Hi All,

First post, so sorry if it's in the wrong place.

I currently have a very basic (and ancient) set up using a 400W amp and a pair of IMG 15" speakers (power unknown). I use this for a regular school disco (that's what happens when you join the PTA!), birthday parties in hired halls etc, and house parties. The performance has been acceptable, and has always been loud enough for those present. However, this summer I have been asked to do my neices wedding, which will be held in a marquee, and I have been told that as there are no solid walls/ceiling, I will need more power - is this true?

If so, it would seem an ideal opportunity to upgrade, and I have decided I would ideally like a four speaker system (2 per channel) which I understand will result in 4 ohms per channel. Now for the silly question......quite a number of speakers seem to specify only the type of "input", and do not list an "output", so how would I connect the two speakers on each channel together?

Thanks

Depends where the event is and how many guests attending? Out in the middle of nowhere or in residential area? 60 or 600 guests? I've heard DJs crank it up and crank it up in Marquees when the dance floor was only a couple of feet in front of their disco set-up. The 'walls' of the marquee are not quite the same as a buildings true, but apply common sense. There maybe a product number on the speaker drivers which might help indicate what speakers you have (someone here may know what you have). Piccys of the speakers / drivers welcome!

Hi Dukesy,

Thanks for the reply.

There will be approximately 250 guests, and the marquee is in the garden, but in a rural area (nearest neighbour is about 400 yards away)

I will almost certainly need more oomph than I have at the moment, as the biggest venue so far has been 100 guests in a community centre. At that stage, the sound was acceptable, but the amp was almost at the limit (the kit was originally bought some twelve years ago for house parties). I had settled on the fact that I would need to get new stuff, and have read the various advice about combining two 8 ohm speakers on each channel to give 4 ohms, but can't seem to find speakers which have an output as well as an input. My current speakers are no help, as they only have a choice of jack input, or the little clips usually found on hi-fi speakers (no speakon or xlr)

You can use the spare speaker input as an output as well to your second speaker. They are just connected internally in parallel, there's nothing in between them.

So just make up a lead coming out of the red&black terminals of the stagelines to a suitable connector on the next pair.

As superstar said, nearly every speaker nowadays will have 2 speakon sockets which are wired in parallel so you can "daisychain" them together.

Check out my incredible paint skills lol -



That is assuming you using 4 full range speakers.

If you are considering using a 4 speaker system consisting of 2 subs (bass speakers) and 2 tops (mid/hi speakers) then the connections will be the same but the subs will contain an internal crossover to split the frequencies so that each speaker receives the appropriate signal.

Personally for a large crowd I would use subs and tops as it provides much better bass response and you don't have to drive the tops as hard.

I run mine using 2 amps and an active crossover but that's another kettle of fish altogether

Thanks chaps I was thinking of four full range, but I will have a look at the subs + tops as well

Have you considered saving yourself the confusion and getting an active system? Or will you be using your current setup and just adding to it? Thomann can do a decent system wit two active tops 12" tops and an active 18" sub for well under a grand. RCF's they ain't but it would sure have the oomph you are looking for, and you needn't worry about whether your amp is underpowering your system etc. I have a buddy over here that has these and has had no problems at all since he bought them, I have seen them in action and sound is good too. Sub is a bit of a backbreaker though.

http://www.thomann.de/gb/the_box_pa302a_bi...ullrangebox.htm

http://www.thomann.de/gb/the_box_ta18.htm

Just a thought

I recently heard the Dap Clubshade active system, its 1K of power from two 15" subs and two tops containing 2x 8" drivers and 1" horn.
It sounds very nice, loads of bass and you pick up the full system inc cables and poles for less than £900

edit: blue aran are doing a great deal on this system atm, £663. Seriously considering this myself at that price.

The stagelines in question have one mono jack input and a pair of red/black spring clips like on hifi speakers.