Fraternity House Sound System (1 Viewer)

[Viper1085]

So were redoing our party room sound system and our budget is about $1500 and im looking for some input. This is what I came up with so far,
Cerwin-Vega CVi-252 Passive 3-Way Loudspeaker (2000 Watts, 2x15")
http://www.zzounds.com/item--CWVCVI252
Behringer EP4000 Power Amplifier
http://www.zzounds.com/item--BEHEP4000
Numark M2 2-Channel DJ Mixer
http://www.zzounds.com/item--NUMM2
I guess my questions are what do you guys think about this type of setup and do you guys have any suggestions of your own.
Oh and if they parts dont work together dont crucify me, I just started to browse stuff items

 

[NickSI]

When I first saw the thread my initial thought was CV speakers so I think you are on the right track there.
However, can we assume that your primary source will be turntables? this means no iPods or computers....
Second I am certainly no expert but I don't think you want to use a PA amp for music. Getting your source outputs (RCA) to match your amp inputs (XLR or 1/4" TRS or a big headphone plug) will be difficult.
Browsing that website you had I think this would be even better???
http://www.zzounds.com/item--ZZOPRR
Those Peavey speakers will stand up to even more sonic and physical abuse than the CVs and the amp is ready to take RCA. If you dont like that mixer then swap it out for the one you chose and your total is still under 1k.
Spend some money on cables from that site or from monoprice.com
Spend the rest on libations.
Hope that didn't feel to crucify-ey

 

[Viper1085]

Thanks for replying, however one of the biggest things we are going to be doing is in fact computers, ipods and what not. A party usually gets planned in advanced then a playlist is made for said party then it just play through with shuffle. Granted that lasts for say about 1 hr until drunk girls want to put the same two songs on over and over. Anyway thats not that point hah.
The room itself is about 30ft by 20ft forgot to add that dimension in when i posted this

 

[NickSI]

ok if you aren't going to be using turntables/having a DJ then forget that mixer... it will be way to complicated, and imagine if some drunk chick spilled her drink on those sliders...:td: If your only source will be a computer or iPad etc etc then you need a DAC or digital to analog converter. This will take the sound from your computer and turn it into RCA output so it can be amplified by the amp we have already picked out. Plus it is super simple to use and robust.
The setup would go USB from computer to DAC---> RCA from DAC to AMP---> Speaker wire http://www.zzounds.com/item--CBISNNQC16225from the AMP to the Speakers.
You will end up with lots of sound to please the drunk girls. A 20x30 room isn't that big so the amp and speakers should be fine. However, if you want to go with the CVs and find a bigger amp I can't blame you. Just remember to look for RCA inputs on the AMP as well as volume control.

 

[Viper1085]

so that i can clerify i'm reading what your saying is go with the peavys, and not the CV's. Also from from im reading is just to not go with a mixer for right now?

 

[NickSI]

well what was your intention for using a mixer? to cross fade songs? adjust the equalization of sound (more bass or treble) or was it to acquire effects? All of those things can be accomplished on the computer you have the playlist created on.
And I would say yes the Peaveys should do just fine... really these speakers are meant for outdoor venues and arenas and are probably overkill for a basement, however, you could always drag them outside for a bbq or something.
I'm Phi Kappa Sigma from Clarkson, how about you?

 

[Robert_J]

I'm agreeing with everyone on skipping the mixer. A quality sound card like this - http://www.zzounds.com/item--BEHUCA202 will be fine. Find a good software mixer or some type of player that will fade sounds based on a playlist. You would also want to normalize the songs so you don't go from one recorded very low to one that is recorded hot and will just blow you away.
Also, don't go use heavily compressed music. I had a friend with a similar setup to the Peaveys and he said it sounded terrible. I switched from his iPod with a bunch of 96kbps iTunes downloads to some WMA files recorded at 320kbps and it was an amazing difference. He had wasted about $500 downloading "party" music that he could use.
Finally, how large is your room? Back in the late 80's/early 90's our fraternity rented an old garage that was about 40x60 for the main party room. Rob Base and DJ E Z Rock sounded great in the car but the bass just disappeared in that large room. With some of the rap songs and dubstep now days, bass is even more important. Can you budget for a sub or two? Do you have anyone who is decent with woodworking (can follow instructions and work power tools without cutting off a finger)? There are some great DJ subs that are fairly inexpensive ($200 for the parts) but will blow away something like this - http://www.zzounds.com/item--CWVAB36C .
Edit - I see the room size. I think the Peaveys would work well. But you also want to check prices. I just compared some powered Behringer speakers http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=248-6472 to ZZZ Sounds and PE comes in $50 cheaper. 2 of those Behringers, one sub http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=248-6546 and the sound card above would be about $1,200.

 

[Viper1085]

Im in Phi Kappa Psi from NIU, i appreciate your help bud. If you dont mind me asking, how is the Bass on the peavy's. Or do you think I should add a stand alone sub into the mix
EDIT: Rob you answered my question right before I hit submit

 

[Viper1085]

Rob we actually do have a few people who are handy with wood working, myself included.

 

[Robert_J]

http://www.billfitzmaurice.com/
Plans for both PA subs and PA speakers as well as a bunch of other stuff.
Do you have time to build them? School starts soon. By now, we were planning a pre-back to school party, back to school party, post back to school party, opening day football party, rush party, etc.

 

[Viper1085]

Edit - I see the room size. I think the Peaveys would work well. But you also want to check prices. I just compared some powered Behringer speakers http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=248-6472 to ZZZ Sounds and PE comes in $50 cheaper. 2 of those Behringers, one sub http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=248-6546 and the sound card above would be about $1,200.

Lets say I went with this option, what would I need to buy in order to get it to run to an ipod, ipad, or my computer?
BTW, thanks for the help

 

[Robert_J]

You would need the sound card above to use it with a computer. To use it with an iPod or iPad, you would need a mixer or some way for the computer to read the music off of the Apple device. I'm not an Apple user so I don't know if that is something that will work.
Remember what I wrote above about quality music. iTunes downloads aren't great through good speakers at high volumes.