Soundtech - any good?

[james on bass]

Is Soundtech any good, or is it bottom of the barrel?

 

My singer is looking at updating our PA (finally) and was looking at a couple of Soundtech bins - 15", 6" and horn. Price seemed quite cheap - are they cheap because they are crap or are they decent?

[Crescent Seven]

I've seen quite a few of them around, used by karaoke guys and party DJ's. They sound pretty good for that application.

I bought an empty Soundtech 15" box from a karaoke guy a few years back. I can't speak for how it sounded with stock drivers, but the box itself was heavier than {censored} and built like a brick {censored}house.

C7

[tylytle]

Back in the mid 90's i had 2, 1 18 subs and 2, 215 w/horn cabinets.

 

They sounded alright. They aren't bottom of the barrel, maybe a little less than half of the barrel. LOL

 

I would compare them to JBL's cheaper stuff.

[abzurd]

The "PS" series amps have a decent reputation ( I love my PS802). From what I've seen of their speaker offerings however, I'd move on. Not bottom of the barrel, but their probably stacked atop the likes of Nady and Kustom on the bottom.

[agedhorse]

Some was pretty good (Eminence cast frame drivers, plywood cabinets) and some were pretty crappy. It depends on which models.

[Singin' Dave]

 

The "PS" series amps have a decent reputation ( I love my PS802)

 

 

Sorry to hijack a bit, but I'm curious about these PS amps, particularly the PS800 vs. the PS802. Both one rack space (nice) and light (~15lbs - nice!) and the same power (400W/ch @ 4ohms), but what's the difference between the two and how are they?

 

I have heard their cabs and was not impressed (though I likely heard some lower end models)

[Guest Anonymous]

 

Originally posted by Singin' Dave Sorry to hijack a bit, but I'm curious about these PS amps, particularly the PS800 vs. the PS802. Both one rack space (nice) and light (~15lbs - nice!) and the same power (400W/ch @ 4ohms), but what's the difference between the two and how are they? I have heard their cabs and was not impressed (though I likely heard some lower end models)

 

I kind-of thought the PS800 is a 2U amp?

[tlbonehead]

Originally posted by agedhorse Some was pretty good (Eminence cast frame drivers, plywood cabinets) and some were pretty crappy. It depends on which models.

Yep. If you run across some of the Eminence loaded models,you can usually get a lot of bang for the buck.

[tlbonehead]

Originally posted by Audiopile I kind-of thought the PS800 is a 2U amp?

Nope. Everything above the PS800/802 is 2-space. The difference between the 00 and 02 models is simply that the 02 models are a newer version.

[Guest Anonymous]

 

Originally posted by tlbonehead Nope. Everything above the PS800/802 is 2-space. The difference between the 00 and 02 models is simply that the 20 models are a newer version.

 

eh... maybe I was think of the STX series.

 

I was pretty sure there's a Soundtech something 800 that's 2U.

[tlbonehead]

Originally posted by Audiopile eh... maybe I was think of the STX series. I was pretty sure there's a Soundtech something 800 that's 2U.

That sounds right. They have some cheaper non-switching models.

[Singin' Dave]

Well, I did a number on james' thread...sorry 'bout that.

 

The only difference I can see between the ps800 and ps802 is the 800 doesn't appear to have limiters (i.e. channel volume knobs at front).

 

I do wish it had speakon outputs rather than banana though. Now I have to buy banana cables --> speakon for it OR get a couple of these (do they work?)

 

 

[Guest Anonymous]

In addition to wishing they were equipped with Speakon jacks:

 

I wish the clip lights weren't so small and were placed in a easier to see location.

[abzurd]

I seem to recal there was a speakon version, but I've never seen it. They do seem to clip pretty easy too (snare), but then again, I'm used to 2X the power. Still, works well for monitors.

[Kennykeys]

 

Originally posted by Singin' Dave The only difference I can see between the ps800 and ps802 is the 800 doesn't appear to have limiters (i.e. channel volume knobs at front).

 

The early model 800's had the channel attenuators on the back of the amp. Some later versions of the 800 have them on the front. The 802 has 'em on the front. I have all of these versions and haven't noticed any difference in performance.

.

I've haven't seen an 800/802 with speak-ons.

[death metal jim]

i had a set of sound techs 18 subs with ev and the 12s had ev also i remember that the 18s where rated 130 rms

[Guest Anonymous]

 

Originally posted by Kennykeys The early model 800's had the channel attenuators on the back of the amp. Some later versions of the 800 have them on the front. The 802 has 'em on the front. I have all of these versions and haven't noticed any difference in performance. . I've haven't seen an 800/802 with speak-ons.

 

I'm of the impression that the 800's were principally designed for military applications and the 802's were developed later-on intended for SR applications?

 

If so, maybe the military function was better suited to knobs in the back... I dunno?

[Kennykeys]

 

Originally posted by Audiopile If so, maybe the military function was better suited to knobs in the back... I dunno?

 

Or maybe it was just one of the styles of the time.

QSC Series One amps had the attenuators in the back also....and I know I've seen others.....

Sometimes touted as "installation"amps since you're gonna set 'em and forget 'em. (Or make all adjustments from your preamp.)

For my live sound use (where an amp might be used for ever changing duties), I find that knobs in the rear are a pain in the rear!

[agedhorse]

Adjustments in the rear (or inaccessable to the user) is definately a big advantage with amps intended for installationa nd anywhere else that you need to keep folks from screwing with things.

 

If you knew how many service calls I have made over the years due to fingers adjusting things thatthe fingers should have left alone... even when told "hands off"...