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Best processor for LS801p and similar subs?
Tsun Gwing-Kai:
Hello,
So I’m still a newbie to live sound but after doing a few shows, with rented subs (RCF SUB8004, QSC KW181, Yorkville LS801p, etc.) I’ve decided to purchase a pair of LS801p clones.
These are, by far, the boomiest and non-linear subs I’ve used but they definitely get the crowd going and dancing if there is a nice kick drum or if an EDM DJ is on stage.
My biggest concern is how “tubby” and “woofy” these things sound, when crossed over at 80Hz with QSC KW153 tops, and level set about +3dB compared to the tops. Looking in SMAART there’s a ton of 50Hz energy and some weird phase response stuff doing on between 63-80Hz which I don’t like.
Now, being a newbie, I’ve rented a few rigs with DSPs (Ashly, BSS Soundweb London) and would love to EQ out some of the boominess out of these things and maybe cross over them a little steeper than what the boxes have built in.
Is a DriveRack 260 or other live-oriented DSP a good choice? Or should I look at a used Ashly or BSS like the 806DA which seems more geared to installed sound applications like stadiums?
I didn’t enjoy messing around with the BSS software as it’s too complicated for live use, would something cheap like a DriveRack PA be more my cup of tea?
Application would be small bands, EDM/DJ stuff, singer + backing tracks or rapper + DJ, etc.
Thank you for the help so far with this new journey!
Tsun
malcolmbrown:
If I understand youcorrextly, you are in essence running a 2 way rig. LS801 clone subs on the bottom and KW-153 on top. You are wanting to cross adound 80.
IMo a high end dsp unit is overkill for what you aretrying to accomplish.
If it were me... I would use a digital mixer run the subs off an AUX that can be linked to the Master - my Soundcraft UI-24 has that feature... I would use the EQ on the main and set the HPF to around 80. I would set the EQ on the AUX hpf at 45 and LPF at around 80.
Now I'd get some pink noise running through the system. 7se a decent iPhone based measurement app and adjust the on board EQ's to suit.
You could do the same using an old analog graphic Eq and Crossover. Something like a dbx 223 x-over and one of their old graphic, maybe a 2231 ? I used one as an additional gain stage and to warm up an earlier generation digital board.
or you could spend up and do a driverack PA2...
Tim McCulloch:
IMNSHO, using console output EQ as crossover is ghetto. DSP is cheap enough these days that it should be dedicated to the loudspeaker system so it can be used regardless of which mixer drives the PA.
Tsun Gwing-Kai:
--- Quote from: malcolmbrown on August 03, 2024, 01:37:20 PM ---If I understand youcorrextly, you are in essence running a 2 way rig. LS801 clone subs on the bottom and KW-153 on top. You are wanting to cross adound 80.
IMo a high end dsp unit is overkill for what you aretrying to accomplish.
If it were me... I would use a digital mixer run the subs off an AUX that can be linked to the Master - my Soundcraft UI-24 has that feature... I would use the EQ on the main and set the HPF to around 80. I would set the EQ on the AUX hpf at 45 and LPF at around 80.
Now I'd get some pink noise running through the system. 7se a decent iPhone based measurement app and adjust the on board EQ's to suit.
You could do the same using an old analog graphic Eq and Crossover. Something like a dbx 223 x-over and one of their old graphic, maybe a 2231 ? I used one as an additional gain stage and to warm up an earlier generation digital board.
or you could spend up and do a driverack PA2...
--- End quote ---
Yes, that’s exactly what I am trying to do. However, as I currently only rent consoles (as in, don’t own one of my own) it’s hard to remember to do this every time and write down what the settings were. Also, it makes it difficult to swap mixers if one were to go down during a show.
I see DBX has the DriveRack 260 which has everything I need and then some. The LS801p clones can Xover at 80Hz, but the tops only have a 100Hz filter. So being able to “bridge the gap” would be nice and add in time alignment, sub EQ, etc.
Is the “sub harmonic synth” in this worth anything or just hype? I know the sub boxes I have don’t do much in the 40Hz range, but even if I could get a little extra bump vs the 50-60Hz “boom” that would be nice.
I don’t clip my subs now, just craving a more linear response.
If DSP it is, then I guess an old analog Xover or graphic is going to be just a baby step & possibly buying gear twice. And without delay, not sure if I can make things aligned better short of the polarity flip button on the subs.
Tim McCulloch:
--- Quote from: Tsun Gwing-Kai on August 03, 2024, 04:49:23 PM ---Is the “sub harmonic synth” in this worth anything or just hype? I know the sub boxes I have don’t do much in the 40Hz range, but even if I could get a little extra bump vs the 50-60Hz “boom” that would be nice.
I don’t clip my subs now, just craving a more linear response.
If DSP it is, then I guess an old analog Xover or graphic is going to be just a baby step & possibly buying gear twice. And without delay, not sure if I can make things aligned better short of the polarity flip button on the subs.
--- End quote ---
I'd not recommend using the sub-harmonic synthetic as your program material has plenty of <60Hz content already
The dbx works by creating a waveform an octave lower and time correcting it with the input. You would make the woofers really unhappy with a 15Hz-30Hz signal at full level. Cone-launch or shredding would follow. Ignore this feature.
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