Active PA stage monitor

[Chkurgrnd]

After working out all the variables, the best way for us to run a mix to our worship leader is by an aux out from the board to an active monitor. IEM's nope, don't have the $$ for another amp or for other speaks, re-configuration won't help, etc.

We already have 2 other mixes (vox and instruments) and the 3rd mix has to handle 2 guitars, 2 BGV's, his voice and keys. We just tried the Roland CM30 and played with it, but he's particular about having a full range sound. At his last church he played through a Mackie SRM450 and here (before we tried the Roland) he was sharing but not liking the mix on the instrument mix w/ his voice thru the JBL 15's we used to use as our mains. He liked the sound, just needs it more tailored to what he needed to hear. He's more comfy with an immersive sound...

I hate to go with Behringer, I really do... but the budget is pretty set at $350 or lower (I'm paying for it cuz budget issues won't allow it). I like the Mackie Thump 15 (top of budget) but not sure if I like the Tapco side of them (cheaper now, used to be great back in the day)... I like the idea of a built in EQ so no outboard processing has to go from the snake to the speaker.

BTW, we're portable with not a lot of volunteers for setup so I want to keep it as easy as possible. Another reason to go active here...

I guess I'm asking if my search is too narrow by what is available by a Google search? Can anyone offer some other brands, real life, real picky type of insights that might fit the bill? Seems 12" is the smallest I can go... Thanks

[Gracetech]

I'm picky when it comes to monitors and don't like anything but coaxial or vertically aligned drivers. That said i've had to use Yamaha MSR400 on their side a few times as monitors and they sounded good. Of course if you like the ear grating sound of the SRM450 then the Behringer might be a better way of going though the low end won't be near as much as a 450. The only problem is even the MSR400 is still out of your price range. I honestly don't know of anything in your price range that sounds good in a active. You might just have to put this off. I would hate for you to buy low end gear to have it break after a year of service.

You might take a tour of your local M.I. stores to see if they have any used speakers you could use for monitors.

Oh and just as a matter of practice i generally cut the low end out of stage monitors so that the low end has more definition in the house. Your worship leader might have to give up on the full range sound as to provide the best sound possible to the congregation. Just a thought

crt

[pdc]

First of all, monitors are not to be representations of the FOH mix.
Second, plastic active speakers sound terrible and ALL of them have resonance issues.
Third, a PA speaker on it's side is not wise. You will have a narrow horizontal spread, too wide of a vertical, and your drivers will be out of time. They are only in time vertically.
The whole multi-purpose speaker thing is a marketing/bang for the buck thing. Buy a monitor designed to be a monitor that accels as a monitor and call it a day.

[Chkurgrnd]

Sigh... All of what I've read from both of you guys is exactly what I thought... and what has more or less been unspoken from me to him. (I just didn't want to make him sound like the bad guy - he's not, but the end result is where we have to draw the line)

I went and listened to the MSR400 and the EV SXA100+. Beautiful sound! Zing went the strings of my heart! (for all you Bing Crosby fans) Made me wish it was possible to drop the Mackie's. They're the 1st version (the V2 are just terrible) and have met our needs. We're not looking at anything fancy right now (church of less than 100). At least we're not running Gemini or American DJ... .