Speaker and amp set up

Guys,

Nice discussion so far, but I see a flow in the methodology here. With this setup it is only possible to get a mono setup to begin with. So the first question is, where do you sum (add up) stereo to mono before going into the active x-over???

So, if you want a stereo setup that works to some degree (can’t just tie the L+R outputs together to get mono unfortunately), you are not short any cables, you are short an entire amp! Not a real big problem as it’s only a 99 GBP amp, but still.

Also you get 2x 400W into 4 Ohm (if you parallel the speakers) out of the amp. Not a word about RMS, so I am even leaning towards the premise that it’s an actual 2x 200W RMS amp (makes more sense for the price), which – to say the least – is very little, especially for subs.

Far be it from me to say nasty things about other people’s gear, but let me say it nicely: I can see why he used them at free parties and I can see why he had no qualms leaving them behind. You can get the whole package new for under 350 GBP and used this stuff goes like for 10-15 GBP a piece.

Quite frankly, if you want this to work in some way without spending too much more money on it, get another amp for 100 GBP (or cheaper of eBay or someting). Another thing to note is that this is a regular stereo 2-way X-over. It will NOT give you a sub output. It is meant to split the signal for a speaker system with a low/mid speaker and a high speaker. So even WITH the X-over, you probably will not get a real sub/full range setup (granted, it depends a little on the x-over frequencies you can set, but I doubt your X-over has all that many features.

Hooking it up as in Bob’s second suggestion (i.e. stereo S4 to the amps, then top then to sub or vice versa) makes NO sense whatsoever (I understand where he is coming from though, based on your description of what you have by way of cables and such), and is most likely bad for at least your subs and your amp. While the speakers are both 15″ and 8 Ohm, the have totally different characteristics and should not be hooked up like that.

Long story short, what you have inherited is a very nice and up-to-date controller and a (imho) totally crap set of speakers and amps.

My suggestion would be to get rid of the speakers, amp and x-over quickly on ebay or something (100 GBP total for the lot I’d think) and look for some decent, used, well-know brand 12″ active speakers and be done with it. They will have more power, sound better, require lots less cables and hooking up and take up less space both in a small house party room as in the car.

The fun thing is that with the nice controller and two good active speakers you are totally set to play any decent small party or even a small pub.

Hope that helps, m8!

You can’t split high and low without a crossover and even then only if your x-over supports sub outputs! No amount of cables will fix that.

Don’t link subs and tops to the same channel of an amp without a crossover, it’s not good. That was the point I was trying to make. All the high frequencies will hurt your sub and you will get twice the low (as your tops will play those same frequencies), throwing the total balance of the sound off.

Actually it’s better for the amp and your speakers if you just use the top speakers and forget the subs.

You are welcome. As I said, for the time being, just run RCA-RCA from controller to amp. Run the Jack-Jacks from the amps to the 15″ tops and just leave the subs out of the mix. And I am sure you’ll be fine (and your back will thank you) til the active speakers arrive. Quite a few nice speakers sets around these days with compact subs with compact tops on them (see the reviews about the NAMM on the blog) or the new Numarks with built in LED lighting (a really efficient way to add some moving lights to your party). And the quality of those amps/speakers (as long as you stay away from the budget end of things) has improved so much that more and better quality sound comes out of more compact housing. The times of big stacks (and speakers with huge highly visible cones and multiple tweeters and horns covered in carpet for that matter) are way behind us. Even the stuff that gets rigged/flown at festivals has shrunken in comparison to 15-20 years ago.