Hi Guy's

Thought I 'd post a photo of my latest rig arrangement, a line array on the cheap.

It comprises of two Kustom ( Powerworks) PW100T speakers, 100W each, secured together with a piece of 35mm tube (part of an old speaker stand) the bottom one has had the base extended to improve the balance. The bottom amp is an Ashdown After Eight Bass 30w combo acting as a subwoofer.

Mounted on the front is my trusty VLT2 which is set up as follows.

The Mic is a TC Helicon MP75 the button on the mic allows the switching in and out of the harmony and a long press removes all effects to enable you to "Talk" to the audience.

The output of the VLT2 (lead and harmony vocals) is set to mono and feeds the top speaker only. The vocals seem a lot clearer having their own dedicated speaker.

The harmony of the VLT2 is triggered by the two small onboard roomsense mics. No Aux, Guitar or Midi input needed and more important no cables. The harmony tracks very well, absolutely no problems.

The tablet takes care of the backing tracks, the App is "Lyric Writer Pro" which syncs the mp3 file and the lyrics. One cable from the tablet to the lower PW100T, the mp3 files (backing tracks) play through this speaker.

A mono jack cable plugs into the sub-out socket on the lower PW100T then into the bass amp, plugging the cable in automatically activates the crossover in the PW100T which then sends any sounds below 150hz to the bass amp.

Each of the PW100T amps has three inputs and an onboard mixer, using the EQ settings on three amps it is possible to EQ the vocals, accompanment and the bass separately which is ideal to balance the overall sound.

The cost of the system not including the VLT2 was approx £285.00 (GBP) cheap at half the price

Another big advantage is the overall flexibility of the system which, dependent on the room size, can incorporate one PW100T, one Pw100T and the sub or all three speakers. The last but not least all the speakers are easily moved and fit nicely into the boot (trunk) of most cars. The top speaker can also be used as a satellite in stereo if needed with or without the sub.

All in all it suites my needs down to a tee or as my good lady says until I decide to change it (again)

All the best

Col

Col ... looks nice and neat ... all it needs to complete it is an arranger kb ...

Looks good Col for home .....but wouldn't a Bose compact be a better alternative and lighter to transport if this is the way your going?

Isn't 150hz little bit to high for cutting highs??

Tony, Keyboards are to heavy for this old Guy I just use the pa800 to create some of my tracks. Also the footprint of this setup is very compact ideal for my sort of gig's. I can be tucked in any small corner.

Donny, I already had the speakers so this was just a better way of utilising them. Bose to expensive for one or two gigs a month and as I mentioned the flexibility is very handy. It's a question of Horse's for course's.

Mirza, no choice, the cross over is set by the manufacturer (Kustom or Powerworks) although 150hz seems fairly common for a sub. BTW Lots of folk seem to think a Bass Amp shouldn't be used as a sub but it works for me.

Col

Neat!

Donny

I just had a look at the Bose Compact spec.

Power 130W

HF speakers 6 X 2"

LF sub 1 X 8"

http://www.videocorp.com/admin/integracion/pdf/75.pdf


My set up:

Kustom PW100T X 2 + Ashdown Bass Amp

Power 230W ( 2 X 100w + 1 X 30W)

HF speakers 8 X 4.5" plus 2 X 3 ½" piezo drivers

LF sub 1 X 8"

Think I could blow the Bose out of the water.

Col

Col.....no doubt it's more power them the Bose Compact,. I was just suggesting a lighter load to transport if only 2x a month gigging. Do you need more power....or?

Hi Donny,

I know you have my well being at heart and thank you for that but, as I said, I already had the two PW100t's which I have been using for quite a while with one or sometimes two on stands. They produce a good sound but they are a touch light in the bass department.

I added the bass amp as a tryout and it works very. I also used to hang the VLT on a mic stand below the tablet and it was a bit cluttered with lots of cables.

This is a lot neater arrangement. the majority of the cables are hidden behind the speakers along with the 4 way mains block.

I hate cables lying about so this setup is ideal for me.

Col

Col, no doubt that you have twice the power of the Bose L1 Compact, but there is no doubt in mind that the Bose would boggle your mind. There are many of us that have tried nearly every sound system on the market, including some real monsters, but when it comes to sound distribution and clarity, nothing, absolutely nothing, comes remotely close to the Bose L1 systems. I only know of two individuals on this forum that didn't like the Bose systems.

All the best,

Gary

I agree with Gary
In addition, numbers don't always mean the same nowadays.
It was true a while back, but not now.
The way Bose handles power in ratio to Volume/sound is different than your regular conventional speaker.
I played a gig in an Auto Museum for 200 people with 2 Bose L1 compact and a sub.
It was a large industrial kind of hall...
A couple of times I was asked to turn them down a bit...
Plenty of power..
But sooooo easy to set up

Eric

To paraphrase "Use what you like, and like what you use." ...

Hear Hear so to speak

Col

Weeeel, twice the power "could" mean 10% more volume. No more. As for dispersion and coverage - I'd have to hear it, but I stand by my Bose ... literally!

Hi Guy's

Please don't get me wrong that was a joke about the Bose
Compact and as I said this rig was put together more as an
experiment with my existing speakers.

Dave, your point regarding dispersal, as far as I understand
it the 180 degree dispersal achieved by the Bose is done by angling the speakers.

The dispersal quoted on the Kustom/Powerwork speakers is 120
degrees, a typical line array system, but my little set up has
another trick up it's sleeve, because of the way the
top speaker is mounted I can swivel the top speaker to point anyway you like.

Obviously in order for this to function properly it would
mean sending vocals and backing track to both speakers not
as I have it at the moment with vocals to the top speaker
and backing track to the lower one. This is just a matter of rearranging the cables.

All in all a ingenious design (Accident)



Col

Col,
I'm sure it's wonderful. I'm just so spoiled by years of comparisons between products, and NONE, since I started using Bose. I even sold my QSC K8s this year. They were gathering dust as a backup I didn't need. As a performer that plays many low volume events, I really love the variety I get from just a single Bose ... I use it with just the sub to add some ooomph to my PA900 speakers, add the top (on the floor) for more clarity and punch, when needed, and raise the top to cover more of the room ... if that's called for. One unit gives me 4 options for coverage, and that's before (if ever) I get the second Compact out of the trunk.
I know ... I'm singing the same old song ... but with a different meaning ... (hmmm, sounds catchy?)