Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "emf" <liberatusvirus@y...> wrote:
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "supernovanexus" 
> <supernovanexus@y...> wrote:
> > One more quick thing. What about the 50 watt sub and 20 watt 
> > sattelite speakers on the yamaha monitoring system. Are the 20w 
> > sattelite speakers worth it at all...seems a tad bit underpowered 
> to 
> > me for $300. The next one up is just too high for me.
> 
> Zack,
> 
> Dan, aka Cheakster, bought Yamaha's 50 watt version to use with his 
> new DTXtreme kit, but returned it in favor of the larger one. I 
> haven't heard from him for a week or so, but he promised a review 
of 
> both on this board. He's an edrum novice, but his observations will 
> be helpful if he can get them together for us. It seems to me, 
> without having a shred of experience with either Yamaha monitor, 
that 
> if the lesser of the two isn't satisfactory, then the other one 
won't 
> be either. But that's just a guess--based on the naked specs--and 
> it's by no means a certainty that if Dan didn't like his, you, or 
> anyone else, would agree. 
> 
> By the way, Behringer traditionally has had a bad reputation for 
> quality control and patent infringement (two traits that may 
explain 
> its low prices). I've heard the suggestion that quality control has 
> improved, though many people still complain of products that don't 
> work out of the box or break down shortly thereafter. It still 
seems 
> to be hit or miss with that company. Those who weather the storm, 
or 
> don't face it at all, often seem to like the sound of the Behringer 
> amps. A second-hand keyboard amp from a reputable company is a 
safer 
> bet than a mongrel system that no one can safely recommend. Another 
> possible problem is that someone may get a amplification that seems 
> okay to his ears, only to find out later, in comparison with 
> something else, that the frequency response isn't so good. If you 
> can, try different things, and if you can't, buy something that 
> experienced e-drummers who know what's at stake tend to like.
> 
> Ed

I have only heard the 50W version but the satellites are just 
aweful!  Maybe my sound engineer's ears are more sensitive to this 
the a drummer that may be use to bashing cymbals 3' from his ears all 
day but they are just plain HARSH! (I almost typed that in all CAPS 
for enphasis but that would have been too obvoxious, though that 
would have been the point ;)  I hadn't heard them turned them up 
really at all, since I'm such a poor player I usually try to play 
with headphones or very softly at the store (the clacks on the pads 
are enough for most to hear how bad I must be playing ;)  But the 
other day some other guy was bashing on them and he was trying to 
play double bass so had the HH's open and they were just peircing... 
I thought man those HH's are brutal!  Then he started in on the 
cymbals, I walked out the room and thought well maybe it's just those 
speakers!  I also don't like the idea of the satellites being 
so "directional", for a lack of a better word.  As you say you want 
to play in cafe's and such I would think if you were using them for 
the "audience" to hear then you would not be hearing them very 
well... I guess you could sit them behind you are do like RATM's 
drummer at Lalapoloza 92'?(sp) and turn backwards and put up truck 
mirrors to see behind you.

I myself am torn between getting some nice studio monitors (I could 
use them for the "real" function anyway) or the keyboard amp... I 
like the keyboard amp vs. monitors for the extra inputs it provides 
and ease of use to add vocals or even bass (all kept at low 
volumes... that is the point of E-Drums right?)

If you can't get your module with you to the store maybe see if they 
have a decent drum machine and hook it up to a few options and see 
how they sound.  You will at least understand why some options won't 
work as well as others.

Good luck and what do peeps think about studio monitors... like 
Behringer Truth's (minus the reputation, I know 3 owners that love 
them) or Even't 20/20 (self powered) I know those are much better and 
not in the same price class but I might be able to snatch some up for 
a decent deal (a trade! for some junk!)

Gilligan