Quality of PA?

[jw1]

Hi ... I have a question about my PA system: I think it doesn't sound as good as it could, so am wondering if I should replace it, and if so, with what?

When I play out, it is usually as the keyboardist / fill guy for musical theatre (so I'm playing piano, maybe covering strings, horns, sound effects, whatever). I also occasionally run the house bass and guitar through my mixer and into my PA, but I really want to optimize for my work, knowing I can't cover that, plus bass and guitar ranges well all in the same setup.

Right now I have a SoundTech PL602/1204 amplifier and a pair of SoundTech speakers (can't find a model number on them, nor a pic on the ST website that looks like them). This set up is probably 8 years old.

I'm playing what are in general some pretty decent electronic instruments (Roland A-90EX, XV5080, E-Mu Ultra with some decent libraries) and the parts sound really good to my ears in the studio ... where I'm listening to them on an old pair of Alesis Monitor Ones or through audio-technica ATH-M30 headphones.

Through my SoundTechs, though, everything sounds tinny, kind of springy, plated, I don't know ... not so tasty. I cannot be sure that it isn't just me ... or whether because the Monitor Ones and the ATH-M30s are designed for a different kind of listening (studio monitoring) whether I just shouldn't expect the sound to be so similar.

Would some folks be willing to comment on whether (a) I'm probably imagining things (b) I should suck it up (c) I should consider a different output mechanism for what I want to do; and if (c), then (d) some recommendations.

I probably could spend maybe up to $1,000.00 but I'd like to know if I'm completely missing the boat at that price range.

I'm usually in the theatre pit, so size is a consideration...

I thank you for your time.

Respectfully,
jw1.

[ssscientist]

You might consider something like this, or maybe 2 of them for running stereo. Alternatively, I have two of these and with a small mixer like this you'll get rid of the 'not so tasty' sound of the ol' SoundTechs while staying within your buget.

[jw1]

Thank you for your input! I'm going to go try some out.

Respectfully,
jw1

[Cave Dweller]

is this just a monitoring set-up for yourself?

[Matheon]

wow.. i have an old pair of soundtechs as well and went through the same thing as you.. they sound kinda tinny and lifeless.. couldn't find a model number, tried to research what they were but couldn't find a matching picture anywhere..

so in response to (a)

no i wouldn't say you're imagining it. maybe we have the same model and they just sound bad.. or maybe all soundtechs sound bad.. shrug

wish i could advise on something but i haven't played out in years.. i've been too busy sitting in a chair recording. i stuck my soundtechs in with my home audio speakers, just cause they're massive and massive speakers make people think "wow he put some money into his sound system". :P