Hey guys I need some help. My sister is getting married next spring. I need a pair of speakers for family events and parties that will take place at home before the wedding. I need the speakers to be efficent and play loud. I would like the speakers to have some bass but if i need more I could always use a subwoofer. Now the second bird that I want to kill is that after the events I would like to use the speakers in a seperate two channel setup. So i am looking for some quality speakers. People reccomand me cerwin vega but i don't think they are that good for two channel listening. These speakers could be brand new or I can go used thru canuck audio ebay ect. So guys if you can reccomand me anything that would be good

thanks

rick22, what's your price range/ceiling?

Since you've indicated that you don't mind used gear, I'll point you toward the two pair of Paradigm 5se speakers currently available on CAM. Great speakers, easy on the wallet. You'll need a subwoofer, though, so take the money you save there and buy an SVS PB10-NSD (from SonicBoomAudio.com). Depending on where you live - that is, if you can avoid shipping costs - you could end up with a sweet-sounding package for < $600.

I helped out a family friend with a similar situation as you, and the first thing I asked was - are you going to be using a microphone with the speakers (for speeches, toasts, etc.). If so, you're better off going with a small PA system.

Or the OP could buy a set of speakers + sub and simply rent a small (since it's for use at home) and inexpensive PA system for the speeches.

I use this setup for medium to large venues.

http://www.acclaim-music.com/live/product.php?productid=3308&cat=998&bestseller

http://www.b-52pro.com/models/Matrix1000V2.html

If I am doing a large venue, I add a self powered 18 inch sub to supplement.

Excellent sound reproduction, very clear. The 700 watt amp is built into the 15" sub and powers the satellite speakers. You can plug a microphone in directly, or use a mixer/pre-amp.

I was blown away by the quality of this setup, and @ $900 is a lot of bang for the buck.

BTW I have been a club DJ for the last 15 years, and a little addicted to bass. I am not recommending an anemic system that I've heard so many times at wedding receptions.

It is small enough to fit in my Jeep Compass along with my lighting rig, and works really well as the sound system in my rec room.

thanks guys for the replys. No i don't think i need a pa system. I won't be doing any speeches. I will be using these speakers at home in my basement. I am not going to use this in a large venu, Only 25x25 basement

So you don't need a big set of speakers capable of playing in a large hall (only in your home). Is that right?

Or the OP could buy a set of speakers + sub and simply rent a small (since it's for use at home) and inexpensive PA system for the speeches.
Perfect suggestion. The family that I was mentioning - that's what they ended up doing...renting a keyboard amp with an XLR input for speeches in the backyard, and a seperate stereo system for music for dancing in the garage.

So you don't need a big set of speakers capable of playing in a large hall (only in your home). Is that right?A fact is that there is a big difference between a proffessional PA system than home gear. Unless you are/have a band or do studio stuff, you definitely do not need that kind of equipment for your home enjoyment.

For your family event, you need a small mixer (good quality, IE: mackie), you need very minimal mcrophone inputs as 1 microphone is usually enough for such an event however, most good mixers are 4 inputs. What is important for you, is the line inputs in order to plug 1 or 2 CD players or you could even play your music from a laptop if you own one, have all your music pre-recorded but make sure you have back-up (CD MP3 recording) just in case some happens. All you need, is a pair of good 200 watts RMS powered speakers. More than that and you will get told that sound is too loud (every Xmas I go through the same, I like some punch into the music and there is always someone complaining it is too loud and they can not hear each others). Surprisingly, I use only a pair of 200 watts and only drive them about half their power (roughly 100 peoples which uses about 2/3 of the room for seating at the 6' type folding tables and the other 3rd of the room is dedicated as dance floor and game floor).

Last week, I was providing sound at the Park Vincent Massey and there was approximately 300 peoples, I was using the same 2 basic 200 watts RMS speakers to provide sound from about 10 playing musicians, I was playing the monitor speakers at roughly 20% (overkilled) and the PA speakers about 75% of their capability and believe me, if it were any louder, I sure would of had some complaints! Matter of fact, some gentlemen was using a fancy SPL monitor maybe 40' away from the speakers and it seemed to be more than loud enough for him. Don't forget loud is great for a crazy guy like me but ratter unhealthy for most crowds.

Now, renting the equipment should be somewhere around 400$ per day if you pick-up, install dismantle and return. If you want to get someone to deliver, install, dismantle & pick-up, you could easyly add another 200$. Also powered speakers are much heavier and you still have to get them up their tripod stand therefore, check the size as they don't necessary have to be huge in order to provide power and quality of sound. Matter of fact, we cranked-up some small QSC today and were fairly impressed, small in size but very powerfull! I'd suggest maybe you look at a DJ instead and have the peace of mind, not being responsible for the gear, not having to bother with nay of working the gear and select music, simply relax and enjoy it your self. Unless you know that type of equipment and you are loving this type of stuff, you might ruine a potential great night for your self. This is nothing big but you have to really be crazy about it in order to enjoy it.

hey guys thanks for the replys again. What do you guys think about the paradigm monitor 5 or 7 for my purpose. I have a cerwin vega powered sub for the bass that i could use. Again can you guys give some other reccomadations, I don't mind buying used gear.


thanks

I need a pair of speakers for family events and parties that will take place at home before the wedding.Inside the home or outside? How large is the area to be used? How many people are you expecting for this part of the wedding? If you hold this outside, I would not recommend using the gear you have mentioned (damage equipment and possibly not powerfull enough). If you are to use this for only a few people in the house living room, then your "kill two birds with one stone set-up" will more likely be up to the task. You simply have to realise that home gear isn't the same at all then DJ or proffessional gear which will take much more abuse. If you are dealing with a small houshold type room with low ceiling which can accomodate maybe up to 20 peoples you should be fine. If on the other hand, you intent is larger group such as 50 people or above in a large room with higher ceilings or in an area which have poor accoustic or even outside you should then be thinking of a DJ or proffessional system which is made for the job. Also, adding a subwoofer can be tricky for such event as you will be dealing with different age groups and it can be annoying to some as they might want to chit chat while musing is on. I know this from personal experience, I don't even use external subwoofer and still get complaints that sound is too lood/bassy/noisy etc... Younger lads maybe in the thumb thumb feeling of bass while your older folks might prefer the typical 3 way full "F" spec speakers. If you want the extra bass, some kits have matched sub add on IE: the Turbosound have specific subwoofer that matches the speakers (just an example as this would be way overkilled). The little DJ speaker kit that was previously suggested wouldn't too bad for small group however, this type of set-up wouldn't definitely not look too good in an HT or small home soundroom environment.

the Turbosound have specific subwoofer that matches the speakers (just an example as this would be way overkilled).

Actually, four Turbosound Impact 50 and one Impact 110 subwoofer can handle a decent sized room and still have good full sound, while still being small and look good at home.

Turbosound is a little pricey though.

Turbosound is a little pricey though.Yup but I sure wouldn't being able to afford such. The B52 Matrix 1000 you proposed earlier could be a good compromised for someone using on the road but in the house, I'd probably store the floor tripod stands and make some nice wooden towers to support them in the house. However, not knowing this brand so much I would probably be tempted to go with some small QSCs... I think this could be an option for the OP. This is amazing how such small speakers can be so powerfull and of very good quality of sound. I am talking about the old I-82H (newer has almost same model number), they can easily out performs much larger speakers. An other option, the OP was stressing for stereo music, the older boose speakers could ratter do pretty if he could acquire a used system. I know many musicians swears by them.

Might actually cost less and provide a much better event if you hired a professional DJ.

See the CDJA and CODJA web sites.

Might actually cost less and provide a much better event if you hired a professional DJ.

See the CDJA and CODJA web sites.
Most people don't understand everything that goes along with playing music at a wedding. I am a DJ, and I still had a DJ take care of the music for my wedding reception (I pretty much ignored what he was playing though or else I would have naturally thought that I'm a better DJ - I guess we're just like that).

I'm sorry, but reading a question like this is like somebody asking "I'm going to have a pre-wedding party, which dSLR and which lens should I buy?"

It's not the equipment, it's the person behind the equipment. In my case: a real photographer needs to be hired. In your particular case, a real DJ needs to be hired.

Basically, the OP question/concern is to see if if could buy and involve is own system for this and at home! He seems to want to take care of the music him self, this can also be done through his computer with constant music (pre-recorded). You don't need a university diploma to play music nor to be DJ (I have done that my self in my late teens)!

nor you need a university diploma to be a pro photographer, yet so many people can't take decent picture even when the best tools have been given to them. ;)

I understand what you are talking about. However, the OP doesn't require proffessional set-up and/or an entertainer. His idea of "killing two birds at once" make sense, look at this from the OP: I need a pair of speakers for family events and parties that will take place at home before the wedding. I need the speakers to be efficent and play loud. I would like the speakers to have some bass but if i need more I could always use a subwoofer. Now the second bird that I want to kill is that after the events I would like to use the speakers in a seperate two channel setup. So i am looking for some quality speakers. Going back to this original post, the OP simply needs what ever suits him best after the event as a simple home stereo PA will do the trick for his pre-wedding requirement.