As time goes by, we’re going to see more people performing solo. More looping, more backing tracks, and, yuck, more autotune, coming to a cafe or small bar near you. I didn’t capitalize autotune because it doesn’t deserve it.
I recently Googled “live music” in my area and clicked on the website of a local venue advertising “live music,” and 90% of the slots were DJs. DJs are NOT LIVE MUSIC. They are the opposite. I am not bagging on DJs – it’s a music-related skill to be a really good DJ. You have to read crowds of all ages and understand and deliver exactly what they want to hear, and you need to stay up to the minute on the latest top 5 pop hits. That takes a cast iron stomach.
Solo performers have a lot in common with DJs. What’s more, we can borrow ideas from them. For years I’ve been a strong advocate of using a subwoofer if you use backing tracks. DJs don’t need to be convinced – the good ones always take care of the low end. Also, if you want to get lighting tips, they give the best advice.
But lighting is a different post. Let’s talk sound. My current setup is two ugly ass carpet covered JBL JRX 212 speakers that I got used for $200, and a powered 12 inch EV sub that I got used for $160. Combined with my Mackie FR800 power amp, I have a pretty darn good sounding ugly heavy PA.
I have noticed that the RM Power Trio Theory is in effect in almost every area. I didn’t invent the thing (to misquote Scotty) but I use it all the time. In this sense, it goes like this: Sounds great, lightweight, inexpensive – pick two. The good sounding light weight stuff is pricey (by our “budget” standards.) The light weight inexpensive stuff is junk. The inexpensive good sounding stuff is heavy.
But the used sound market is indeed a buyer’s market – if you don’t mind heavy, you can get a pair of Yamaha Club speakers used for $300.
My favorite “budget” PA speaker buy is $350 (on sale) for a new powered EV ZLX with 12 inch woofer. To my ears, they are the best sounding speaker under $400.
The JBL JRX speaker line is loved by the budget friendly and hated by the pros. The biggest knock is that the high end sucks. This is because the original JRX line used a horn that only went up to about 12khz. That was fixed in the 200 series with an upgraded horn (that goes up to about 15khz. How do they sound? Honestly, I think they sound better than a Mackie Thump series (which sounds fine) and the EV that I really like (which does have a more detailed high end, to my ears.)
If you go with something like the Mackie Thump or EV ZLX series, I’d recommend a 2 year extended warranty. These are practically disposable speakers – fixing the power amp section when it dies is about the same as buying the thing used.
Back to the JRX. I removed all of the carpet from one of them, and I’m going to put some Tolex on it. Tolex deserves to be capitalized. I would not recommend this process to anyone, because it’s a real lot of work. But if you’re on a tight budget, I guess it’s worth it. TIP – use an iron (or a heat fun) and heat up the glue under the carpet before you do this. Then use Goo Gone to get rid of the black glue gunk on the box, and sand it really well.
Let’s talk about power amps. They’ve heavy, they can sound great, and you can get them used for not much money. For about $300, you could get a used 200-300 watt per channel stereo power amp and a set of JRX speakers and end up with something sounding like you spent $800. But it’s heavy.
So spend a lot of money or throw your back out carrying your PA around. Fun!
