FRFR wedge solutions and cost comparison

    So I'm looking to eventually get a FRFR (ish) wedge to go with the Kemper to jam at friend's houses or eventually with a band. I know rather little on the topic which is why I'm asking for advice here. I primarily enjoy metal music, so I THINK I'd need something that can keep up with the low end - ie a 12" vs. a 10". But I want to know people's experiences. 10" vs 12". active vs. passive.


    I'm not looking for the ultimate in quality and I don't need stereo seperation. I would prefer to carry a single wedge vs. two. However, if getting 2 of a cheaper model will sound better than 1 more expensive one, I am open to the idea.

    • Alto TS112a ($300) - I am initially attracted to this option because of the cost. Of course, I don't want to end up with more unused gear to hock because it didn't hack it and had to get replaced later anyway. But it seems like I could get 2 of these guys for the price of one of most of the others.
    • Yamaha DXR10 ($600) - Seems like it hits the sweet spot for the money! Might be the winner here. How's the 10" for the low end?
    • Mackie SRM450 (~$500?) - looks new, but any reviews?
    • Mackie HD1221 ($800) - don't know much about this guy at all.
    • QSC K10 ($750) - I know the K series initially had some very nice reviews. If I can find a good deal on a used one, maybe this is the way to go?
    • Atomic CLR ($1,000) - Obviously I would jump right on one of these, but the price is rather high. I'm doubting I'll be able to find them for cheaper than street prices considering their popularity.
    • RCF? - I have heard good things about this brand but there are a few lines and they seem real expensive...
    • EV ELX112P ($600)
    • others?


    Thanks in advance.

    Yamaha DXR 10 seems to be a perfect fit for the KPA, looking at the enthusiastic user's reviews here.

    "Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music" Serghei Rachmaninoff


    I have a RCF NX-12 SMA. It sounds very good at stage volume but lacks high end and gets kind of mid-rangy when used at low volumes. This is giving me a hard time when I try to tweak profiles at home. But again, on stage it is a great sounding wedge

    I have 2 JBL PRX 635 active 15" 3 way. They sound pretty huge man. I got a good deal on them the pair new for about $1300.Before I bought them i did a lot of review searching online. There were people that had some overheating problems....I have had none AT ALL. So don’t believe all the hype you read on the internet. I would recommend these

    ampanddrumsamples.com

    Edited once, last by Nims8582 ().

    see that's my thought - why SHOULDN'T I get 1 or 2 Alto's? The price is a PRO, not a CON, especially when I just spent some big bux on the KPA. I intend to read some reviews, but of course I'm looking for some descriptive comparisons, not fanboyisms and uninformed snobbery.

    Quote from mikenothing

    Don't dismiss the altos because of their low cost. I love my TS115A's. I tried the 12" versions and they sounded great as well. I recommend taking your kemper into your local guitar store and trying out a bunch of speakers.


    Here is my current setup:


    [Blocked Image: http://i.imgur.com/hQPpoSH.jpg]


    Very cool setup. I especially dig the rack mount.

    PRS Singlecuts
    Kemper PowerHead/Remote



    Quote from skoczy

    When you turn the knob on KPA, you wake up the captured souls of tube amps living inside.

    Nothing beats Matrix IMO. CLR and RCF gets very close though.


    But they are expensive.


    I also read alot of positive about Alto. Should be very good for the price. I would go to a shop to try out as many as possible before you buy. Even if it would take you a day, it would deff be worth it.


    Only you will know what is good to your ears. Make sure you get a 30 day money back guarantie, no matter what you buy. Alot can sound different when other instruments blend in.

    I've had the Alto TS115a's and now the TS112a's.


    The TS115a's are obviously bigger and seemed a bit more 'woofy' when using lots of gain/bass.


    I sold them and bought the TS112a's as they are smaller, lighter and just as loud and seem a little bit tighter soundwise.


    I had the 12's and the 15's at the same time so was able to do A/B comparisons. It was only very very small margins and the 15's are still great speakers. I basically sold them as the 12's were smaller and lighter.


    Either is great and everyone who's heard the kemper through them has been blown away.


    I should imagine the Yamaha etc are better, but whether they are worth twice/three times the price is debatable.

    Quote from mullassiff

    Nothing beats Matrix IMO. CLR and RCF gets very close though.


    Well, while personal taste is personal taste, and one may want a less accurate but (to them) more appealing tone, nothing beats the CLRs for what they're designed to be: a linear, phase-coherent, transparent loudspeaker device. You're are expected to spend three times the price for... beating them.
    As for the rest, it depends on what you're after :)

    I have a couple of QSC K10's, they sound great for vocals but not so great with modelers and profilers. I'm currently using an EV ELX112P or a pair of ELX112 passive cabs powered by a QSC GX5, to me the ELX series is much better than the K10 for guitar.


    I've been wondering how the DSX10 compares to the ELX112P. The only problem I have with the ELX is that the dispersion is not the best, it really makes a difference how you position the speaker where you stand. I'd really like to get a CLR but the price is holding me back.

    Quote from viabcroce


    Well, while personal taste is personal taste, and one may want a less accurate but (to them) more appealing tone, nothing beats the CLRs for what they're designed to be: a linear, phase-coherent, transparent loudspeaker device. You're are expected to spend three times the price for... beating them.
    As for the rest, it depends on what you're after :)

    I guess we can agree to disagree then :) A lot of choises = Good.

    To be honest I use a CLR and really like it. I play all styles live and I like the way it reproduces different cabinets (open and closed) better then anything I have tried. That being said If I only played one style and needed/wanted to save some money, I would buy the DXR10 which I allmost kept over the CLR. I think the DXR10 is probably the biggest bang for the buck.