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Sound Reinforcement - Forums for Live Sound Professionals - Your Displayed Name Must Be Your Real Full Name To Post In The Live Sound Forums => LAB Lounge => Topic started by: Leo Martin on May 06, 2014, 01:59:38 PM
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I have been looking into a dbx Driverack to use as a crossover filter but have recently discovered some have delay capabilities. I am using all powered speakers, so am I limited to using the PX? Or will the other ones work fine. The new PA2 looks like it has everything I need, but I don't know if it will work.
Thanks
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I have been looking into a dbx Driverack to use as a crossover filter but have recently discovered some have delay capabilities. I am using all powered speakers, so am I limited to using the PX? Or will the other ones work fine. The new PA2 looks like it has everything I need, but I don't know if it will work.
Thanks
Any processor will work. The main difference between the PX and PA is the number of inputs and outputs. For powered systems, any bi- or tri-amplification is done internally so you probably don't need as many outputs on the processor. The PA is slightly more flexible.
For matched powered systems, most of the time you don't need an external crossover at all since crossovers are built into the powered speakers. Granted, delay, system EQ, and other things can still be helpful.
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Any of the available driveracks will work fine with powered speakers, because in the end all the driverack does is send out an audio signal which is all your powered rig will need to operate once it has power from a wall outlet.
Just be careful fussing about with crossover/delay settings, as most powered rigs also have built-in processing that is already set up pretty darn well and really only need to be fudged in certain circumstances. No reason to overcomplicate things if you don't have to.
Also, knowing what powered equipment you're using would help.
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Any of the available driveracks will work fine with powered speakers, because in the end all the driverack does is send out an audio signal which is all your powered rig will need to operate once it has power from a wall outlet.
Just be careful fussing about with crossover/delay settings, as most powered rigs also have built-in processing that is already set up pretty darn well and really only need to be fudged in certain circumstances. No reason to overcomplicate things if you don't have to.
Also, knowing what powered equipment you're using would help.
I am using Alto TS115As as tops and (soon) a Yorkville LS801p subwoofer. Neither have built in crossovers, and I am thinking about a 2nd pair of altos to place on delay further back in the room I'm covering.
Thanks for the quick replies!
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If you're looking to use it for delay fills, you may need to look at the 260 because the PA/PA2 only offer delay between low/mid/high which would not work for fills unless you had a second delay unit, which would just be silly and expensive.
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I am using Alto TS115As as tops and (soon) a Yorkville LS801p subwoofer. Neither have built in crossovers, and I am thinking about a 2nd pair of altos to place on delay further back in the room I'm covering.
Thanks for the quick replies!
I'd suggest glancing at the LS801p manual, it has on board crossover for itself. That said the thru output is just a full range daisy chain
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The DR PX doesn't do delay, just top/sub crossover.
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If you're looking to use it for delay fills, you may need to look at the 260 because the PA/PA2 only offer delay between low/mid/high which would not work for fills unless you had a second delay unit, which would just be silly and expensive.
You can use the PA for delays. The 'High' outputs don't have to be 'highs' if you don't want them to. Any stereo pair of outputs can be high-passed and low-passed at any frequency. You could HPF both the 'high' and 'mid' outputs at 100hz and delay the 'mids' if you want to.
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You can use the PA for delays. The 'High' outputs don't have to be 'highs' if you don't want them to. Any stereo pair of outputs can be high-passed and low-passed at any frequency. You could HPF both the 'high' and 'mid' outputs at 100hz and delay the 'mids' if you want to.
It only has 10 ms or 11 feet worth of delay. OK for aligning stacks but not much use for delay fills.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk
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The spec on the DRPA2 lists a total delay of 10ms per channel. That's about 11 feet of delay. Not practical for fills.
The flexibility difference by going to the DR260 is night and day. If you're interested, I do have one that I'm trying to get rid of. $499 shipped, including the RS232 to USB adaptor.
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I'd suggest glancing at the LS801p manual, it has on board crossover for itself. That said the thru output is just a full range daisy chain
That is the problem, I don't want my tops to be full range. It works with Yorkville tops, but they are well out of my price range.
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The spec on the DRPA2 lists a total delay of 10ms per channel. That's about 11 feet of delay. Not practical for fills.
The flexibility difference by going to the DR260 is night and day. If you're interested, I do have one that I'm trying to get rid of. $499 shipped, including the RS232 to USB adaptor.
Here's what I'm seeing:
-Driverack PX is only crossover but cheap
-PA2 is limited in delay function
-260 is pricy but fully featured
I am wondering the distance I need to keep my speakers apart to prevent comb filtering, and I might be able to get away w/o a delay function.
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If you want the the features of the D260 but don't want to spend all that $$ get a Behringer DCX2496 and completely ignore anybody that slags on it because of the brand name, because at this price point it unequaled in performance and value.
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If you want the the features of the D260 but don't want to spend all that $$ get a Behringer DCX2496 and completely ignore anybody that slags on it because of the brand name, because at this price point it unequaled in performance and value.
Agreed. Some VERY reputable installers use the 2496 (or did) on installs at it is a fine piece of equipment for the money.
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If you want the the features of the D260 but don't want to spend all that $$ get a Behringer DCX2496 and completely ignore anybody that slags on it because of the brand name, because at this price point it unequaled in performance and value.
Do you know how much delay it has? On the website it just says it is adjustable. I do believe behringer has stepped up recently and already own a mixer from them.
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The DR260 is the minimum DSP I'll work with. I consider the PA version junk and I wouldn't trust the Behringer DSP.
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Do you know how much delay it has?
582ms or 200 meters.
I do believe behringer has stepped up recently
This processor and it's partner the DEQ2496 are legacy products now and aside from some early ribbon cable problems they have been standout products in a lineup that wasn't well known for durability.
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Consider the Ashly Protea 3.6SP as an alternative to the DBX PA or 260 processors. More configurable than the PA2, less money than DR260. Standard USB interface that doesn't need an approved serial adapter like the 260. Subjectively I think it sounds better than a 260.
Matt
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Consider the Ashly Protea 3.6SP as an alternative to the DBX PA or 260 processors. More configurable than the PA2, less money than DR260. Standard USB interface that doesn't need an approved serial adapter like the 260. Subjectively I think it sounds better than a 260.
Matt
I can't agree more.
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If you want the the features of the D260 but don't want to spend all that $$ get a Behringer DCX2496 and completely ignore anybody that slags on it because of the brand name, because at this price point it unequaled in performance and value.
I know where there are two dead ones you can get for little or nothing, for parts
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Consider the Ashly Protea 3.6SP as an alternative to the DBX PA or 260 processors. More configurable than the PA2, less money than DR260. Standard USB interface that doesn't need an approved serial adapter like the 260. Subjectively I think it sounds better than a 260.
Matt
Hadn't heard of Ashly before, thanks for letting me know. It looks fully featured, but still seems high in price, considering I could buy 2 of the Altos for the price of the one DSP unit.
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582ms or 200 meters.
This processor and it's partner the DEQ2496 are legacy products now and aside from some early ribbon cable problems they have been standout products in a lineup that wasn't well known for durability.
Plenty of delay for sure!
Would you still recommend the DEQ over the PX since they are the same price but DEQ has a much bigger feature set?
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Would you still recommend the DEQ over the PX since they are the same price but DEQ has a much bigger feature set?
The DEQ does not have a crossover it's an EQ only, but if that is what you need it's a good option. If you need a crossover and some EQ as well the DCX is the better option.
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The DEQ does not have a crossover it's an EQ only, but if that is what you need it's a good option. If you need a crossover and some EQ as well the DCX is the better option.
I need a crossover for sure, so the DEQ is out. The last thing i really need is if the PA2 is a worthy upgrade from the PX, once I know which one of those I like, I will just compare until I find a price I like on one of the three options.
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I need a crossover for sure, so the DEQ is out. The last thing i really need is if the PA2 is a worthy upgrade from the PX, once I know which one of those I like, I will just compare until I find a price I like on one of the three options.
There is mutliple options if you want to upgrade. Someone is selling a BSS soundweb 9088IIs for 250$, this could be a nice ''cheap'' solution and fairly good upgrade. On the other hand, finding a DR260 used could be also a nice upgrade !
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I need a crossover for sure, so the DEQ is out. The last thing i really need is if the PA2 is a worthy upgrade from the PX, once I know which one of those I like, I will just compare until I find a price I like on one of the three options.
To be honest, the speakers you are using and the places you are likely to use them will be perfectly fine with with any of the low-end Driverack range or the DCX. Get the one that best fits your feature needs (alignment delay, etc.) and save half the cost of a 260 or better model. Very few of your audience or clients will hear the difference. I have never used the auto-FBE or RTA features on mine.. tho' some do.
At some point common sense (and budget) should overrule wants.
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To be honest, the speakers you are using and the places you are likely to use them will be perfectly fine with with any of the low-end Driverack range or the DCX. Get the one that best fits your feature needs (alignment delay, etc.) and save half the cost of a 260 or better model. Very few of your audience or clients will hear the difference. I have never used the auto-FBE or RTA features on mine.. tho' some do.
At some point common sense (and budget) should overrule wants.
That is what I was thinking. If I need a delay I will buy a 260 but if not I will just get a PX because the sound quality difference is so small.