PA Systems - Recommends?

[fibredrive]

hi all,

Looking for some advice from the users here.

Our company is currently looking to purchase a small PA system for use in some of our events. These events are normally held outdoors and accomodates about 200 people. We would play music through the speakers from a laptop or ipod. Normally only 1 MC for such occasions. We also have seminars in various small venues and require a PA system for the same.

I have been recommended the Yamaha Stagepass 300 System which comes with a mixer. I did some research and also found the Fender Passport 300 and various recommendations for JBL, Peavey, Wharfedale and of course, Mackie. Budget wise, we hope to go below $1.2k for the PA system alone as we still have to budget for mics, cables, stands etc.

If you have any recommendations or experience with the above systems, i am all ears! thanks in advance!

cheers

 

[wei]

I own a Fender Passport Deluxe PD-150. The Deluxe version has higher quality speakers. For outdoors and 200pax, you should be looking at the 250W version. I've seen the P-250 (not Deluxe) at Swee Lee for $1.3k, but that was 2+ years ago.

The nice thing about the Fender is that it is simply easy to transport and easy to use. I've used the Yamaha Stagepas 300 before too. Also quite good sound-wise. Ease-of-use wise, Fender still wins. The other brands, can't comment cos never used before.

 

[fibredrive]

Thanks for the reply. I went out and bought the Stagepass afterall given that i was contrained by budget. will test it out tomorrow and hope all goes well! thanks!

 

[soft]

Hee..hee.. the next thing you need would be a wireless microphone?

 

[fibredrive]

hey james, yep you got that right!

i ended up purchasing very affordable Martin Roland wireless mics (pair) at Hung Bros. I figured we don't need any fancy stuff since its probably used twice a year at most, plus budget was very tight! managed to get the stagepass, wireless mics and speaker stands for about $1k. boss is happy...testing the system this wed. hope it works fine...

 

[sthapitb]

Hi, please let me know your feedback after you have tested Yamaha Stagepas 300. I am also contemplating buying this PA system for my home use. Basically i want to setup a simple, portable and affordable system at home so that i can play my acoustic guitar and sing when i have friends at home. I have not tried the system extensively so i don't know how the sound quality, especially the vocal depth/quality from Stagepas. This is my primary concern because the stagepas mixer only has reverb i believe and not other effects for vocal. The question now i have is can i use an external voice effect together with the stagepas? this could be a small voice processor where i plug in my mic and the output from the voice effect then goes into the stagepass mixer. Is this combination possible? Is it even possible to use a small mixer with effects together with the stagepas mixer? any recommendations? Again my main concern with the stagepas is its limitations with the voice effects. Can you please suggest any other PA system solution if stagepas isn't the right one for me? for example a customized solution with Mixers and Active Speakers?

Appreciate your response and looking forward to having a good discussion here.

Sthapit

 

[sthapitb]

Hi, please let me know your feedback after you have tested Yamaha Stagepas 300. I am also contemplating buying this PA system for my home use. Basically i want to setup a simple, portable and affordable system at home so that i can play my acoustic guitar and sing when i have friends at home. I have not tried the system extensively so i don't know how the sound quality, especially the vocal depth/quality from Stagepas. This is my primary concern because the stagepas mixer only has reverb i believe and not other effects for vocal. The question now i have is can i use an external voice effect together with the stagepas? this could be a small voice processor where i plug in my mic and the output from the voice effect then goes into the stagepass mixer. Is this combination possible? Is it even possible to use a small mixer with effects together with the stagepas mixer? any recommendations? Again my main concern with the stagepas is its limitations with the voice effects. Can you please suggest any other PA system solution if stagepas isn't the right one for me? for example a customized solution with Mixers and Active Speakers?

Appreciate your response and looking forward to having a good discussion here.

Sthapit

 

[ankursamtaney]

hi sthapitb

my disclaimers first: i haven't personally used either the fender passport, or peavey's equivalent or the yamaha stagepas, but have seen them and heard them being used.

if all you want is a good PA system for home only, i sincere suggestion would be to go with 2 active speakers (8" or 10" should be enough. go for 12" if you think you make carry them out too. if you're a DJ or need to cater to larger crowds, then 15" may be the way to). and pick up a simple mixer with 2 channels (or however many you need) and onboard FX. not sure how pro you are, and whether you'd want an external FX processor, but thats something only you can decide for yourself.

I tend to prefer such custom-made kits, if you will, as oppsoed to those packaged systems which are very un-customizable, un-upgradeable and inflexible. Lastly, I'd choose active speakers w/ passive mixer anyday over active mixer w/ passive speakers. you can use active speakers for a zillion other things - plug in your laptop, ur ipod, ur guitar processor, ur electronic drum kit without compulsorily requiring your mixer to power up the speaker. but that's just my preference.

from all reviews i keep reading up online, i reckon THESE (or equivalent ones by other brands) might serve your purpose well.

 

[sthapitb]

hi ankursamtaney,

Thanks a lot for your post. Although i haven't shopped for it yet, but yes most likely i shall be going for the passive mixer and Active speaker combination as you suggested.

currently i am thinking of Wharfdale titan 8 speakers and Mackie ProFx8 mixer with onboard effects. And i will at some point also add in the TC Helicon Harmony G -EX Voice Harmony external effect to my package. I'm planning to get this purchased and setup sometime in december.

thanks for your response once again.
B