New PA $3,000 ?

[tdangelo]

A friend’s local church has had a donor supply $3,000 USD for a new PA system. Can anyone offer advise on what make/models of mixing console, speakers(amps) you would buy with that budget limit?

Attendance size is approximately 200 people in a 40’ wide x 80’ deep room. The skill level of the sound operators is low to mid-level. Music style is CCM with twenty or so inputs (2 percussion = 3, lead guitar = 1, bass =1, drums = 2, acoustic guitar = 1, Vocals = 8, High level audio playback = 2, Keyboard = 2). So leaving room for growth (choirs, etc.) they are looking for a 32 inputs. Currently they are using four Auxes to feed floor wedges from FOH for monitor mixes. No in-ears are used although they are looking at that for some point down the line in the future.

So, any recommendations for a mixing console, snake & speakers with a $3,000 USD budget? Thanks.

[hoosierdraft]

Never mind.

[waynehoskins]

$3K won't do much in the way of a new system, but it can go a useful way in incrementally upgrading an existing system following a long-term master plan.

Of course, if they can buy used, it can stretch more.

My advice would be to look at shortcomings of the existing system and prioritize them. I'd generally start with speakers and amplifiers and processing; you can do a fair bit of that for $3K.

[Brad Weber]

$3,000 for a 32 channel mixer, speakers appropriate for contemporary worship music and any amplification is really pushing it and may be overlooking some other areas that could possibly be improved. So it makes sense to first ascertain what problems or challenges they have with the current system and what their expectations are for whatever is done.

Since this is apparently an existing church, what do they already have in terms of both existing equipment and infrastructure? Would the system be permanently installed or portable? If the speakers are permanent are speakers on a stick practical or would the space or use necessitate flying them or some other mounting arrangement?

[Les]

Obviously Tom, you're getting the idea that $3k won't go far. I'd agree with the recommendations to identify what's wrong with the current system and then try and address the main issues, typically starting with the speakers, processing, and the console.

However, if you had to start from scratch here is what I would do. This assumes a portable style setup (no rigging, flying, structural issues to deal with).

Please note this won't be an ideal system but it would "work".

2x EV ELX118P Subwoofers ($550 each)
2x EV ELX112P Main Speakers ($450 each)
1x Behringer DCX-2496 - Crossover/DSP ($250)
1x Allen & Heath Mixwizard - Mixing Board ($900)
1x EWI Snake - ($250)

Well, stink... I thought I could do $3k but even going cheap I can't do a whole (at least decent) system. I could probably come in under $3k going used but new it's tough.

Thanks - Les

[cmchamp]

But at my pricing Les, I might be able to squeeze that in, less shipping.

[hoosierdraft]

Originally Posted by Les

1x Allen & Heath Mixwizard - Mixing Board ($900)
1x EWI Snake - ($250)

He specified 32 input channels. Not going to happen on a MixWiz or on a $250 EWI snake.

[Brad Weber]

Originally Posted by Les

Please note this won't be an ideal system but it would "work".

2x EV ELX118P Subwoofers ($550 each)
2x EV ELX112P Main Speakers ($450 each)
1x Behringer DCX-2496 - Crossover/DSP ($250)
1x Allen & Heath Mixwizard - Mixing Board ($900)
1x EWI Snake - ($250)

Well, stink... I thought I could do $3k but even going cheap I can't do a whole (at least decent) system. I could probably come in under $3k going used but new it's tough.

Probably worth noting that they apparently need at least 20 mic inputs and would like a 32 input mixer while I believe that the MixWiz maxes out at 16 mic inputs. Also, if the snake has to cover the entire stage and run around the perimeter of the room it would probably need to be at least 100' long and for the four speakers and four floor monitors it might need to be an 8 return version. That suggests either or more expensive mixer and snake, about twice the costs presented for comparable quality, or stepping down to an absolute minimum price/quality level (Behringer Eurodesk mixer, OSP snake, etc.).

That is what initially struck me about the situation, a church that needs that many inputs is typically going to have greater needs and expectations than minimum quality. What it comes down to is that with that you might be able to purchase a mixer, snake and speaker system for $3,000, but it would likely not be something that most here would recommend.

[tdangelo]

The currently have a complete systems (speakers, wedges, snake, mics, mixer) but most of it has been rode hard and put down wet. The donor wants to make a big improvement but I am afraid that there will not be enough funds available to get all that they want (new mixer, speakers and snake).
I don't think that how the speakers are mounted are the primary concern (relative to all else). If they had to live with speakers on sticks I think they would.
Thanks for all the comments.

[cmchamp]

I have 400' or so of 8pair install cable. Make an offer.

[Les]

Brad/Hoosierdraft,

I did notice the 32 channel wants but I also saw the $3k budget.

That's why I said it would "work" although it would not be ideal.

If I were doing the whole system and had a $3k budget this is what I would do. That's all the suggestion was - No need to analyze every detail, we all knew from the preface that it wasn't ideal

My first suggestion was to listen to the previous comments and identify and fix what's wrong with current system and address that rather than trying to start over.

[pdc]

Good night. I cannot imaging what a band that takes up 32 channels on a console is going to sound like in that room. How will you address monitors? Since it is a gym, 3k would be better invested in acoustic treatment first.

A cheap PA does not mean a good or the correct PA. Using multiple speakers may not be the best way to go. One thing is for sure, feedback suppressors are a waste of money and seldom make sound better.