Powered speaker - good idea?

[hieronymous]

Last year GK came out with a new range of amps - the Legacy and Fusion combos. I have a GK MB-112 ii that I think is great - so light, but loud and sounds good. It's basically 200 watts. The Legacy 1X12 is at least 500 watts, 800 with extension speaker or something like that. It's also $1150.


Then Damian Erskine mentioned that he likes playing through a QSC powered speaker - no preamp, just direct into it. And that got me thinking - the QSC CP12 is 1000 watts and less than $500! I could either split my signal and put just low end through the QSC, with a high pass filter signal going into the MB-112. Or even just go into my F-2B & SF-2 into the QSC?


Then, I could also put my Moog Sirin (basically a Minitaur bass synth) through it too. Would that have any negative aspects? It's basically a PA speaker, so think it should work, or certainly could work...

[JimmyJ]

Hey Hieronynous,

I've also played many times directly through QSC powered monitors or PA bits with good results, although usually their speakers with 15" drivers.  It might not be for everybody, especially if you use preamps to shape your tone.  But it could, or should work as an "extension" in any of the configurations you mentioned above.  Or even just a mic cable from the GK DI out (or maybe even that "link" output) directly into the QSC.  You'd definitely get more overall volume, if that's the goal.  Just need to be sure everything is in phase...

AND ... I'd be wary of relying on the claimed wattage figures for comparison as the QSC is not a bass amp as such. Its specs claim a low frequency response down 10db at 47hz - technically around our low F#- so it might not have the low-end power you're hoping for.  The GK gear may have a bit more low frequency extension (because of proprietary drivers) but it's hard to say because guitar amp specs never mention these kinds of things.   

Jimmy J

[hieronymous]

Thank you JimmyJ! I appreciate the cautions, just the kind of thing I was looking for. Just looking at numbers like "1000" vs. "2000" only tells part of the story.

One idea I have is to use it at gigs without PA support, and putting the kick drum through it too. I did it semi-successfully a couple of years ago with a JBL EON powered speaker (I say semi-successful because set-up was very rushed).  So maybe I could run my GK as my main sound, with a touch of bass guitar low frequencies through the QSC (keeping phase in mind, though not sure what I'd do if I discovered something was out of phase!), oh and the bass synth too.

I wonder if the link output would work? That would be cool too. Of course, that's another option - just get one of the GK extension cabs - but the QSC seems to add a lot of possibilities. I wonder if the GK would sit comfortably on top?

[DaveD]

More and more I've been using my QSC K12 on gigs, especially when I know space will be an issue (2 of my bands are 6-piece) or when I know I'm going to want to get in/out quickly. I'll use either my Fractal AX8 or, for when I'm feeling truly minimalistic, my Tech 21 dUg pedal. Great taste, less filling. As good as my Mesa rigs? No, but lately I don't mind sacrificing a little bit of tone for increased GTFOH factor.

Try it. You might like it!

[paulman]

It works for me.  I've been using a Bose F1 top and sub for a few years now.  Put the two pieces together and you're fully ready for anything!  I put vocals, drums (great kick punch) or guitar or bass and it sounds pristine.


Not saying the Bose route is for you.  Having powered speakers saves on wires, pieces of equipment, and time;  that is the major benefit for me anyway.

[hieronymous]

More and more I've been using my QSC K12 on gigs, especially when I know space will be an issue (2 of my bands are 6-piece) or when I know I'm going to want to get in/out quickly. I'll use either my Fractal AX8 or, for when I'm feeling truly minimalistic, my Tech 21 dUg pedal. Great taste, less filling. As good as my Mesa rigs? No, but lately I don't mind sacrificing a little bit of tone for increased GTFOH factor.

Try it. You might like it!

Thank you - that helps a lot. One thing I notice is that QSC makes several "levels" - the CP12 is the cheapest, and might not offer the performance the K12 does. So it might be worth making the extra investment.

BTW, what does GTFOH stand for? My guess is "Get the F* Outta Here" but it might be "something something Front of House"...

It works for me.  I've been using a Bose F1 top and sub for a few years now.  Put the two pieces together and you're fully ready for anything!  I put vocals, drums (great kick punch) or guitar or bass and it sounds pristine.

Not saying the Bose route is for you.  Having powered speakers saves on wires, pieces of equipment, and time;  that is the major benefit for me anyway.

Thanks - saving on wires, equipment and time sounds good to me!

[DaveD]

One of my bandmates has the one of the CP models which he uses for vocals and acoustic guitar. Seems fine but I don't think it has the K12's voicing switch which engages extra bass response.


And yes, your translation of GTFOH is accurate. I guess there could be several interpretations, including:


"Go To Front Of House"
"Girl That Fell Off Horse"
"Golly, That Falafel Order's Hot"
"Gollum Tried Fetching Odin's Horn"


This won't end well. I should stop now.

[pauldo]

 

[edwin]

Seems like that would work well. QSC does make a killer sub that would pair well with it. I've been playing gigs with no speaker on stage through a QSC PA and it shakes the venue.

[paulman]

Seems like that would work well. QSC does make a killer sub that would pair well with it. I've been playing gigs with no speaker on stage through a QSC PA and it shakes the venue.

I'm not suggesting any equivocation, but its a very Grateful Dead approach to use a PA as a rig . I'd love to hear that Edwin!

[rv_bass]

Andy West used powered EV speakers on the Dregs last tour, probably the EKX or ETX series.  Might be worth looking into.

https://products.electrovoice.com/na/en/portable-speaker-families/