Active floor monitor advice

[Didg]

I'm after an active floor monitor to use in a 3 piece blues/rock band for vocals only.

We play mostly pubs and I wouldn't say we are particularly loud, although Hendrix, Zep etc does need a fair bit of volume.

I've been looking at the TC Helicon Voice Solo , but not sure if it will be man enough. Also the Alto Tourmax SMX 112A, my first thought was that I would prefer something smaller.

I've not heard either yet. Any recommendations?

[jacko]

I have a wharvedale EVP 12 pm up for sale at the minute. can't recommend it enough.

 

[police squad]

I have one of those wharfdale's and it is bloomin good

However i have just bought a behringer b205d. very small and light but I haven't tried it at a gig yet. I will let you know when I've tried it

[Steve Browning]

I'd go for the Wharfedale at the price but my band (vocal only and a smidge of guitar) use Alto TX10s very happily. You don't need massive speakers for vocal only.

[casapete]

Used the Behringer and it's original relative the Mackie SRM150. Both work well, although you do need them quite close due to them being fairly directional as you would expect. Haven't tried this , but there's another copycat model for £99.99 here -https://www.gear4music.com/PA-DJ-and-Lighting/SubZero-SZS-P5MA-150W-5-Active-Personal-PA-Monitor/1M2N?origin=product-ads&campaign=PLA+Shop+-+GENERIC&adgroup=GENERIC&medium=vertical_search&network=google&merchant_id=1279443&product_id=75263d1&product_country=GB&product_partition_id=492780986292&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxfSpzfzT3QIVAdiyCh1juginEAQYASABEgJkuPD_BwE

If you can manage the extra size/weight, I'd personally go for the Wharfedale that jacko is selling above - great for the dosh and will always come in handy should you need a bit of extra something else in the mix that the smaller options will struggle with.

 

[Phil Starr]

If it is for just your own monitoring the Behringer B205D is a really good bet. I had the chance to compare it with the Mackie and there was little if any difference. I 'upgraded' to the TC Voice Solo ad wish I'd stuck to the Behringer. Without a band around yout the TC sounds much better but in a band situation the Behringer gives no real highs or lows just lots of mids so it cuts through and gives few feedback problems unlike the TC which sounds brilliant but feeds back far too easily.

I've used the Behringer F1320D which sound great. but I've upgraded to the RCF 310 mk3 which Thomann are selling cheap. I've also used the Wharfedale Titans and the EVP's are my main PA speakers. That EVP looks a great buy for an active speaker. The advantage of a 'proper' floor monitor is that the rest of the band will get more vocals, if that is what you are trying to achieve.

[Tubster]

Our drummer needs loads of bass and BD in his monitor and bought an ALTO ts312. It is really amazing and more than gets the job done. We’ve also used it as a stand-alone PA speaker for an acoustic show. Anything from that Alto TS3 range would do the trick - the  308 is light, powerful and well priced. Give one a try! Not the controls of the Tc helicon but cheaper and very adaptable.

[fretmeister]

Yamaha DXR10 is very good. 

[Tubster]

+1 for the dxr series but now price is moving up considerably!

 rcf 310a previously mentioned is superb but limited controls but a steal at 298 euros for pro quality.

I’ll shut up now - bit of an obsession this stuff!

[CameronJ]

The TC Voicesolos are fantastic and will do the business for you guys. They’re so good I have two! Very light and portable too. I’ve run open night mics off a couple of them and they more than punch above their weight - especially if, as you say, they’ll only be for vocals.

[skidder652003]

5 hours ago, Phil Starr said:

If it is for just your own monitoring the Behringer B205D is a really good bet. I had the chance to compare it with the Mackie and there was little if any difference. I 'upgraded' to the TC Voice Solo ad wish I'd stuck to the Behringer. Without a band around yout the TC sounds much better but in a band situation the Behringer gives no real highs or lows just lots of mids so it cuts through and gives few feedback problems unlike the TC which sounds brilliant but feeds back far too easily.

I've used the Behringer F1320D which sound great. but I've upgraded to the RCF 310 mk3 which Thomann are selling cheap. I've also used the Wharfedale Titans and the EVP's are my main PA speakers. That EVP looks a great buy for an active speaker. The advantage of a 'proper' floor monitor is that the rest of the band will get more vocals, if that is what you are trying to achieve.

Blimey Phil, I use I 310Art and its way too puny for me, Im thinking of upgrading to the 315mk 4, think I need new ears!

[bonzodog]

+1 for the Alto TS312 

We use them as monitors and they are plenty loud enough. One would be fine for a small pub band. The great thing about using a speaker this size is it also acts as a back up if one you main speakers goes down (assuming you are using active FOH speakers)

[Phil Starr]

10 hours ago, skidder652003 said:

Blimey Phil, I use I 310Art and its way too puny for me, Im thinking of upgrading to the 315mk 4, think I need new ears!

Hey Steve, I think you do need new ears, or if not you soon will. Seriously as a friend you need to think about this. The 310's claim 127dB @ 1metre, that's in the over inflated peak values that PA cabs usually use but they will still consistently produce levels of around 120dB+.

These are the WHO figures for what sort of exposure is 'safe' ie unlikely to cause permanent damage to your hearing. 'Normal' levels for a rock band are around 100dB for everyone except the drummer. People here won't know that I know your band, an excitingly loud three piece rock band with a full blooded, head down, showman lead guitarist. I know you've had trouble blowing speakers in the past too. You seriously need to consider using in ears. I don't play at anything like your volumes and I thought I was invulnerable but I now have tinnitus and struggle to follow conversations in noisy environments. Something is wrong if you can't hear those 310's flat out they will cause permanent damage in (checks chart below) ….7secs.

Maximum Recommended Noise Dose
Exposure Levels

Noise Level (dBA)	Maximum Exposure Time per 24 Hours
85	8 hours
88	4 hours
91	2 hours
94	1 hour
97	30 minutes
100	15 minutes
103	7.5 minutes
106	3.7 minutes
109	112 seconds
112	56 seconds
115	28 seconds
118	14 seconds
121	7 seconds
124	3 seconds
127	1 second
130–140	less than 1 second
140	NO EXPOSURE

[stevie]

17 hours ago, Steve Browning said:

You don't need massive speakers for vocal only.

This is true. You also don't want massive monitors if you're playing pubs. I use the Wharfedale Titan 8s. They're dinky and plenty loud enough.

[police squad]

also, the wharfedale EVP powered monitor will also power a normal un powered cab, 

[skidder652003]

2 hours ago, Phil Starr said:

Hey Steve, I think you do need new ears, or if not you soon will. Seriously as a friend you need to think about this. The 310's claim 127dB @ 1metre, that's in the over inflated peak values that PA cabs usually use but they will still consistently produce levels of around 120dB+.

These are the WHO figures for what sort of exposure is 'safe' ie unlikely to cause permanent damage to your hearing. 'Normal' levels for a rock band are around 100dB for everyone except the drummer. People here won't know that I know your band, an excitingly loud three piece rock band with a full blooded, head down, showman lead guitarist. I know you've had trouble blowing speakers in the past too. You seriously need to consider using in ears. I don't play at anything like your volumes and I thought I was invulnerable but I now have tinnitus and struggle to follow conversations in noisy environments. Something is wrong if you can't hear those 310's flat out they will cause permanent damage in (checks chart below) ….7secs.

Maximum Recommended Noise Dose
Exposure Levels

Noise Level (dBA)	Maximum Exposure Time per 24 Hours
85	8 hours
88	4 hours
91	2 hours
94	1 hour
97	30 minutes
100	15 minutes
103	7.5 minutes
106	3.7 minutes
109	112 seconds
112	56 seconds
115	28 seconds
118	14 seconds
121	7 seconds
124	3 seconds
127	1 second
130–140	less than 1 second
140	NO EXPOSURE

Interesting that it’s 2 hours max exposure for 90db, that’s our set length and that’s the level one of the landlords measures us by, but yeah I was seriously thinking about going back to IME’s, more for clarity than anything else, I still struggle to hear my bass clearly even with the ampeg rig behind me, having only one good working ear is a risk too far I know to risk loosing