Advice on a below $200 powered speaker...

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Clarinet

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This would be used indoors to play back recordings of practice sessions. Recordings will be made on a Tascam DR40 using external condenser mics.
The groups being recorded and listening to the playback for rehearsal/practice purposes number between 1 and 6 clarinet players, depending on the turnout to sessions.
The rooms the powered speaker would be used in range from a 12 by 20' garage to a 30' by 40' room. But those who need to listen will all be within 20 feet or so of the speaker.

Criteria include:
Portable, less than 25 lbs. or so, and not necessarily battery operated
Don't need much bass extension, fall off of 10 db or more below 80 hz would be ok; how low can clarinets play, anyway.
Want accurate and smooth response up to at least 15khz.
Able to handle strong transients at a decent volume level without discernible distortion. Source material is WAV files, so dynamics would be strong.

Based on reviews, many of the two-way systems with larger cone woofers (over 10") seem to lack mid-range.
Do you think a 6, 8 or 10" bass driver would be better to cover midrange and provide overall smoother/balanced frequency response than a two-way system with a larger bass driver?
 
$200 is going to narrow the options. -just one- mono? how about used?
 
Like mixsit said, $200 really limits you unless you find a good used deal. You'll want an adapter to convert the stereo ouput of the recorder to a single mono signal - finding a powered speaker with two inputs and balance/volume controls for your price will limit you further.
There are 8", 10", 12" powered PA speakers by Behringer and Mackie in the lower price ranges, then you can go way up in price for JBLs, higher-end Mackies, QSC, etc.
Take your recorder with tracks on it and cables and adapters (to 1/4" or XLR) to a music store and audition some speakers. You won't find powered studio monitors capable of the volume/power you need in that price range.
 
Consider taking your music source to a Guitar Center and audition a Harbinger APS12. It has 2 mic/line unbalanced inputs and 1 line balanced input, each with separate volume controls plus a 5 band graphic equalizer. They weigh a bit more than your 25 lb but are very manageable.

If you don't like it, don't buy it, but our band uses a pair as our FOH speakers and we are very happy with them, plus their product support is excellent.

Many are critical of them. We have been exceptionally pleased with them. Try one for yourself and make up your own mind.
 
You MIGHT want to buy and try one of those 4-input, 80-100 watt 3-box PA systems you see everywhere for about $250 (YMMV.) If you buy new from Sam Ash or Guitarget, you have 30-45 days to return it. If you had to "fill" the space with sound, it would probably not do, but I'll bet the musicians/listeners will be clustered closer, rather than spread out in the whole space. Now, these are not "great" systems, but they are cheap and easy to find. And they work. Most have RCA inputs for CD player or such, 10"+ horn speakers, and are easy to move from place to place.

You can find them used for $100, sometimes, but I had mixed results buying this particular item used.
 
I had fairly similar work recently workshopping in a reasonable sized classroom using a laptop and a pair of Cerwin-Vega XD3s. Quite small & light, surprisingly good frequency response and ample volume with headroom to spare. I paid about $100 for them, much better than my other option which was a small Roland wedge PA speaker (yuck).

Not battery powered though.
 
I picked up one of the Harbinger 12" units to use as a rental/loaner. It actually sounds a bit better than I was lead to believe. For under $200 you are not going to find a high quality box.
 
Yes, thanks. That Harbinger is a possibility. I added another thread above about considering whether I need more of a "studio monitor" or a PA speaker. They serve different purposes, primarily "near field" and "far field". The Harbinger seems like a composite of the two. I like the on-board graphic equalizer feature. We don't need to fill a large noisy room with sound.
 
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You are right that I don't need to fill a noisy room with sound. The "audience" will be a hand full of attentive folk huddled near (within 20' or so) of the speaker. I agree that buying used is a crap shoot. I'm not comfortable buying used - there are three main reasons used items are on the market: Either the person moved up to something better (for him), they don't use it anymore, or the item began to fizzle out. I have a 2 in 3 chance of getting something that isn't on its way out. Usually there are no warranties, and through a private party, no return privileges.
 
jimirb said:
Consider taking your music source to a Guitar Center and audition a Harbinger APS12. It has 2 mic/line unbalanced inputs and 1 line balanced input, each with separate volume controls plus a 5 band graphic equalizer. They weigh a bit more than your 25 lb but are very manageable.

If you don't like it, don't buy it, but our band uses a pair as our FOH speakers and we are very happy with them, plus their product support is excellent.

Many are critical of them. We have been exceptionally pleased with them. Try one for yourself and make up your own mind.
Click to expand...
Have you had a chance to compare the Harbinger with any of the Behringer PAs like the Eurolive Amazon.com: Behringer EUROLIVE B210D Active 200-Watt 2-Way Pa Speaker System with 10 Woofer And 1.35 Compression Drivercompression Driver: Musical Instruments ? How do you think the smoothness of response compares with a good $200 monitor?
 
I think in the $200 range, everything else is a lateral move. Even used, hard to find a truly nice unit at that price.
 
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