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Pro Speakers for acoustic instruments and vocals outdoors?

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I've heard some pretty decent JBL and Mackie speakers lately. Not a clue as to the model numbers. The Mackie had a somewhat hissy sound on female vocals, otherwise not bad. Maybe I was too close to it.
What would be a good speaker(s) to reproduce say trumpet, violin(s), soprano and string bass for a fairly large garden party? Maybe I'd need smaller surround speakers and subwoofers? Would like as natural a sound as possible, if not as incredibly detailed like a Martin Logan, whatever, home audio.

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Klipsch LaScala - Bill Way 15:59:34 09/05/03 (2)
A pair of these can present a credible outdoor experience, particularly if driven from a fairly big amp. I've used them with the old Dyna 400, which was OK, and a pair of Mac MC275's, which was surprisingly good. I would love to hear them with some of the big Manley amps.
They have a fair amount of horn "honk" (the bad part of horn loading), but their limited bass response, which I guess ends around 60 Hz or so, lets them produce the weight of the orchestra at surprisingly loud levels. They also range from moderate levels to very loud with almost no change in timbre (the good part of horn loading).
- Re: Klipsch LaScala - edta 15:48:34 09/06/03 (1)
  Thanks. I suspected horns would be needed. I'm thinking more that I'll have to sacrifice quality anyway. Maybe I'll just get a dj.
  Did you have an outdoor party with the Klipsch's?
  - Re: Klipsch LaScala - gordguide 04:38:21 11/30/03 (0)
    I've used them outdoors, and mounted on flatbed trailers. Work great for both. If you need to add level, just use 2 pair, but a single pair will go very loud.
    You need a minimum 100 watts, outdoors I'd go higher (200 wpc). Not much point in going above that, you should add another pair at that point if it's not loud enough.
    Clipping will damage the HF driver, but if you keep it below the clipping level they're nearly indestructable (about as good as it gets, with speakers).
Re: Pro Speakers for acoustic instruments and vocals outdoors? - mikebake 19:04:14 09/04/03 (8)
You're talking about recorded music, i.e. CD? And are you wanting to buy the speakers, or rent? What do you have to work with now?
- Re: Pro Speakers for acoustic instruments and vocals outdoors? - edta 16:06:28 09/05/03 (7)
  Renting would probably be the way to go. And yes, I'd like to be able to use recordings.
  All I have are home stereo components like Music Fidelity, Pass, Music Reference Amps. 2 PSB strat gold speakers, RDL trios, etc. I'm really reluctant to drag the stereo outside, those PSBs weigh 100 lbs. each. And I'd probably need to biamp them with really powerful amps, and I don't think 2 speakers would be adequate for a half acre outside. Probably way too loud close up and not loud enough further away.
  - Rent pro gear. - Bill Fitzmaurice 13:53:27 09/06/03 (6)
    Your home setup won't handle a half acre. Get a DJ or a band soundman to do the job (they'll charge less than a commercial rental outfit and will run the sound for you as well) and be prepared for it to sound less than wonderful, as speakers comfortable with the necessary levels won't sound like PSBs.
    - Re: Rent pro gear. - edta 15:46:37 09/06/03 (5)
      Thanks. We are going to an indoor party with a DJ next week. Will check it out with him and get his take. A friend of ours has a brother in a band. I could check with him, as well. Not really the kind of music I'm into, still, he might be able to give me a local recommendation.
      I know there are some classical outdoor summer concerts that use sound reinforcement. Don't have a clue as to what equipment they use and don't know anyone who does. Do you have any info on this?
      - Classical reinforcement - Bill Fitzmaurice 06:21:56 09/07/03 (4)
        
        In Reply to: Re: Rent pro gear. posted by edta on September 06, 2003 at 15:46:37:
        
        The difficulty is the acoustic instruments, as you can't just mic up their amps. In professional situations orchestras are usually miced from overhead to minimize the distance from mic to instrument and thus reduce extraneous pickup. A viable altenernative is a PZM mic on each performer's music lectern, which will also help to minimize extraneous noise pick up.
        
        Re: Classical reinforcement - edta 08:32:22 09/07/03 (3)
        
        In Reply to: Classical reinforcement posted by Bill Fitzmaurice on September 07, 2003 at 06:21:56:
        
        What sort of speakers and amps do they use?
        
        Re: Classical reinforcement - Bill Fitzmaurice 10:55:43 09/07/03 (2)
        
        In Reply to: Re: Classical reinforcement posted by edta on September 07, 2003 at 08:32:22:
        
        The speakers, amps , mixers etc are the same as used by any band, the size of the venue and number of instruments determining the size and number of required components. Being that classical doen't usually need to reach 105dB at 200 feet the systems requirements are generally modest compared to touring rock bands to say the least.
        
        Re: Classical reinforcement - edta 21:58:45 09/13/03 (1)
        
        In Reply to: Re: Classical reinforcement posted by Bill Fitzmaurice on September 07, 2003 at 10:55:43:
        
        The DJ had EV speakers with horns on top, looked like 15" woofers. He said they were kind of old. 400 wpc amps, peavey. Said he had them out at a farm party and no complaints outside, Gemini CDP with remote and light show and all in one console.
        His mikes for announcement were pretty bad, intelligibility not great. Sound for dancing? Ok, I suppose. Nothing to get excited about. Would I hire him?
        I'd like to hear someone else.
        
        Re: Classical reinforcement - Bill Fitzmaurice 07:19:09 09/14/03 (0)
        
        In Reply to: Re: Classical reinforcement posted by edta on September 13, 2003 at 21:58:45:
        
        Doesn't sound exactly state of the art to me. I'd hit the clubs and search out some of the more successful bands in town and talk with their soundguys.

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