LaneyAH200 is a multipurpose power amplifier for live band and recording use. This is an actual review of the capabilities of this amplifier and highlights its best practices and limitations.
AH200 in Live Venue Use: Power Rating
LaneyAH200 is rated with 160 watts output. This is suitable for a live venue with at most 45 people.
Bear in mind that each person in the venue would absorb the sound coming out from your PA system, so if you are planning to buy a power amplifier you need to examine the number of your audience.
If you are using a power amplifier for a live venue more than 45 people (say for example 100 or more), you need to have a power amplifier with more than 160 watts (e.g. 300 watts or more).
Below is rough guideline in determining how much PA wattage you need:
Wattage requirement table for power amplifers
Since Laney AH200 is rated at 160 watts, it can handle:
Recommended number of audience for each specific application:
Speech only application = 160/0.75= 213 audience
Solo music performance or duets= 160/2.5 =64 audience
Live band performance = 160/3.5 = 45 audience
For example, you can use AH200 to power the live band performance in a home party with less than 45 audiences. The resulting loudness is sufficient for this number of audience.
5 Channels for Flexible Live band Inputs
AH200 has 5 channels with built in EQ/treble/bass and gain adjustments:
5 channels Laney AH200
In total, it can accommodate around 11 inputs. It is because each channel accepts two inputs + one aux. Connectivity details are as follows:
-Channel 1 accepts XLR mic input and another line input= you can connect your XLR output mic here and then plug another instrument to line input.
-Channel 1 and 2 has XLR mic inputs.
-Only channel 3 has hi-z inputs (for plugging high impedance instruments like passive bass guitar and electric guitars)
-Each channel has line inputs.
-You can connect another instrument through Aux inputs.
-CD players and computer line outputs can be connected to CD input of the amplifier.
For optimum results, you would only want to use 5 distinct inputs at most so that you can assign a unique EQ/gain setting for every instrument per channel. Supposing you would like to use Laney AH200 for a live acoustic band use. An optimal connectivity are as follows:
1.) Connect a dynamic microphone with XLR output (such as SM58) to channel 1 (for vocals). You can additionally utilize the Channel 1 line input for backup vocals.
2.) Connect one guitar (acoustic or electric) through an external DI box first then connect the DI output to the AH200 Channel 2 Microphone input. If you have a rhythm guitarist, you can plug it directly through Line input of channel 2 provided the guitar output is already amplified (e.g. an acoustic guitar with active pickup)
3.) Connect one bass guitar to channel 3 Hi-Z (high impedance input).
4.) Connect keyboards through Channel 4 line input.
5.) Connect the drum box (cajon) through Channel 5 line input.
6.) If you have additional strings (like a violin) you can pass it through AH 200 Aux input. You can adjust the incoming volume with Aux level.
Laney AH200 in action
Recommended Live Band mixing tips for Laney AH200
The sound coming out of AH200 is loud and crystal clear. I would recommend the following settings for live audio mixing:
General Effect: Rev+Ch or Room Reverb (ON) (refer to manual for detailed operation on effects)
Vocals:
Bass (35%), Treble (60%) (note:100% is full knob maximum setting)
FX level: 40%
Acoustic or Electric Guitars
Bass (25%), Treble( 50%) or if mid range is too much, you can switch treble down to 35%
FX level: 55%
Bass guitar
Bass (95%), Treble(0%) or if bass is too much lower down to 85% or 70%.
FX level: 0% (no effects)
Drum Box/Cajon
Bass (75%), Treble (45%) or if bass is too weak increase to 100% or make sure the microphone on the cajon is correctly placed.
FX level: 0%
The gain settings varied a lot, I recommend that once the effect settings above are done, you will start balancing the volumes by using the gain knob for each channel. Let the band play and then tweak the gain until everything sounds balanced.
Applications of Laney AH200 for Recording
Other capabilities of Laney AH200 when used in home studio applications:
1.) Using the amplifier to record guitars and bass:
a.) How to Record overdrive distortion guitars using an amp
b.) Record Clean Guitar using DI or Amplifier Cabinet Method
2.) Using the amplifier when extending the bass of a nearfield monitor:
a.) Adding Subwoofer to M-audio Studiophile BX5a using Laney AH200 as Sub
3.) Additionally you can use Laney AH-200 as a powered karaoke recording system. All you have to is to:
a.) Connect your computer line output (soundcard/audio interface) to AH-200 CD-input.
b.) The music source(minus-one) will be controlled by a media player in your computer but the sound would come out in AH-200.
c.) Connect a dynamic microphone to XLR input and set desired effects (recommended effect is only Rev+Ch)
d.) Adjust the gain of the vocalist microphone until it sounds balance with the karaoke music.
e.) To record the karaoke performance, you can connect the output of Laney AH-200 (using Record Out or Main out feature of the amplifier) back to computer audio interface.
f.) Using a recording software (e.g. Audacity) you can record the karaoke performance easily and well-mixed.
Known limitations
1.) There is only one hi-z input. So if you are plugging a lot of high impedance musical instrument like guitars and bass, you need to pass it first with a DI box for best results.
2.) There is no built-in overdrive or distortion effects. Although a lot of quality effects are included including reverb, delay and chorus.
3.) EQ setting is only two-way through treble and bass, it would have been nice if there are three (bass, mid and treble).
4.) The XLR microphone input does not seem to have a built-in phantom power if you are using condenser microphones. You need to use an external phantom power supply unit before you can use condenser microphones with this amp.
Summary and Recommendations
Nevertheless, Laney AH-200 is an excellent PA system for home live band and recording use at an affordable budget. The price is around $499 in Amazon
With that valuable piece of PA system, you can:
1.) Play and rehearse with your band live (its very loud enough for at most 45 people listening to your gig).
2.) Take advantage of quality built-in effects like reverb.
3.) Record the sound of your guitars, bass and keyboards by placing a microphone on it and using your DAW (Digital audio workstation).
4.) Amplify the output of CD players, mp3 players,karaoke system etc by connecting them to AH200.
You can read the manual here to read more about the features.
Content last updated on July 24, 2012