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First build . Got the skills just not the skills
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DeepSeedSounds View Drop Down
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Joined: 05 January 2026
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    Posted: 05 January 2026 at 8:57pm
Hello everyone 

First post , first time sound system builder. 

A pal sent me this way and said it would be a good place to dive in for some advice.

Im sure i will be badgering people with a bunch of different questions but first i will layout where im at and the goal !

Im currently a pretty experienced carpenter with a workshop and access to a CNC machine so the actual building of the thing i dont have any worries about. Im more looking for advice of what to build :-) Apart from a love of listening to music and how things sound i dont know much about sound system set ups.

Me and pal have been putting on these shows in a smallish above a pub venue .. probably about 50 - 80 cap . It starts early afternoon with kinda spiritual jazz , deep dubs, African rhythms and can slowly roll into more post punk dub groove to techno chuggers into the evening. We sometime have live acts from experimental electronics to bands. The current PA in the venue is shite and for the types of tunes played it would change the whole vibe if the sounds was amazing. The idea of building our own rig sounds great fun and would be cool to give us a bit of identity . 

So the brief is basically a rig that is not to big with a sound that is clean, clear and smooooth with a deep smooth bass sound. Something that still sounds lush at lower volumes but can still kick it out when people wanna party. 

Usually when we have a band playing we only mic up the vocals and kick drum so it would be good for that too.

It would be awesome to hear your thoughts ? What would you recommend? What set up comes to mind ? Where to start ? Any references worth reading or videos to watch etc ?  We are in no rush so we can chip away at a design and take our time working out the right set up and then do some late shifts in the workshop . 

Looking forward to hearing what you think and having a dig around the rest of the forum . 

Nice one 

Deep Seed Sounds 
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fat_brstd View Drop Down
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Points: 2184 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote fat_brstd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 January 2026 at 10:26pm
This kind of thing definitely calls for reflex boxes which are nice and easy to build and easy to get to sound good.

The most classic set up for a space like would be a couple of single 18" subs and then a pair of 12" + Horn tops which if you use half decent components would cover that size space no worries.

TBH with an audience size of 50-80 you could get away with 15" subs if you wanted to save space/make it easier to move around or just have a single 18" and put in the middle of the 2 tops.

I know that people will suggest all sorts of complicated builds such as bass horns or paraflex but there is absolutely no need for any of that sort of stuff in a space like you describe.

Good luck
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Lucasdude View Drop Down
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Joined: 16 March 2013
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Originally posted by fat_brstd fat_brstd wrote:

This kind of thing definitely calls for reflex boxes which are nice and easy to build and easy to get to sound good.

The most classic set up for a space like would be a couple of single 18" subs and then a pair of 12" + Horn tops which if you use half decent components would cover that size space no worries.

TBH with an audience size of 50-80 you could get away with 15" subs if you wanted to save space/make it easier to move around or just have a single 18" and put in the middle of the 2 tops.

I know that people will suggest all sorts of complicated builds such as bass horns or paraflex but there is absolutely no need for any of that sort of stuff in a space like you describe.

Good luck

+1 for this. I use a pair of 12"+1.4" reflex tops and either 2 or 4 18" single reflex subs depending on the venue for small indoor type things. If you want to stand out then maybe focus on some top quality drivers and amps rather than complex speaker designs. If you have the skills and facilities, I would say that making some cabinets with a  great looking real wood veneer like hifi speakers would be super. Maybe not for the subs as they would be at floor level and would likely be subject to a bit more knocking about, but you can buy some nice padded bags for the tops to keep them in good condition. These 12" drivers:-

https://voltloudspeakers.co.uk/speaker/rv3143-12inch/

Look spectacular and are also used in some high end studio monitors by PMC. The radial chassis can also be painted if required.
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Points: 8 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DeepSeedSounds Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 January 2026 at 10:31am
Thanks so much for quick replies ! it cool hearing what path to take .

 I like the sound of making some good looking top boxes. It would be cool to be able to play to a 150 venue and still have a lush sound with some deep smooth bass and also keep it down for a smaller audience. would 12inch divers be up for this ? My knowledge of drivers and amp and all this is very small … i’m more or a vinyl and music guy

What plans are good for this type of rig ? Those volt drivers look pretty epic . I can imagine would be pricey .. but the sound is key in this set up .

thanks again for your replies so far 
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I do think naming a budget is key for good advice. Also; which pa sucks now and why?  
is the room treated acoustically? a modernist room with concrete ceiling and floors and no reverberation damping will make even the best system sound awfull. 

you can make a simple reflex system look sexy with some unfinished wood, polish or staining and a bright grill so thats the least of your issues. 
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DeepSeedSounds View Drop Down
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Points: 8 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DeepSeedSounds Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 January 2026 at 1:41pm
Well the current PA is old a battered and sounds like shit haha lacking bass and kinda tiny . The room is upstairs in a pub and all the external windows get closed off with sound insulation what defiantly helps the sound. 

As far as budget goes .. i would say £1.5k to £2.5k .. More than happy to track down second hand amps and stuff if thats a good route to go down ?
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Points: 986 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lucasdude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 January 2026 at 5:17pm
Tbh, on your budget and for a smallish room above a pub a pretty simple second hand system would probably be your best bet. Something like:-


would do fine.. As someone else said, you can easily paint the cabs and grills to make an aesthetic impact. 


Edited by Lucasdude - 06 January 2026 at 5:18pm
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DeepSeedSounds View Drop Down
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Points: 8 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DeepSeedSounds Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 January 2026 at 6:27pm
Oh yeah that looks awesome . My main thing is a great stand out sound . I could always jazz up a secondhand system …. i did like the idea of building my own though 
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Points: 986 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lucasdude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 January 2026 at 6:35pm
That is a great system for that sort of money. Super sound quality. Those Crown amps are a bit on the heavy side compared to modern lightweight alternatives, but are really high quality. That will easily cover 100-150 people. A nice and easy way to add a little visual drama is to remove the grills and drivers and then paint the baffle in a contrasting colour. I have a small system in my van consisting of 2x 12" reflex cabs and 2x EV ZX1s facing out when I open the tailgate. The cabs are black with red baffles which look great through the black grills. 
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Points: 8 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DeepSeedSounds Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 January 2026 at 6:47pm
oh that sounds cool you got a photo ?
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Points: 986 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lucasdude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 January 2026 at 6:59pm
Sorry about the image quality. It's not recent, and the edges of the subs are black now instead of red but you get the idea!
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