Playing my HPMs outside

andy

Ok, besides rain and lightning.

I agreed to provide tunes for a buddy's outdoor 175-person wedding reception / party (they were married months ago; this is the fun part).

Anyway, I figured the HPM 100s would be more than sufficient, but I also thought that they would have to pushed a bit more in the open air. Then I spoke to a friend of mine here at work, and he cautioned me about driving speakers even at moderate volume for several hours outside. He also said they would sound a lot thinner, with a lot less bass, and we talked about how PA speakers are very efficient and designed for what I needed.

My just-married buddy's son has speakers he uses in his band, and I'm wondering if I should use those, or if I'll be fine using my HPMs.

My advice, if you have access to the PA speakers, use them. If they have stands for them, use those as well, or find a safe/sturdy way to get them up to around 6 feet off the ground, they will project out into the crowd much better, and the mids/uppers will not get lost in the crowd.

There is a danger of over-driving the HPM's. The tendency is to turn them up louder, trying to compensate for the lack of bass caused by using them out in the open, trying to get them to sound like they did in your living room. Not a good thing.

You don't mention what you are using for amplification, be careful here as well, don't go toasting your vintage gear as well. If you can't put together a suitable set up from what you have available to you, I would rent the stuff you need, or the complete system. It will cost less than fixing/replacing your HPM's and stereo gear, if it burns up.

My daughter just got married this past weekend.  We had a bluegrass band that played three sets for an indoor reception.  We used their PA system to plug in an iPod and a laptop computer running iTunes when they took breaks.

I'd never even consider using any of my home audio gear for an application like that.  That's what the pro gear is for.  Rent what you need to as mentioned by birddog, or use what the was offered by the son's band and adapt it to fit your needs.  You don't want to have any beer stains on your home audio gear!

You guys are making a lot of sense.

Thanks.

Any reason I can't use a home amp to drive PA speakers? They are extremely efficient right?

Again, I wouldn't suggest it, unless it is something beefy, and repairable/replaceable if something goes wrong. Even if the amp can handle it, there are going to be 175 people, most of them drinking, and anything can happen. The pro audio gear is made for rough service, and can handle the bumps and bangs that may occur during transport, set-up, and use.

Why risk your good gear? It's not terribly expensive to rent a PA that would be appropriate for the function, consider it a wedding present that every one will get to enjoy!

Besides, the PA speakers will more than likely have 1/4 inch jacks, Speakons, or Neutriks for connectors, so cabling would be an issue.

Birddog  - Thanks. Found a place that can provide powered speakers on stands and a mixer that will take my ipod jack. Price is reasonable - about $275, including delivery and pickup. And my buddy will likely pay ... it will still be a lot less than a DJ.

And my music will be better

robobxman: I think I'm speaking for lots of us out here by saying that you have made a very wise decision!

Yup, wise move in my opinion. $275 is cheap when you consider what repair and replacement would cost for your speakers and gear, and the PA will do a better job for an outside event anyhow. Now go have fun!


Originally Posted by robobxmanThen I spoke to a friend of mine here at work, and he cautioned me about driving speakers even at moderate volume for several hours outside. He also said they would sound a lot thinner, with a lot less bass, and we talked about how PA speakers are very efficient and designed for what I needed.

I disagree with your friend. I've used several different speakers outside and they always sound better than inside to me, especially the bass. And, what's there to be cautioned about?

Besides, it ain't like the HPM's are anything special, right?

I have used stereo equipment outside many times .Sounded great with no problem.Take the same care as you would inside and don't overdrive them more than their intended use.

This thread has to be printed out and framed.

It has to be the very first time in AK history Pioneer HPM-100's have been accused of not having enough Bass!!!

HPM-100's first version will handle a steady diet of 100 watts the second version is rated for 200 watts.

At 100 watts and 92.5db 1 watt 1 meter I seriously doubt people will have a hard time hearing them

Also people tend to get loud at things like wedding receptions BECAUSE the music is to loud.

I have photographed many many weddings from crammed together things on paddlewheel river boats to large outdoor events with over 300 people. And you setup your speakers near the dance area (if there is one set the volume so that someone can dance to it and let the rest of the reciption take what difts there way.

A wedding recieption is not a High school Kegger (aplogies to our own lovable Kegger) There will be people of all ages and I can tell you grandma doesn't want to try to scream over the music so aunt Mable can finally get that pie recipe.

As to your amp handling the hours long run. since I don't know what it is I can't comment.

Put the speakers on something solid like a HD folding table about 3 feet off the ground. Setup the amp and source on a seperate smaller table behind one of the speakers or somewhere out of the traffic path. And simply put a little ribbon fence 4 feet in front of them use something like 4' wood dowels and crepe paper twisted. Run this around the are where the gear is and you should be fine.

I have not used the HPM-100's outside yet, but I have used the JBL L100's outside for my kids parties.
I think they sound great outside. They also got plenty loud.

I did have to keep my eye on the 9090DB so the punks wouldn't fry it.

Next party will be a 9090DB driving the HPM's, and it's free preamp out feeding an 8080DB driving the JBL's.

It should be great.

FYI I have a 1/2 acre, so the back yard is pretty big. No problems with volume here. No alcohol yet at the kids parties.

That said, the people on the hill get a PA set up with large JBL's, and it cranks.
I bet mine sounds better, but theirs is way louder and is made to take the beating.

Rent one.

Rob

I have on nice days run HPM's and even AR3a's outside in the shade and turned the backside of the house into what Bose was going for. Have never hurt a thing doing this but do not go all that loud either. My wife had Yamaha NS somethings installed under the porach roof for me at our last house and they sounded wonderful and time has pasted and they still do I'm told.