New Mixer Amplifier

[Jacqui]

Hi Guys
Just wanted to pick your brains.
The chap I do gigs with as a duo has an amplifier called
Studio Master Powerhouse Vision 8
The desk has a 700w power amp built in to it and has 8 channels. It has many built in effects.

Specifications:
700w powered mixer/amplifier, 7 band stereo graphic EQ, multi-effects processor, 6 mono & 2 stereo input channels, 3 band semi-parametric EQ swept mid, 3 sends 1 x effects, 1 x foldback & 1 x group.
looks like these two advertised on the net.

ipswich.gumtree.com/ipswich/12/60530412.html

belfast.gumtree.com/belfast/29/59078329.html

He's looking to get a new amp for us, mainly because this one is so heavy,.expecially when it's in the case, 18K plus the case.
but we've always got a good sound from it, so we don't know where to start, just wondered if anyone had any recommendations
He contacted Thomman and they said this was a good one,

www.thomann.de/gb/tmix_pm184x.htm

but it's even heaver than the one he has already

I looked at some on the net and found a beringer amp

www.behringer.com/EN/Products/PMP4000.aspx

it seems lightweight and powerful, but I don't really know much about amps or the different makes, so any advice and ideas would be helpful.

I bring my speakers and they are RCF 312's 8 ohm
shop.nstage.co.uk/rcf-art-312-121-passive-two-way-speaker-1323-p.asp

Cheers Jacqui

[weegeo]

Hiya Jacqui,
here`s a site that has a good selection of `powered mixers`i would suggest you give the yamaha desk a good look at,we use tthe unpowered version hooked up to our behringer power amp the yamaha has grest `effects`and is so easy to set up it`s almost just a `plug and play unit` lol

www.gear4music.com/PA_Equipment/Powered_Mixers.html

regards
weegeo oxo

[Jacqui]

Hi Weegeo
which amplifier is the link meant to be for? I'm not sure what one to look at

Thanks
Jacqui

[weegeo]

Sorry Jacqui,
the link covers all the powered mixers that they stock the yamaha stuff is towards the end of the listing

weegeo

[Jacqui]

OK got it


Jacqui

[moonie]

Hi Jacqui
I have just recently sold my entire PA (well one of them) and upgraded to an Allen & Heath desk, mixwizard 3 16:2...unpowered and most likely bigger than you'll want but really nice to work with and has a really clean crisp yet warm sound. Upgraded from a yamaha 16/6fx (unpowered desk again) it was very usable but I could hear the difference immediately and so did the rest of the band. Unpowered desk will always be lighter.
I also upgraded from Quest QA400 speakers (good budget speaker but a bit noisey and heavy) to QSCk12's...they are amazing...personally I wouldn't go smaller than a 12 for FOH but having heard these I suspect the 10" and 8" would be very good too. Very powerful and very light for powered speakers. I can also plug a guitar, vocal and mp3 straight into the speaker and I was surprised how good it sounded without any eq or fx (obviously gona be better again with them)
Maybe of no help to you but worth a look, the cost to upgrade is only what it costs after you sell your gear...
For me and the amount of gigs I do I couln't be happier with the decision!
best of luck
"moonie"

[sweeney]

Hi Jacqui! I have had and used all sorts of mixer and power amps in my time and in my opinion the best mixer amp out there for the money is the Mackie 808S. It's 600 per side into 2 ohms which will let you use bins if necessary. I see you are using 8 ohm speakers so two of these will give you 4 ohms. and a pair of 8 or 4 ohm bins will run perfectly with this amp. It will even run at 2 ohms per side which will let you use 4 ohm tops and 4 ohm bins which will give you 2 ohms per side which is full power with out any fear of doing harm to the output stage of your amp. The only other amp that is supposed to be on a par is the Dynachord Powermate 1000 which will give you 700 watts @2 Ohms but its around £1600.00. I have not used this amp but I have heard it demo'd along with the Electrovoice ZX5 speakers I was impressed but the speakers were also £1600.00 You could pick up a second hand Mackie for about £350.00.........Hope this helps..........Gerry.

[Jacqui]

Thanks for all the info on the PA's, interesting stuff,
I'll pass all this onto my Partner.
Cheers
Jacqui