Small (portable?) PA Systems

Subject: RE: Small (portable?) PA Sytems
From: treewind
Date: 25 Mar 04 - 10:47 AM

I'd have thought most computer speakers weren't powerful enough for performing PA. Whatever power rating they claim, you should divide that by at least 10 for a realistic figure.

Computer speakers are good value if you're travelling and want an instant hotel-room sound system based on a minidisc, personal CD or MP3 player. Just plug speaker jack into headphone socket and away you go!

Fender passport : I used one a few years ago now, and all I can say is you should try one out and listen to it carefully. It's a clever idea, but I wasn't hugely impressed by the sound - the speakers especially are a bit of a compromise to make them portable. The new one may be better, for all I know.

Anahata

Subject: RE: Small (portable?) PA Sytems
From: mooman
Date: 25 Mar 04 - 09:40 AM

I used to use a small PA but have now changed to a setup similar to Hamish's (except I use Laney 65W acoustic combos) boosted, if necessary with a Behringer 60W bass combo. One Laney alone (it has a XLR vocal channel) filled a reasonable-sized hall a couple of weeks ago for Patricia and myself (vocal and guitar) doing some jazz numbers.

The AERs are ace (as are Ashdown amps) and tiny (I would love to use them) but quite pricey.

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: Small (portable?) PA Sytems
From: GUEST, Hamish, no cookie
Date: 25 Mar 04 - 09:08 AM

I like my wee AERs. I have two 60w: but for solo guitar + vox one can work fine with no extra bits and pieces. For bigger combos I can add a mini Behringer mixer and the second AER. And the Behringer's neat: effects loop 'n' all.

Subject: RE: Small (portable?) PA Sytems
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 25 Mar 04 - 07:27 AM

Dick - yes I have - I use a pair for foldback and they're fine. They're just about OK for a portable PA, but as they're mains (230v over here) powered, I have to use an inverter to run them from a 12v battery. I usually use a Car booster amplifier (40w RMS per channel) with a small battery powered mixer.

Subject: RE: Small (portable?) PA Sytems
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 25 Mar 04 - 05:58 AM

A query-
Has anyone tried using self-powered computer speakers for portable amplification? Price, certainly, is right.

Subject: RE: Small (portable?) PA Sytems
From: Lanfranc
Date: 25 Mar 04 - 05:24 AM

I, too, use the Peavey Escort, with a separate 4-channel powered mixer it copes with guitar, electric fiddle, mandolin, melodeons and two voice channels. Good value for money, robust construction and reasonable power make it adequate for most gigs IMHO. Plus it's easy to shift around and fits in the car boot (trunk). We use Peavey, Turner-Conrec and Shure mics, Shadow and Fishman DIs.

In my youth we got away with a couple of Vox AC30s and a 20w Linear Concord PA with Reslo ribbon mics. Perhaps audiences were quieter then!

Alan

Subject: RE: Small (portable?) PA Sytems
From: Damon
Date: 25 Mar 04 - 05:00 AM

Hello DW

I've been using the Peavey Escort(2000) system for 18 months or so, and for the money it's good value.

In our set-up we just have vocals through it, but it's up against four loud 15 year olds on guitars, bass and drums and copes fine!

I've tried my acoustic through it, but I use a cheap soundhole type of pick-up so the results aren't great. With a good pick-up it should be ok.

damon

Subject: Small (portable?) PA Sytems
From: dwditty
Date: 25 Mar 04 - 12:49 AM

A search of the forum shows this topic may not have been discussed for a while. and the landscape has changed considerably. I generally perform solo - vocal mic, acoustic w/fishman pickup, occasionally an added guitar mic. There seem to be several choices for small and somewhat portable PA's (something a solo performer can lug and set up easily), but the reviews of these products make it impossible to tell if they are any good as they run from terrible to wonderful. For example, Peavey has the Escort, Fender the Passport Series (considering the PD-250 - the "enhanced" version of the original). Does anyone have any experience/advice with these type of systems. Or, are there better choices in the $500-1000 (US) range? Thanks.

DW