not really down for spending 300 bux for a cheapy amp but I do want something decent. Anyone know where I can find a decent amp at a decent price?
Thanks a bunch,
-xavier-

I was always told that amps and CD palyers are the only things you should really buy new. The amp is a bacbone of a system, and if the person before you abused it, it may die in the middle of a gig. That's just my 2 cents, but it's your call. And no, I don't know anywhere for amps. Lights, however...

i am definately goin w/ madness on that one. i have had some bad experience w/ a used cd player and it almost messed up an entire gig of mine! plus w/ an amp, its the power source, and u need to be sure that the power source is reliable because without that, you have nothing-jay

i agree with DJ Madness and DJ Jayg. if u have the money i would buy a new amp. try not to get speakers with 8HM becuase its juss gonna coast u more on amps. i use 4 and 2hm speakers. same with the cd players BUY THEM NEW!!. i already had b ad experiene purchasing used cd players that quit right in the middle of it all and it sucked big time so if i were u, i would but new

quote:

Originally posted by Dj Madness:
[QB]I was always told that amps and CD palyers are the only things you should really buy new. The amp is a bacbone of a system, and if the person before you abused it, it may die in the middle of a gig.QB]

I agree but maybe a decent backup amp can be purchased this way

That's true, used would be ok for a backup.

quote:

try not to get speakers with 8HM becuase its juss gonna coast u more on amps. i use 4 and 2hm speakers.

Please explain this to me? 8ohm speakers are ideal since you can then add more speakers without lowering the impedance to a dangerously low level. I see no valid reason to run such a low impedance speaker.

For example, running four 8^ (^ = ohm) speakers in stereo you have a very workable 4^ load per channel.

If we take four 4^ speakers we're now at a 2^ load per channel. Most quality amps will handle this with no problems, but heat will be much higher with this load. Your example of running a 2^ speaker would mean a 1^ load per channel with four speakers. VERY few amps are capable of this!

Lets keep in mind, 0^ is a dead short...1^ is coming dangerously close to that. One other thing to remember is that while a speakers nominal load might be 4^ it actually varies considerably. It could very well dip as low as 1.5^ and be as high as 20^ throughout the frequency spectrum...something to consider before you start loading your amp up with a low impedance load.

Bob

Getting back to the original question. The American Audio V4000plus is one heckuva amplifier! Now, considering what these sell for and the performance they offer, why consider a refurb? Let me clarify: I would consider a refurbed V3000plus or V4000plus if the money is right....why? I think of it this way...it's been pre-disastered before you get it...it's been repaired and in most cases bench tested for sometime before you get it...not a lot of new amps are, so you're actually getting a better tested unit for less dough!

One final thought...mobile DJ's without a doubt are the hardest on equipment! People who has no idea how to hook things up are trying to do so, and then they wonder why the amp releases the factory installed "smoke"...give a mobile dj a anvil, rubber mallett and 10 minutes and he'll have them both tore up!

Bottom line...either new or refurbed, the Vplus series offers incredible value

Bob

*** makes some decent power amps that I see used in all kinds of PA systems on the road, and we actually use one too. Another great value brand is SAMSON- I have 4 of them. Several ebay dealers sell them NEW, as well as MARS and Guitar Center....

Bob,
Good post. Even though I'm in the electrical/electronic engineering field, everyone is prone to make a mistake or two, especially in hurried situations. I have access to a label maker. I labelled every cable end with what it connects to. This is especially nice if you are using a cable modified for bridged-mono mode. Also label your backup cables and mark them "back up cable". I also do not throw or drag my cables... I try to protect the connector as much as possible. For high bend areas, wrap the cable with that plastic spiral stuff. Or if you make the cable yourself, as you complete assembly of the connector, use heatshrink tubing behind the connector. Bend the cable 90 deg., then apply heat to the shrink. This is great to form-fit cabling. Hope this helps.

Stephen Buckley
Turtletraxx Sound & Light