Fender Passport

[El Barto]

Anyone have one of these? So far, I think that's my best option for my rock band...we need a PA system but we done have fat cash to spend (we're spending most of our money on recording equipment). Is the Passport 250 VERY LOUD with 250 watts? I'd assume that's all we need for practice/small gigs, considering my amp is only 100W. Should we go with this package, or is there something better for the same price? We also need a set of decent/good monitors...could the Passport speakers double as monitors? I have Sony MDR7506 headphones, and they're really good for the monitoring job, but hearing the songs through a good pair of speakers is helpful. Is it a yea or nay on the Passport?

 

[El Barto]

OK, I'm looking at these...Yamaha SE12 12" cabs...the price is right at $189 each, it says "Handles 200W program, 400W peaks." It's got the cone and the speaker...would this be good for me? I mean, 200W sounds like a LOT to me, cause like I said, my guitar amp is only 100W. Please tell me this would be perfect...as far as the power amp goes, I was looking at the Samson S700 at $399. Since the speakers handle up to 400W, I doubt I need any more than 700W, since the price jumps another $80 for the S1000, and I certainly don't need 1000W. When it says "peaks at 400W," does that mean I *get* 400W? Or is it not recommended to go that high. Would I be set if I bought this package? It would cost $779.97 all together, which is a decent price to me. Of course, you have to factor in tax...please tell me this setup will do me good!

 

[Gear_Junky]

Well, 200 Wt is not a lot "in PA Watts" And "only 100 Wt" in a guitar amp is a lot! I've never heard of a more powerful guitar amp, they just use more than one. But this setup would certainly work for rehearsals and occasional gigs, although your sound wouldn't have a lot of presence. I think there's a "rule" or rather a guideline of proportions between guitar, bass and PA power. Somebody help us out here, I don't remember the figures.

The s700 amp is also adequate for these speakers. Don't be confused, you're not getting "700 Wt" (unless you bridge it), but 350 Wt per speaker, which is about right, it's ok that it's more than the speakers' program rating, just make sure you don't clip (distort), those amps have knobs for that, too. You'll have good headroom this way. If you can, though, consider Yamaha Club IV 12" (don't remember the exact model)

400 Wt peak means that the speakers will handle occasional peaks or transients up to 400 Wt w/o distorting, things like drums and bass could produce these peaks. You "get" 200 Wt There, I think I got it all right. Enjoy.

 

[Gear_Junky]

El, if you're not intending to amplify anything but your vocals through the PA, then the Passport will work. It has a very limited mixer. The system allows for additional speakers (you could use their extension power package as monitors, but how much is that gonna run?)

The advice here is to save up and to get something nice, really practical. My band was in the same situation. I really pushed it with my credit, but I still have my Yamaha EMX2000 powered mixer (200 Wt / side) - a really versatile mixer with almost all the professional features. For speakers we first got a pair of JBL 2x15's with horns, I forget what they're called, but they're like in the ballpark of $300 a piece and are 450 Wt @ 4Ohm. Since then I got the Yamaha 15" floor monitors (those IV Club series, really nice, 500 Wt and inexpensive) and 18" subs from the same series. I also bought a Samson power amp. See where I'm going here? The Yamaha mixer let's you expand - add amps and speakers, etc. Or just get a plain mixer, power amp(s) and speakers, it'll be even more versatile. You'll never regret going this way.

 

[El Barto]

Well, EVENTUALLY (who knows when), we were going to get a Mackie board and probably a better setup, but right now we don't have that kind of money...But Musician's Friend has a package special with a Yamaha EMX620 powered mixer, two Yamaha SE10 speakers, 2 Nady mics, 2 stands, 2 speaker cables, and two mic cables for $750, but I'm really leaning towards the Passport. What do you think?

 

[Cliff]

For the love of Pete! get the Yamaha system. Hell for that price I might get one myself. The passport is a good idea but unfortunately the sound quality just doesn't cut it. The pre's on that mixer are no good whatsoever. The vocals sound so dead through it and 6.5in speakers just aren't big enough. If you have decent preamps to run everything through first it might sound okay but I wouldn't want to run everything through two preamps if I didn't have to. Here's my experience with the passport. I saw it on the internet, thought it was exactly what I needed for solo acoustic gigs. So I go into the music store and try it out and am less than impressed. The salesman says if I put a graphic EQ on my vocals it would help a lot. So I wander over to the amps just to look around and see a Peavey Ecoustic 112 amp. It has a mic channel so I plug my stuff in and my mind was made up to buy it before I played and sang one verse. It is a good sounding amp and I love it to this day but I think it sounded so much better on that occasion because I had just listened to that terrible passport. I realize a two channel amp isn't an option for you as you have a band but believe me the passport is not the way to go. The JBL EON system is kick-ass for an all in one small PA (can't vouch for the mic's though). It is expensive however. Yamaha generally makes pretty decent stuff though and it should be phenomonally better than the passport. Sorry Fender fans for bashing the thing so hard. It wasn't just based on my one experience though. I see guys and girls using the passport around town and constantly feel sorry for them knowing that they could sound so much better than they do on that lifeless system.

 

[Gear_Junky]

Fender fans or not, the Passports are not really for live bands, more for election campaigns or whatever.

The EMX 620 is definitely a better package, but you're certain to outgrow it quickly. Try to save up for the EMX 2000, you'll never regret it. I don't wanna pressure you, though, so if you don't want that, at least get the EMX 640 package, because the 620 only has one amp, it ain't even stereo.

When our band was young (now it's dead, though we first bought the EMX 640 (the first one that came out), then, withing like 30 days I saw the EMX 2000 and talked the salesperson at SamAsh into letting us upgrade (they only have 15 days exchange for Pro Audio stuff). I still love that mixer!

 

[El Barto]

Instead of wasting money on a mixer that I will replace in the future (I plan on getting a Mackie 1604), I might as well use what I have now...I am buying a Tascam 688, which has a very nice mixer on it. All I would need then is a power amp (correct?) and speakers. Can someone suggest a good set of PA speakers that can also double nicely as studio monitors? I don't wanna break the bank...I would rather spend $500-$800, but no more than $1000 for sure. How many watts should I go for? My guitar amp is 100W and I usually only play it at half volume, 75% at the most...we need the PA for practice mainly (with what we have no, you can't hear vocals for shit), but we would probably use it for smaller gigs.

 

[Gear_Junky]

Good thinking! Samson amps are a good deal dollar-per-watt wise. I have their S1000, which is 500 Wt per side @4Ohm. Since then they also made S1500 and S2000 - 750 and 1000 Wt per side respectively.

Most people will probably tell you that live speakers can't double as studio monitors. A couple of 2x15's with horns (actually they should all have horns except subs) is a good start, JBL and Yamaha have these, probably some other brands, too.

 

[El Barto]

Well, don't forget, I NEVER played my guitar amp at 10...in the 2 years or so I've owned it, I turned it up to 10 prolly 5 times just to hit a note...I always play at 5 and at the most 6 or 7. But 5 on the distortion channel and 4 on the clean is usually all I need. So this setup will be all that I need to get up and running?

 

[James HE]

If all you are amplifying is vocals then you could get away with 300 or 500 watts- if you have some good sounding speakers. If you are planning to expand, seperate componets is the way to go.

-jhe