Wondering if anyone has experience with Harbinger APS 12 powered speakers? How do you like them and how/where do you use them?
We previously were using a pair of Peavey PR12p. The APS12s sound as good, if not better than the Peaveys.
Today was a great shakedown gig. We played small theater with a typical theater stage, a curtain behind us and acoustically balanced multi-tiered ceiling. We had time to do an honest-to-god sound check. I was TOTALLY impressed with the Harbingers.
See my pervious post for the mixer setup, etc. Had a chance to EQ the Harbingers. Mixer HPF ON on all mic channels. Harbinger 250 & 500 hz cut 3db, 2 & 6 khz boosted 9db, 12 khz boosted 6db. Using balanced line input to Harbingers. Master gain set approx 3 dots, line input at approx 4 -5 dots.
TOTALLY clean AMAZINGLY rich sound. I have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING but positive comments.
Again, we are a mature country and 50's R&R group. No overdrive. No distortion. Vocals need to ride up above the mix, not get buried in it. Our audiences are in our age group and about 75 db in the audience on a SPL is all the volume they enjoy. I'm sure a hard rock or heavy metal group could distort these speakers relative easyly....I don't know....but for us, the $139 per cab was WELL worth the investment.
I have one of them I use as a free-loaner to community events that need something simple for announcements and the like. I would say outside the teen-age garage band level, they really don't belong on any stage. They perform about as well as their price would indicate.
Its interesting to read through totally off-base opinions of people responding to our requests for advice. I'm learning that vague descriptions of what we are seeking will result in equally vague and off-base advice. What is most often lacking is context on how we intend to use the item. For example, to suggest that Bose or Klispsh should be used for the same purpose this Harbinger is intended is ludicrous because there is an ASSUPMPTION that your application REQUIRES something like the Bose or Klipsch when it may not need anything remotely like those systems.Yes, I've read virtually every on-line review I can find, many excellent and many not; but most on the websites of those who actually sell the speakers....therefore, to me a bit suspect from the git-go.
I have a good friend who is a full-time stage musician who has used Harbingers as well as JBLs side-by-side for years. He ranks the Harbingers right up there with the JBLs and at a MUCH lower price. Matter of fact, he recently did a tour of small venues in 4 states and only had room to travel with 1 powered speaker. He chose to travel the Harbinger APS 12. I've listened to him live for 5 years and never heard anything but excellent quality from both his Harbingers and his JBLs.
That's why I'd like to hear directly from actual users who've had them a while, have no ax to grind either way, and use them in small venue (100-200 people) applications.
Your comment is a great example of the importance of CONTEXT on how a piece of equipment is intended to be used. Those who trash a unit like this Harbinger assume that everyone will use the equipment as they might use it: For music that is played with an SPL of 120db playing heavy metal with heavy bass. That is not helpful. It is a bit simple minded to assume a piece of equipment is only suitable for teeny boppers just because it is not designed to be used for something for which it was never intended nor designed.Today was a great shakedown gig. We played small theater with a typical theater stage, a curtain behind us and acoustically balanced multi-tiered ceiling. We had time to do an honest-to-god sound check. I was TOTALLY impressed with the Harbingers.
See my pervious post for the mixer setup, etc. Had a chance to EQ the Harbingers. Mixer HPF ON on all mic channels. Harbinger 250 & 500 hz cut 3db, 2 & 6 khz boosted 9db, 12 khz boosted 6db. Using balanced line input to Harbingers. Master gain set approx 3 dots, line input at approx 4 -5 dots.
TOTALLY clean AMAZINGLY rich sound. I have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING but positive comments.
Again, we are a mature country and 50's R&R group. No overdrive. No distortion. Vocals need to ride up above the mix, not get buried in it. Our audiences are in our age group and about 75 db in the audience on a SPL is all the volume they enjoy. I'm sure a hard rock or heavy metal group could distort these speakers relative easyly....I don't know....but for us, the $139 per cab was WELL worth the investment.
It is more logical to assume that there are more used "entry level" pieces of equipment available than "high end" because they are entry level, not because they are inferior for their intended use. Those that are traded in are traded for something more powerful to address larger venues, bigger crowds, or more demanding productions. High end devices are not traded in as often because there is typically nothing "higher" to trade in for. Not everyone using this equipment in their house or for small scale performance needs high end stuff. But when they move on, their situation may demand something bigger and louder and more rugged and a road crew to move them around.A lot is going to depend on how hard you drive them - the louder, the more distortion and muddiness you get.
I go by what I said earlier - nto a good investment. GC always has used ones available, go try some out. They rarely have used higher-end powered speakers - which tells me that people hold onto those more than people who get Harbingers.
What's your actual use - is this for solo acoustic shows, etc? Go to a store and try one out. Bring your guitar and mic and plug in and crank one up.
Wondering if anyone has experience with Harbinger APS 12 powered speakers? How do you like them and how/where do you use them?