powered mixers??

[Ben M]

Hi Guys and gals

I'm helping some friends put together a small vocal PA most of which is pieced together with what they already had.
I was at their place friday arvo to tune the PA because they were getting huge amounts of feedback. On arrival I noticed the FOH speakers were passive and the FB were active and the rack desk was be!@#$%^& (yes, don't start me). It's similar to this one - http://www.be!@#$%^&.com/EN/Products/PMP1680S.aspx
After tuning the FB for 5 minutes the mode select switch that switches one of the graphics into the monitor path decides to crap out (the graphic is fine, it's the switch). So no graphic eq is available for the monitor send which is just useless. Who knows if they could get this fixed affordably and by whom? I'm not willing to go anywhere near it.

Anyway, my real question is: What are some good (please don't go cheap) 8 - 12 channel live powered mixers available? I think their FOH speakers could handle 300w-400w each from the mixer, the foldback is powered Mackie's but should have it's own graphic on the mixer for tuning.

Thanks

[Kurt]

Yamaha bricks are solid and reliable. Is the be!@#$%^& still fixable/replaceable under warranty? I assume most pro audio shops will be able to fix it, but when repairs start at $100+ I guess they need to decide if they really want to fix it...

I've never seen a powered mixer with full 31 band eq, if you want to tune foldback in any serious way you'll need an external eq.

I like that you were willing to go near it long enough for it to break

[Ben M]

Yep, a couple of flicks and the switch broke. Bewdy be!@#$%^&!
The worst thing is to get to the switch you'd spend ages getting the faceplate off to get to the damn thing. Screws, pots, nuts, etc....

The mixer is more than likely out of warranty. So no chance of a free fix.

Is there any new reliable live powered mixers? Maybe not????

[Kurt]

I think you're going to find they're all made cheap in China (be!@#$%^&, Wharfedale, Yamaha, Mackie, Peavey[?]). If you must buy a new one go for the one with the longest warranty

[Ben M]

Ohh China. Beautiful one day, disastrous the next.
I might suggest they go down the Yamaha MG series line and change a few PA components to suit.
I own one of those Yamaha MG24 mixers with 2 spx fx's built in and it's ok. Better than what their dealing with now anyway. I'll just suggest a smaller version though.

Thanks for being a sounding board Kurt.

cheers

[Kurt]

That was going to be my suggestion, a slant top rack thingy with a little desk, compressor, eq, amp. Careful second hand shopping could see it done quite cheaply.

[Ben M]

a slant top rack thingy with a little desk, compressor, eq, amp.

Exactly. A little slanty racky thingy with better quality pa components.

[Ausrock]

Have a look for a S/craft Spirit Power Station, we have an 8 channel 300W per side in the studio and you'll sometimes see the 12 channel 600W units on Ebay.

[Chris H]

Dunno.......I've always hated powered mixers. Never found one i liked.

[Ben M]

This isn't for me. They are a trio of female voices. ATM their singing into different vocal mics (including be!@#$%^&) and the gain structure is all over the place. They have some money to update their Public address system

Anything small and rackable in the Allen and heath line that people are using? Soundcraft is a good idea. I'll have a look and see. Cheers Ausrock.