aware. But when you start getting into that money discussion.... you really got to consider what your getting versus what your spending. We are all here to make money so investments are crucial
DJ Rick Web maybe selling your prx speakers can get you one of these things. Problem is you need more money for amps. But note this A rental company owner (loves Jbl and hates l acoustics) admitted that the syva was impressive. Note he normally uses jbl vtx so i would def take advice from him
Hi Rick Web. I have the Ev Evolve 50 and I use them on smaller event around 100 people. 100+ people I use my Bose L1 Model 2 with B2 base module (I own two of those ) with the Bose T4 Tonemach I love the speakers and I use them on most of my events. When I got bigger party 250, 300 people I'm adding two of my Bose F1 woofers to the L1 or I make some changes to the Bose F1 base bracket and I can install my QscK 12.2 on the top of the Bose F1 woofers and that sounds really good. Love your videos . Thank you.
I saw the EV evolve 50 and was excited about getting them, however I ended up with the RCF evox J8's and love them. I supplement them with a single 18" JBL sub, and end up with the extra bass reflex for the songs that demand it at gigs.
I have EV Evolve 50s and I have rocked 200+ weddings for over four hours. So to say they don’t work is ridiculous. Y’all can keep your subs and tops. I would love to have some for school dances which I occasionally still do. However, I use the EVs because they are easy to set up and don’t overtake the room from a wedding aesthetic aspect. That’s my niche and selling point to brides who are looking for fun without the DJ overpowering their decor. Thank you for your videos, Rick. I always appreciate your insights because you seem to do much research. Cheers!
That's funny I counter sell brides on that saying they may look nice but they dont sound as good as mine. But were both in the right mind of it's all about the sell really.
I have a bunch of speaker systems and the EV Evolve 50 are fantastic for most smaller to medium sized events. They sound warm, cover well, and are not harsh to listen to if they are EQed properly. I see these DJs bring in all the speakers on a stick configurations, and most of the time they are too harsh for the room, they don’t dial back the high end and just want gut busting bass which is good for some applications but not all. Transport for the Evolves is fantastic, they get plenty loud for my events, just know you will not fill a gym or large a hall with them. DJs need to stop worrying about what others have and use what works for them. I’m not going to buy all new heavy speakers and subs when the room doesn’t need that, or the client doesn’t really care about the newest tech in the speaker. Aesthetics matter to most people that’s why I really enjoy the Evolves, and they work very well for me. Research the physics of speakers and you will be amazed that 18s are sometimes not the best solution, when a band pass 12 can handle the same situation. Coupling subs add 3db of gain, most DJs don’t do that, which I don’t know why. To each there own.
I love my RCF EVOX J8s, and I've used them from small to medium sized venues, but I also have the 18 subs with 15 tops for larger venues. What works for some, may not work for all....just saying, if opinions were that important, I think the Adj event table sucks.....but, that's just me...Rock On Rick, you're still alright in my book....lol
I own Turbosound IP3000 system and absolutely love them.. 7ft tall in height, the throw is amazing and they have more bass than the competition out there.. I would highly recommend checking in to the IP3000 system over everything that you have named
I am so glad that you stuck your neck out and spoke truth to the realities of column arrays. My application is different, solo acoustic performance versus DJ, but I think your findings are spot on. 1) Tiny speakers don't throw sound. 2) Speakers designed for 180 Degree coverage in effect cover a smaller listening area. 3) Traditional tops are made from better parts (a quality compression driver and a quality woofer). I could geek out more, but I won't. Well done, and I totally agree with your findings.
Thank you Rick for a good honest review of line array speakers. I was almost going to get a line array system but after this video I will hold off and use my qsc system.
I enjoy nerding out about speakers! I heard the Evolve 50s at a wedding, and my take as a sound engineer is that overall, they sound great! However, there's only so much thump you can get out of a 12" woofer, and in the large room they were playing in, there just wasn't the visceral impact felt in the floor. The Evolve 50s are meant to be light and portable (per EV reps on the EV roadshow a few years back). For a smaller room, or applications where you don't need impactful bass, they'll be just great! For larger rooms, I'd probably supplement them with some 18s. I use all EV ETX speakers, and the ETX-18SP subs deliver that visceral impact. If you really want the best in column speakers, L'Acoustics SYVA is probably the best one... And it comes with a price tag to match (about $30,000)!
Will 2 x JBL 1000 or 750 Partybox do the job ? To be honest i have to x JBL 310 on stands. And at small partys they work well. Only problem is that i can not connect more than 2 at the same time.
I use (2) J8’s for my 6-piece band. He’s right in that for normal weddings and club gigs of 150 or less, it works very well. But for some of the bigger clubs we do up in Boston (200-300) they cants handle the crowd and we end up adding (2) 15” subs, a couple smaller LD arrays and some 15” tops. I honestly wish the Evox 12’s were much cheaper as those would likely work better. Overall, when the crowd is the right size, the J8’s sound amazing and are very well balanced. You just might want to consider something else for larger crowds.
These types of speakers are made for small parties. I totally agree I recently was in the mark for something like these I went with the RCF 945 you don’t need a sub for the small gigs and when I have a bigger gig I just add my RCF subs.
I've been DJing since 1998 so I guess 25 years, and I just don't understand why anyone would expect a few 3 or 4 inch speakers on top a 12" sub to be as loud or powerful as a traditional 15" mid with a horn and subs. I think these are nice for cocktail hour or a ceremony or what I like to do is put one of them on the other end of the room. No matter what speakers you have the sound is always louder 15 or 20 feet out than 40 or 50 so by putting an array on the other end of the room you can better balance the sound throughout the room, which is definitely helpful during dinner when ppl can't move away from the dance floor but you need the sound loud enough to fill the room
Portability is the key here. But let's forget about it at the moment, would you choose vertical arrays or point source 10s with some 15s basses? For example FBT X Pro 110 and 115?
I also have RCF J8's and like them but as most of my gigs are 150 or less.... I have wondered what 2 x RCF J8's would sound linked per side.....Anybody tried them paired? However, I also have QSC K10'2 paired with KW 181 for those bigger gigs
We have been rockin a pair of Bose L1 model2s with 4 B2 subs for 6 years. True portable line arrays. They deliver a nearly 180 degree, 7 foot high sound wave. They are clean & clear from the front all the way to the back of house. Never had them above 25%. Drawbacks...very expensive & they eliminate conversation areas during prime-time.
Hey Rick, I’ve got the turbo sound ip3000, ip 300s and a pair of evolve ev 50s and they all play a role in my arsenal as needed. On the sub end I use my jbl prx 818 or qsc ks212c as a supplement when needed. If using regular tops I use my turbo sound iq12s. Yes like you i reinvest a bit into my equipment. I like having the right setup for each event I do. Don’t believe in lugging a tank when just a canon will do. Array wise, you should check out the LD systems 500 curve ts that comes with the 15inch dub and variable height sats. I think that will change your mind on portable line arrays. Keep up the great videos and stay safe😷
Would you guys stack JBL SRXs 15 inch with JBL PRxs 15 inch woofer? I was going to get the column arrays since I can easily fit in my car but the $$ i rather get the JBL SRXs with PRxs woofers, 15 inch I don't have room for the 18 inch.
I would use the srx812. But it's really not a great match in terms of output. The srx is like 4 times louder than the prx subs. You better off saving some money and just buying prx tops to go with the prx subs
I heard 2 Ev 50 m a few weeks ago I was floored. I myself have anger issues with numerous array speakers but theseEv 50 M are finally the cream of the crop 😮
My problem, after 2 gigs with the Evox 8 is, no mids and power alley, no bass on the dancefloor but sideways. I put them side to side with my 710a mk4 and 702as clustered in the centre, and yes, the evox looks better, but in sound quality and pressure the classic setup wins big time. A better option might be the DB ES 1203 in stereo setup. Bigger drivers, 4 inch, and 1 double 12 sub.
Es1203 packed with power just awesome clean low ends and the tops impeccable ... just got 2 of them and they are clean and have more than enough headroom to rock crowds upto 250 people on the dancefloor easyy... My previous sound system consisted of 2 prx 625s and 4 martin audio passive 18inch subs ... So give them a try ... as a modular system its banging
Nice video, thanks. I have compared most of all the systems you mentioned and tend to agree. That being said the only column array systems that approach replacing the capacity of a traditional/typical point source set for 200-300 people are the RCF EVOX 12, and the DB Technologies ES1203. Also and not normally mentioned is the LD Systems Curve 500 TS system, great bang for the buck with 15inch sub. Overall you get what you pay for, buy once cry once I’d say. Thanks again.
Totally agree. I work with the Bose L1 Model ll a lot and I think the same. For medium events I think it work great, but not if you're looking for a lot of sound pressure level, they can't. Also, for 85dbspl you get a pretty good quality, not the best, but good. For big events, big equipment.
Ok, so I have one Alto truesonic ts215 and I am thinking on buying another speaker. I am thinking on buying a Mackie thump 15 because the sound is adjustable and I think is probably better than my ts215. The price range is around $400 to $500. What do you recommend?
I would recommend saving your money. You wont see a noticable increase over your current system. The cheapest next step up would be the avante a15s. But really should work towards jbl prx ev ekx or qsc k12.2s
Save the cash is a great response from Dj Rick Webb. Plan out your investment rather than getting an ok choice just because you can afford it now. If you can do a few more gigs on what you currently have then buy a rig that will be much better for most of your future gigs, it would be worth the wait. I made the mistake of going from one mediocre pair to another before learning the lesson. Just got rid of my starter pair+sub on reverb. Cleared room in my storage and haven’t missed the mackies at all.
Archie Alvarado Thank you! Yeah that totally makes sense. If I want to make an investment it has to be an actual inversamente where I see a massive change in sound If I have a better system. Instead of blindly buying any equipment that I think is going to help only because I have some money to spend. So yeah thank you both. My equipment still works so I can do a few more gigs and save some money and buy something better.
I own the Evox 8 and J8. I can tell you that the bass is not slamming. It's there but keep in mind that all you have pushing bass is two 12 inch woofers. They are really woofers and not subwoofers. A K12 would give you the same bass if it was on the floor. So there are many gigs where a sub will be needed with a small array system. I use a 15 inch RCF sub but an 18 would be even better. I went with a portable array for several reasons. #1 right out front is portability. I love how easy they are to transport, setup and breakdown. The 2nd reason is that you do get good sound. A well designed array tends to throw further and has slightly wider coverage 120 vs 90 degree). I measured mine with a sound meter and got a whopping 6 to 9 db more at 50 feet over a regular top and sub. I stood at the back of the ballroom during the wedding toast. For the first time we could all hear the toast and bridal party speeches very clearly.
I bought 2 Chinese vertical array Master-G Pro 210. They cost me $170 each, they are clearly targeted as a home use sound system, and the build quality is not the best. But doing some modifications to the enclosure they turned being better than the Jbl eon one. I use them as cocktail speakers and they do their job, i got my investment back in 2 gigs
Everything is dependent on your needs. What size room? How many people? What kind of music? How loud of volume is appropriate? How much weight do you want to carry or put up on stands? This isn’t a one size fits all sort of situation, so any advice only applies to certain situations.
This. This is the most relevant (to me) video I have seen. I am building and condensing (my setup time) and the 50s are an easy, initial choice. After hearing this, makes me reconsider. The hack not mentioned is just set the subs on a lift box....but a better option I am thinking is get some towers and better speakers. Maybe more setup time, and that's sad, bc the evolve 50 loooed to be perfect. After this vid, their mistake totally makes sense. Sucks, cause I was absolutely ready to pull the trigger on the 50s. Now I am thinking of a different plan.
I just sold my evox j8's. The j8's sound muddy with the bass because of plastic cabinets. They do work pretty well for people upto 100. I took a chance and gave them a try. It was easy to setup with just one xlr to left and one xlr to right but Iam moving back to traditional top and sub setup now. I know it takes more time to setup than evox j8's and people actually dont care but as a DJ its my job to give them full range sound.
Thanks for all your help this year for my gigs. Merry Christmas., I would like to own one for small rooms and background music. those things are light and really cool.
I just purchased the Bose L1, the bass sucks, but I use me Qsc ksub with the Bose L1, and it sounds great. I use this for a small party, 150 and less. Large party I have my QSC 12.2 & 1801 sub
I have the turbosound ip2000. they have different modes. when it is time to dance I set it to club mode and I crank up the bass, the treble and lower the mid. sounds great. these are great for live performances using the live mode. I've gotten so many compliments compared to when i had my qscs and qsc sub.
@@branislavxxx7249 how much better depends on your application. The hdm45 has much more power and hits lower because it has a 15 in woofer compared to a 12.
I have the Evox8 and 12s and I can attest that the Evox 12s are worth the money. I was very hesitant to buy em because of the price. But I got a good deal $3500 for the pair with bags and they were worth every cent.
DB es 1203, save your money they clip in no time, I own a pair, sold my Evox 12s big mistake as they were far superior to th es 1203, be warned they are overrated over priced and under powered!
I sold a pair of Evox 12s and bought a pair of DB Tech ES1203. ES 1203’s are much louder than the Evox 12s with better mids and highs. I push the ES 1203s with no clipping.
I sold live pro audio gear for 12+ years and worked as a musician, sound tech, and DJ. I would never recommend the compact line array speakers for DJs but they do work extremely well in certain applications. The compact line arrays work great for the following criteria: Small 1 to 4 piece bands playing in smaller venues. As you stated, they don’t throw sound as well in a large room with people standing/dancing but they work phenomenal for even coverage in a room where people are sitting and listening to a small band or acoustic performance. If you notice a lot of ads and pictures of the compact array speakers usually show a solo musician performing. This is an optimal system for the solo artist or small band to load and setup for the proper gig. I also agree with your opinion on the EV arrays. I’ve seen several groups and a solo artist take 1 in a small building to perform inside a church and it worked and sound great. The height of the top array on the EV is lower but if you think about it that is usually a non issue when in the proper venue. Most people are sitting so coverage is still optimal.
Thanks for confirming that EV Evolve 50 is The Best, in the array series. Wish they handle that height issue. That being said, I like my two 15 inch speakers just fine, teamed with my 15 inch sub.
Ip300s are phenomenal fam. The throw and the spread of sound is so loud and clear. Make sure u turn them up on the speaker themself and not just with your mixer. I love them! Not for u Rick lol but anyone else in the comments lurking .
What is your thoughts?
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I still think you love to blow money on all kinds of gear.😉😂😭 All jokes aside, it would be interesting to know what Brian S Redd thinks.
@@asole100 I should make a video on it. But it's more investing into the company similar to if you went to the bank and got a 20k loan to start a business. Instead I just bought it all out right. Nice tax write as well.
How about Bose f1 812 array?
@Dj Rick Webb I completely agree. Heard the same thing from some friends with their own business. Would be a great video btw! Some people trying to start their own business should know.
I totally agree with you that most column arrays suck! Matter of fact they all suck they either fall flat when it comes to bass or they have drop offs or the processing isn't crispy enough. I love the EV's high end hate the flatness of the bose ( but the bose was not made for DJs, it was made for musicians) but they all suck when I comes to bass including DB technologies (specifically the double 12 1203 and 1002 models)
However, I am a fan of the very imperfect IP300. I think you do not need 2 subs and 2 ip300s at the front of the room. That is the point of a column's arrays wide dispersion right? You should only need one.
I would run one sub and one ip300 next to my rig and another ip300 (no sub) at the sound drop off point 50 feet away for longer rooms.
I unlike most djs do not feel the need to have a symmetrical looking setup as long as it sounds good (clients also do not care) but for those that do care, just run some powerful 10s over your 15 inch subs.
1 Ip300 over 1 Yamaha dxs 15, with one IP300 on a stand (using your wireless system) for side fill is more than enough for most rooms (100-175 guests) because the bass will travel during dinner and cocktail and the wide dispersion of the the Ip 300.
I don't think they suck. I think what DJ's and bands don't understand about column arrays is that they are not designed to throw sound. They are designed for wider sound dispersion. These aren't meant for throwing sound, it's designed to more evenly distribute sound over a wider area. I like using them for smaller wedding because you create a hot spot of sound on the dance floor and the back of the room isn't too loud for casual conversation. You just have to understand the different applications.
That's not how dispersion works.
Lame!!!
Tell them. they are beauties. awesome
finally someone who understands and has noticed what's going on. i only ever hear a lot of bass, pressure, etc. not suitable for weddings and birthday parties anyway, but to supply the people with a wide range of efficiency. what a dj always does will is completely uninteresting, people say so, but most of them don't understand it anyway
It's all about application people. You need to know the specs. on the speaker(s) and use them to that specific situation. Also you get what you pat for- don't pay for cheap equipment and wonder why you can't get better sound. Do your homework and pay a little more. You will not regret it afterwards!
Just a quick scan of the comments section, I didn't notice anyone addressing the "Science" of why these types of speakers don't cut it.
A couple things . . .
No horns. Horns are designed to throw sound at distance. While some of these units have some pretty awesome tweeters, they are not really designed to Throw Sound.
Lack of Height. You touched on this a little. Mid-Highs and Highs should ALWAYS be at 6', (1.8 m) Minimum. Low frequencies should be "Felt". High frequencies should be "Heard". When the Highs are hitting the crowd, bodies quickly absorb those frequencies leaving nothing for the back.
My 2¢
Whats that? 😆😆😆
This is accurate.
I've used a pair of Evolve50 column arrays for about 2 years, since they came out. Never had problems with them, even outdoors having to cover an area of about 60 wide by 100 long. Where they do drop off in higher volumes is in the low end. I just set them up on top of 2 18"subs and problem solved, good height and perfect bass to go with them. Side note. I've been working in Broadcast for about 7 years. From camera op to engineering assistant and even audio. I went to school for it and learned audio from an audio engineer with multiple Emmy awards. Trust me, I know what I'm doing and the Evolve50's are great.
Nice review. But the whole idea of array systems is to be compact set up. So now you need to add more subs. Kinda defeats the whole idea.
Yeah that's basically what I pointed out that you need to add subs to get them higher and add base. But now your like 5k into a DJ system. When you could buy traditional tops and only spend 3k. Wiser investment possibly
@@donatfairs204 I only ad subs when it's outdoor or a bigger crowd than the Evolve50's are meant for. Low frequencies drop about 3db every 10 feet. Specially outdoors where there's no walls for it to bounce off of.
Depends on use I suppose. I have The RCF EVOX J8's and I have no complaints. They look a 100 times better than the ol tripods and sound just as good. Now would I do large venues with them...probably not. But do they beat the old school PA speakers for smaller gigs...absolutely. They spread better and dont have the hot spots. This video goes along with the "facades suck" video. That is just YOUR opinion.
100% agree I have the evox 8. Perfect for weddings. Would I use em for sweet 16s no. Hip hop wedding? Maybe depends on size. Most weddings you want to use back fills cause the people sitting don’t need loud music. Agree with the facade too whoever is gonna use whatever and all that matters is the music
Bruh... Thank you for this video!!! I was looking into and considering possibly purchasing a column array setup... or two. I'll stick with my four(4) EV EKX 15P mains. You nailed this topic. Well done.
The IP300s are not horn loaded tweeters. There's only so much you can do with these size speakers without horn loading. They are intended to have super even coverage 180 degrees around them, and they do that extremely well. I use them for events that need background sound or speech where radial coverage is important. They just aren't built for distance projection. They sound phenomenal in their coverage range, and are very very even 180 degrees across the front of the speakers, they just aren't set up for typical dance floor stuff. The ip300s are much better for fills around a room (or outdoors) for ambient music or speech, particularly when people are moving around the area rather than seated or standing in fixed areas. Other concern using ip300s near each other is comb filtering due to the broad coverage, but again, they're really better suited to setting up around a room or event for audience fill.
Thanks Rick! I've been using a pair of Evolve 50's for almost a year. Mostly 150 person weddings. Love them overall. Brides, planners, venue reps all love the aesthetic, and many tell me (placebo or not) that they sound better than boxes on sticks. Sure, I have my ETX 15sp subs for when I need more than the Evolve's can give me on low end--but that's going to be true with any column array setup that isn't crazy expensive. One thing you didn't mention is that column arrays are much less susceptible to feedback--and since every FOB or MOH giving a speech/toast likes to stand right in front of the speaker with the mic 18" from their mouth, I've had WAY less feedback issues. I also can hear my Evolve's from behind the speakers way better than I could with a traditional point-source, which is helpful for beat matching for me. All in all they're the best for me--but you're not wrong about the height. I wish I could get them higher. Never crossed my mind to put the ELX200-12's under them--that could be a future investment. I was already thinking about getting one or two of those to put beside one of the Evolve's, turning off the sub on the other Evolve to get rid of the power-alley/nulls you get with stereo subs. Anyway--keep the videos coming.
A pair of the RCF EVOX 12, coupled with one RCF 18" 708 sub is the magic combination. Process it with the DBX Driverack PA2 and my clients are happy and so impressed!!! I also use HK Audio Nano 300 speakers as a monitor for large events and that system also serves as a separate system or even a backup if necessary.
Agreed. Glorified home-theater speaker setup. My 15" Yamahas can bang a room even without a subwoofer.
A true column array is defined in part by the vertical spacing of the drivers. Just because a cabinet looks like a column array, does not mean it will exhibit column array characteristics including tight vertical pattern control (for more consistent SPL front to back), wide horizontal coverage and a much higher immunity to feedback. Just like any SOS, there are both good and bad. The RCF EVOX line is where column arrays start to sound good, now include the FBT CS1000, RCF NXL-24a, dB Technologies ES1002 and 1203 and you have plenty of good choices. Want better then check out Renkus Heinz IC Live and RCF NXL 44-a and you will forget about your PRX’s pretty quickly. Keep in mind some of the column arrays that don’t fit your needs are the perfect solution for acoustic live performances, more so than POS speakers.
How much are those RCF NXL 44-a? As much or more than the PRX's?
Say hey Scott! I’m an acoustic guitarist one man band. Been staring (on RUclips video) at the Db Technologies es1203. Could you recommend this or something even better? I’ll be playing in NYC for packed crowds both indoors and on rooftop lounges. To keep up with the pressure of playing for totally hip and cool New Yorkers I HAVE to have something totally amazing. Can you help me? Thanks for your thread!!!
@@ironman1290 Hi Ed - if you want to stay with the column array form factor, the DB1203 and LD Systems MAUI 44 G2 are both very formidable, and standouts among a crowded field of units in the under $ 2,500 range. I don't know your budget, but a step above that would be the LD Systems P900 ($4k per unit). Both of these LD Systems would fit the description of "have to have something totally amazing". And if that Isn't enough, you can always go with the L'Acoustics Syva and Syva Low system. This is not a self powered system and would REQUIRE one of their processed amps (e.g. LA4X). One Syva, one Syva Low and LA4X amp would set you back close to $ 18k - $20k (maybe more). Hope this helps.
@@hibbasc1 This totally helps. Thanks a million, Scott!! Cheers…!!!
@@ironman1290 Glad to hear it!!!
I couldnt agree less. Now I would agree the ones you tested are not the greatest. But there are a few now that do actually sound great. I am currently rocking the JBL PRX ONE and this thing is a room shaker and great for small to mid sized rooms and can easily handle up to a room of 80 people, (With just one Speaker) and if you pair them up you can handle couple of hundred. I DJ every week with these and I have no complaints. Plus entire setup and breakdown is under 15 minutes. Plus I can carry everything in one trip in and out.
I own a pair and yes, they sound awesome
Great wisdom Rick! I just cannot justify moving to columns after investing in QSC 12s and KSC112 sub. But I do envy the space saving and convenience that columns offer. That’s something some part time DJs without dedicated wagons to transport and big garages to store may consider as important.
I have been using the EVOX J8 (pair) for a few months now, very happy with them. Great sound quality and more than enough bass output. I have had no problem hitting the back of the room at 120'. Much more bass output than the evolve 50s. Very quick and easy setup as well. Wide coverage pattern for the tops, 120 degrees. Had been using an ELX200 powered set (10" tops and 12" subs powered) much prefer the J8's. Easier setup, less weight. My only complaint is the tops do not go as high frequency wise as traditional horn loaded tops. But still very clear.
Scott Gleisner I use the same setup with 2 J8 for most of my wedding gigs less than 250 ppl. Walk in and setup is a breeze, don’t need to lug around 15-18” subs. Never had an issue with drop off since coverage of the venue is awesome on these. If I want to add bump, I bring an extra 12-15” sub, but the my type of gigs aren’t “club” playlists. I’ve had the privilege of doing a 400+ wedding in a museum, but I was fortunate enough to be able to borrow 5 Meyer sound upm and upj speakers and only need 2 15” subs. Everyone needs to try the column array and see if it fits the type of music and events. I have had a great .5 year on my 2 j8 and my back as well as my minivan thanks me for investing in the RCFs.
I love the RCF Evox J8s for weddings. The white version looks great and if you put a PAR in front of the J8 it lights up with the color of the PAR. I did a wedding with about 250 people and they worked quit well. Weddings are not like EDM for high school kids who want the room to rattle. At a wedding you want the dance floor to sound great and the people visiting off of the dance floor to be able to have conversation. Just EQ the J8 properly and you will be VERY happy with them. Also, transporting the RCF Evox J8 is soooo easy to transport and set up.
I'm 55 years old and old-school. Just converted back to vinyl. I always wanted a speaker system like those array design speaker because they are easy to carry around. I just picked up a pair of 18 inch subwoofers to go with my 4 conventional 12 inch and 15 inch horn speakers. For me the bigger the better. I'm a rack mount guy and digital keyboard player. Going for the pro sound 🔊
Great information!
@@eagleray4675 Electro-Voice would be the only self powered speakers l would consider.
I always watch you and other RUclips DJ's talking about what speakers to use and always reviewing new setups, but there one brand I've probably never seen any of you use and I'm curious as to why. QSC. Aside from the pair of Evolve50's I use, QSC is my go to brand. The k12.2 tops are great, loud, clear and even at higher volumes and projecting far, they don't destroy the people up close. If you wanted to make a compact system, I'd go for a pair of k10.2 or k8.2 tops with either a ks112 or a ks212 sub. Even with a ks212 sub and a k8.2 top, you'd barely be just over the price of a single evolve 50 while getting more output and more reach with the QSC setup.
Here is mine and a lot of other DJs problems with qsc. It sounds auto tuned. Qsc messes with the sound in there processing and makes it sound a lot different then the raw track. Other then that its clean and loud it just fs with the audio
Thanks for the video my man. I'm in the process of buying new speakers. Keep the videos coming
Just buy EKK's. 12's and 18's
Depends on your needs, I own over 8 systems and EV50's is a awesome tool to have for weddings under 200 people but to say they suck is silly. I do over 120 weddings a year and my 4 white EV50's carry 80% of my weddings while looking and sounding great.
The volume drop that you say you've experienced is a bit strange for an array system. Are you sure you didn't had any phase cancellation problem instead?
We didnt I ran multiple trials in open parking lots with my buddies prior to using. We noticed it but since we were blasting at full volume I didnt consider how drastic that would effect lower volume usage cases like cocktail/dinner
The volume drop is idd caused by the angled speakers.
I use the bose L1’s, love them, but you have to work differently with them. I spread them out, so they fill the room, don’t need to “throw” the sound.
It’s an other way of working, doesn’t sound as bassy though. But unfortunatly, here in Belgium, we have really have “a lot of complaining neighbours” 😂
@@DJRickWeb they aren't designed for outside as sound engineer in the biz for over 35 years you're wrong on this one Rick. The big black box speakers at every wedding isn't necessary these days or pleasing to the eye. Check the photographer pics and look how they shoot around your system when they can. As a young DJ I think you post things just to get a reaction. The EV50's EQ'ed correctly are great wedding speakers.
Just heard the RCF's at a wedding and they sound tinny, you need bass at ear level, sub woofers just can't produce mid lows at distance.
I run two Evolve 50s and an EKX 18 sub, I have no issues with volume or body to my sound. The height of the poles on the Evolves is not an issue, they are menat to throw sound and that they do well.
I’ve just been helping on an install and we used some of the RCF ones as front side fills and they throw very well for the size of the cabinets. I don’t think they will replace a normal point source just yet so we used some Meyers for mains but for delays or fills these are an amazing buy.
Thanks goodness for this video. Was in two minds about replacing my sound system with columns array but I will be doing 12" top and 18" bass.
How about the turbosound ip3000 and the ld systems maui 44? Thinking about buying one of those (gravitating more towards the maui 44 because of the extra sub option).
It's a no go for me unless your events are under 100 people
Ip3000’s are heavy... I think you lose some portability for the performance gains on those.
Oh, great to know, i thought they would have better performance due to their specs (sub size, spl, number of drivers and overall height).
I personally dont care about portability at all, I usually cary dual 18" subs and 15" tops, a very large dj booth, scenarium, totems, moving heads and even a small generator.
The thing here is performance, aestethics and dummyproof setup.
Have you ever heard the hk linear systems? I wanna be near to an hk Lsub 2000 A and a linear5 112xa and I thought of a maui44 + maui44 se system to archieve that
@@69sound81 maui 44 isnt that great in my opinion but haven't heard that other one before that you mentioned
Have you ever used the Bose L1 with B2 subs? They were the best speakers I have ever used. Great for up to 175 people. I now have the RCF evox J8's.
Do you have issues with feedback? We've been having lots of feedback issues in our band since moving to a collum\line array...
Depends on the brand you got. Certain ones are worse than others
Thanks Rick. I spoke with Mojoe this week as well. Took the plunge and bought a pair of RCF J8. I rarely do larger than 200, and when I do, I have a much larger rig to do so. Personal preference is important, and heavy lifting is out for me, back surgery. I also returned my alto stealth haha. They’ll be delivered Tuesday I gig with them on Friday. I’ll let you know.
I bought the RCF Evox 12's. Better base, solid sound, adjustable poles, and can use them for small or larger crowds. A little larger, and more $, but still easy to move around and don't need large inventory of speakers for different kinds of events.
I’m right there with you! Bass!!!! You need bass for dance music period. We have been needing a video like this for a while thanks Ricky keep those record spin bra
Don't they have woofers in the base of these things? (Not that it's necessarily well engineered... Most companies don't care about bass extension.)
@@stevenswall The Evolve bass cabs actually sound dam impressive for a 12"...but it's no 18 and the tops are what really ruins it. If people like pointing their tops directly into other's ears, have fun with that.
Excellent review!.........I got two nano lucas 300 and recently a nano lucas 608 and though I’m not a DJ, I find your review very informative!
Try the L-Acoustics Syva. Quite a bit more expensive, but I have always been impressed with their products
Yeah I am aware. But when you start getting into that money discussion.... you really got to consider what your getting versus what your spending. We are all here to make money so investments are crucial
DJ Rick Web maybe selling your prx speakers can get you one of these things. Problem is you need more money for amps. But note this
A rental company owner (loves Jbl and hates l acoustics) admitted that the syva was impressive. Note he normally uses jbl vtx so i would def take advice from him
Hi Rick Web. I have the Ev Evolve 50 and I use them on smaller event around 100 people. 100+ people I use my Bose L1 Model 2 with B2 base module (I own two of those ) with the Bose T4 Tonemach I love the speakers and I use them on most of my events. When I got bigger party 250, 300 people I'm adding two of my Bose F1 woofers to the L1 or I make some changes to the Bose F1 base bracket and I can install my QscK 12.2 on the top of the Bose F1 woofers and that sounds really good. Love your videos . Thank you.
I saw the EV evolve 50 and was excited about getting them, however I ended up with the RCF evox J8's and love them. I supplement them with a single 18" JBL sub, and end up with the extra bass reflex for the songs that demand it at gigs.
I have EV Evolve 50s and I have rocked 200+ weddings for over four hours. So to say they don’t work is ridiculous.
Y’all can keep your subs and tops. I would love to have some for school dances which I occasionally still do. However, I use the EVs because they are easy to set up and don’t overtake the room from a wedding aesthetic aspect. That’s my niche and selling point to brides who are looking for fun without the DJ overpowering their decor.
Thank you for your videos, Rick. I always appreciate your insights because you seem to do much research.
Cheers!
That's funny I counter sell brides on that saying they may look nice but they dont sound as good as mine. But were both in the right mind of it's all about the sell really.
I have a bunch of speaker systems and the EV Evolve 50 are fantastic for most smaller to medium sized events. They sound warm, cover well, and are not harsh to listen to if they are EQed properly. I see these DJs bring in all the speakers on a stick configurations, and most of the time they are too harsh for the room, they don’t dial back the high end and just want gut busting bass which is good for some applications but not all. Transport for the Evolves is fantastic, they get plenty loud for my events, just know you will not fill a gym or large a hall with them. DJs need to stop worrying about what others have and use what works for them. I’m not going to buy all new heavy speakers and subs when the room doesn’t need that, or the client doesn’t really care about the newest tech in the speaker. Aesthetics matter to most people that’s why I really enjoy the Evolves, and they work very well for me. Research the physics of speakers and you will be amazed that 18s are sometimes not the best solution, when a band pass 12 can handle the same situation. Coupling subs add 3db of gain, most DJs don’t do that, which I don’t know why. To each there own.
We have the RCF TTL6, NXL24, and the Evox 8. They all rock for their purposes. Especially the TTL6’s!
I love my RCF EVOX J8s, and I've used them from small to medium sized venues, but I also have the 18 subs with 15 tops for larger venues. What works for some, may not work for all....just saying, if opinions were that important, I think the Adj event table sucks.....but, that's just me...Rock On Rick, you're still alright in my book....lol
I own Turbosound IP3000 system and absolutely love them.. 7ft tall in height, the throw is amazing and they have more bass than the competition out there.. I would highly recommend checking in to the IP3000 system over everything that you have named
If the bottom of the array was 7ft tall we be talking but the bottom of the array is at like 5ft.
Hello Rick...
Have you now heard the Turbosound iNSPIRE iP3000's...???
If so, what is your opinion...???
Haven't heard
How about the @LD Systems Maui 44 G2 ??
They didnt exist when i made the video. Of course if you seen recent videos they are an exception!
I am so glad that you stuck your neck out and spoke truth to the realities of column arrays. My application is different, solo acoustic performance versus DJ, but I think your findings are spot on. 1) Tiny speakers don't throw sound. 2) Speakers designed for 180 Degree coverage in effect cover a smaller listening area. 3) Traditional tops are made from better parts (a quality compression driver and a quality woofer). I could geek out more, but I won't. Well done, and I totally agree with your findings.
I got the RCF and im so happy with them!!! The RCF is the way to go!!! It blew my mind, how the sound!!!
8 or 12
@@DJRickWeb i got the j8!!!
Thank you Rick for a good honest review of line array speakers. I was almost going to get a line array system but after this video I will hold off and use my qsc system.
stick with what works
these arent line arrays. these are column arrays. big difference.
I got the EVOX 12s. They are pricey but amazing with a driverack eq amazing. Even without EQ amazing
Have you tested ld system curv ts?
Demoed at expo. Not bad
I enjoy nerding out about speakers! I heard the Evolve 50s at a wedding, and my take as a sound engineer is that overall, they sound great! However, there's only so much thump you can get out of a 12" woofer, and in the large room they were playing in, there just wasn't the visceral impact felt in the floor. The Evolve 50s are meant to be light and portable (per EV reps on the EV roadshow a few years back). For a smaller room, or applications where you don't need impactful bass, they'll be just great! For larger rooms, I'd probably supplement them with some 18s. I use all EV ETX speakers, and the ETX-18SP subs deliver that visceral impact.
If you really want the best in column speakers, L'Acoustics SYVA is probably the best one... And it comes with a price tag to match (about $30,000)!
What about the rcf evox 12.. that has a 15" sub
As mentioned it isnt on my no go list
Do you still recommend the Maui 5 go for ceremonies and cocktail? Thinking about buying 2. Would 2 also be enough power for 50-100 people?
Absolutely. And 2 for just cocktail and ceremony can do 200+. I only use one for up to 150 person ceremony/cocktail.
DJ Rick Web ok cool, I want to pair them with the denon prime go and psnl battery backs for my qlxd mics
How about rcf nxl24aor nil44. ?
Those dont count as column arrays. Those are just arrays lol
@@DJRickWeb ip 300 still drop even on loud mode ? how far they drop when you blast them ?
Rcf their trow are great. If you pair this with a sub they sound great.
,
What are your thoughts on the Evox 12?
I said them in the video
DJ Rick Web my bad. I thought you talked about the Evox 8. I will have to rewatch.
Will 2 x JBL 1000 or 750 Partybox do the job ? To be honest i have to x JBL 310 on stands. And at small partys they work well. Only problem is that i can not connect more than 2 at the same time.
Hi nick, sorry for sounding like a noob but what's the best between Ld Maui 44G2 vs 2 Yamaha DZR 15 ?
Not sure never heard the yamaha
I use (2) J8’s for my 6-piece band. He’s right in that for normal weddings and club gigs of 150 or less, it works very well. But for some of the bigger clubs we do up in Boston (200-300) they cants handle the crowd and we end up adding (2) 15” subs, a couple smaller LD arrays and some 15” tops. I honestly wish the Evox 12’s were much cheaper as those would likely work better.
Overall, when the crowd is the right size, the J8’s sound amazing and are very well balanced. You just might want to consider something else for larger crowds.
I have one question about the Bose, JBL & LB. Do they have it?
These types of speakers are made for small parties. I totally agree I recently was in the mark for something like these I went with the RCF 945 you don’t need a sub for the small gigs and when I have a bigger gig I just add my RCF subs.
I've been DJing since 1998 so I guess 25 years, and I just don't understand why anyone would expect a few 3 or 4 inch speakers on top a 12" sub to be as loud or powerful as a traditional 15" mid with a horn and subs. I think these are nice for cocktail hour or a ceremony or what I like to do is put one of them on the other end of the room.
No matter what speakers you have the sound is always louder 15 or 20 feet out than 40 or 50 so by putting an array on the other end of the room you can better balance the sound throughout the room, which is definitely helpful during dinner when ppl can't move away from the dance floor but you need the sound loud enough to fill the room
Dont raise the cones, just use more boxes? Get a delay line going and time align them
Portability is the key here. But let's forget about it at the moment, would you choose vertical arrays or point source 10s with some 15s basses? For example FBT X Pro 110 and 115?
I also have RCF J8's and like them but as most of my gigs are 150 or less.... I have wondered what 2 x RCF J8's would sound linked per side.....Anybody tried them paired? However, I also have QSC K10'2 paired with KW 181 for those bigger gigs
DJ Services Cornwall they sound great and can handle 250 crowd with no issues. If you like club music then add extra sub.
We have been rockin a pair of Bose L1 model2s with 4 B2 subs for 6 years. True portable line arrays. They deliver a nearly 180 degree, 7 foot high sound wave. They are clean & clear from the front all the way to the back of house. Never had them above 25%. Drawbacks...very expensive & they eliminate conversation areas during prime-time.
Hey Rick, I’ve got the turbo sound ip3000, ip 300s and a pair of evolve ev 50s and they all play a role in my arsenal as needed. On the sub end I use my jbl prx 818 or qsc ks212c as a supplement when needed. If using regular tops I use my turbo sound iq12s. Yes like you i reinvest a bit into my equipment. I like having the right setup for each event I do. Don’t believe in lugging a tank when just a canon will do. Array wise, you should check out the LD systems 500 curve ts that comes with the 15inch dub and variable height sats. I think that will change your mind on portable line arrays. Keep up the great videos and stay safe😷
Would you guys stack JBL SRXs 15 inch with JBL PRxs 15 inch woofer? I was going to get the column arrays since I can easily fit in my car but the $$ i rather get the JBL SRXs with PRxs woofers, 15 inch I don't have room for the 18 inch.
I would use the srx812. But it's really not a great match in terms of output. The srx is like 4 times louder than the prx subs. You better off saving some money and just buying prx tops to go with the prx subs
And about HK POLAR 12?
Whats your view on the Yamaha Stagepas?
I have the stagepas 1k. It's really nice.
ip300 was for ceremony and cocktail hour i used i once as a main not to good for that but perfect for the other two..
I heard 2 Ev 50 m a few weeks ago I was floored. I myself have anger issues with numerous array speakers but theseEv 50 M are finally the cream of the crop 😮
I would love to hear your opinion about ev zlx 12p/15p (size event aplication with and without a sub)
Watch the top beginner speaker video then!
My problem, after 2 gigs with the Evox 8 is, no mids and power alley, no bass on the dancefloor but sideways.
I put them side to side with my 710a mk4 and 702as clustered in the centre, and yes, the evox looks better, but in sound quality and pressure the classic setup wins big time.
A better option might be the DB ES 1203 in stereo setup. Bigger drivers, 4 inch, and 1 double 12 sub.
Dj Rick Web have you tried the ES1203 from db technologies.. what is your take on it if you have heard them ... Thanks
Negative cant seem to get my hands on them
@@DJRickWeb Im gonna hear them out this week on the 21st will let you know ..
Es1203 packed with power just awesome clean low ends and the tops impeccable ... just got 2 of them and they are clean and have more than enough headroom to rock crowds upto 250 people on the dancefloor easyy... My previous sound system consisted of 2 prx 625s and 4 martin audio passive 18inch subs ... So give them a try ... as a modular system its banging
Great video mate. I got burnt with the Jbl
Thanks for sharing your knowledge
What about the Evolve 50M???
Wasn't out yet. But its the same as the 50.
Nice video, thanks.
I have compared most of all the systems you mentioned and tend to agree.
That being said the only column array systems that approach replacing the capacity of a traditional/typical point source set for 200-300 people are the RCF EVOX 12, and the DB Technologies ES1203.
Also and not normally mentioned is the LD Systems Curve 500 TS system, great bang for the buck with 15inch sub.
Overall you get what you pay for, buy once cry once I’d say. Thanks again.
Great commonsense review...thank you, Bobby
Totally agree. I work with the Bose L1 Model ll a lot and I think the same. For medium events I think it work great, but not if you're looking for a lot of sound pressure level, they can't. Also, for 85dbspl you get a pretty good quality, not the best, but good. For big events, big equipment.
I would never use any Bose equipment for an event. I actually disagree with this guy…the ev evolve 50 rocks!
Ok, so I have one Alto truesonic ts215 and I am thinking on buying another speaker. I am thinking on buying a Mackie thump 15 because the sound is adjustable and I think is probably better than my ts215. The price range is around $400 to $500. What do you recommend?
I would recommend saving your money. You wont see a noticable increase over your current system. The cheapest next step up would be the avante a15s. But really should work towards jbl prx ev ekx or qsc k12.2s
Thanks for answering! I am also looking at JBL EON615 they are on sale on a website and do you think that will increase my current system?
Save the cash is a great response from Dj Rick Webb. Plan out your investment rather than getting an ok choice just because you can afford it now. If you can do a few more gigs on what you currently have then buy a rig that will be much better for most of your future gigs, it would be worth the wait. I made the mistake of going from one mediocre pair to another before learning the lesson. Just got rid of my starter pair+sub on reverb. Cleared room in my storage and haven’t missed the mackies at all.
Archie Alvarado Thank you! Yeah that totally makes sense. If I want to make an investment it has to be an actual inversamente where I see a massive change in sound If I have a better system. Instead of blindly buying any equipment that I think is going to help only because I have some money to spend. So yeah thank you both. My equipment still works so I can do a few more gigs and save some money and buy something better.
I own the Evox 8 and J8. I can tell you that the bass is not slamming. It's there but keep in mind that all you have pushing bass is two 12 inch woofers. They are really woofers and not subwoofers. A K12 would give you the same bass if it was on the floor. So there are many gigs where a sub will be needed with a small array system. I use a 15 inch RCF sub but an 18 would be even better.
I went with a portable array for several reasons. #1 right out front is portability. I love how easy they are to transport, setup and breakdown. The 2nd reason is that you do get good sound. A well designed array tends to throw further and has slightly wider coverage 120 vs 90 degree).
I measured mine with a sound meter and got a whopping 6 to 9 db more at 50 feet over a regular top and sub. I stood at the back of the ballroom during the wedding toast. For the first time we could all hear the toast and bridal party speeches very clearly.
I bought 2 Chinese vertical array Master-G Pro 210. They cost me $170 each, they are clearly targeted as a home use sound system, and the build quality is not the best. But doing some modifications to the enclosure they turned being better than the Jbl eon one. I use them as cocktail speakers and they do their job, i got my investment back in 2 gigs
Donde los. compraste?.. En Chile?.. Que tipo de modificación les hiciste?..
@@Amatteus si en Chile, los compre el 2019. Les puse sellante en todas las juntas internas de la caja, porque se escapaba aire. Finalmente las vendi.
Do you still hate them after the release of JBL Eon One MkII and PRX Ones?
To me this was really a very helpful review thank you!
Everything is dependent on your needs. What size room? How many people? What kind of music? How loud of volume is appropriate? How much weight do you want to carry or put up on stands? This isn’t a one size fits all sort of situation, so any advice only applies to certain situations.
Honestly the HK Polar 10/12's are the best arrays I've ever played through.
Bose L1 series has been pretty alright due to the 8 drivers 4 alternating 45 degree to differentiate
Thank you for an honest review. It's very helpful for those looking for this type of speaker system.
So..... Would Three RCF-J8's be better over one RCF-12 ???
Probably
This. This is the most relevant (to me) video I have seen. I am building and condensing (my setup time) and the 50s are an easy, initial choice. After hearing this, makes me reconsider. The hack not mentioned is just set the subs on a lift box....but a better option I am thinking is get some towers and better speakers. Maybe more setup time, and that's sad, bc the evolve 50 loooed to be perfect. After this vid, their mistake totally makes sense. Sucks, cause I was absolutely ready to pull the trigger on the 50s. Now I am thinking of a different plan.
Don't be fooled the EV50's are great speakers for rooms under 200 people and they sound good and look great. Every wedding isn't a night club
I just sold my evox j8's. The j8's sound muddy with the bass because of plastic cabinets. They do work pretty well for people upto 100. I took a chance and gave them a try. It was easy to setup with just one xlr to left and one xlr to right but Iam moving back to traditional top and sub setup now. I know it takes more time to setup than evox j8's and people actually dont care but as a DJ its my job to give them full range sound.
Thanks for all your help this year for my gigs. Merry Christmas., I would like to own one for small rooms and background music. those things are light and really cool.
Did u say they dont have it?
I just purchased the Bose L1, the bass sucks, but I use me Qsc ksub with the Bose L1, and it sounds great. I use this for a small party, 150 and less. Large party I have my QSC 12.2 & 1801 sub
I have the turbosound ip2000. they have different modes. when it is time to dance I set it to club mode and I crank up the bass, the treble and lower the mid. sounds great. these are great for live performances using the live mode. I've gotten so many compliments compared to when i had my qscs and qsc sub.
Man shut up. My skills get me compliments. Fucken lame
I have the RCF J8’s and for a small 100 person event in a not so big room they’re great. I also have the RCF HDM45-A which are hands down a better buy
Agreed the hdm45 is a beast
hdm45a without sub is better than j8 system ?
Yes because they have a 15 in woofer
@@devpatel248 how much better ? Did u try nx45a or art745 ?
@@branislavxxx7249 how much better depends on your application. The hdm45 has much more power and hits lower because it has a 15 in woofer compared to a 12.
I have the Evox8 and 12s and I can attest that the Evox 12s are worth the money. I was very hesitant to buy em because of the price. But I got a good deal $3500 for the pair with bags and they were worth every cent.
Some people in the crowd may like the sanctuary of the drop off zone, so it's good to have it.
Hey sound pros out there. Can I use the columns for a home cinema setup? 8x6 room size
And how about the dB Technologies ES1002?
That's a sweet spot
DB es 1203, save your money they clip in no time, I own a pair, sold my Evox 12s big mistake as they were far superior to th es 1203, be warned they are overrated over priced and under powered!
I sold a pair of Evox 12s and bought a pair of DB Tech ES1203. ES 1203’s are much louder than the Evox 12s with better mids and highs. I push the ES 1203s with no clipping.
I sold live pro audio gear for 12+ years and worked as a musician, sound tech, and DJ.
I would never recommend the compact line array speakers for DJs but they do work extremely well in certain applications.
The compact line arrays work great for the following criteria:
Small 1 to 4 piece bands playing in smaller venues.
As you stated, they don’t throw sound as well in a large room with people standing/dancing but they work phenomenal for even coverage in a room where people are sitting and listening to a small band or acoustic performance.
If you notice a lot of ads and pictures of the compact array speakers usually show a solo musician performing.
This is an optimal system for the solo artist or small band to load and setup for the proper gig.
I also agree with your opinion on the EV arrays. I’ve seen several groups and a solo artist take 1 in a small building to perform inside a church and it worked and sound great.
The height of the top array on the EV is lower but if you think about it that is usually a non issue when in the proper venue. Most people are sitting so coverage is still optimal.
Steve Kelly RICK your boy JoeBunn is all about the EV’s, I’m confident your opinion has changed.
Steve Kelly g
100% agree!! Great for small events! Anything else, use a better box with a horn
What if you were to put a 12" wedge on the floor in between the to arrays just for announcements? ex. signal from mic would go to arrays and wedge.
Thanks for confirming that EV Evolve 50 is The Best, in the array series. Wish they handle that height issue. That being said, I like my two 15 inch speakers just fine, teamed with my 15 inch sub.
That could be something that easily be dealt with by EV. & could make revenue selling replacement piles as upgrades or accessories.
so Rick.....in conclusion, just get a jbl prx rig(prx835 and prx818xlf)? especially for a full classic rock band?
Sounds 0retty awesome to me
what about KS Audio speakers? Have you ever heard about this brand? what is your opinion? can you make a review?
Ip300s are phenomenal fam. The throw and the spread of sound is so loud and clear. Make sure u turn them up on the speaker themself and not just with your mixer. I love them! Not for u Rick lol but anyone else in the comments lurking .
I agree with what you say about the array systems. RCF is great stuff.