Should I need to change patch settings with different FRFR speakers?

[bobc2112]

I've been using a Headrush FRFR-112 with my HX Stomp and Helix LT with excellent results. I'm very happy with the sound & power of the FRFR-112, but as a recent digital convert, I have never liked the look of it (I use it as backline). It doesn't 'look' like an amp, so after having done a bit of reading up, and watched a few YouTube vids, I decided that the Laney LFR-112 was the beast for me! I ordered it last weekend, it turned up on Monday in time for rehearsal on Monday evening. I so so SO wanted to like the Laney but it sounded pretty awful compared to the Headrush. I altered the HF control to try and dial in a decent tone, but I couldn't get anywhere near what I like. As an aside, I also fed FOH (through XLR out) with the Helix as well as the Laney (fed from 1/4" out on Helix to combi input on the Laney via a 6 metre unbalanced lead), FOH sounded amazing. Before I reluctantly return the Laney, does anyone have any reasons why I shouldn't? Have I missed something? As always, thanks in advance for reading, and for any hints and tips that get posted!

[codamedia]

36 minutes ago, bobc2112 said:

As an aside, I also fed FOH (through XLR out) with the Helix as well as the Laney (fed from 1/4" out on Helix to combi input on the Laney via a 6 metre unbalanced lead), FOH sounded amazing.

 

If the Headrush sounded great, and the FOH sounded great.... then it is the "Laney" I would be questioning. Do you have the Laney set to FRFR (full range) mode and does it appear to be working properly?

 

On your LT... you could set the Global EQ to 1/4" outs and feed the laney from those. The XLR signal to the FOH will not be touched.  Then just adjust the global EQ to make the Laney sound the way you want. Although IMO.... anything more than subtle changes points to a bigger problem. 

 

36 minutes ago, bobc2112 said:

... but as a recent digital convert, I have never liked the look of it (I use it as backline). It doesn't 'look' like an amp....

 

The LOOK can always be a PROP, it doesn't have to be something functional. That trick has been done for decades.  Times are also changing.... I saw Skynyrd last year and they didn't have a single amp shown on the stage. That is something I wasn't expecting from them... amps were always a part of their "look". 

 

FWIW... at concert shows I don't use a PROP... but in small clubs where other musicians are present (and ever judging) I will often put an amp behind me for show. A fake amp always makes a modeler sound better :) 

 

 

 

[DunedinDragon]

What you're dealing with are two very different designs even though many people would characterize both as FRFR.  But they are designed to do very different jobs and work very differently from each other.

The FRFR-112 is, in essence, a powered PA speaker which is designed for projecting sound over a long distance and covering a very wide area.  It will generally be the best match and representation of what your audience will be hearing through the PA.

The Laney is still a full range and flat response system, but as a cabinet it's not designed the same way as a PA speaker.  The sound won't disperse as widely or as far or as efficiently as the FRFR-112 and the cabinet will influence the tone somewhat and give you more of an amp in the room sound rather than a studio or concert sound, so this means you have to make some choices.  You can use the tones you set up for the FRFR-112 and tolerate the difference in sound on stage, or you can accommodate two different output tones.  One for the on stage Laney, and one to feed to the FOH based on your tone from the FRFR-112.

What it comes down to for you is whether appearance is more important than simplicity and effectiveness ...and that's a choice only you can make.  I personally have no problem with having my Yamaha DXR-12 on the backline on a half height speaker pole.  But I'm more of a "substance over flash" kind of guy.  If someone is going to judge my performance based on what my stage setup looks I'm not sure I really care since I might as well be playing though the cheapest amp available since they don't appear to know anything about the tone, so they probably don't know anything about music either.  My biggest advantage in my setup is in the case in which we only put vocals through the PA and use our stage sound to fill the venue for the instruments in some smaller venues.  With my setup it stays the same but I get better results as my DXR-12 will give me comparable performance as would any decent PA system.