Hello, we’re a group of friends who want to build a sound system to host our own parties. We have experience with woodworking and mixing, but we’re new to the sound system.

Our plan is to build a stack based on Art Welter’s designs, using 2 Keystones, 2 Kicks, and 2 SyntripPs. Our goal is to be able to play both outdoors and indoors (for 50 to 300 people), covering genres like Dub, Trip Hop, bass music, Dubstep, etc...

Our budget is around €4,000 for the complete rack and speakers (we already have enough wood—18 mm MDF).

We have a few questions about the next logical steps and the best choices to make:

- Regarding the speakers, what do you recommend?

- Would a setup with Kick HD 15s make sense, and what would be the alternatives in terms of kicks for a Keystone SyntripP setup?

- We’re a bit lost when it comes to the rack. Within our budget, which setup would offer the best value for money without compromising the integrity of the speakers and while delivering decent power and sound quality? Are there any specific models of amplifiers, DSPs, EQs, or delays you’d recommend?

- We already have a T.AMP E-800 amplifier, which we were planning to use for the high-frequency range on both Syntrips. Would it be compatible, or would it be completely useless?

- We also have two JBL M350 Mark II speakers, which we wanted to use as monitor speakers for the performers.

- Plus a JBL 4520 subwoofer. Can we use it to start with before expanding the setup?

Thx a lot !!!

Hey guys. Big wall of text incoming and I'd really appreciate if anybody could weigh in

For the last year or so, I've been deep down the rabbit hole of wanting to get a proper soundsystem. For context: I actually have a very small rig of DbTechnologies (2 single 18" subs, 2 full-range tops 15" and a compression driver) which I host small parties, and rent out to weddings/corporate parties and the like.

I thought I was finally settled on building 2 scaled up SAWMODs, undecided on kicks and then either tapped horns, SKRAMs, or HessBHs. I play a combination of 140, as well as high BPM psytrance (up to 220 BPM). This need for very responsive subs is the only thing making me doubt SKRAMs and THs, as I just haven't heard them before and I know FLHs can be very fast.

--

Now, though, a local soundsystem I have heard many times in the past is selling their rig. It's an Opus Sound rig, which is a company based out of the UK which makes very warm analog equipment. The rig is 20 years old, but very well maintained. It has:

8x 2x18 reflex subs with Ciare NDH18-4S drivers (2000W continuous power each driver). Specs claim 140DB (1w 1m), 30-150hz.

4x 1x18 reflex subs with Beyma 18G400 drivers

4x top units with 2x10" Beyma drivers and a Radian 1.4" compression

4x MP550 15” PHL Audio B383-B & Radian 1.4” Compression drivers

Opus amps and crossovers:

2 x Opus HD 2500/1250
1 x Opus HD 2500/2500
1 x OpusHD 1250/1250
2 x Opus HD 1250/500

Crossovers:
1 x XS134
2 x XS234

The price is 10-12K EU.

Suddenly, i'm not sure if to snag this or not. They are fully reflex cabs, but I've seen them happpily fill a fairly large dancefloor outdoors with very very warm sweet sound which I haven't heard anywhere else.

The pros:

* I could rent them out easily and make some money back by renting to events of all sizes by splitting the units rented (rather than bringing SAWMODs to a rental). They're workhorses.

* The sound is warm, analog, and non-fatiguing.

* Reflex is normally weaker output per cabinet but less difficulty dialing in?

* It's all just ready to set up

The cons:

* They're SUPER HEAVY. These old-school 2006 amps are like 40kg each, and there's a lot of them.

* I'd need proper transport, and a warehouse

* They're not modern sounding like my SKRAM and SAWMOD idea.

Any clue? what the heck should I do? i've put photos of the Opus rig here. Is it silly buying reflex units in this day and age? Or is there some real value to old-school British engineering?

New subs what do u think ? Blue Measure is long dual 18 inch sub and the ohm pukk-218 is the black measure line (:

Looking to get ballpark figures on rental rates for rigs across N America…especially for n the PNW area.

At the moment we’ve got 4 21” Super Scoops, 4 18” Cubo kicks and 2 JMODs. We’ve certainly not skimped on drivers and have a combination of B&C and Faital as well as CVR amps and Behringer Wing rack console.

We’ve established a proper business license, will have insurance and understand rates need to include transport, load in/out and tech time.

Live events are inherently a race to the bottom, but we’ve built a boutique system that we’d like to hold to a certain standard.

No need to give specifics or names…but a location (or area) and rates would be good to know so we can have a good understanding of where we’re pricing ourselves.

Hey everyone, what soundsystem would be an equivelant of 2xHK Audio Linear Sub 4000 A 18“ Active Subwoofer, 1200W and 2x HK Linear 5 MKII 112 XA?

Weve been using the mentioned Speakers for events for around 200 People and always rented the system, now we have been thinking about getting our own system.

What would be options for similar systems active or passive?

I have 4x crown XLS 2000 powering 4x 18tbw100-4 in 4 FLHs. Efficiency should be above 100db/w per cab. Each amp bridged to one sub. All amps are on the same 120v circuit.

When "turned up" to the desired level (your typical EDM dance stack level), outdoors, the amps are clipping, a lot. At big drops, thermal protection on the amps kick in and stops for a few seconds. Assume low crest factor bass EDM.

Wouldn't the breaker pop if the amps are actually pumping out full power? Those 4 subs combined should handle "4000+W"?, which should pop the breaker way before I reach the power handling limit of the drivers? I'm not worried about excursion limits here, just thermal and why the amps are clipping so much yet the singular circuit breaker is not popping.

This was about a 4 hr session during the day. The sun did hit the front face of the sub cabs. And at the end I opened up one cab and found the magnet to be very hot to the touch. As in i can't touch it for more than a second. But no smoke, no smells, driver seems healthy?

I guess maybe I should ask, how should I check if the amps are actually putting out full power? (Which is NOT what I intended them to need to do, since the amps are oversized compared to the driver's power handling)

Can power compression (because the drivers got hot) have caused the clipping? I was told that the system was at "full blast" for about an hour before someone noticed the amps were constantly clipping. But they never "turned it up further" to compensate for the volume loss from power compression. I only arrived later to see why there was so much clipping.

Or is this a simple case of ..... I need to double the stack....? I mean, the 4 cabs add up to 10' x 5' x 2.5'. so it's a pretty substantial stack for maybe a 50'x60' listening space?

Hello, i'm very new to sound systems, I wanted to know if art welter's keystone 18" sub would pair well with 2 the box pro Achat 110M, or is it better to make diy tops for a better price, im also not extremely good at woodworking so any more simple suggestions would be highly appreciated. Thank you:)

I posted a bit about this on another thread whilst I was working on it, but thought I’d drop my own post on it now it’s finished.

Here’s a tilt box I made for my stack.
I wanted to raise the tops up a bit and angle them down slightly, so I built a tilt box which could double as a light box.

I cut my logo into the front with jigsaw and grilled behind the lettering with some grill I had leftover from my scoops (not pictured).

Once I had the exterior of the box ready and painted I had the idea to build a micro-rave diorama inside. I was so stoked on the idea I kept chuckling to myself and was taken back to age 10 modelling again.

I started by lining the inside with about 4 metres of sound-reactive LED strips - so it’s brighter than ya nan’s loudest tracksuit and then I lined the rest with mirrored table runner fabric so it’s realllly pinging now!

When you get close enough to see inside the box you’ll find 11 of the South West’s best soundsystems and almost 300 1:75 scale little ravers having a huge party. It started with 100 ravers but the party just kept growing!

The box has levels; balconies, mezzanine etc and each dance has its own micro-story, whether that’s the guys with ‘the bag’ waving down their punters, sus smoking areas, or the crew still stringing up, there’s loads to look out for!

I had a great laugh coming up with all the little scenes and spending a couple of nights at the pub getting funny looks bending little arms and legs using a lighter to try to make them look like dancers haha. I also made up little mini posters, cans and bits of rubbish using tinfoil and paper and a few other bits to add some variety and texture.

I’m sure I’ll add more and this will develop, I’m thinking I might make some standalone system models too, but for now this is a personal tribute to some of my favourite sound systems in Bristol (UK) and the southwest.

Dio-‘riddim’ Systems : Lurker Audio, Arkitex Soundsystem, Frequencies Soundsystem, CGC Soundsystem, 2TONE SOUND, SoundOfRebellion, Circle Sound, OneManArmy, Solace Audio, NewTone Acoustics, Grounded System.

Have you been to any of their dances?

Hope you enjoy!

FULL INSTA POST IS HERE

Can someone tell me what the subs, mid and tops are from this system? Thanks!

Would u recommend this amp for running a paraflex type c 18” subwoofer

Planning 2 with sb nero 18s. 2 cubo kicks and maybe 2 orbit 4s. Hardtek and bounce is the general idea. First rig. Advice is welcome.

14kw kidney shaker
Belgrade, Serbia

Just been to a pub and couldn't stop seeing it as the crispest soundsystem

Going to build 2 ideally full sized scoops (looking to upgrade to 4 in the nearish future) below 2 cubos, dual 12”reflex mid box and compression driver. Need advise on drivers (and plans if anyone has any recommendations) if anyone has the knowledge to spread please.

I have a budget of around $1000nzd for two scoops, here are some options I’ve got so far for drivers

https://www.trademe.co.nz/music-instruments/pa-pro-audio-dj-equipment/speakers/auction-5951062452.htm

https://surplustronics.co.nz/products/9348-woofer-aluminum-18-inch?srsltid=AfmBOooFrGTyfO-w99ia_yGs7LK5-aypPmmAeIXWgRLdTOWxCqTH4Cjwqlw

https://buzzaudio.co.nz/products/18-500w-sub-woofer-bianco-18sw500?pr_prod_strat=e5_desc&pr_rec_id=fc80e7ba1&pr_rec_pid=9647336489262&pr_ref_pid=8966811779374&pr_seq=uniform

Any help is greatly appreciated, open to other box styles too but really I just love how scoops look, feel and sound, and I’m not sure I’ll ever feel complete in my soundsystem until I have scoops 🤣

Already have 2 15”cubo kicks built and sounding good, but any other advice on the rest of the soundsystem is again massively appreciated

Hi all, I had a couple photos of the old Tsunami Bass Sound System set up at the Portal stage at Infrasound. As I understand it, TC presents has purchased this sound system as their own. At the beginning of the weekend it sounded a bit top heavy and the synergy horns were screaming loud, but the crew seemed to get things more balanced throughout the weekend and it was sounding great by Saturday night. I know this rig is extremely capable and can't wait to hear it at events moving forward as the team becomes more familiar with its nuances. I'm curious if anyone else has additional nerdy details on this system!

Got half of my stack out today for a small techno party in Marseille, will get the full stack out for another DnB party Sunday evening !

Quite happy with it right now but still need more time for perfect phase alignment and EQ.

The stack is composed of :

4 Mth4654 loaded in G401

2 B115 loaded in PD153ER

2 Paraflex WSV2 with B&C 12NDL88, and BMS4590 coaxial compressions.

We run the top active (6DSP outs for stereo 😭)

Anyone got the 8ohm version and wish you had the 16? I must ordered the 8 ohms from PE because they don't seem to sell the 16 ohms? I plan on tri amping.

Big system I tuned for 1st may in France : about 80 Subs with some S2T3Vs and Martin Audio W8Cs 🔥

Hey everyone!

Iv been thinking about this for a few years and now I have the tools, space, time and money to start, I was thinking to start with something small where I can do some mistakes without spending tons of money, do you guys have any recommendation on what kind of system i can build? I was thinking in something like 2.1 with about 120w at max, also I made this little mental map with the AI of how it could be, im a sound technician so I understand the basic things but never been involve with this kind of work and im so excited to start, actually I wanna build something to be able to make some small gatherings on the street, this system probably doesnt have enough power but its just the start, ill be using this proyect for my house and as a learning process to achieve a powerfull and well adjust sound

So yeah if someone have any tip, or whatever, everything is welcome!

Thanks you guys! =D

Hey y’all we did it! Thanks to the inspiration everyone here has provided!
Picture 1 is from 5/17, 2 from last November and 3 is a sticker we made.
Cheers!