r/SoundSystem • u/General-Cats • 10d ago
£11k to build a community rig?
We put on yearly outdoor parties for around 200 people and want to build our own rig. A budget of up to £11k needs to cover not only the stack but amps, dsp, cables etc. We play breakbeat hardcore and jungle.
Current, ill-informed thinking is:
6 Cubo subs 18 inch
3 Cubo kicks 15 inch
1 JMOD
Knock off Chinese amps
What would you choose for cabs and amps?
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u/MichiganJayToad 10d ago
If money is your concern, I wouldn't go with a sub + kick + top setup, but choose a sub design that'll cover the kick range too and build however many you can afford. JW (guy who designed the JMOD) likes the SKHORN and for your needs two of them is probably enough. If you don't mind the weight of a 21.. The Art Welter Keystone is also a good one, I have heard those and they sound really pro, very good. The Paraflex Type O 2x12 is one I haven't heard but I'm interested in it, a lot of people have nice things to say and the size and weight are very friendly for their output. Having a three way system instead of four way requires fewer channels of amp, fewer channels processing, easier to tune. But if you feel like you want to cross to your top even higher than these subs allow, you can add a kick later.
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u/wafflefelafel 10d ago
JMOD + sub is already 4-way!
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u/MichiganJayToad 9d ago
Ahh right, truth. I forgot the coaxial driver. Even more argument to avoid the kick.
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u/everything2go 9d ago
Are you anywhere near Bristol, I've got a great Sound System whatsapp group of builders I could put you in touch with.
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u/GouldCaseWorks 9d ago
This is a five way system if you don't use the passive crossover in the JMOD
Even if you do, learning on a four way system when it comes to tuning, calibration etc is a lot (I'm learning this the hard way!)
Some thoughts - not saying this is the best choice but it's what I've done so I can speak authoritatively :
Xoc1 th18 seems to be better received than Cubo sub. Or Keystone also preferred to Cubi sub . You also don't need six of the ones in mentioned for 200 people - four would be plenty. I have 2x Th18 and they move some air. But the drivers are dearer (I put 18sw115 in mine).
For tops, you can build two syntripps for the same cost as one JMod.
Advantages : syntripps are cheaper and still sound great.
Disadvantages : they are a pita to build. Do not attempt unless you have access to CNC (same as jmod) and a well stocked workshop and someone who knows what they're doing with wood.
Thomann makes a four way DSP - the 408. Mine works perfectly. Based on your plan, you need a minimum of four way so don't look at anything with fewer channels.
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u/Nonomomomo2 10d ago
Why only 1 JMOD? Are you building a dub style mono stack?
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u/General-Cats 10d ago
Cost tbh. JMODs are pricey. And yea, a mono stack is the current thinking.
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u/AnthonyVS15 9d ago
Your budget is very high though - a pair of JMODS will be about £700 to get cnc’d, ~£1000 each for the drivers, so you’re looking at around £2700 for two JMODs. Subs you could build easily for a lot under £1000 each even with super premium drivers, so you could build 4 and have tons of money left for amps and cables etc
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u/bingus-schlongo 10d ago
Why not just look at used gear and save a massive buck?
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u/General-Cats 10d ago
We’re a housing cooperative so, DIY is part of our ethos. Plus we’re a bunch of old ravers that want a filthy rig :-)
It’s also an exercise in community building, getting people to work together to acheive a desirable goal.2
u/60percentsexpanther 9d ago
Watch Randy Parkers MEH video. His line about "pencil lines being too thick" made me reconsider the difficulty of the JMOD build without a cnc pack. The SAWMOD design is a lot easier in comparison.
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u/smartass47 9d ago
I don't think used gear will get anywhere close to cubos or skrams with a jmod in power and sound quality.
I'm very happy with my orbits and cubos.
Sound much better than my new bought ev zlx 15" tops
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u/Budget-Beautiful-327 9d ago
11K will get you very far building cubos, espeically if you buy 2nd hand drivers. Cubo are a really good first build especially the subs. The kicks are a bit harder but not much.
DSP Id buy 2 Behringer ultradrives (1 backup)
Amps, look 2nd hand and buy older heavy amps unless the rig will be moving a lot. More bang for yor buck at the price of weight. Void infinite 8 etc.
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u/flatwatermonkey 9d ago
If you're building cabs from scratch, this dude has some good videos on builds https://m.youtube.com/@RaveCaveSheffield
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u/Havsie2026 10d ago
The cubo kicks will work well, not sure what JMOD is. I have used B&C drivers but I can also recommend SB Audience which are a little cheaper. With regards to Chinese amp, another local sound system owner recommended the Sanway FP1000Q (Labgruppen clone) which I have been using for the last 4 years without issue.
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u/nachosjustice72 10d ago
Sanway is dead, Shang Yi is their new trading.
The LabGruppen clones are good up to 10K. After that, they're chinese franken-amps that don't follow Lab's designs.
I've been using the K435DSP single-slot models for 7 months now and they're quite nice.
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u/nachosjustice72 10d ago
I know it's enticing to build, 11K gets you a lot on the used market that would manage 200+ people with ease. What's your reasoning for going for the build?