Carvin Quality Surprise: TRxN Floor monitor

[hank alrich]

I recall George Gleason commenting that Carvin had this new and better
line of speakers. I think of Carvin as mid-to-low grade sounding stuff
that will run forever while suffering steady abuse.

As part of a church Sr system upgrade a mishmash of bad cabinets were
replaced with six TRx12N's, a compact, coaxial floor monitor.

http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/single.php?product=TRX12N

The situation in which they're running doesn't allow me to comment on
how they'd work for a rock band, but for reaonable stage volumes these
are keen little cabinets. They sound remarkably _clean_ and
monitor-like.

On sale at $319 it's a stupidly good deal.

Four of them are being driven by a modern (swtich-mode PS) four-channel
Carvin power amp that also seems better than I'd anticipated.

--
shut up and play your guitar * http://hankalrich.com/
http://armadillomusicproductions.com/who'slistening.html
http://www.sonicbids.com/HankandShaidriAlrichwithDougHarman

[George's Pro Sound Company]

"hank alrich" > wrote in message
...
>I recall George Gleason commenting that Carvin had this new and better
> line of speakers. I think of Carvin as mid-to-low grade sounding stuff
> that will run forever while suffering steady abuse.
>
> As part of a church Sr system upgrade a mishmash of bad cabinets were
> replaced with six TRx12N's, a compact, coaxial floor monitor.
>
> http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/single.php?product=TRX12N
>
> The situation in which they're running doesn't allow me to comment on
> how they'd work for a rock band, but for reaonable stage volumes these
> are keen little cabinets. They sound remarkably _clean_ and
> monitor-like.
>
> On sale at $319 it's a stupidly good deal.
>
> Four of them are being driven by a modern (swtich-mode PS) four-channel
> Carvin power amp that also seems better than I'd anticipated.
>
Hank I signed up as a dealer but could not sell any of them, then carvin
established a stocking requirement and we parted ways as I was not
inventorying stuff that I could not sell

BTW do you know Bill Eli Band?
Bill Eli presents is organizing a event 4 miles from my house and was wonder
what the heck is a texas boy doing organizing a bar gig in ithaca ny?
George

[hank alrich]

George's Pro Sound Company > wrote:

> "hank alrich" > wrote in message
> ...
> >I recall George Gleason commenting that Carvin had this new and better
> > line of speakers. I think of Carvin as mid-to-low grade sounding stuff
> > that will run forever while suffering steady abuse.
> >
> > As part of a church Sr system upgrade a mishmash of bad cabinets were
> > replaced with six TRx12N's, a compact, coaxial floor monitor.
> >
> > http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/single.php?product=TRX12N
> >
> > The situation in which they're running doesn't allow me to comment on
> > how they'd work for a rock band, but for reaonable stage volumes these
> > are keen little cabinets. They sound remarkably _clean_ and
> > monitor-like.
> >
> > On sale at $319 it's a stupidly good deal.
> >
> > Four of them are being driven by a modern (swtich-mode PS) four-channel
> > Carvin power amp that also seems better than I'd anticipated.
> >
> Hank I signed up as a dealer but could not sell any of them, then carvin
> established a stocking requirement and we parted ways as I was not
> inventorying stuff that I could not sell
>
> BTW do you know Bill Eli Band?

Do you mean Billy Ely?

http://www.billelyband.net/welcome.htm

> Bill Eli presents is organizing a event 4 miles from my house and was wonder
> what the heck is a texas boy doing organizing a bar gig in ithaca ny?
> George

I think you're thinking of Joe Ely...

<g>

--
shut up and play your guitar * http://hankalrich.com/
http://armadillomusicproductions.com/who'slistening.html
http://www.sonicbids.com/HankandShaidriAlrichwithDougHarman

[George's Pro Sound Company]

"hank alrich" > wrote in message
...
> George's Pro Sound Company > wrote:
>
>> "hank alrich" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> >I recall George Gleason commenting that Carvin had this new and better
>> > line of speakers. I think of Carvin as mid-to-low grade sounding stuff
>> > that will run forever while suffering steady abuse.
>> >
>> > As part of a church Sr system upgrade a mishmash of bad cabinets were
>> > replaced with six TRx12N's, a compact, coaxial floor monitor.
>> >
>> > http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/single.php?product=TRX12N
>> >
>> > The situation in which they're running doesn't allow me to comment on
>> > how they'd work for a rock band, but for reaonable stage volumes these
>> > are keen little cabinets. They sound remarkably _clean_ and
>> > monitor-like.
>> >
>> > On sale at $319 it's a stupidly good deal.
>> >
>> > Four of them are being driven by a modern (swtich-mode PS) four-channel
>> > Carvin power amp that also seems better than I'd anticipated.
>> >
>> Hank I signed up as a dealer but could not sell any of them, then carvin
>> established a stocking requirement and we parted ways as I was not
>> inventorying stuff that I could not sell
>>
>> BTW do you know Bill Eli Band?
>
> Do you mean Billy Ely?
>
> http://www.billelyband.net/welcome.htm
>
>> Bill Eli presents is organizing a event 4 miles from my house and was
>> wonder
>> what the heck is a texas boy doing organizing a bar gig in ithaca ny?
>> George
>
> I think you're thinking of Joe Ely...
definatly Austin based
here is the guy
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Billy-Eli-Band/315847147110?sk=info

and here is the event

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=199319576764564

george

[Arny Krueger]

"hank alrich" > wrote in message

> I recall George Gleason commenting that Carvin had this
> new and better line of speakers. I think of Carvin as
> mid-to-low grade sounding stuff that will run forever
> while suffering steady abuse.
>
> As part of a church Sr system upgrade a mishmash of bad
> cabinets were replaced with six TRx12N's, a compact,
> coaxial floor monitor.
>
> http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/single.php?product=TRX12N
>
> The situation in which they're running doesn't allow me
> to comment on how they'd work for a rock band, but for
> reaonable stage volumes these are keen little cabinets.
> They sound remarkably _clean_ and monitor-like.

> On sale at $319 it's a stupidly good deal.

> Four of them are being driven by a modern (swtich-mode
> PS) four-channel Carvin power amp that also seems better
> than I'd anticipated.

I don't doubt that the Carvin speakers sound good, because good sounding
speakers at low prices seem to be a trend.

The downside of the Carvin speakers is that they have relatively low
efficiency and maximum SPL capabilities as compared to other alternatives,
or as low efficiency speakers they are large and heavy and have appreciably
less bandwidth.

http://www.carvinguitars.com/manuals/TRX12N.pdf

I'm tempted to compare the Carvins to EV ZX-1s of which the last pair I
bought were actually a tad cheaper;

ZX-1

Frequency Response (-3 dB) 60 - 20000 Hz
Frequency Response (-10 dB) 48 - 20000 Hz
Sensitivity 1 W/1m 94 dB
Max. SPL/1m (calc) 123 dB
Weight 18 pounds

TRx12N

Frequency response (-3 dB) 70 Hz – 18 kHz
Frequency Response: (-10 dB) 65 Hz – 20 kHz
Sensitivity (1w @ 1m): 96dB
Maximum SPL: 121dB
Weight 33 pounds

I'm willing to grant that both EV and Carvin are equally reliable sources of
specifications, despite past differences.

Since I usually do the work personally with portable or installed, hung
systems, I know which specification means the most to me. I'll give a bye
to the other small differences even though they generally favor the ZX-1.
What means the most to me given all other things being more or less equal
is: Weight.

[Sean Conolly]

"Arny Krueger" > wrote in message
...
> "hank alrich" > wrote in message
>
>> I recall George Gleason commenting that Carvin had this
>> new and better line of speakers. I think of Carvin as
>> mid-to-low grade sounding stuff that will run forever
>> while suffering steady abuse.
>>
>> As part of a church Sr system upgrade a mishmash of bad
>> cabinets were replaced with six TRx12N's, a compact,
>> coaxial floor monitor.
>>
>> http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/single.php?product=TRX12N
>>
>> The situation in which they're running doesn't allow me
>> to comment on how they'd work for a rock band, but for
>> reaonable stage volumes these are keen little cabinets.
>> They sound remarkably _clean_ and monitor-like.
>
>> On sale at $319 it's a stupidly good deal.
>
>> Four of them are being driven by a modern (swtich-mode
>> PS) four-channel Carvin power amp that also seems better
>> than I'd anticipated.
>
> I don't doubt that the Carvin speakers sound good, because good sounding
> speakers at low prices seem to be a trend.
>
> The downside of the Carvin speakers is that they have relatively low
> efficiency and maximum SPL capabilities as compared to other alternatives,
> or as low efficiency speakers they are large and heavy and have
> appreciably less bandwidth.
>
> http://www.carvinguitars.com/manuals/TRX12N.pdf
>
> I'm tempted to compare the Carvins to EV ZX-1s of which the last pair I
> bought were actually a tad cheaper;
>
> ZX-1
>
> Frequency Response (-3 dB) 60 - 20000 Hz
> Frequency Response (-10 dB) 48 - 20000 Hz
> Sensitivity 1 W/1m 94 dB
> Max. SPL/1m (calc) 123 dB
> Weight 18 pounds
>
> TRx12N
>
> Frequency response (-3 dB) 70 Hz - 18 kHz
> Frequency Response: (-10 dB) 65 Hz - 20 kHz
> Sensitivity (1w @ 1m): 96dB
> Maximum SPL: 121dB
> Weight 33 pounds
>
> I'm willing to grant that both EV and Carvin are equally reliable sources
> of specifications, despite past differences.
>
> Since I usually do the work personally with portable or installed, hung
> systems, I know which specification means the most to me. I'll give a bye
> to the other small differences even though they generally favor the ZX-1.
> What means the most to me given all other things being more or less equal
> is: Weight.

I'd definitely like to hear the Carvin's; I like the idea of a low cost
coaxial to save on stage space. The efficiency and bandwidth doesn't matter
that much to me, but what I really want is a flat response in the mid-range
for vocals. Gain before feedback is usually the limiting factor for volume,
and it's very rare that I run out of amp before I run into uncontrollable
feedback.

Sean

[hank alrich]

Sean Conolly > wrote:

> "Arny Krueger" > wrote in message
> ...
> > "hank alrich" > wrote in message
> >
> >> I recall George Gleason commenting that Carvin had this
> >> new and better line of speakers. I think of Carvin as
> >> mid-to-low grade sounding stuff that will run forever
> >> while suffering steady abuse.
> >>
> >> As part of a church Sr system upgrade a mishmash of bad
> >> cabinets were replaced with six TRx12N's, a compact,
> >> coaxial floor monitor.
> >>
> >> http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/single.php?product=TRX12N
> >>
> >> The situation in which they're running doesn't allow me
> >> to comment on how they'd work for a rock band, but for
> >> reaonable stage volumes these are keen little cabinets.
> >> They sound remarkably _clean_ and monitor-like.
> >
> >> On sale at $319 it's a stupidly good deal.
> >
> >> Four of them are being driven by a modern (swtich-mode
> >> PS) four-channel Carvin power amp that also seems better
> >> than I'd anticipated.
> >
> > I don't doubt that the Carvin speakers sound good, because good sounding
> > speakers at low prices seem to be a trend.
> >
> > The downside of the Carvin speakers is that they have relatively low
> > efficiency and maximum SPL capabilities as compared to other alternatives,
> > or as low efficiency speakers they are large and heavy and have
> > appreciably less bandwidth.
> >
> > http://www.carvinguitars.com/manuals/TRX12N.pdf
> >
> > I'm tempted to compare the Carvins to EV ZX-1s of which the last pair I
> > bought were actually a tad cheaper;
> >
> > ZX-1
> >
> > Frequency Response (-3 dB) 60 - 20000 Hz
> > Frequency Response (-10 dB) 48 - 20000 Hz
> > Sensitivity 1 W/1m 94 dB
> > Max. SPL/1m (calc) 123 dB
> > Weight 18 pounds
> >
> > TRx12N
> >
> > Frequency response (-3 dB) 70 Hz - 18 kHz
> > Frequency Response: (-10 dB) 65 Hz - 20 kHz
> > Sensitivity (1w @ 1m): 96dB
> > Maximum SPL: 121dB
> > Weight 33 pounds
> >
> > I'm willing to grant that both EV and Carvin are equally reliable sources
> > of specifications, despite past differences.
> >
> > Since I usually do the work personally with portable or installed, hung
> > systems, I know which specification means the most to me. I'll give a bye
> > to the other small differences even though they generally favor the ZX-1.
> > What means the most to me given all other things being more or less equal
> > is: Weight.
>
> I'd definitely like to hear the Carvin's; I like the idea of a low cost
> coaxial to save on stage space. The efficiency and bandwidth doesn't matter
> that much to me, but what I really want is a flat response in the mid-range
> for vocals. Gain before feedback is usually the limiting factor for volume,
> and it's very rare that I run out of amp before I run into uncontrollable
> feedback.
>
> Sean

I like the coax footrpint on stage, and I like the pattern better than a
horizontal horn turned on its edge, which puts a lot of info where it
isn't needed.

--
shut up and play your guitar * http://hankalrich.com/
http://armadillomusicproductions.com/who'slistening.html
http://www.sonicbids.com/HankandShaidriAlrichwithDougHarman

[geoff]

hank alrich wrote:

> I like the coax footrpint on stage, and I like the pattern better
> than a horizontal horn turned on its edge, which puts a lot of info
> where it isn't needed.

But horizontal horns turned vertical (ie vertical horns) have the benefit of
not putting a lot of sound where it is not wanted.

geoff

[Arny Krueger]

"geoff" > wrote in message

> hank alrich wrote:
>
>> I like the coax footrpint on stage, and I like the
>> pattern better than a horizontal horn turned on its
>> edge, which puts a lot of info where it isn't needed.

> But horizontal horns turned vertical (ie vertical horns)
> have the benefit of not putting a lot of sound where it
> is not wanted.

Yes, and the ZX-series horns are pretty easy to rotate.

[[email protected]]

On 2011-03-07 (hankalrich) said:
>>to me given all other things being more or less equal > is:
>Weight. >
>> I'd definitely like to hear the Carvin's; I like the idea of a
>>low cost coaxial to save on stage space. The efficiency and
>>bandwidth doesn't matter that much to me, but what I really want
>>is a flat response in the mid-range for vocals. Gain before
>>feedback is usually the limiting factor for volume, and it's very
>>rare that I run out of amp before I run into uncontrollable
>feedback. >
>> Sean
>I like the coax footprint on stage, and I like the pattern better
>than a horizontal horn turned on its edge, which puts a lot of info
>where it isn't needed.
WOuld agree, and that smaller footprint means I"m more
likely to aim that monitor at actual ears better. That was
the one thing I always liked about those little hotspot
monitors.

Better footprint without the horn, aimed more accurately
means that I can run lower volume levels to performers.
That always helps.



Richard webb,

replace anything before at with elspider
ON site audio in the southland: see www.gatasound.com

[TheMaskman]

I've been playing on a Marshall mg100dfx combo, and was amazed by it's versatility and quality for the price, so if you absolutely do not have to get a half-stack, The combo holds up for smaller gigs at no more than halfway up. But, if you must get a halfstack, I just recently switched to the Marshall Mg half-stack because playing auditoriums was pushing that one 12-inch speaker to death.

[hank alrich]

geoff > wrote:

> hank alrich wrote:
>
> > I like the coax footrpint on stage, and I like the pattern better
> > than a horizontal horn turned on its edge, which puts a lot of info
> > where it isn't needed.
>
> But horizontal horns turned vertical (ie vertical horns) have the benefit of
> not putting a lot of sound where it is not wanted.
>
> geoff

I disagree. They fire much too high most of the time, splatting all over
ceilings, etc.

--
shut up and play your guitar * http://hankalrich.com/
http://armadillomusicproductions.com/who'slistening.html
http://www.sonicbids.com/HankandShaidriAlrichwithDougHarman

[Mike Rivers]

On 3/8/2011 10:16 AM, hank alrich wrote:

> I disagree. They fire much too high most of the time, splatting all over
> ceilings, etc.

Since most of the performers at festivals where I work are
seated, I have that problem with most monitors - well, not
hitting the ceiling because there often isn't one, but with
the more directional highs going over the performers' heads.
I can usually find someone on the grounds crew to get me a
couple of pieces of 2x4 to prop up the back of the monitor
and tilt it downward. It really helps people hear better and
requires less juice, hence less feedback potential.



--
"Today's production equipment is IT based and cannot be
operated without a passing knowledge of computing, although
it seems that it can be operated without a passing knowledge
of audio." - John Watkinson

http://mikeriversaudio.wordpress.com - useful and
interesting audio stuff

[Arny Krueger]

"Mike Rivers" > wrote in message

> On 3/8/2011 10:16 AM, hank alrich wrote:
>
>> I disagree. They fire much too high most of the time,
>> splatting all over ceilings, etc.

> Since most of the performers at festivals where I work are
> seated, I have that problem with most monitors - well, not
> hitting the ceiling because there often isn't one, but
> with the more directional highs going over the
> performers' heads.

In my case the ceiling is often 27' high, so its mostly not a problem.

With seated performers and a polished wood back wall, the trick with floor
monitors is avoiding reflections off the wall.

Our response for one group of performers is to hang the monitors so that
they point down into the people and the carpeting.

> I can usually find someone on the
> grounds crew to get me a couple of pieces of 2x4 to prop
> up the back of the monitor and tilt it downward. It
> really helps people hear better and requires less juice,
> hence less feedback potential.

The EV ZX series speakers have a number of built-in options for tilting. One
works for seated performers, one works for standing performers.

[geoff]

hank alrich wrote:
> geoff > wrote:
>
>> hank alrich wrote:
>>
>>> I like the coax footrpint on stage, and I like the pattern better
>>> than a horizontal horn turned on its edge, which puts a lot of info
>>> where it isn't needed.
>>
>> But horizontal horns turned vertical (ie vertical horns) have the
>> benefit of not putting a lot of sound where it is not wanted.
>>
>> geoff
>
> I disagree. They fire much too high most of the time, splatting all
> over ceilings, etc.

Fortunately splattering all over the ceilings isn't a problem (if you dcat
get the tilt right). However spilling sideways into adjacent mics *is* a
problem, which is why I prefer the vertical mode.

geoff