Jason Stanfield Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Last weekend I was able to borrow a Yamaha DXR8 powered monitor to use at a couple of gigs, and I was impressed with it. My experience with powered monitors is limited, but here are my impressions. (First off, my rig consists of a Roland RD-700NX and a Roland VR-700 combo organ. The RD-700NX goes through a Speakeasy dual-channel tube preamp, and the VR-700 through a Speakeasy AMA. I roll off almost all of the low end using the preamps so I can avoid having a boomy, muddy bass tone.) Friday night's gig was with my Grateful Dead tribute band at a small venue where we run our own sound. My 'boards went through the preamps into our StudioLive mixer, and I sent a single monitor feed to the DXR8, along with some guitar and vocals. I had the preamp rack sitting on a Z stand to my right, and the monitor on top facing me and as a side fill for the rest of the band. Obviously, I had no problem hearing it, but the band also heard me without them having to put me into their own monitors. Saturday night's gig was with my other band - blues, southern rock, jam band stuff - and it was at a larger venue with a sound system. I ran the 'boards through the preamps and into 2 separate channels on the DXR8, which was positioned at the same height, but to my left, then used the XLR output to go to FOH. Overall, I was very impressed with the DXR8's sound. It was crisp, clear, and I had plenty of headroom to play with - I never brought the input volume over 12:00 at either gig, and even brought my 'boards' output down during softer songs - and everyone could hear me fine. The DXR8 is small (about the size of a large studio monitor), not too heavy, and built well. Having used a QSC K12 a few times (and loved it), I felt this was a little better for me. The 8" speaker was nice, as I avoid a boomy low end and didn't need to turn my bass EQ down to zero, or keep the 8' drawbar on my organ under 6. There was a tiny bit of "hiss," but no more than the K12 that I used previously, and it was completely unnoticed after the first song we played. My only gripes about it are: 1. Input 1 is mono XLR, input 2 is L&R 1/4", and input 3 is RCA. For some reason, you can only use the Left or both 1/4" inputs from a single source, but you can't run two keyboards into each input separately. This isn't a huge deal, but it was a little annoying having to dig out a different cable and squeeze in behind my preamp rack. 2. The DXR8's body does have a slight angle on the sides (when upright), but it lays flat on its side, so it's not useful as a floor wedge. I had to put a spare volume pedal under it so I could tilt it up 30 degrees or so (to keep it from blasting straight into my ear), and I had to reposition it a few times to keep it from sliding off the top of my rack case. 3. The only handle is on the top. Otherwise, I enjoyed using the Yamaha DXR8 a great deal. I wonder if the DXR10 would be even better, since it could double as an all around stage monitor and provide some more volume, but the DXR8's 600 watts seemed just fine for me. I won't call it a K10/K12 killer, but for $549, it's a more affordable compromise that gave me almost studio-monitor clarity, big sound, and was easy to tote and set up. Jason Stanfield Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timwat Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Jason - Regarding your point #1: I use two DXR8s. I use the 1/4" inputs for separate sources all the time. You have to set the mono/stereo button appropriately to hear both inputs out of one speaker. It's set that way so if you're daisychaining two of them (using the XLR link function), when set to "stereo" you get, well, stereo output. I also wish they had made it more "floor wedge" angled friendly - I'm told the larger DXR10 has that feature. I use AmpWedges to boost them - they don't slip, they're sturdy and light. .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonysounds Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Yeah, the DXR10 and DXR12 work well as floor wedges. Hitting "Play" does NOT constitute live performance. -Me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FJR Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 I just bought the 10. I wanted the 8, but almost always have it on the floor, so the lack of the wedge setup was a no-go for me. I've only used it once so far, but it sounded great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Stanfield Posted September 20, 2013 Author Share Posted September 20, 2013 Jason - Regarding your point #1: I use two DXR8s. I use the 1/4" inputs for separate sources all the time. You have to set the mono/stereo button appropriately to hear both inputs out of one speaker. It's set that way so if you're daisychaining two of them (using the XLR link function), when set to "stereo" you get, well, stereo output. I also wish they had made it more "floor wedge" angled friendly - I'm told the larger DXR10 has that feature. I use AmpWedges to boost them - they don't slip, they're sturdy and light. I just tried it, and realized I did have it set to stereo; putting into mono allowed two 'boards to use the separate L/R inputs. Thanks! I may end up with a pair of DXR10 for the wedge option. I like my monitor elevated so the band can hear it (rather than take up "space" on their vocal monitors), but not pointed right at my head. Jason Stanfield Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Wright Posted September 21, 2013 Share Posted September 21, 2013 Thanks for the review Jason. I have been interested in this series! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J. Dan Posted September 21, 2013 Share Posted September 21, 2013 I have a few questions. I'm using a K10 now and have 2 issues: 1) the angle as a wedge. I find it needs to be really far away from me to be at the right angle when playing standing. If I was sitting it's probably be about right. I think this is an issue due to the tight pattern of the K10. Does anybody have any kind of feedback as far as comparison of the DXR10 compared to the K10 with regards to angle? 2) Gain. On the K10, typically, I run my mic into channel 1 on the Mic setting (loop out to FOH), and my keys (loop out of DI) into Channel 2. The mic is fine. I'm often at 100% on the keys and still just slightly low on the volume (I run my Kronos master at 50%). I can turn up my keys but I don't want to do that because of FOH. If I run it in ch 1 on mic setting, there is way more than enough volume. I wish the line setting was somewhere in between. I don't want another piece of gear to add gain for only one keyboard. Any feedback on the gain structure of the DXR10 and whether it would be any improvement? Edit: One more thing....for my 80s Duo, I have a pair of 18" subs. For medium to large sized rooms, with the pair of subs, would DXR10's cut it for mains? By "Large", I mean large for a duo...so say, 200 people, but a thumping dance floor - not background music. Dan Acoustic/Electric stringed instruments ranging from 4 to 230 strings, hammered, picked, fingered, slapped, and plucked. Analog and Digital Electronic instruments, reeds, and throat/mouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delaware Dave Posted September 21, 2013 Share Posted September 21, 2013 Dan, if you ran the Kronos at 75% why can't the FOH compensate by pulling you back in the mix if you are too hot to the main board? 57 Hammond B3; 69 Hammond L100P; 68 Leslie 122; Kurzweil PC3; M-Audio Code 61; Voce V5+; Neo Vent; EV ELX112P; GSI Gemini & Burn Delaware Dave Exit 93 Band Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J. Dan Posted September 21, 2013 Share Posted September 21, 2013 I try to keep my stuff even so FOH doesn't have to touch me. Sometimes we're running sound from stage. 50% gives me the most adjustment capability. Of course, over time as I continue to get things lined out better in the patches themselves, I won't need as much room for adjustment and can cheat that up. But now, running at 50%, there are some patches I have to crank to 100% to be the right volume. Some of them are just quiet patches - I need to maybe add a compressor or preamp IFX to boost them. Dan Acoustic/Electric stringed instruments ranging from 4 to 230 strings, hammered, picked, fingered, slapped, and plucked. Analog and Digital Electronic instruments, reeds, and throat/mouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaganuga Posted September 21, 2013 Share Posted September 21, 2013 you can't go wrong with the DXR10 I bought them too and I'm fully satisfied with the sound, power and they are handy. If you mostly play on big stages than I rather would go with the DXR12. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaganuga Posted September 21, 2013 Share Posted September 21, 2013 After thinking a litle I think going for 2 DXR10 and got a subwoofer DXS12 or DXS15 could be a good option too for flexibility Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonglow Posted September 21, 2013 Share Posted September 21, 2013 I don't understand how any 8" speaker can provide enough low end. "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.