Members jgthatsme Posted August 7, 2011 Members Share Posted August 7, 2011 I have an all-RCF setup at the moment. My FOH is a pair of RCF ART705AS subs with a pair of RCF ART522A tops. My monitors are four RCF ART322A cabinets. Occasionally I'll use the 322A cabinets for FOH. Sound for the band is in mono but pre-recorded music during cocktails, dinner, breaks, or when I DJ is typically in stereo (assuming the room is right). I do not use an active external cross-over. Rather, I simply use the active cross-over built into the subs. The subs are good but whether I use the 522A or the 322A cabinets for FOH, the tops seem to outrun the subs. I have a couple big DJ gigs on the horizon where I already know they'll want the music louder than I would normally play at a wedding. If I center cluster the subs to try to get a little more out of them but still run sound in stereo, will it do me any good? Other threads which have discussed center-clustering lead me to believe the sound is in mono, or there's an active external cross-over in the mix and the subs are driven by the summed mono output of the cross-over. I'm not sure if the sound out of the subs must be exactly the same or if slight differences will cause some problems or cause me not to achieve all I could by coupling them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RoadRanger Posted August 7, 2011 Members Share Posted August 7, 2011 Most recorded music has the low bass centered anyways so no prob. I'd try center clustering them for sure. Just looking at the specs I'd guess that you'd need another pair of them subs to keep up with them tops. That pair of subs would probably keep up with my little RCF310A's but the 522A's and even the 322A's are quite a bit louder. My general rule of thumb is to have about 2x the power in subs vs tops unless the subs are highly efficient horn loaded cabs. For outdoors double that again . YMMV . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jgthatsme Posted August 7, 2011 Author Members Share Posted August 7, 2011 Yes - I go by that same rule of thumb: Subs must be at 2x the tops. Unfortunately, RCF stuff is friggin expensive and they discontinued the 705AS subs this year. I either have to buy another pair of something that no longer exists or get rid of mine and purchase four of the new model which I definitely don't want to do as I'm closing on my new home within the next couple of weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members WynnD Posted August 7, 2011 Members Share Posted August 7, 2011 Quadrupling is good if you really love that disco sound. I don't personally like overkill sub volume and run my tri-amp system flat. (That is EQ'd for a flat response.) Even then, you do need more power on the subs. Probably not quite double seeing that most efficient subs are running about 97 db splash and most efficient tops are running about 99 db splash. (and a true doubling of power is only a 3 db increase and a human perceived doubling of power is 10 db.) My hf horns are rated 110 db splash. (Only got a 75 watt/channel amp on them. Someone is bound to say that's not enough power. I started gigging with 100 watt PA systems. The 1100 watts I run with my tri-amp system seems like a lot to me. Indoors for vocal only I'm running a couple of EV SX-100s with less than 400 watts. Very clean, but not as efficient.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RoadRanger Posted August 7, 2011 Members Share Posted August 7, 2011 I started gigging with 100 watt PA systems.Was that enough to scare away the dinosaurs that roamed the earth back then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members abzurd Posted August 7, 2011 Members Share Posted August 7, 2011 Coupling does help. I do it from time to time with those same subs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrcpro Posted August 7, 2011 Members Share Posted August 7, 2011 Center clustering will help, but if it's a high SPL DJ gig nothing you do will save you with those subs. If your primary focus is bands and weddings you might consider renting. That would be the most economical way of doing it if these are infrequent gigs. All my DJ gigs are in loud clubs and I wouldn't even think about going into any of these rooms with just a couple of 15" subs. I don't like being angrily yelled at all night, and I do like return engagements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members drumstix Posted August 7, 2011 Members Share Posted August 7, 2011 From what I hear the 522a's have some pretty decent bottom end to them. So I might set the crossover setting on the subs on the lowest setting. (90 or 80hz) I forget what those subs offer for settings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members abzurd Posted August 7, 2011 Members Share Posted August 7, 2011 From what I hear the 522a's have some pretty decent bottom end to them. So I might set the crossover setting on the subs on the lowest setting. (90 or 80hz) I forget what those subs offer for settings. I've never found my 522's to have a lot of low end and nothing close to "thud". That said, I leave my 705's at 80 Hz setting (they have 80-100-120). Frankly, I can't really tell the difference between the 3 most of the time. In theory I suppose it would take some of work off the subs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Audiopyle Sound Posted August 7, 2011 Members Share Posted August 7, 2011 If you need them I still have 2 new ART705AS in inventory. Also have the caster boards, covers, etc. Are you hitting the limiters on the pair you now have? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members WynnD Posted August 8, 2011 Members Share Posted August 8, 2011 Was that enough to scare away the dinosaurs that roamed the earth back then You should have seen those dinos!!!! Don't think I can gig forever, but I'm hoping to have another 20 years in me. Or have Mick Jagger quit before I do. (Les Paul was still gigging the week he died at 94) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RoadRanger Posted August 8, 2011 Members Share Posted August 8, 2011 You should have seen those dinos!!!! Don't think I can gig forever, but I'm hoping to have another 20 years in me. Or have Mick Jagger quit before I do. (Les Paul was still gigging the week he died at 94)Heck, the reunion band I provided for last weekend broke up in 1967 I think and they still rocked it ! I ain't much behind you, the last dino carcass was still warm on the day I was born . I'd like to see some of these new bands with their 27 monitor mixes rock out a house with only a Shure Vocalmaster with two gassy tubes and a couple blown drivers . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.