If no one remembers, I'd previously tried finding adequate speakers for apartment/dorm parties.  I'm back at it again.  Most parties consist of two at least 12" PA systems.  I have 2 of these: http://powerwerks.com/page/PW50-20.aspx  They're adequate, but have little midbass and no low-frequency ability.  Something like this: http://www.pitbullaudio.com/live-sound/speakers/powerwerks-pw15ps-100-watt-active-powered-15-pa-speaker-monitor-cabinet.html is more like what you see when you go out.  I've also seen double stacked 15" cabinets, but I'm not looking for something so huge. 

 

Questions:

Should I simply get a sub for the setup I currently have?  Should I only add the 15"?  Should I get both the 15" and a sub?  Could I get 2 of the 15" speakers and pair them with the two I have to achieve some more low end?

 

Now, if I buy a sub, I'd really like to build my own enclosure since these PA subs are SO expensive.  Is the process and box that much different from what I'd put in my car?  Most of the music here is rock, pop, rap, and trap with some dubstep occasionally.  I'm not really looking to spend more that $300/item for any additional pieces, but would like to keep it as cheap as possible.  Most of the parties are at least fifty people, but occasionally we point the speakers outside for some quad fun and the school is exploring outdoor parties.

To give you more of an idea, I have some pictures.

 

Tis not I.  My friend DJs.  Those are the double stacks.  They were great, but I also think they were over kill.  I'm not trying to make individual trips each time we move in just to get the speakers there.  Yesterday, a party was thrown with two MTX Thunder something-or-others on a receiver, but the receiver fried from heat.  Not sure I really care to have a receiver.

Time to get out the measurement ear and tell us what frequencies you need reinforced. Tons of options depending and YES I'd definitely build my own.

Really everything from kick drums to 808-type bass lines.  The kick drums aren't pronounced enough, and the heavy baselines of trap and rap aren't even attempted.  If I am going to build my own, is it any different than building for a car?  How so?  I'm not looking to building something much bigger than a PA cabinet with a single 18, but would be okay if I could pair a midbass driver and sub in the same cabinet.

You don't want midbass/sub in the "same" enclosure.<br /><br />Boxes are the same, tuning is different. You don't get the nice cabin gain in a house.<br /><br />What you are asking for somewhat requires both midbass and a sub. Once you need midbass you need crossovers. I'd suggest playing those speakers with one of your car sub setups first to see if you could live without the midbass.

I'm guessing this requires a receiver.  Put a plate amp on my car sub enclosure.  Tuning is lower, which means box is bigger....  How low would the tuning need to bee if I'm looking for decent output at 30 hz and reach into the low twenties.  I have a 15" Icon sealed in the car right now...

What do you mean by receiver? No xover's in a receiver.<br /><br />Going to be a big box if you tune into the 20's....and will have no midbass.

Maybe I can sacrifice those 20s... 30s should do.  You know the receiver that you plug all your surround sound speakers into so they're powered?  Pre-amp?

What do you currently have? You will definitely need amplification for whatever you add. Most likely a receiver is not the way to do that though.

As for 20's/30's doesn't matter. The question is can you live without the midbass. Connecting your car sub up with the speakers will let you know that.

I have two active double stacks of 3.5" speakers with 1" tweets.  The receiver would just provide the signal to the plate amp I can attach the sub.  Since there's not much rock played, and when there is it's just loud, I don't think I'll miss too much midbass if the sub can get up pretty high.  How would I go about testing my car's sub without an amp?

What is the source you are putting into the current active pa's?

ie, most likely you can just get a splitter and pump that into a plate amp for the sub. For testing purposes just plug it into your car amp and do it in car/near car. Goal is to just make sure you are okay without the kicks you requested.

The speakers plug directly into the wall and to an ipod/laptop via aux cord.  The only output are like microphone cables and like guitar amp cables...  I'm not sure how I would connect that to my car's sub.  Plate amps I don't believe come with those connections, and there's no speaker wire input on the current speakers.

adapters are made for those....how do you think DJ's connect their ipods? They are a whopping $3.

LOL.  So a splitter and a aux to 3/4" jack (or whatever they're called) adapter?  I guess I'd just figured their computes connected to their pre-amps or boards via aux.

_{some box ideas for home and car http://www.decware.com/newsite/HWK15.html}

the wicked one makes a nice table / dance platform

Not a chance I do a dance floor.  The simple one looks decent.  I'll look into it, thanks.

If you have to transport it, I'd design based on the vehicle i am using to transport.

And yes, tons of splitters available. It will drop your input sensitivity further but worst case you add some semblance of a line driver and you are fine.

Chances are it will be staying in the room, and I'll only be transporting it home.  I really like the first model on that webpage.  One sub only, of course.  Hopefully the mid-frequencies stay prominent enough.  I'll have to test it on my car sometime.  Think best buy has the splitters?