FRFR Alto TS112a or TS115a???

[Sixstring]

Picked up a TS112A. I've tried the Mackie HD1221, and although there IS a difference between the two (The alto has a bit more high end 'clankiness' to it, can easily dial it out though), the Alto just wins in terms of the budget-to-quality ratio. You are paying approx. 500$ more for a MINOR difference in the Mackie. Don't fall into the hype though, the Alto IS budget, you CAN hear a difference, but I can assure you that your audiences won't

Very cool! are you in the position to make a good demo vid?

[TinMan]

I just picked up a pair of the TS112A's and I can say a few things on the subject. I spent a couple hours at the GC and went through Mackie, Yamaha, QSC and JBL. The build quality is pretty good in comparison. I like that the weight is low and they are very portable. As far as sound I will say the QSC's were the best I heard that day the JBL's were a close second. I would say that the Alto's were as good or better than the Mackie's. The Alto's were absolutely worth the money I spent ($600/pair) and I am happy with my purchase. At no point, even with as much as I liked the QSC's did I ever think that they were worth the extra $1200.00 I would have had to spend for a pair of those. After a few days of doing some EQ'ing to my patches I have been able to get some really great tone from the Alto's. The Alto's are extremely flat response maybe slightly more mid range which I think makes it more versatile for guitar/AXE FX applications. I A/B'ed it with a Randall 4/12 Kirk Hammett edition cab and like the ALTO's better they sounded fuller to me. Which is kinda what I wanted, more portable but a fuller sound. I would recommend these speakers as a good/better than average set of speakers that are worth the money.

[jzacharia]

Very cool! are you in the position to make a good demo vid?

Not at the moment my PC is currently being repaired. I can record via my iPhone and see if any of my friends are willing to let me use their PC for a little bit though

[Trainwreck1446]

I work at a fairly large music store... And before I bought my FRFR setup, I tried EVERYTHING! But the Alto's were by far the worst. They sounded awful. I ended up buying 2 K12's because the cost/quality ratio was perfect. But yeah... The Alto are terrible, as are Behringer, Harbinger, also.

[jyflorida]

FWIW, I just had a month-old QSC K12 die on me today. Absolutely no sound out of the 12" speaker, just the tweeter. I'll be calling Musician's Friend shortly to get an RMA, after I decide on what to replace it with.

[MatthewLeisher]

Sorry to necro this threat, but I just got an Alto TS115a and I think it sounds great. I guess some people just like paying for a name.

[Sixstring]

Sorry to necro this threat, but I just got an Alto TS115a and I think it sounds great. I guess some people just like paying for a name.

Have you compared it to anything else?

[scruffydoo]

Sorry to necro this threat, but I just got an Alto TS115a and I think it sounds great. I guess some people just like paying for a name.

I agree, very impressed with my 115, so cheap might get another.

[Flight316]

Ok guys just my opion here. I think it all depends on what your using them for? If your like me and have 2 FRFR speakers for home practice and playing live? Then the Altos are a no brainer! I have 2 TS115a,s and they are perfect for practice and playing live. Why I say this is because playing at home for practice your most likely not going to be blairing really loud and IMO you dont really need to spend 1400.00 for a pair of practice speakers but thats my opion? Playing live is the same reasoning, why? because, whats so great about the axe fx is the fact that playing live we can go direct to FOH and let all its awesomeness come thru the house and sound right as 99.9% of house systems dont use lower end gear? For me anyways I use my FRFR speakers for nothing more than monitoring my sound volume to be able to hear myself. The biggest reason I stand by this point of view is because all the places I have played here in the states,,both big and small it has always been the same!!! You are never! going to be able to hear your guitar on stage with that recording quality sound that a K12 will give you compared to what your audience hears period. Dont get me wrong, if your playing major arenas or TV or touring with a very well signed band, then yes Ive seen where sometimes, it does make a difference such as ear monitors ect. As far as you using powered monitors for your PA for your band then that as well is a no brainer! You must spend the extra money to have the best and better quality speakers that you can afford? I even saw Scott Peterson make a comment on this very subject. He uses just one monitor on stage just so he can hear himself and feels good about it knowing that his audience hears what matters? Your audience does not hear your stage sound and never will.....so I guess what Iam trying to say is why are alot of us guitarist soooo worried about having a flawless monitor sound on stage? Ive been playing almost 30 + years and Ive yet to have a great monitor mix or guitar mix on stage LOL!!! Theres nothing wrong with getting the Altos for the axe fx!!! My 2 TS115a,s are perfect for me and has saved me alot of money to buy cables,strings,straps, whatever. But this is just my opion! Oh... and by the way, Alto,s Parent Co, who owns them is the same Parent Co. who also owns Akai,,and Alessis. Not so low end!!

[harsh]

Ok guys just my opion here. I think it all depends on what your using them for? If your like me and have 2 FRFR speakers for home practice and playing live? Then the Altos are a no brainer! I have 2 TS115a,s and they are perfect for practice and playing live. Why I say this is because playing at home for practice your most likely not going to be blairing really loud and IMO you dont really need to spend 1400.00 for a pair of practice speakers but thats my opion? Playing live is the same reasoning, why? because, whats so great about the axe fx is the fact that playing live we can go direct to FOH and let all its awesomeness come thru the house and sound right as 99.9% of house systems dont use lower end gear? For me anyways I use my FRFR speakers for nothing more than monitoring my sound volume to be able to hear myself. The biggest reason I stand by this point of view is because all the places I have played here in the states,,both big and small it has always been the same!!! You are never! going to be able to hear your guitar on stage with that recording quality sound that a K12 will give you compared to what your audience hears period. Dont get me wrong, if your playing major arenas or TV or touring with a very well signed band, then yes Ive seen where sometimes, it does make a difference such as ear monitors ect. As far as you using powered monitors for your PA for your band then that as well is a no brainer! You must spend the extra money to have the best and better quality speakers that you can afford? I even saw Scott Peterson make a comment on this very subject. He uses just one monitor on stage just so he can hear himself and feels good about it knowing that his audience hears what matters? Your audience does not hear your stage sound and never will.....so I guess what Iam trying to say is why are alot of us guitarist soooo worried about having a flawless monitor sound on stage? Ive been playing almost 30 + years and Ive yet to have a great monitor mix or guitar mix on stage LOL!!! Theres nothing wrong with getting the Altos for the axe fx!!! My 2 TS115a,s are perfect for me and has saved me alot of money to buy cables,strings,straps, whatever. But this is just my opion! Oh... and by the way, Alto,s Parent Co, who owns them is the same Parent Co. who also owns Akai,,and Alessis. Not so low end!!

+1. What you hear on stage has no bearing on what the audience hears. I went to the store to buy the Yamaha DXR speakers, but went for the Alto 115's instead. I also auditioned a bunch of Mackies, Yamaha DSR's, and others that I cant remember. The money I saved went towards buying a new wireless and Adam studio monitors, which I use at my home studio, and to set my tones - speakers dont get flatter than them. I dont have to worry about spilling beer on my Altos, and the number of people who've complimented me on my live tone is testament to the fact that I made the right choice.