I'm in the market for a new set of speakers

[DJ Ricky B]

Some DJ's certainly do depend on repeat business. 85-90% of my business is someone I have worked for before or has referred me or seen me at an event. I did an event about a month ago there were 5 couples there that I did their wedding in the last 7 or 8 years. There's almost always one couple that I have played their wedding at most events I do. I've done several 25th anniversaries that I did their wedding.

There is one young girl that I have done a Birthday party for since she was 8 years old. We did her Sweet 16 this year I've been doing one for her younger sister for 4 or 5 years now.

If it wasn't for repeat business I'd actually have to work hard at getting gigs lol

I can see how that works in your region.

About 15-20% of my gigs this year were by previous customer referral. Another 25% were booked by the talent agency, and those clients come to the agency via referral usually by the venue, or their wedding planner. Some come from Wedding Wire. The rest of my direct bookings were gig masters or google adwords. We were completely word of mouth, and referral up until the internet got popular. Then things changed.


As far as Chinese lighting. There will certainly be a difference between a Chinese wired up light for $50 or less, and a Eternal Lighting Battery operated Cube light that costs $349 each. I'm not saying they are the same. However, they do both provide up lighting. If battery powered is not essential, then the Chinese light for $50 will return a better ROI. Ever hear of "Buy low, Sell High"?

Sure we can say, but the Chinese lights will break, or malfunction...it's possible. But the malfunctions are low. Not as low as the higher priced fixtures with better quality control, but still low.

The Chinese up light can be paid for in 2 up lighting add ons, where as the $349 light will take many add ons to pay for the light. To someone that doesn't book Up Lighting on 15 or 20+ gigs a year, the Chinese light is a much easier purchase to make.

I can certainly say that I do not see any "lighting quality" difference between a no name brand 7x10 watt fixture, and say an American DJ Flat Mega Par. If I compare a 7x10 watt to the small Chauvet Slim Pars...well the 7x10 watt can get brighter. The Chauvet slim pars might last longer before they die out or break, but that is debatable too.


The industry use to use par cans with halogens and gels on top, and that was the standard. What really changed that all of a sudden requires dropping $250 to $400 on a LED up light fixture for weddings or parties?

 

[Jeff Romard]

I agree - I also get repeat, referral and word of mouth events. I would hope that most of us do. I posted my message in response to Ricky's.

I think we are suffering from flat surface syndrome lol. I was agreeing and reinforcing your statement

The Chinese up light can be paid for in 2 up lighting add ons, where as the $349 light will take many add ons to pay for the light. To someone that doesn't book Up Lighting on 15 or 20+ gigs a year, the Chinese light is a much easier purchase to make.

The big question is will it last 15-20 gigs....and when will it fail. If one does that's not bad. If 3 or 4 fail the same day you could be in to problems

 

[ittigger]

To a point, I think we all agree. LED's were supposed to bring prices down. I also think we all agree that if a cheaper light works just as good for basic requirements, then it MAY be a good deal. Where we disagree is that a brand name fixture with engineering behind it, as well as regulations that must be met - will be a superior purchase.

Chinese lights may or may not break. Sure, that is a gamble. What's even worse though is that they don't use the same components and do not meet regulation. What happens when that chinese fixture starts a fire? What happens when you have sunk $300 into x amount of chinese fixtures and they break down at various points and you have no support - and now you have to go buy a real set, at the real cost. A bunch of us are of the thought - 'Buy once, cry once'. Most of us are not buying the most expensive stuff on the market - but we're also not buying the cheapest. We're trying to invest wisely and hope what we buy lasts. At the least, if it breaks, there is support readily available.

 

[DJKLEEN]

I went to the audio shop today and a/b'd some 12 inch Alto tops against the ev set and the JBL prx and JBL (forgot which model, lower priced than the Prx).

Tell you the truth. My buddy that works at the shop was talking highly about them!for the price, and even not for the price, but on just performance alone! We played with them for about an hour!

Now, I have dedicated my life to sound reproduction,,,,, I listen for sound stage, presence, reproduction, clarity (thd),top end clarity, mid range definition, and low end tightness, and not muddy,,, meaning the driver is trying to do something it is not naturally reproducing! We played at low volumes and notched up to higher and then to just not anything that an audiofile wants to hear (mild clipping and thd is making its presence known)

I have to say,,,, I was so impressed with the alto's. No lie!!!! I am a top end kind of guy,,,and I have the money to buy the JBL's and the ev's, But man ,,,,,I can't sit here right now and tell you sound wise that I didn't like the Alto's!

Now accuracy was not as evident as the JBL's ! We also did not find that the alto's broke up any sooner than the other 12's. Now tone and timber was different between the units,,, none were better or worse,,,, just different ! Just means that some needed some eq at some point and time. Which we did not inject into the match!

I would like for someone to do this test and report their findings!!!!! But I can tell you that I will probably be buying those Alto's,,,, I can't believe it ,,,because I was sold on the JBL's ! I will just have to spend the extra 400$ somewhere else!

For twice the price the JBL's and the ev's are certainly not 2 times better in performance!!!

Imo. They did not prove to me any thing more than evident branding price hike in the JBL' and Ev's

Not saying anything else but what I heard!

 

[DJ Ricky B]

I went to the audio shop today and a/b'd some 12 inch Alto tops against the ev set and the JBL prx and JBL (forgot which model, lower priced than the Prx).

Tell you the truth. My buddy that works at the shop was talking highly about them!for the price, and even not for the price, but on just performance alone! We played with them for about an hour!

Now, I have dedicated my life to sound reproduction,,,,, I listen for sound stage, presence, reproduction, clarity (thd),top end clarity, mid range definition, and low end tightness, and not muddy,,, meaning the driver is trying to do something it is not naturally reproducing! We played at low volumes and notched up to higher and then to just not anything that an audiofile wants to hear (mild clipping and thd is making its presence known)

I have to say,,,, I was so impressed with the alto's. No lie!!!! I am a top end kind of guy,,,and I have the money to buy the JBL's and the ev's, But man ,,,,,I can't sit here right now and tell you sound wise that I didn't like the Alto's!

Now accuracy was not as evident as the JBL's ! We also did not find that the alto's broke up any sooner than the other 12's

I would like for someone to do this test and report their findings!!!!! But I can tell you that I will probably be buying those Alto's,,,, I can't believe it ,,,because I was sold on the JBL's !

For twice the price the JBL's and the ev's are certainly not 2 times better in performance!!!

Imo. They did not prove to me any thing more than evident branding price hike in the JBL' and Ev's

Not saying anything else but what I heard!

Your honest answer with your experience is appreciated, and I completely agree!

 

[steve149]

I went to the audio shop today and a/b'd some 12 inch Alto tops against the ev set and the JBL prx and JBL (forgot which model, lower priced than the Prx).

Tell you the truth. My buddy that works at the shop was talking highly about them!for the price, and even not for the price, but on just performance alone! We played with them for about an hour!

Now, I have dedicated my life to sound reproduction,,,,, I listen for sound stage, presence, reproduction, clarity (thd),top end clarity, mid range definition, and low end tightness, and not muddy,,, meaning the driver is trying to do something it is not naturally reproducing! We played at low volumes and notched up to higher and then to just not anything that an audiofile wants to hear (mild clipping and thd is making its presence known)

I have to say,,,, I was so impressed with the alto's. No lie!!!! I am a top end kind of guy,,,and I have the money to buy the JBL's and the ev's, But man ,,,,,I can't sit here right now and tell you sound wise that I didn't like the Alto's!

Now accuracy was not as evident as the JBL's ! We also did not find that the alto's broke up any sooner than the other 12's

I would like for someone to do this test and report their findings!!!!! But I can tell you that I will probably be buying those Alto's,,,, I can't believe it ,,,because I was sold on the JBL's ! I will just have to spend the extra 400$ somewhere else!

For twice the price the JBL's and the ev's are certainly not 2 times better in performance!!!

Imo. They did not prove to me any thing more than evident branding price hike in the JBL' and Ev's

Not saying anything else but what I heard!

Certainly let us know which models they were .. Behringer has a few awesome products, but I would hesitate to say that about the remainder of their product family. I wasn't too impressed with the Altos I listened to, but they make multiple lines and one of them might be a good value box.

 

[Jeff Romard]

For twice the price the JBL's and the ev's are certainly not 2 times better in performance!!!

Imo. They did not prove to me any thing more than evident branding price hike in the JBL' and Ev's

Not saying anything else but what I heard!

I don't doubt a bit what you are saying but in most cases sound is in the ear of the beholder. As I mentioned earlier there are a lot of folks that rave about RCF but I'm not fussy about them. Something just sounds off to me. Many love Peavey I hate them I think they sound horrible but again that's to my ears.

My concern with Alto is durability. I've had and used Alto gear before with about a 50% success rate long term. I have never used the speakers long term but there was an install I used quite a few times. I can't speak to the durability of them

 

[DJKLEEN]

Alto. Ts212. I did see some other cheaper ones that looked like berenger or Pyle and kustom.

 

[DJKLEEN]

I don't doubt a bit what you are saying but in most cases sound is in the ear of the beholder. As I mentioned earlier there are a lot of folks that rave about RCF but I'm not fussy about them. Something just sounds off to me. Many love Peavey I hate them I think they sound horrible but again that's to my ears.

My concern with Alto is durability. I've had and used Alto gear before with about a 50% success rate long term. I have never used the speakers long term but there was an install I used quite a few times. I can't speak to the durability of them

Yep that is what I am concerned also,,,,, but I did see where they have the same warranty as JBL and ev!

anybody have the TS series speakers for a time span?

 

[DJ Ricky B]

Yep that is what I am concerned also,,,,, but I did see where they have the same warranty as JBL and ev!

anybody have the TS series speakers for a time span?

I owned the Alto TS112s for 2 years with no problems. I still have my Alto TS110As which I have had for 3 years now. No problems. Unfortunately, no one has had the Alto TS212s or 215s for longer than a few months. They just came out this year.

My TS215s have been used on maybe 7 weddings so far. My Alto TS212s have been used at 2 gigs. So far they have been perfect!

Out of all the speakers I have ever owned, I have never blown a speaker in 18 years.

 

[DJKLEEN]

I owned the Alto TS112s for 2 years with no problems. I still have my Alto TS110As which I have had for 3 years now. No problems. Unfortunately, no one has had the Alto TS212s or 215s for longer than a few months. They just came out this year.

My TS215s have been used on maybe 7 weddings so far. My Alto TS212s have been used at 2 gigs. So far they have been perfect!

Out of all the speakers I have ever owned, I have never blown a speaker in 18 years.

Ok, I can also,say that I won't be pushing them real hard,,,, they will be for a wedding service, I won't have to use my main tops for the ceremony and the reception!
I like the fact that they have 2 separate inputs with 2 separate volumes,

 

[steve149]

I thought maybe you were looking at the Alto Black series, which I haven't heard. I listened briefly to the TS2 series (forget if it was the 12" or 15") and I thought it was a little harsh in the upper end .. just my opinion. Then again, they were being played loudly to get over the other speakers at the show.

 

[DJKLEEN]

I just bought the Alto ts212's. Got them home about 2 hours ago! We did another demo, against JBL and ev and included qsc's. I will say it again, that the 2 friends of mine that work at the music store were baffled at the fact that the Altos were hanging with them all!

Now I did find that the alto's were a little harsh at the top when reaching the 110db mark, and we all agreed! UNTIL The manager said about the contour button on the back'!!!!!!!!!m it seems that this bumps the top and bottom up 3 db !!!!! Ahah!
When we turned this off,,,,, the sound flattened out to mimick the dynamics of the other contenders,,,,,,,the break up at high power QUIT! And gave the little altos the break they needed to stay with the big dogs!!!!!!!!

We did agree that with the contour on,,,, in normal listening volume ,the Altos sound better because of the (extended dynamics) Kinda like a loudness function that does not roll out with volume increase! Now keep in mind that we all own a pair of the contenders....

I am pumped for the reason that they have 2 separate inputs with separate gains,,,,, I don't even need a slide mixer (ev6).
I will put my Numark in one set and my wireless receiver in the other and BAM! I can do the wedding ceremony with 5 pieces of equipment!!!

They are light! The lightest of the bunch! No cooling fans? Hmmmmm, We will see if that becomes a problem in the heat!

The only time I will be playing these things outside is for family picnics and gathering of that sort and wedding ceremonies....

I am going to make some money off of these things!

 

[DJKLEEN]

Wow, only 28lbs! I am seeing, though, that there are multiple reviews across different sites that state the tweeters died after only a few uses. I wonder how prevalent of an issue that is. Nonetheless, looks like they can be had refurb/B-stock for as low as $229. Might pick one up and try it out on a cocktail hour...

If they die. I will crack them open and replace them with some selenium models,, I had to do that with some ev's. I think they were 60 bucks for the pair shipped from parts express!

 

[djsammy]

i am looking for a addtl pair to place in the back of the hall for large venues, mostly for speeches or cocktail. I am split between qsc k8, ev zxa1, yamaha dbr10. Need to be light, can't beat zxa1 but $100 more. QSC seems overpriced, yamaha not the strongest box but in par and only 23 lbs. so leaning to that. If i can shell out little more, would love to go zxa1. My main speakers are jbl prx 615m, sub - yorkville ls720p's

 

[IceBurghDJ]

do you have a ceremony system?
When I need 4 (usually outdoors) I use my old passive boxes (PR12/15 peavey's).
Haven't set up 4 inside, but my mains are yamaha DXR12 and my ceremony is a Yamaha Stagepas 600 -10" passive with a powered mixer..could easily do extra duty.

How do you plan to get sound to the remote speakers?

i am looking for a addtl pair to place in the back of the hall for large venues, mostly for speeches or cocktail. I am split between qsc k8, ev zxa1, yamaha dbr10. Need to be light, can't beat zxa1 but $100 more. QSC seems overpriced, yamaha not the strongest box but in par and only 23 lbs. so leaning to that. If i can shell out little more, would love to go zxa1. My main speakers are jbl prx 615m, sub - yorkville ls720p's

 

[Albatross]

i am looking for a addtl pair to place in the back of the hall for large venues, mostly for speeches or cocktail. I am split between qsc k8, ev zxa1, yamaha dbr10. Need to be light, can't beat zxa1 but $100 more. QSC seems overpriced, yamaha not the strongest box but in par and only 23 lbs. so leaning to that. If i can shell out little more, would love to go zxa1. My main speakers are jbl prx 615m, sub - yorkville ls720p's

I use Bose L1Cs for this. I literally just wrote a blog post about this very topic: The Volume at Weddings | Too Loud vs. Can't Hear

 

[Handinon]

I use Bose L1Cs for this. I literally just wrote a blog post about this very topic: The Volume at Weddings | Too Loud vs. Can't Hear

With the exception of the confusing "arrow button" for watching the video, that is a classy website you've got!

 

[Albatross]

With the exception of the confusing "arrow button" for watching the video, that is a classy website you've got!

Thank you, and I agree. That arrow will change on the next iteration. I will also try to de-clutter the header a bit. But, we launched Bela Sono last year and were in a rush to get the website up so we didn't miss out on all 2016 bookings.

 

[IceBurghDJ]

Hmm..you might have convinced me to consider the bose..as a main system i'm not a fan - too wide a dispersion pattern for me, but for this use - would be perfect.

I use Bose L1Cs for this. I literally just wrote a blog post about this very topic: The Volume at Weddings | Too Loud vs. Can't Hear