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View Full Version : Sound system questions (adding subwoofers, good idea?)



MontanaMike
08-20-2025, 07:42 PM
I wasn't sure what forum to put this in but this one seems to have the most traffic so I'm putting it here. Moderators feel free to move it if appropriate.

For our fireworks sound, we've been using four really old Cerwin Vega speakers that used to be used in a mobile DJ service. They sounded pretty good for fireworks music but they are huge, heavy, clunky, and don't have very wide dispersion...and they really aren't meant for outdoor use. So we are replacing them for next year with some shiny new JBL speakers.

I hate to just toss out the big heavy Cerwin-Vegas, so I'm wondering if it might be possible to remove the 18" woofers from them and, using the wonders of A.I. for design and measurements, put them into some newly-built cabinets and use them as subs. Is there any point to using subs at a fireworks display? Should I go for one cabinet, or two or four? How much power should I use to drive them?

As it is now, we have two QSC 350w amplifiers, which we've been using to run the four speakers. I'm thinking I could connect all of the new JBLs to one of the amps, and then bridge the other amp to mono for the subs. I'd need to add a low-pass filter of course.

Our field area is about 150 wide by 300 feet deep, but I'm mainly concerned with getting good sound in the front half...the people who don't want to hear the tunes always sit in the back. Any ideas for any of this would be appreciated.

topshelfpyro
08-20-2025, 09:33 PM
FWIW I have a full QSC PA system and i was frankly amazed how much difference it made with the sub. 4- K12.2 heads and 1- KS118 sub. I'd like to add a 2nd but not in the budget anytime soon