PA Speakers.net - The Site For Pro Audio Speakers
When it comes to Pro Audio speakers, mixers and amps, we're committed gear-heads. We spend hours on the road with our gear tweaking it, fixing it, and using it. We figured we should at least come up with great hints and tips for all those confused consumers out there who might waste money on junk or equipment that doesn't do what they need it to do, when they need it.
Whether your budget calls for a Peavey or a Mackie or JBL, we're here to help you make the most of your equipment. Just check out our list of articles on the right and get started!
Band Sizes or Venue Sizes:
Small band (3-4) players or small bar (12 tables):
If you are a small band or are playing in small bars, we suggest going with 2 active speakers each with a handling capacity of about 200 watts (or 400 watts total). Because of the small size, this should be plenty of power. We recommend the 200 watt 8-inch Behringer that runs $179 or the 200 watt 10-inch Behringer that runs about $229. The 10-inch option will be noticeably louder even though the wattage stays the same.
With a double speaker setup like this, you can have stereo sound or place one speaker facing the band for monitoring while you still have plenty of volume to fill the bar. Don't forget a small mixer like this Behringer with 2 mic input and 6 other inputs for a crazy low $59.
Total cost for a small band or a group in a small bar: $179 + $179 + $59 = $417 plus shipping and cable costs.
Medium band (4-5 players) or a medium sized venue (24 tables):
Moving up to a larger venue or working with a larger band means adjusting your setup to reach further and push more air. You'll definitely want 12 inch speakers to start off with and could possibly get by with a dual speaker setup. If you want ease of use and a small set up time, you'll also want to go active speakers so you don't have to purchase a power amp. Each speaker should be about 400 watts.
I would suggest a pair of these 400 watt Behringer units with 12 inch speakers for about $279 a pop or upgrading to the 400 watt Yamaha units with 12 inch speakers for $579 a piece. The Yamaha's will last longer and can be pushed harder, so if you are a regular or professional, go for the Yamaha. Additionally, you'll need a passive mixer to feed the active speakers. You can go with the mixer mentioned for the smaller bands or upgrade to something with more channels like the Behringer unit with effects and 6 mic inputs for $219.
Total cost for a medium band or a group in a meduim bar: $279 + $279 + $219 = $777 plus shipping and cable costs.