L2m

[mike15949]

Hi all,Looking at changing my PA speakers,we are a three piece combo, Bass, Lead, Rhythm,and Drum Machine. We do small venues and don't use guitar amps,just all plug into a 14 channel mixer into peavey 1200 power amp and 15"peavey Hi sys cabs. Getting old now and don't like carrying big heavy speakers around, so would a pair of L2m speakers replace my power amp and speakers and sound just as good. Thanks Mike 

[litesnsirens]

Personally, given your line up, I would go with a couple of L3t's or L3m's.  I know they are bigger and heavier than the L2m's but only by about 18 lbs each.  And they'll give you much better bass response than the L2's.  I say go with the "t" models because it's worth it to have the on board mixer. In fact, if you got one each, you wouldn't need to bring a mixer at all.  Assuming you all sing, each speaker has 2 inputs for your instrument and a vocal mic.  The drum machine could go into the RCA inputs on the back. Then you have everything covered.  A slightly less expensive version of this setup would be that the bass player gets the L3t, and runs the bass and drums through his speaker, the the two guitarists get L2t's.  I know you can link two together through the L6 Link, I haven't tried or heard of linking three and making a 6 - 9 channel mixer, I may try wiring up 3 of my speakers together to see if this is possible.  I think whether you all go with L3t's or if two opt for the L2t's linking them up would still be fine.  But either way, using this format you could each just show up with your own Lxx, individual instrument set ups and mics.  Link them up at the gig and your ready to go.  

 

Whether you consider any of these options or not, I will test out the 3 speaker configuration and post back with the results.

[silverhead]

I think litensirens' advice is good. The L3t or L3m will give noticeably better low-end response for the bass and drum machine. I think you would be happoer with these than the L2m. For me, the L3t with the onboard mixer is great value vs. the L3m for the price difference. A good compromise would be one L3t and one L3m.

[litesnsirens]

  I went and tested this out except I used two 3's and a 2.  

 

For the first test, I connected the first speaker to the second then the second to the third and then the 3rd back to the first.  This puts the speakers in the following configuration.  Speaker 1 = L,  2 = L&R,   3 = R.  

 

If you plug something into the RCA jacks in the back of any of the 3 speakers it will play out of all 3 speakers, great for a drum machine.

Now for the tricky inputs

Speaker 1 channel 1 will come out of Speaker 1 and speaker 2

Speaker 1 channel 2 will come out of Speaker 2 and speaker 3

Speaker 2 channel 1 will come out of all 3 speakers

Speaker 2 channel 2 will come out of all 3 speakers

Speaker 3 channel 1 will come out of all 3 speakers

Speaker 3 channel 2 will come out of all 3 speakers

 

If you configure the speakers the same but don't complete the connection of speaker 3 to speaker 1 you still get Speaker 1 = L,  Speaker 2 = L + R and Speaker 3 = R but the behaviour of the inputs is different.

 

If you plug something into the RCA jacks in the back of Speaker 1 it will play out of all 3 speakers.  If you plug it into the back of speaker 2 it only plays out of speaker 2.  If you plug it into the back of speaker 3 it only plays out of speaker 3.

 

 

And again with the tricky inputs

Speaker 1 channel 1 will come out of Speaker 1 and speaker 2

Speaker 1 channel 2 will come out of Speaker 2 and speaker 3

Speaker 2 channel 1 will only come out of speaker 2

Speaker 2 channel 2 will only come out of speaker 2

Speaker 3 channel 1 will only come out of speaker 3

Speaker 3 channel 2 will only come out of speaker 3

 

So with all that in mind, Set Up number 1 would be the best way.  This is what I would do.

Drum machine into the back of any of the 3 speakers, you will then get L/C/R for your drums.

 

Guitar 1 into Channel 1 of speaker 1 (assuming that guitar player is standing closest to speaker 1) 

Guitar 2 into Channel 2 of speaker 1 (assuming that guitar player is standing closest to speaker 2)

This way each guitar player will hear themselves the better but still hear the other guitar player through speaker 2.

 

Bass guitar and Bassists vocals into channels 1 and 2 of speaker 2, this puts the bass with the drums out of all 3 speakers.

 

Guitarist 1 vocals into speaker 3 channel 1 or 2

Guitarist 2 vocals into speaker 3 channel 1 or 2.
This puts both of these vocals through all three speakers along with the bass players vocals.

 

So to summarize you have the two guitars kind of split so that you can tell who is playing what, with a predominant L and R side.

You have the drums in stereo with a summed centre channel.

You have the bass out of all three speakers.

You have the 3 vocals out of all 3 speakers.

 

Sounds like a great setup to me.... I would do either 3 L3t's or Speaker 1 = L2t, Speaker 2 = L3t and Speaker 3 = L2t.  You can see in another thread that the L3t makes a great bass rig.

 

As I was typing this silverhead posted a response, and I agree with him as much as he agrees with me.  Let me just add in terms of the cost difference.

I don't know about in the US but in Canada the difference between no mixer and the mixer is $90.  Seems like a no-brainer to me.  The difference between the L2t and the L3t $139.  Not a lot really but they each have their advantages in terms of size and weight.  I have 2 of each, there are times when I am just going to a jam and putting my guitar and vocals through an L2t.  It's is plenty of power and low end for those 2 instruments, I can easily cut through real guitar amps and acoustic drums without even working the L2t. Plus it's lighter and easier to take to those situations. 

[ArneLine6]

If you switch the L3t's side panel mixer to "Mono" the mixer inputs 1 and 2 will come out of all speakers.

[litesnsirens]

Oh sheesh, how did I miss that... thanks...

[mike15949]

Thanks to you all for your excellent advice. Lets keep it live. Thanks again, Mike.  

[groovedggr]

If you buy the L3's they are heavy, so I recommend ultimate support -air powered TS-100B stands -those stands lift the L3 speaker with one hand.