Monitor Speakers and Wiring

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DJ Kahuna

New DJ
Jun 16, 2009
26
0
58
Pacific Northwest
hi Everyone, Im an old school Dj coming into new toys. For the most part Im a mobile DJ, that plays everything from classic rock to techno, whatever the customer wants..I've never had the need for monitor speakers until gigs have all of the sudden gotten much bigger. Playing the music is easy, but Im new to wiring and extending systems.

Im running out of a fullsize coffin, with a simple Numark DM 1200 Mixer, connected via XLR cables into a Technical Pro LX-1000 which virtually came with no information on it brand new in the box. I run a pair of PSM 15 Crates, using the standard 1/4 inch jacks. My Amp has two sets of outputs, 1/4 inch jacks and banana clips. I've run the crates via the 1/4 inch jacks for venues and jobs. At home i add a pair of cheapy speakers through the banana jacks just to spread the sound around the house, but couldnt take them on a job cause my amp would blow them out.

I run my music right now through a computer using VDJ 5.2 pro but im getting ready to buy the new Numark NS7. So yeah, my question...

Recently I did a kids fishing derby on a lake where there were a bunch of senior citizens attending (Sponsered by a Moose lodge) as such, for the seniors and campers nearby sake, I was asked to keep it down. And in doing so, I could hardly hear my music, with people wanting to talk to me and with the volume down low. So its time to add monitor speakers right? Ok so I go and start looking them up and I note that every pair i seem to see has (2) 1/4 inch jacks on the back..Why 2 jacks? if my system has simple Channel 1 (Left) and Channel 2 (right) and those banana jacks...whats the proper way to wire monitors up? I do not have a preamp, and little information about the amp (mentioned)I got off e-bay brand new in the box. And oh, those outputs only have one volume control for each channel. So its not like I can just turn down the volume to those connected to the banana jacks. Question was, why 2 jacks in the back of almost all monitor speakers? just for daisy chaining? If thats the case, how do i wire them for the booth so I can hear at a lower and not deafening volume? I've searched for diagrams all day, but everything that comes up is just trying to sell me speakers. I Dj's years ago for a station that use to set up for me and i just came in on the mic and played, now, things are much bigger and taking off for me and Im learning from the ground up litterally.

thanks for any help you might have

Chris
 
You best bet would be a powered monitor, If your mixer has a zone out or booth out hook to those line level output, if not most amps have in/out for the signal, come out of one of them and run to the powered monitor, and adjust the volume as needed.
Something a 10" JBL or Mackie 350 should be plenty. Of if you wanted something small, look at monitors like the Mackie 150 and similar.
 
Additional Question

OK as mentioned above, e-bay cheap amp Technical Pro LX-1000. Inputs XLR left and right from numark DM 1200 mixer. outputs 1/4 inch channel 1 and 2, one for each speaker. And left and right banana jacks. Despite feedback Im reading about the amp, its actually a pretty kick butt little mobile DJ amp and does the job.

I want to buy two more amps and 4 more speakers to be able to cover the area of the crowd front, middle and back. Recommendations on what exactly I need to network all these amps together and be evenly distributed? A Rack Crossover? Without ever having done this before...am I correct in assuming that all i need to do is run those XLR cables out of the mixer and into a crossover which will then divide the sound to the seperate amps in the rack? Or does a crossover only split highs, mediums and lows? What am I needing to do to incorporate two more amps?

ya know, this is going to sound silly, but most of the music stores I visit to ask these questions, deal with bands and you'd think they know exactly what I should do. i know bands use more than one amp, but locals here are looking at me like they dont have a clue what Im talking about. Or they only carry gear thats intended for band use, not DJs or something. I know that Im very unknowledgable about the gear itself, but I expect a place that sells band equipment and instruments would know these things. The closest they have to DJ equipment is speakers and wiring and a little do it yourself mobile dj booth for under $300.00 that folds up into a suitcase size carry bag. So my options for purchasing equipment are better off over the internet.

Thanks again
 
I don't have time to answer you right now but I will go into detail when I get home in the morning, right now work is calling.
 
If you want to split the Main output to multiple amps, you'll need a distribution amp to send the line level output of your mixer into 3 different full range amps. A cross over is for breaking up the line level output of your mixer into different frequencies so that you can bi-amp/tri-amp. That's what live PA sound reinforcement is all about.

Simple solution - use a pair of headphones? (Not being a smart ass, either)

-Joe
 
DJ Joe said:
If you want to split the Main output to multiple amps, you'll need a distribution amp to send the line level output of your mixer into 3 different full range amps. A cross over is for breaking up the line level output of your mixer into different frequencies so that you can bi-amp/tri-amp. That's what live PA sound reinforcement is all about.

Simple solution - use a pair of headphones? (Not being a smart ass, either)

-Joe
Click to expand...

Joe,
Sometimes a monitor is necessary so you can hear the program music vs the cue music.
 
Thanks distribution amp is what I was looking for. the example given for headphones is an easy fix, but like said, there is a matter of the cue also. Thanks for all the advice. anyone who has more input feel free to add.
 
DJ Joe said:
If you want to split the Main output to multiple amps, you'll need a distribution amp to send the line level output of your mixer into 3 different full range amps. A cross over is for breaking up the line level output of your mixer into different frequencies so that you can bi-amp/tri-amp. That's what live PA sound reinforcement is all about.

Simple solution - use a pair of headphones? (Not being a smart ass, either)

-Joe
Click to expand...

I used to feed the output of my mixer to 3 amps, each AMP had a signal in and a signal out XLR or TRS 1/4" jack for each channel, just in and out of each amp, no problems.
 

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MBM said:
You best bet would be a powered monitor, If your mixer has a zone out or booth out hook to those line level output, if not most amps have in/out for the signal, come out of one of them and run to the powered monitor, and adjust the volume as needed.
Something a 10" JBL or Mackie 350 should be plenty. Of if you wanted something small, look at monitors like the Mackie 150 and similar.
Click to expand...

this is a perfect answer for what I need and would be less complicated. I've got zone on my mixer and with a self powered speaker or two I can see that working really well. Thanks so much.
 
MBM said:
I used to feed the output of my mixer to 3 amps, each AMP had a signal in and a signal out XLR or TRS 1/4" jack for each channel, just in and out of each amp, no problems.
Click to expand...

Ok i just had to search the internet to try and find a pic of the back of my amp and its like impossible. however, this is the same model, slightly different options, i'll explain with each pic

picture.php


this is exactly what my amp looks like from the front, except mine says LX-1000 and 1000 watts. I know its not really 1000 watts though, but its enough

picture.php


Now this for the most part is what the back of my amp looks like, except this one shows neutrik speakon jacks AND 1/4 jacks. Mine does not have 1/4 inch jacks, I had to get neutrik speakon jack converters to convert to 1/4 inch jacks so my crates could be hooked up. So as you can see, I dont have XLR outs, only speaker outs. Just to clarify exactly what im working with. And I know, its smalltime and very limited. But I do mostly charity gigs and so the funds are coming up very limited for upgrades. upgrades are coming, but at a much slower pace than i'd like to admit. this amp is only 129.00 brand new on Ebay though, So I dont feel like i got ripped off or anything
 
Looks like you have XLR inputs or 1/4" TRS inputs these are wired together, you can feed from your mixer into the XLR connector, and put a 1/4 TRS connector into the 1/4" jack next to the XLR input and send a input signal to another amp.
 
Ok I am assuming the amp you are refering to is your "main amp"!

DM1200 has a booth out from which you could feed either one or two powered monitors Fender 1270 P would be a good choice for your setup http://www.zzounds.com/item--FEN0711271000. or go with another amp and another pair of speakers.

Since you say you are going to expand your setup and get more amps and speakers I would keep the cheap amp and speakers you have for booth monitors.

You do not want to set your booth monitors up off of your main amp, because you will need to raise and lower the volume in the booth area from time to time and also you wouldn't be wanting to run the same levels in the booth as the mains (that is why your mixer has a booth output)

I do not have the DM 1200 mixer but I believe like many other mixers the Headphone cue allows you to mix main output with the cue so even without booth monitors you should still be able to get along just fine with just headphones.

Now to adding speakers and amps to your system!

The vast majority of amps out today have thru jacks on them (just like the amp you have) the Main inputs are the XLRs the 1/4" are thru jacks which would allow you to daisy chain to other amps! Most decent amps produced today use XLR combo jacks which can use either XLR or 1/4" (the whole in the center of the XLR) It would look something like this http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=092-042. Then from there you would daisy chain out of the 1/4" thru jack (an output not an input).

Until you reached a critical mass you would have no need for a "distribution amp" I bet there is only one DJ on these boards who even has a chance at needing one and I doubt that she is using one either (Val).

If you are running less than 10 amps you have no need for it!

Good Luck with your endeavors!
 
Ok, so powered speakers off the DM 1200 mixer, via the zone control, sounds perfect and I like the powered Fenders you recommended. Im glad you brought up the daisy chain concept. I thought it might be something like that, but was concerned about what I amateurishly called the paradox peak. Im already forgetting what you called it, without going back and reading it again. So, on the amp, I have two inputs per channel, so the wiring would go something like this....and then I have a final question

Mixer-----> (XLR output to AMP XLR inputs)
AMP------>(with 1/4 jacks w/ conversion neutrik Speakon OUTPUT, to 1/4 INPUTS on next AMP and so on.)

Conversion Neutrik Speakon you suggested which I have already (Neutrik NCJ5FI-S Combo XLR/1/4")

And so I can repeat this method so on and so on and this is pretty simple to understand. Ok Since the AMP I have is similar to the one displayed above and I dont really want to get into banana clips wiring. I've read the description of the item you sent me a link for, the converter. But the jargin looses me. Does this item allow me to still have speakers out of the first amp and continue on to daisy chain to the second amp? This was far easier than I thought...
 
DJ Kahuna said:
Ok, so powered speakers off the DM 1200 mixer, via the zone control, sounds perfect and I like the powered Fenders you recommended. Im glad you brought up the daisy chain concept. I thought it might be something like that, but was concerned about what I amateurishly called the paradox peak. Im already forgetting what you called it, without going back and reading it again. So, on the amp, I have two inputs per channel, so the wiring would go something like this....and then I have a final question

Mixer-----> (XLR output to AMP XLR inputs)
AMP------>(with 1/4 jacks w/ conversion neutrik Speakon OUTPUT, to 1/4 INPUTS on next AMP and so on.)

Conversion Neutrik Speakon you suggested which I have already (Neutrik NCJ5FI-S Combo XLR/1/4")

And so I can repeat this method so on and so on and this is pretty simple to understand. Ok Since the AMP I have is similar to the one displayed above and I dont really want to get into banana clips wiring. I've read the description of the item you sent me a link for, the converter. But the jargin looses me. Does this item allow me to still have speakers out of the first amp and continue on to daisy chain to the second amp? This war far easier than I thought...
Click to expand...


I think you may not have understood, you DO NOT connect the speaker output of the 1st Amp to the input of the Second amp.


On you amp in the blue section you have XLR and 1/4" inputs, both of these inputs are wire together, you take the output of your mixer and run to the XLR jacks, and hook speakers to the banana or Neutik jacks, then in the Blue section you can take a 1/4" Tip-Ring-Sleeve connector ( TRS ) and plug it in there and then feed that to the input of the second amp. Then attached more speakers to the output of that amp too.
 
DJ Kahuna said:
Ok, so powered speakers off the DM 1200 mixer, via the zone control, sounds perfect and I like the powered Fenders you recommended. Im glad you brought up the daisy chain concept. I thought it might be something like that, but was concerned about what I amateurishly called the paradox peak. Im already forgetting what you called it, without going back and reading it again. So, on the amp, I have two inputs per channel, so the wiring would go something like this....and then I have a final question

Mixer-----> (XLR output to AMP XLR inputs)
AMP------>(with 1/4 jacks w/ conversion neutrik Speakon OUTPUT, to 1/4 INPUTS on next AMP and so on.)

Conversion Neutrik Speakon you suggested which I have already (Neutrik NCJ5FI-S Combo XLR/1/4")

And so I can repeat this method so on and so on and this is pretty simple to understand. Ok Since the AMP I have is similar to the one displayed above and I dont really want to get into banana clips wiring. I've read the description of the item you sent me a link for, the converter. But the jargin looses me. Does this item allow me to still have speakers out of the first amp and continue on to daisy chain to the second amp? This was far easier than I thought...
Click to expand...

Whoa there Hoss!

The speaker outputs on the amps have nothing to do with daisy chaining the inputs! It would be an input only situation each amp would have all available speaker outputs ie binding post, speakon or 1/4" still available for speakers!

We are talking about daisy chaining the inputs only! ie. XLR combo for the input from the board, then from the 1/4" inputs in the (input section) to the inputs on the next amp!

Hooking the speaker outputs from one amp to the input section of another amp can lead you to some real heartache and pocket book pain!
 
Thunder said:
Whoa there Hoss!

The speaker outputs on the amps have nothing to do with daisy chaining the inputs! It would be an input only situation each amp would have all available speaker outputs ie binding post, speakon or 1/4" still available for speakers!

We are talking about daisy chaining the inputs only! ie. XLR combo for the input from the board, then from the 1/4" inputs in the (input section) to the inputs on the next amp!

Hooking the speaker outputs from one amp to the input section of another amp can lead you to some real heartache and pocket book pain!
Click to expand...

Ok, I completely misunderstood. It has nothing to do with the speaker outputs, gotcha.
 
Just use the Bose I recommended. It is so much simpler. It even has a remote that can control the volume and a mute button. Run a paired output cable from your Zone Out/Output 2/Record Out to the Bose and you are ready to go. Put it on a tripod and stand and face it towards you.
At home you can hook it up directly to your laptop/PC as a small sound system and with its carrying case it is portable where you can take it to the beach or lake.
It is not a speaker, it is a compact sound system with Radio and MP3/CD player.

http://www.bose.com/controller?url=/shop_online/wave_systems/awms/index.jsp
You may be able to find one on E-bay.
 
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