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Title: What is affordable current 3x6 DSP these days
Post by: Rob Spence on June 22, 2015, 06:04:51 PM
I am thinking about replacing my DSP. I have a 4x8 now. With a new configuration I am considering, a pair of 3x6 units might be better.

I am considering all sorts of new configurations so questions in other threads may not track to other ones.

Mine is nearly 10 years old and support for it seems to have disappeared which opens up all sorts of possibilities. It is a Sabine NAV480 (built by Xilica I believe).

So, as the title says, what is out there these days that I should consider.
I see the new Driverack 360 and am vaguely aware of Ashly units.

It has to be cost effective for me though.

Thanks

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Title: Re: What is affordable current 3x6 DSP these days
Post by: duane massey on June 22, 2015, 09:07:49 PM
Depends upon your budget. There are several inexpensive 2x6, but not many 3x6 that I am aware of, other than Behringer (if it still exists). I have been spec'ing the Jupiter 8, but that's not cheap and it's 8x8.
Title: Re: What is affordable current 3x6 DSP these days
Post by: Bob Leonard on June 22, 2015, 09:13:14 PM
Rob,
Do this.

http://dbxpro.com/en-US/products/driverack-venu360
Title: Re: What is affordable current 3x6 DSP these days
Post by: eric lenasbunt on June 22, 2015, 09:14:34 PM
I have been selling piles of the Behringer DCX2496. Great processor for the money.
Title: Re: What is affordable current 3x6 DSP these days
Post by: Rob Spence on June 23, 2015, 12:19:51 AM
Rob,
Do this.

http://dbxpro.com/en-US/products/driverack-venu360

I have looked at it. I had a 260 once and hated it.
I see no actual usage reports on the 360 though the marketing looks good.
Harmon is getting stupid with product naming. The products may be good but they are making a mess of their own good name with their marketing.


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Title: Re: What is affordable current 3x6 DSP these days
Post by: Mark Dawson on June 23, 2015, 06:17:49 AM
What about a pair of omnidrive compacts? Ageing a bit, but very capable units.  Gets you something good for medium money.   I think you run into cheap and average, or awesome and pricey with no real middle ground :)   


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Title: Re: What is affordable current 3x6 DSP these days
Post by: David Allred on June 23, 2015, 06:54:31 AM
I had a 260 once and hated it.


What about it, specifically, did you hate?  May the 360 addresses your issue.

David
Title: Re: What is affordable current 3x6 DSP these days
Post by: Stephen Kirby on June 23, 2015, 08:24:42 AM
Outside of things like the Peavey and Alto boxes, your best bet is probably the Ashley.  Although I'm not sure why you want to get rid of the Xilica which is reputed to be the best sounding small processor around.  I'm very happy with my older Ashley.  Not sure what lack of support means.  Do you do a lot of offline configurations that require software that doesn't run on current OS's?  Mostly I just play with the delays depending on how I'm set up at a particular place.
Title: Re: What is affordable current 3x6 DSP these days
Post by: Doug Fowler on June 23, 2015, 11:14:24 AM
I am thinking about replacing my DSP. I have a 4x8 now. With a new configuration I am considering, a pair of 3x6 units might be better.

I am considering all sorts of new configurations so questions in other threads may not track to other ones.

Mine is nearly 10 years old and support for it seems to have disappeared which opens up all sorts of possibilities. It is a Sabine NAV480 (built by Xilica I believe).

So, as the title says, what is out there these days that I should consider.
I see the new Driverack 360 and am vaguely aware of Ashly units.

It has to be cost effective for me though.

Thanks

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Ashly and Xilica.  Not sure of Xilica cost, but the XP-3060 is the config you want.

Protea 3.6 is $750 new.  I would use it without hesitation.

Title: Re: What is affordable current 3x6 DSP these days
Post by: Len Zenith Jr on June 23, 2015, 11:16:29 AM
I have been selling piles of the Behringer DCX2496. Great processor for the money.

It is a great little processor except for one major flaw: It cuts the sound momentarily when you change x-over slopes, change delay settings, or if you zero (0 dB) any PEQ setting. Not a big deal for a permanent install setup but for mobile use you are pretty much stuck with your initial settings once the show starts.
Title: Re: What is affordable current 3x6 DSP these days
Post by: Philip Roberts on June 23, 2015, 11:21:07 AM

It is a great little processor except for one major flaw: It cuts the sound momentarily when you change x-over slopes, change delay settings, or if you zero (0 dB) any PEQ setting. Not a big deal for a permanent install setup but for mobile use you are pretty much stuck with your initial settings once the show starts.
And why do you think you need to do any of those things mid show?

These are all things that should be set based on measurements and not adjusted during the show.

Philip
Title: Re: What is affordable current 3x6 DSP these days
Post by: Len Zenith Jr on June 23, 2015, 12:18:15 PM
And why do you think you need to do any of those things mid show?

These are all things that should be set based on measurements and not adjusted during the show.

Philip

I do club type events where the night starts off with relatively few people, grows slowly and then peaks to capacity. For the first hour or so, with brick walls, low ceilings and few people, the high frequency energy is much too bright and needs to be attenuated. As the night progresses and the club and the dance floor fills up: the heat, humidity, and waterbags absorb/refract the highs and they need to be brought back in. I like the control that a high shelf PEQ gives me over the channel strip EQ's, ie: I can control the knee. On the DCX2496's PEQ you can slowly bring the highs back in but you better be careful not to zero (0 dB) the filter. You can get as close to zero as you want (above or below) but once you hit zero your sound is gone for a moment and for me that would be right when the club hits capacity.
Title: Re: What is affordable current 3x6 DSP these days
Post by: David Allred on June 23, 2015, 12:29:17 PM
I do club type events where the night starts off with relatively few people, grows slowly and then peaks to capacity. For the first hour or so, with brick walls, low ceilings and few people, the high frequency energy is much too bright and needs to be attenuated. As the night progresses and the club and the dance floor fills up: the heat, humidity, and waterbags absorb/refract the highs and they need to be brought back in. I like the control that a high shelf PEQ gives me over the channel strip EQ's, ie: I can control the knee. On the DCX2496's PEQ you can slowly bring the highs back in but you better be careful not to zero (0 dB) the filter. You can get as close to zero as you want (above or below) but once you hit zero your sound is gone for a moment and for me that would be right when the club hits capacity.

"Doctor, I broke my leg in 4 places.  What should I do?"
"Stay out of those places."

Don't hit -0-. 8)

Title: Re: What is affordable current 3x6 DSP these days
Post by: TJ (Tom) Cornish on June 23, 2015, 02:39:47 PM
I do club type events where the night starts off with relatively few people, grows slowly and then peaks to capacity. For the first hour or so, with brick walls, low ceilings and few people, the high frequency energy is much too bright and needs to be attenuated. As the night progresses and the club and the dance floor fills up: the heat, humidity, and waterbags absorb/refract the highs and they need to be brought back in. I like the control that a high shelf PEQ gives me over the channel strip EQ's, ie: I can control the knee. On the DCX2496's PEQ you can slowly bring the highs back in but you better be careful not to zero (0 dB) the filter. You can get as close to zero as you want (above or below) but once you hit zero your sound is gone for a moment and for me that would be right when the club hits capacity.
I would use the GEQ/PEQ on the output of my desk for qualitative changes like this.  Doing it in the DSP is a pain in the butt.
Title: Re: What is affordable current 3x6 DSP these days
Post by: Scott Wagner on June 23, 2015, 03:19:45 PM
I would use the GEQ/PEQ on the output of my desk for qualitative changes like this.  Doing it in the DSP is a pain in the butt.
+1 Yep.
Title: Re: What is affordable current 3x6 DSP these days
Post by: Bob Leonard on June 23, 2015, 03:25:20 PM
+1 Again. You tune the system with the DSP, and you make small changes with the console or external EQ. If the DSP is set properly you may never have to touch it again.
Title: Re: What is affordable current 3x6 DSP these days
Post by: Bob Leonard on June 23, 2015, 03:27:41 PM
Ashly and Xilica.  Not sure of Xilica cost, but the XP-3060 is the config you want.

Protea 3.6 is $750 new.  I would use it without hesitation.



I agree with you Doug, but I'm still partial to dbx products, and the 360 appears to be leaps and bounds above the 260 for about the same price as the Protea.
Title: Re: What is affordable current 3x6 DSP these days
Post by: Lyle Williams on June 23, 2015, 04:35:58 PM
I do club type events where the night starts off with relatively few people, grows slowly and then peaks to capacity. For the first hour or so, with brick walls, low ceilings and few people, the high frequency energy is much too bright and needs to be attenuated. As the night progresses and the club and the dance floor fills up: the heat, humidity, and waterbags absorb/refract the highs and they need to be brought back in. I like the control that a high shelf PEQ gives me over the channel strip EQ's, ie: I can control the knee. On the DCX2496's PEQ you can slowly bring the highs back in but you better be careful not to zero (0 dB) the filter. You can get as close to zero as you want (above or below) but once you hit zero your sound is gone for a moment and for me that would be right when the club hits capacity.

Yes, this is a downside of the DCX.  Something that it is good to know before you buy.  Otherwise, for the money, a useable processor.
Title: Re: What is affordable current 3x6 DSP these days
Post by: Garry Wilson on June 23, 2015, 09:50:08 PM
I am thinking about replacing my DSP. I have a 4x8 now. With a new configuration I am considering, a pair of 3x6 units might be better.

I am considering all sorts of new configurations so questions in other threads may not track to other ones.

Mine is nearly 10 years old and support for it seems to have disappeared which opens up all sorts of possibilities. It is a Sabine NAV480 (built by Xilica I believe).

So, as the title says, what is out there these days that I should consider.


I see the new Driverack 360 and am vaguely aware of Ashly units.

It has to be cost effective for me though.

Thanks

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD


I also own and love the Ashly Protea 3.6. It has a lot of useful processing.
I like and use DBX products as well, but any offerings pass a 2x6 was more than I needed, with the cost that goes with it, no 3x6.
Title: Re: What is affordable current 3x6 DSP these days
Post by: Rob Spence on June 25, 2015, 01:00:23 PM
What about it, specifically, did you hate?  May the 360 addresses your issue.

David

I hated the user interface and at the time DBX support for an external editor sucked.

My current unit sounds fantastic. It is also way past support. I worry about it failing these days. I am considering a dual amp rack design which would need a 3x6 in each and I only use that in my 4x8 these days.

I would also like a network connected computer interface rather than the USB interface I have now that emulated a serial port.

Unlike Bob, I am not a Harman fan though I do have some JBL gear. I don't see Harman mains speakers in my future so the presets in a Driverack won't do me any good.


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Title: Re: What is affordable current 3x6 DSP these days
Post by: Chris Nixon on June 25, 2015, 02:42:23 PM

I would also like a network connected computer interface rather than the USB interface I have now that emulated a serial port.


Moxa makes a number of products that will put a serial port on an ethernet network, I use a DE-311 to control my Minidrive over Wifi.

Chris