Conference napalm::guitar

    
    The single most important thing to look for in a monitor is clarity.
    You have to be able to hear transients clearly.  Low bass is not
    too important if you only will be putting vocals into the monitors.
    
    A second thing to look into is directionality.  That is, if you
    move away from the monitor at an angle, how far can you go before
    the sound starts to fall off???  This is important if you will be
    moving around.
    
    Size is important if you're typically playing in small places. 
    I currently do a weekly gig where we use mike-stand mounted "spot"
    monitors because there is no room for even a single floor monitor.        
    Many spot monitors also have level controls which can be very
    convenient.
    
        
    
    

    I have a set of Klipsch HeresyII stage monitors which sound great.
    They are built like a brick $#!+house. Klipsch was fairly popular
    a few years back, but are not too common these days. Carvin makes
    some real nice stage monitors for a reasonable price. They offer
    a few differant driver options including EVM's.
                                    
    For top of the line, JBL has some great stage monitors in their
    pro line, but they are relatively expensive. 
    
    Like Brain says, if you are doing a small gig, spot monitors may
    be sufficient. They are much cheaper and more portable than floor
    monitors. Having them on a mic stand in close proximity makes for
    good audibility. Also saves you from needing another power amp.
    You mentioned that you have an M2600 amp. Is this amp available
    for monitors, or is it the only amp in your system ? If is is
    available, you might as well go with floor monitors. If not, it
    reinforces the spot monitor option. 
    
    Brian, what brand and model of spot monitors would you suggest ?
    What is the power rating ?
                                                                    
    Shop around.
    
    Mark Jacques
                                       
    

    
    I have had very good experiences with the TOA powered spot monitor,
    I think the model is something like SM-25.  It has a small (5"?)
    woofer and a tweeter, two line ins, an XLR mike in, volume, tone,
    phone out.  You can screw it onto a  mike stand or simply clamp
    it to something.
    
    TOA also makes an unpowered unit with what looks like two woofers, I
    haven't tried it.  It has an L-pad for volume control.
    
        
    

    Brian, would this TOA powered unit be suitable as a stage monitor
    for keyboards? 
    
    Edd

    I use the Toa powered amp to monitor the whole mix ... including
    keyboards.  Works fine!  Bass response isn't great, but it's 
    adequate ...
    
    
    	-Jim

    LETS GET TOGHTHER FOR A JAM SOMETIME PLENTY OF GUITARIST IN WOBURN
    AND ANDOVER AREA. JUST NEED PLACE AND TIME
                                 KEVIN

    
    Has anyone seen the Sound Tech amplified stage monitor?  I just saw one
    at EU Wurlitzer's in Framingham.  It looks like a regular stage
    monitor with a 12" driver and a horn tweeter, but it has a 100W amp 
    installed with a volume control and a 5-band graphic eq.    It has two 
    outputs: one can go to a regular (non-powered) stage monitor, and the 
    other can go to another powered monitor.  it lists for $299.00.  This 
    seems like a cheaper solution than buying an amp plus a monitor.  
    
    My questions:
    
    What do folks think of the idea of a powered stage monitor?
    Have you seen this kind of thing from other companies?
    Does $299.00 seem like a decent price?  Would I do better (in terms of
    price and/or sound quality) to go with a separate amp and monitor(s)?
    
    Thanks for your help,
    
    Justine -- using this for accoustic music: guitar, vocals.
    
                                                              

    Peavey has similar powered monitor, at a similar (if I remember
    correctly) price. I don't think the Peavey had graphhic eq, but it was
    several months back that I looked at it. I think $299 is reasonable if
    the quality of the cabinet, speaker and amplifier is good.
    
    I had given some consideration to using a powered monitor myself. The
    main advantage is having one package with potentially fewer connections
    and wires. On the other hand, remember that you'll have to run 120V to
    the monitor, which could be a problem depending on how you set up. I
    decided against it on this basis, I don't like the idea of having AC
    line cords snaking across the floor when people are dancing around,
    etc. Something to think about. I picked up a used, un-powered peavey
    monitor for $75, and drive it from the power amp in my mixer (I have a
    separate power amp for the mains). For me this works quite well.
    
    - Ram

	If you are into self construction, I can suggest some single chip
	power amps (about $6.00 to $8.00 each) that I'm using in some
	cabinets with 8 inch full range speakers. Mine are simple, one
	in jack, a volume control & a pilot light (LED). The cabinets are
	about 11" x 14" x 8" in size and run 20 watts RMS into the speaker.
	I use these on my Microphone stand (a collection of Universal keyboard
	stand parts). You would be surprized at how loud these can get
	if needed. 

	My total cost was about $50.00 each (I made 2 - one for me, another
	for my keyboard player). 100 watts is overkill for me, as was a
	12 inch speaker. 20 watts and an 8 inch speaker work just fine.

	If you want construction details, send me some mail.

							Jens

    
    I went to Daddy's last night and listened to a pair of those portable
    Peavy stage monitors.  They hook together in  a plastic case, real
    lightweight.  But they only have 10" speakers, and they sounded awful
    to me -- like a transistor radio (ok, maybe not that bad).  The
    micstand amp sounds like it would be good for me when I'm playing solo,
    but I often run sound for acts with one or two guitars and two singers, so I
    really think I need floor monitors with 12" speakers.  I guess I'll go
    back to EU Wurlitzer and listen to the Soundtech powered monitor
    and try to compare it to a similar speaker powered from a separate
    power amp.  I haven't seen an amp and a monitor that I've liked that I
    could get for $300.00, but I haven't looked at a lot of used stuff yet.
    All advice appreciated.  I don't think I would be equal to the task of
    building my own powered monitor.
    
    Thanks for the help (and thanks for the tip about the sale at Daddy's -
                         I got 3 sets of strings for $12.99!)
    
    Justine

    I have to say that the Peavey "Mini" Monitors (the plastic cased ones
    with the 10") and piezo are awful.  The concept is good, but having
    used them for a folk music coffeehouse where they caused problems due
    to a very colored frequency response, we finally gave up and replaced
    the monitors with Sound Techs (unpowered) with 12" and a horn.  These
    are pretty good.  For extra $$ you can get EV drivers in the Sound
    Techs.  
    
    As far as powered monitors, Peavey has dropped theirs (which were based on
    their more expensive wedges anyway).  The big win is you add power
    everytime you add a cab, the loss is there is no modularity (i.e. you
    can't press the amp or EQ into service for any other purpose in a
    pinch).  I can't say I'm really crazy about having the EQ on the
    cab either, because it makes it difficult to adjust.  I'd rather send
    an EQed feed to the monitor amp.
    
    							Brian

    
    
    At lunch time I went to the store where I've bought most of my sound
    equipment and asked about the monitors and told them about the
    Sound Tech powered monitor I saw for $299.00.  They said for that price
    they can get me a 125W amp (ASI) and a Dr. Fong monitor (12" speaker
    and a piezo tweeter).  The Dr. Fong is a kit, but they're going to
    assemble it for me, and I'll go listen to it on Friday.  Unless I hear
    from someone out there "No, don't do *that*!" I'll probably go with
    this amp and monitor and then maybe add a second used monitor if/when I
    need it.  The list price for the ASI amp is $239, and the list price
    for the Dr. Fong is around $125, so if I can get the package for $300.00, 
    that seems pretty good, doesn't it?  They have the speaker in stock, but
    they have to order the amp -- is there a different amp I should
    consider instead?  I'll probably end up with  monitors that sound
    better than the main speakers.
    
    Thanks for all the info.
    
    Justine
    

    ASI is a brand that seems to have popped up only this year...I have no
    idea how good it is.  The Fong cabs are OK, but piezo tweets won't
    sound as good as a good horn, I assume that's what's in the Sound
    Techs.
    
    							Brian

    If this helps any, ASI power amps are made by the same people that have
    been bringing you Quantum guitar amps (low priced, low wattage).  My
    opinion is that they're addressing a market that seems to have
    relatively little competition in it right now, namely the inexpensive
    medium power MONO power amp.  Seems like all the power amps on the
    market right now are stereo.  Many can be bridged to mono, but there
    seems to be few that offer only a mono amp.  I think that removing the
    extra components necessary in a stereo power amp probably allows them
    to make their mono amps available at more attractive prices.

    Don't read this as a recommendation of their equipment, I've never
    actually seen nor heard anything with the ASI name on it and cannot
    comment on it's sound, reliability, or quality.

    In addition to the ASI power amp line, they are now trying to market a
    new supposedly upscale line of guitar amps under the ASI/Quantum name,
    see adds in most of the major guitar magazines over the last few
    months.  They seem to imply that they went through a substantial
    redesign effort for this new line.

    Greg

    There are other single-channel power amps on the market, besides the
    ASI. Peavey immediately comes to mind. If you are planning to 
    eventually add another monitor, you would be better off with a
    stereo/dual-mono power amp. Another brand to consider is Carvin.
    It might be worth your while to call Carvin and have them send
    you their latest catalog. Toa is another brand to check out. These
    are available from EU Wurlitzer's and many other dealers, as well
    as mail-order houses.
    
    If you are in the Mass area, check the want-ads. There is tons
    of used equipment in there, priced to move. 
    
    I agree that you are much better off with a horn-loaded system than
    Piezo's. Piezo's don't produce enough sound pressure to cut through
    a loud mix, and they always sound shrill. I'd look for a good 2-way
    system with a compression-driven horn, and a built-in crossover
    network.
    
    I own a set of Klipsch HereseyII stage monitors which are enclosed in
    road cabs. These are 3-way horn-loaded cabs, with Electro-voice
    drivers. Definately high-end monitors. I bought them used (in perfect
    shape) for $500/pair. I'm driving them with a 100 wpc Peavey power
    amp. This system works great, but I would like more power. I'm leaning
    towards a Peavey CS400 power amp in the future. The beuaty of buying
    modular equipment is the ability to upgrade one piece without scrapping
    the whole system.
    
    Mark
    

    
    Re .7
    Justine, what kind of _inputs_ does the SoundTech have?
    Do you have a mixer with a monitor send, or do you plan
    to plug your mic right into the monitor?
    
    It's always better, IMO, to have separate monitors, EQ, and amp
    for three reasons: 
    
    1) You can upgrade any of the components without having to get
       rid of the whole system.
    2) You can reconfigure your PA/Mon setup in a pinch if something
       breaks. Mixers and spkr cabs with built in amps don't have much
       flexibility here.
    3) Separate components have higher resale value, generally speaking,
       and are easier to sell.
    
    BUT, if it's just one person, possibly three, playing acoustic
    music, the SoundTech stuff should be fine.
    
    Neal
    	

    
    I've pretty much made up my mind to go with separate components for all
    the reasons folks have outlined here.  Two of my main considerations
    now are price (I'd like to get an amp and monitor for no more than $300
    new, less used) and size/weight.  I have a small car, and I'm not
    really strong enough to carry heavy equipment around.  I often work
    alone, so I have to make sure that whatever I buy, I can carry alone.
    This might sound dumb, but when I auditioned speakers, I made sure I
    could pick them up before I even bothered listening to them.  I didn't
    want to fall in love with something I couldn't even lift!
    
    I think I'll look around at other amps around 100W, and I'll look at
    other monitors, too, but I may decide to compromise on sound quality
    and go with the Fong cab with the piezo tweeter, because the whole
    thing is really lightweight.  I am working in mostly coffeehouse/church
    hall settings - no drums, no bass. So the performer can hear some of
    what's coming out of the main speakers, but since they're pointing out 
    into the audience, I want to use a monitor to reinforce that sound and
    to help multiple performers hear each other better, so I may be able to get
    away with less definition in the monitor than I would need in a noisy
    place where you can't hear a thing on stage unless it's right in front
    of you.   At this point I'd like to buy the equipment I need all the
    time and rent the stuff I only need once in a while.  
    
    Thanks for the amp ideas.  Maybe I should start reading some of the
    magazines that advertise this stuff.  I don't play electric guitar, and
    it seems that most of the rags are geared toward that.  
    
    Justine
    
    My setup: I have a 6-channel combo amp/mixer and two PA speakers (12"
    with horn tweeter).  I'll go out from the main amp (monitor out) to the
    second amp and then from that amp to the monitor(s).  I think next year 
    I'll think about upgrading to a separate mixer board and amp, but this 
    little combo amp is fine for now -- 160W.
    

    	A friend of mine built four small monitors for his 4-piece band.
    They consist of 6x9 coaxial car speakers mounted in plastic enclusures 
    he bought off-the-shelf at Radio Shack. The enclosures can be mounted 
    on mic-stands. He powers all four speakers with one 100w mono power 
    amp. He also built a case that holds all 4 speakers. Obviously, these 
    speakers do not produce 100db of sound pressure level, and the low freq 
    is not adaquate for bass or kick-drum, but for an acoustic setting, they 
    would probably be ideal. You could easily buy all the parts for two cabs 
    for less than $100. I would mount them on mic stands and position them 
    so they are right in-your-face. 
    
    Peavey used to make small cube-shaped monitors that mounted on mic 
    stands. I used to know a drummer that used two of them in a very loud 
    rock band setting and he loved them. I'm not sure if Peavey still
    makes these or not. They were all the rage back around 1982-83. I
    believe these had an 8" woofer and a dome tweeter and sold for ~$100
    each.
    
    Mark

    
    	Hey Mark, how did your friend wire up four 4 ohm cabs
    	into one mono amp? Series-parallel I hope.
    
    	Neal
    

    exactly, series/parallel.
    
    Worked fine !!
    Mark

    re: .18
      My old drummer used to use the Peavey monitor on a stand that
    you mentioned (the one with the 8" woofer and dome tweeter).
    He swore by it for use as a monitor and as far as I know they are
    no longer made by Peavey. 
      I say seperates for monitor/power. Some of the higher end powered
    mixers do have assignable amp channels to allow monitor power. These
    are fine for a small band (single/duo/maybe trio).
    
    						-B()()M-