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Topic: Active/powered speakers > passive speakers? - Page: 1

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I am thinking about getting into dj'ing just basic house parties and whatnot (nothing serious that requires a $20,000 system) and I'm stuck on choosing speakers. I was thinking of getting a pair of Behringer EUROLIVE B215A's (http://www.cheapdjgear.us/EUROLIVE_B215A_p/b215a.htm) to use. It seems easy to set up and take down which is important as the less stuff I have to carry the better. However, I keep running across passive speakers and they seem to be cheaper speakers except requiring the use of an amp which is more money (about 120-200 from what I've seen so far). Is it worth it to just bite the bullet and buy an amp and a set of passive speakers or are the active speakers worth it? I ask this because I think Behringer sells the same exact speakers but passive for significantly less. Yet if my money is better spent on the active speakers I'd rather go for those.

Sorry I'm a newbie when it comes to equipment as I've always used my uncles dj stuff and never gave much thought into setting it up myself. Thanks in advance for helping.
 
Posted Sun 15 Mar 09 @ 9:16 pm
 
Those speakers you recommended are more than the ones I was looking at which really isn't a good look. I appreciate the idea but I don't really plan on getting too deep into dj'ing as its mainly something I would just do as a hobby not really performing except for the occasional party so I'm not trying to spend but so much on them especially since I need to buy a pair of them. I'm also lost on how to hook them up. I don't have a mixer (was planning on getting a hercules dj controller) so I was wondering how do you connect them to your laptop?


Sorry for all the questions I tried browsing google for instructions on how to hook up dj speakers but couldn't really find anything for active speakers. Do you just connect a wire to an electrical output and then another wire plugs directly into your laptop headphone jack type thing kind of like plugging headphones into an iPod? I was thinking about these http://www.123dj.com/speakers/hifi/jam15.html since it says they have a mp3 hookup and the simpler the stuff is the better. I'm guessing those speakers suck but all I really want are some speakers that get loud enough for about 50ish people and have good bass which those look like they have since they have 15s in them. Good buy or just shoot for the Behringer EUROLIVE B212A's?
 
dont buy technical hifi...cheap ebay company like pyle pro...

i have the behringer b212a and the passive ones, the powered are a great buy, amazing power and quality for the price. to hook up anything, youll need a mixer to a power speaker.
 
Alright good look brah. I'm going to go ahead and get a hercules dj controller then (craigslist or ebay) and just practice for awhile with that. And I knew that tech hifi ones had to be warm garbage just off the price of them but they seemed like the simplest ones to hook up and go. I'm going to go ahead and get the behringer ones and then hopefully onto turntables with timecoded vinyl later on connected to the laptop if dj'ing is for me.


Since I don't want to start a new thread, can you use the hercules mkII to scratch or are those jog wheels just for adjusting pitch like the iCue thing? I want something I can scratch with without breaking the bank as this is quite a steep investment for a high school student on a part-time job budget (min. wage to boot...). I want to go straight to turntables but I know moms will trip especially after she sees the speakers.
 
Only buy carvin's passive products. Have had nothing but problems with powered stuff from them many returns (one unit had to be sent back 3 times before I just said keep it I want a return)

Own some Carvin Passive cabinets never were bad, but I swear they can build amplifiers at all.

I don't really like the berhinger stuff except their little mixers...

We just purchased a set of FBT Hi Maxx 40a's, while they are a higher priced speaker for being a 12" the output is truely amazing. It blows away our JBL Prx 15" Powered cainets in my opion.

www.fbtusa.com dealer i get the from www.springtree.net

This may be out of your budget at about $1000-1100 per cabinet but very well worth it.
 
djblackmahgik,

On this forum people will find it hard to talk about the right product for you and will tend to recommend speakers and equipment they have experience with, these products will be out of your price range eg FBT etc.

Take my advice buy the BEHRINGER EUROLIVE B415DSP speakers their the ones you need.
 
djblackmahgik wrote :
Alright good look brah. I'm going to go ahead and get a hercules dj controller then (craigslist or ebay) and just practice for awhile with that.



Understand that if you buy controllers that have already had the software registered on our site, it cannot be re registerred or transfererd which means you will not get updates or plugins/skins from our site.




You get what you pay for with audio gear whether your a bedroom or pro dj.
If you go pro eventually, you will regret cheap gear imo.
 
From the makers of Mackie.....Tapco TH-15A Thump, I'll be getting a couple of these soon for back up/monitors.
Can't beat the price, good sound for what you pay, overall good reviews.......

http://www.zzounds.com/item--TAPTH15S
 
my 2 cents

buy passive because this stuff gets heavy
 
juanisthebigdog wrote :
my 2 cents

buy passive because this stuff gets heavy


Yeah Juan, and those amps are oh so light weight....lol
 
I run with 2 or 4 of these with LS 608 subs/Yamaha P7000 amp
The key for me is what the drive rack PA does for them.
Support is pissa (good in US), they even sent me new loaners till my black ones were made.
BTW, I hardly ever see the load lamps not to mention clip...ever...





Features Of The Yorkville NX750P Powered Speaker



Ultra-light injection molded Polypropylene construction

Dual purpose full range and wedge monitor format enclosure

Ultra-clear reproduction throughout bandwidth

Lightweight, high efficiency, high tech, 750 Watt Bi-amped power module

Proven TX style processing and component protection

+6dB/-infinity input trim control for individual cabinet level adjustment

XLR and TRS inputs/outputs for easy connection and looping

Multi-input source mixer for direct inputs

Direct microphone input with level control

Two-way overall EQ controls

Light-weight 15" Neodymium Woofer

High quality 1.5" High Frequency driver

Next generation woofer/driver/horn technology

Integrated flying hardware (3/8" threaded holes)

Tough, full length metal grille

Recessed Mixer panel built in



Specifications:
Active or Passive?: Active
Carry Handles: 1 Side Mounted
Covering / Finish: Injection molded Polypropylene
Crossover Frequency: 1400 Hz
Dimensions (W-D-H): 22 x 15 x 32 Inches
Flying Hardware: 2 (Top), 1 (Bottom), 2 (Pullback)
Frequency Response: 50Hz - 26kHz
Grille: Perforated Grille
HF Driver: 1" Throat Ceramic Magnet With 1.5" Polyester Voice Coil
Input Connectors: (4) 1/4" & (3) XLR
LF Driver: 15" Neodymium Magnet With 3" Voice Coil
Max SPL: 127 dB
Weight: 60.2 Lbs
 
juanisthebigdog wrote :
my 2 cents

buy passive because this stuff gets heavy


Bro, the tapcons are only 36 pounds. Like Terry said show me a good Amp that weights 36 pounds.
 
juanisthebigdog wrote :
my 2 cents

buy passive because this stuff gets heavy

Bro, the tapcons are only 36 pounds. Like Terry said show me a good Amp that weights 36 pounds.


Yea I was looking at those as well as the light weight is amazing. I just got done practicing using my uncles stuff and his EV speakers (don't know the name but they are passive and have two 15s in them) were much heavier than I thought but they sound incredible especially the bass. However, the weight and size of them just aren't going to work. I read up some more on the tapcons and they might be my speaker of choice. I just wish there was a spot near richmond VA where I could listen to some of these before purchasing.


Thanks for the advice all I really appreciate it. And I was planning on buying a NIB dj controller so I could use the serial number they include for virtual DJ and get rid of the status under my username.
 
Go to your nearest Best Buy, they carry Tapco.
 
Just my two Cents about TAPCO.....

The THUMP series is nicknamed the LUMP series at my local retailer. Maybe they got a bad run of speakers. But the opinion is they are crap.
The Behringer B212/215 series however is regarded as fairly good stuff.

Personally I use B-52 matrix stuff, and am putting together a passive system with a Makie amp.
 
I swear I have tried a lot of brands. My conclusion was save up the money and buy the best and make sure it has great reviews and will last you for years. I bought the JBL EON G2's (15in.). They are light weight compared to other powered speakers, loud, and reliable. They are the "standard" in the industry.
 
As of this moment I own....two SRM450 Mackies, two SRM350 Mackies, two Impulse1015 Peaveys and two studio monitors DRM-20s by Roland. All of which are active, or self powered, speakers. I have been in several debates about powered vs passive speakers. Here are my thoughts


Passive speakers, when used with the right amp, EQ, crossover, and whatever effects you choose to add are outstanding. However, mess up on the math, and you will blow a lot of speaker baskets.....

Active speaker, the manufacturers have already done the math for you. They might not sound as studio perfect but will give you longer life over the long run. Not to mention in live sound applications the subtleties are lost, especially with a lot of background noise.

Both are a good option if the person setting the system up knows their stuff and does their homework. There is no "wrong" answer to this question.
 
Yep that is what I wanted to say

Being a Novice in this business I sometimes wish I would have purchased Powered Speakers because now that I have Passive it becomes somewhat of a headache.

But it is also a fun challenge to create that perfect sound especially going into all the different buildings that you will be performing at

But either way I think it will have its pros and cons
 
I've had all the current top line gear and have ended up with a passive and active system depending on how I feel on the night, ridiculous I know but hey you only live once.

My active speakers are RCF and my passive system is FBT, Iv'e had the current BOSE equipment, Turbo Sound, Martin, EV, JBL, Nexo, Dynacord, the lot and if your mobile all I can say is go for active stuff it's easier and requires less rack gear and delivers the same results if not even better if your not running an active crossover and two amps with your passive speakers, plus it's cheaper.

If you have one amp and a pair of speakers then that's no problem however if your running a pro system inc an additional amp n active crossover then just go active and have done with it n save yourself the hassle.
 
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