Power amp for PA or PA mixer?

[ella]

I need some help. Been searching ont he site fo a while and cant seem to find anything.

What is better and all inclusive PA system or a mixer, power amp, and speakers?

I need only 5 inputs (Keyboards run from a laptop with softsynths and a soft mixer, Electric guitar (DI'd with a J-station, I know I know thats gonna sound like crap but it works for me, Bass guitar also DI'd with a J-station, 2 mics sm58's.)

Then I can control all the sound and send out to the clubs PA.

My venues will range in size but I doubt I will need more the 500 watts no matter what.

If you could give me some ideas on what to look for brands and such like what kind of PA system would be good, or if its the piece meal type set up better what kind of power amp, speakers and such.

I have about 1000 to spend on it all Thanks for your help

 

[Phyl]

I'll just mention that going the 'all in one route' may be the cheapest solution in the short term, but the most limiting in the long term.

You may only need five inputs now, but what about later, when you're current project folds and something new comes up that requires more flexibility.

I think getting a separate mixer, amp, and speakers would be a better idea because you can upgrade separate pieces of your chain as your venues and/or clientene change.

 

[ella]

yep I was thinking along those lines myself What are some good power amp brands to look at knowing that I would need speakers and a power amp and a mixer for about 1000 Almost impossible but any ideas would be great

Thanks for the help BTW

 

[Phyl]

I realy don't have any good recommendations, not cheap ones anyway...

I think we were using crown amps and peavey or yamaha cabs when I played live. We used a Mackie mixer. I don't know shit about prices.

 

[ella]

No worries that helps. I saw crown online and they werent that expensive I will audition some this evening

Thanks again

If anybody else has any recommendation I would really appreciate it

 

[TexRoadkill]

Crown, QSC or Hafler are all pretty good brands. Mackie also makes power amps now but I've never used them.

 

[littledog]

Being a litle older than most, I like reasonably lightweight amps, so I would look for a used QSC-PLX series - maybe you can find a failry powerful one for $500-600. An old Carver or Stewart might be other possibilities.

The problem with an all-in-one unit, is some part of it will eventually break down, making the whole unit useless or unavailable if you have to take it somewhere to be fixed. With seperates, if your reverb box breaks (for instance), you just need to get another reverb box. You don't lose the use of your whole mixer and power amp while you're getting the reverb fixed.

And most of those all-in-one units are just flat out not as good in terms of sound and build quality/reliability as what you can get for just a bit more bread in seperates. There may be an exception or two, but certainly not at the cheaper price points.