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Klipsch theater stack, how to power?


brian_donaldson

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I am considering purchasing a Klipsch PA stack comprised of at least three components. The sub cabinet I'm told is trapezoidal and about 6' wide. I assume that these are not crossed over. My only experience is with consumer gear. My question is as follows:

Do I have to tri-amp this system with crossovers on each amp?

Can I use one amp and use external xovers?

Does a mixer work as a pre-amp and can you get one with xovers built in so that you can control/balance the level of each of the three units?

If someone could take a moment to explain how PA gear is usually set up/connected, it would be really appreciated.

The PA system would be designed to be used in a loft for after-hours parties after the local clubs have closed down. I have entertained the idea of simply using La Scalas with subs, but thought that a professional PA system might be a better way to go. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Brian

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  • 2 weeks later...

My word, just how loud are you planning to go? Such a system could easily cause pretty nasty hearing problems - not to mention having your neighbors organizing a necktie party for you. But I digress...

Ordinarily in a sound reinforcement system like this, you would need to tri-amp i.e. get one amplifier channel devoted to each cabinet. This requires getting an electronic crossover which will go between your mixer and the amplifiers. You will also need to find out what the crossover frequencies are - set them too high and you won't get the best sound, too low and you may blow out the speakers in the upper two cabinets.

I've seen electronic crossovers built into mixers, but they were always designed to work with a specific speaker - such as an Altec 1220 board with a 500 hertz crossover to drive Voice of the Theaters.

One option would be to invest in a six channel home theater amp, although I can't say I've seen any which look "industrial" enough for the use you're suggesting.

A second is to do what you were suggesting - find out the crossover points and get passive crossovers designed for them. The problem here is you will sacrifice some sound quality and ultimate volume levels. You may encounter balancing problems as well - one of the three cabinets may go louder than the others at a given volume setting on your amp.

If it was me, and I wasn't starting a band, I'd be inclined to invest in Klipschorns with a sub, or, if your loft doesn't have corners, four LaScalas and some subs. Stack the LaScalas with the top ones upside down so the tweeters are together. "C" clamp the cabinets in back so the top one doesn't "walk" off. Put 3/4 amp fast blow fuses on the tweeters. This will probably sound better, go as loud as you need for any civilized purposes, and not take up so much real estate in your loft.

Good Luck

Capt'n Bob

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  • 3 months later...

The stacks come with their own crossover. I actually live in a large loft and have a pair of MCM 1900's (old version of the MCM grand) in my 40 x 50 foot living room. They are driven with a pair of Adcom 555II in mono. I can tell you, they will knock your socks off! You will not be sorry if you get them!

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  • 8 months later...

Okay let me give this one a shot!

Take a mixer of any type really (Soundcraft for PA, Rane, American DJ, Numark for DJing...music) Run the output from that into any compressors, limitors, gates, expanders that you have, take that and go to a 3 way cross over (assuming you have a sub and biamp 2 ways) Run a low crossover to the sub (below 50~100hz) and send that to one amp, and then to the sub. Take the mid crossover (80hz~2000hz typically, your speaker will have recommended ones) send that to the mid amp (a little smaller amp) and to the sub or woofer inputs on the full range cabby's. Then take the high frequency (2khz+) and send to an even smaller amp and then to your high inputs on the full range.

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