Need Help with PA Systems

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HoldTheLinePunk

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Hey,

I'm Matt. Some guy I know told me about this forum and said this could help me. I am having a little trouble finding a PA System. I have a pretty massive mixer with 2 big ol speakers. I will have to give those back to my friend pretty soon so I need my own set. I don't think I need a PA System with all that power... because I don't have all that money mostly.

I was wondering if someone could suggest some good PA System Equipment to me that isn't too expensive.

What I'm looking for:
-Mixer with at least 4-Channel Inputs
-Volume knobs for channels
-A good amount of wattage (for garage practice only/no shows)

I've found the mini PA's but they are called portable. Would those do the job? Here are a few examples of the mini PA's.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7...4206865/g=live/search/detail/base_pid/630130/

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7...4206865/g=live/search/detail/base_pid/630542/

Thanks for reading and I hope you get back to me.

-Matt
 
Behringer Powered Mixer

the features are great for the insane price but QC not so great. IF you get it, buy the performance guarantee!

For speaker outs, it only has speakons so you have to find speakers that have that form factor or get special cables.

For speakers, I have cheapy Fenders but Yamaha Speaks would work just as well....
 
me and my bandmate just bought a mackie dfx12 passive mixer head (8 channel) and two mackie srm450 powered speakers. we are dropping about $2000 on it, but we got a good deal. it sounds great. descent onboard eq and effects. speakers very clear.
 
Well the Behringer Mixer looks great but its way over what I really need. I don't need 9 inputs. I said at least 4. And isn't 250w kinda overkill for just garage practice?

Yeah..... $2000...... When we play at clubs I hope they have that equipment, but there is no way in hell imma pay that much money for something I definately don't need.

The Behringer is a lot for a low price....... I'll take that into consideration... thank you

-Matt
 
you need to look at used stuff bro....your budget is sort of low, no offense intended.

I sure hope the clubs you play at have better equipmemt than what was just described for your sake.

Look for an older "head " style powered mixer, It will resemble a gtr head only w 4-8 inputs and some very basic eq on the front.
Yamaha made them, peavey, crate, kmd even has some that work ok.
Then go look for used Peavey SP series speakers..older ones even..you can do all I just described for less than 600.00 and this will be a totally kick ass rehearsal setup for your garage.You could even do small rooms w it, god knows Ive played out w alot less.
Hope I helped.


and yes....those 2 links you posted are also perfect for what your trying to accomplish.
 
HoldTheLinePunk said:
And isn't 250w kinda overkill for just garage practice?

Not if you want to hear clean vocals without distortion. 2 speakers @125W each is probably the minimum.
 
I'm in a similar situation which is why I'm posting on your thread. I recently bought a leem four chanel mixer/amp with speakers.
Go to the following klink and it's the third and final PA on the list:

http://www.leem.co.kr/english/proaudio/completeaudiosystem.htm

These are all over eBay in the UK and I paid £180 (US$325)? for mine , I'm unsure if you'll find them as easily in the states but I thought I'd give it a mention as this kit's been great for our needs. We've even done a couple of small pub gigs with it.

The mixer/amp's 100w and has 4 channels each having both xlr and 1/4" jack inputs. Each channel also has echo which is useable but I must say we now have a seperate echo/reverb unit so don't use the internal echo anymore.

The EQ isn't exactly flexible but like I say for practice and small gigs it's pretty good and it's cheap.
 
2nd hand gear is the way - don't buy a portable all-in-one system the cones are too small to make any decent noise.

i had a similar conundrum recently and i settled on a roland KC350 keyboard amp. four channels a big bitching speaker and no setting up and cables. stick it on a chair or a strong table and you're laughing. avoid peavey keyboard amps though if you have any desire for good fidelity, i am a pianist and have played all of the keyboard amps/PAs in a box around and the rolands are the bees and cheaper than buying a PA setup.

if you desire stereo/2 speakers get one of the smaller ones and you can slave one to make a combined pair off the back panel.
 
If you have no budget but need to get some sound done anyway, You might think of a portable system for now and use it for monitors, or spare horsepower, later. Fender has a portable 250 watt system that is pretty cool, unless you are going to go for low end. But even then, it'll hold its own for practice vocals and can later be a useable monitor setup as part of a bigger system. It's more useful for one or two - person small gigs, restaurants and such. $850 shipped.

Fender Passport PD 250

The next step up has lots of variety and manufacturers. I looked around for a long while and ended up springing for a Mackie system, with a CFX-12 mixer and (2) SRM450 powered cabs. It's a kickass system for the venues I hang around in and I can get pretty clean sound for the money. Best suited for small to medium rooms, but one one occasion I had the thing going full bore all day in midsummer doing acoustic acts outside on a college green for about a thousand people. It handled it OK, although it would have been nice to have some subwoofers lit. I wouldn't try it with a loud band; it's not enough system.
 
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