Can You Couple An RCF And Mackie?

As long as the frequency curve is close it shouldn't be a problem. But if it is very different you may have some issues.

I can not find the correct info on the RCF.

A Mackie SWA1501 is tuned to 50Hz I do not know what the RCF is tuned to as far as frequency.

The subs may be different levels and may need to be adjusted. They also may produce the frequencies differntly so a left and right setup will not be an option.

If the boxes are tuned differently you might also experience cancelation by grouping.

It may not be the best idea to use different subs, but if it is the only option you just need to test and try to see what happens.

Steve Miller said:

As long as the frequency curve is close it shouldn't be a problem.

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As long as the Mackie doesn't self destruct.

If you are going to rent anyway, just rent an 18" sub that will handle the gig.

YourBasicDJ said:

OK, but my question is then how would two 15" RCF's compare to say


1) One Yorkville 800
2) One 18" RCF
3) One Act-18

I've always been pondering another RCF or getting something like the ACT-18 master/slave set.

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I've never heard the ACT-18.

Two of the ART705AS subs COUPLED will have nearly the output of one 4PRO8001, but won't go as deep. The LS800P is louder and deeper than the 4PRO 18".

You can rent a Mackie 1501 and place it on top or side by side, no problem. Just make sure to set the RCF crossover to 120Hz to match that of the Mackie.

maestro said:

You can rent a Mackie 1501 and place it on top or side by side, no problem. Just make sure to set the RCF crossover to 120Hz to match that of the Mackie.

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Even better yet I'd use an external crossover and take it down to at least a 100Hz, I cross my subs at 70Hz

The RCF crossover is user adjustable to 80/100/120Hz. I use 80Hz for weddings and 100Hz for schools. The Mackie is set at 120Hz.

I don't really know! LOL
I've been messing around with the crossover settings and it seems I can get more bass / boom out of the sub when it is at 100Hz, which is desireable at schools. For weddings, the tops are usually closer to the dance floor and sound fuller at 80Hz and not so 'in your face'. I don't really need the extra boom at weddings, just some nice bass. I just DJ'd a wedding at the place in the photo (stock photo, not my wedding) and I had one FBT 4a on each side of the stage. I used only one RCF Art-705AS holding up one of the 4a's with a pole mount, the other was on a tripod. The crossover was at 100Hz since the tops were far away from the dance floor, they had to shoot over the head table. The sound was awesome, tons of bass all around the dance floor.

I've used the RCF sub in quite a few different venues now and I can tell you that placement does make a difference. I have used one 705 in a smaller hall (holds 125) http://www.musicmaestro.net/photos8.jpg and had little bass on the dance floor, it was somehow cancelling itself out. The sub was set up off to one side about 10 feet in from the outside wall. Next time I was at the same hall, I was able to set the sub up against the wall directly in front of the dance floor and it was great! When I use a single sub for 4 or 5 hundered middle school kids, I set it out in front of me and the sound is awesome in a gym. Check out this hall, it is HUGE! http://www.musicmaestro.net/Italian_Ctr_head_table_web.JPG If you look closely, you'll see the edge of my single 705 sub, it sounded great that night. It really depends where you place your sub. Unfortunately, with most of our typical wedding set-ups, we don't have the time or available space to be very fussy in that regard, which is unfortunate.

Yes that is the crossover setting. But sub boxes are tuned to repduce certain frequencies better than others.

The Mackie SWA1501 is tuned to 50HZ

Chris..I do what Steve Milani does.....At smaller events I set the sub at 80...larger events where I rent bigger I'll go 100 to 110.
At 80 hz, the sound from my tops is fuller, I don't find the sub so rumbly(?) which I don't want at a wedding or corporate event (small in size). At 100 to 110, I tend to get more headroom out of the tops, while the subs get loud (the dust falling type of loud)..

I learned this from Mr. Milani....