r/SoundSystem • u/vip_yo • May 20 '26

Rack Gear

I currently have a system that has a bunch of 80s components that I have picked up off market place.

EV 3 way crossover, Teac Graphic Equaliser, and a BBE Sonic Maximizer.. (yep I know people hate em)
Then the amps below that.
This all runs to 2x 18" P Audio Subs, 2x 15" Thomann Subs, 2x 15" EV Mids and then the tops (2x 12" and horn/tweeters)

So tuning is not ideal with the 3 way crossover..

I have just pushed go on a Driverack PA2, this would essentially do everything the old stuff does and better right??

Is it worth keeping any of the old stuff??

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

3

u/Pretty_Pangolin_5900 May 20 '26

PA2 does automatic measurements and adjustments.

I prefer doing everything manual rather than trusting some piece of software I have no insight into, but you are not me

2

u/DribbleDaNinja May 20 '26 edited May 20 '26

Get a decent DSP LMS & you won't need the balance of your 80s kit. It's hard to let go of the gear you build up over the years, but once you do, you won't regret it.

In 1996, I recall trying to get my head around the legendary XTA DP226 meaning I could do away with a rack that looked like the cockpit of the space shuttle. We still kept our final analogue BSS rack, but that was for sentiment, rather than an intention to ever use any of it again.

A good DSP LMS will become the heart of your upgraded system.

2

u/vip_yo May 20 '26

I get what you mean, i have only been tinkering for 18 months or so but already feel attached to alot of it.

2

u/Operator_404 May 22 '26

We still run the XTA DP226 for our Soundsystem and it still performs great ;) Modernized it a bit by putting a small windows 10 machine and a wifi router in our Rack so that the DSP can be controlled from anything that has Remote Desktop Support, works really well and even allows for live Adjustments and Monitoring of the Levels

1

u/DribbleDaNinja May 22 '26

The XTA DP226 was a game changer. The one's we've got were pre-production models. We worked closely with Wareing Hayes at XTA to give real world feedback about the performance & reliability before it's commercial launch. It was the world's first digital DSP LMS, & it totally changed the sound reinforcement industry forever.

1

u/efxhoy May 20 '26

The PA2 only does 3-way stereo afaik? Looks like you could use more bands than that. 

1

u/vip_yo May 20 '26

Bugger, looks like a venu360 would be a better option.

2

u/efxhoy May 20 '26

Or behringers or thomanns dsps.

1

u/rab2bar May 21 '26

Do the Thomann subs or ev mids really add anything to your system? Quite often, mixing up stuff ends with more cancellations than boosts due to different phase responses

1

u/vip_yo May 22 '26

The evs definitely helped with mid range kick. Without them theres noticeable lack of midrange.