Open Knowledge - Portable speakers?

The Blueant seems a little lightweight for your needs, though if your group is quiet it might suffice. Options (not necessarily cheapest store.. try amazon) The Fender models (especially the PD-150) are popular, but a wireless mic would need to be purchased separately.

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That. Is creepy. I can actually recommend Sweetwater. They're not super-cheap, but the customer service is great, and they won't try to rip you off. I just linked Guitar Center 'cause it's easier to go in and take a look. (And I buy from them too.)

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We must be right.

This is what happens when he gets multiple audio gearheads on his flist.

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Thanks!

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50-100 people is actually a fairly large audience. (Congratulations!) That's going to need a little more power. Look at portable PAs. Fender makes some nice ones.

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Thanks! Looks like PD-150 would be a good option.

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I don't think the PD-150 can be battery-powered, though. Also, it's a little weak sounding. You don't want to blow the audience away with volume, but the PD-150 is going to have to work pretty hard to fill the bigger rooms (and will not be usable for a large auditorium or, heaven forbid, outdoors).

If it is possible to go with AC power, then your options are a little better -- the Fenders, certainly (but, maybe the size up from the PD-150), since they're one of the few decent-quality products that are made with your kind of use in mind. The Yamaha "Stagepas" is another you should check out (the 300 model is two speakers and the 250 is a single speaker (which is probably all you need, assuming it's powerful enough; and that'll be more convenient). Peaveys are a good alternative to the smaller Fenders, too.

If it has to be able to be battery-powered, suddenly the options are a lot worse. Most of the ones I see online are Radio Shack level garbage. You'll sound like you're in a tin can, or worse. The Samson over at Sweetwater claims to be battery powered -- but it doesn't seem to have much in the way of EQ options (you pretty much *have* to have EQ dials or a mixer as part of the speaker or the PA), and I've found Samsons to be a LOT weaker than their advertised power.

For wireless, yeah, you'll need to get a separate set-up. The budget EVs and Shures are still good mics (as are Peaveys, for cheap microphones); I really wouldn't get anything else, unless you wanted to get something super-fancy.

I'd suggest just heading over to the local Guitar Center and Sam Ash stores, are trying out what they've got, until the twentysomething guitardorks get sick of helping you. Then, just order it from www.musiciansfriend.com or americanmusicalsupply.com (which lets you pay in 3 installments -- good for poor musos like me), since the prices are usually better than the stores. Or, Sweetwater -- they occasionally give good advice over the phone (they're the only mail order place with remotely knowledgeable staff). Or craigslist, best of all. You may also want to check if there's a Music-Go-Round store in your area -- they've got a lot of good gear (new and used) that the bigger chains don't seem to have.

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Many thanks! This is a big help. What would you recommend if I were to go with a more modular system? (Not necessarily optimized for portability, but for cost and quality)?

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Hmm, oh my, I'm not entirely sure what you mean by modular (it's hard to believe I work with computers, or at least I do for the moment). Do you mean a small self-contained kind of unit? That is sort of what I'd pictured. Basically, the essentials would be a speaker stand, a microphone, a speaker, and a mixer (which is, ideally, part of the speaker) all on wheels or a mini-dolly. (And that idea about the portable battery is a pretty good one, since I'd imagine that the majority of places you'd go would have outlets -- but there'd be the stray place that doesn't.)

The Yamaha Stagepas 250 (which appears to be simply half of the Stagepas 500) seems to fit the bill. I'd definitely recommend checking it out at a music store (they usually have 'em) first, and seeing how it works. I've tested it in stores, and it seemed ok -- but I've never used it in a performance situation, so I can't say for sure. The smaller Fender Passports, the other main option, that I've seen/heard used live (and in stores) are a bit underpowered, to me. (Since you'd really need at least 200-250 watts of power to make a voice amplify nicely, your portable PA options are pretty limited.) The bigger one would probably work (the Passport 250) -- and it does have the advantage of being designed for uses just like yours; just not sure if it's worth the expense (it looks kinda space-agey, though, at least as clunky musical equipment goes).

The other way to go is to get a powered speaker (like a JBL EON of any size, even the small 10" speaker one should be powerful enough; Mackie, Yorkville, and good ol' Peavey -- cheap and sturdy -- make 'em). But, you'll also have to get a mixer separately. And, it tends to be a bit inconvenient to set it up in that way (fiddling with dials, etc, in order to get a decent sound, since mixers tend to be haunted -- not the best first impression to make). On the other end of things, if ever money were no object, is the Bose L-1 -- it sounds pretty good, and is very eye-catching (people will say, "he's got a cool PA system; count me in!")

My other best advice is: no matter what kind of amplification you get, don't skimp on the microphone. A good mic makes up for a lot. And, another thing I thought of -- if you get speaker stands (which you'll have to -- unless you get the Fender Passport, which has its own special stands, ooh la la), don't buy Pro-Line; all speaker stands fall apart, but Pro-Lines tend not to make it a week.

Dang, I can talk about musical equipment for hours. It's a disease.

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If it really is 100 people that is pretty large venue.

May I suggest a very different approach...

Don't buy custom speakers that are wireless battery operated and integrated, they will not do the job, and anything "really" good is "really" expensive.

Instead:

- Speaker(s) - Find a simply good off the shelf (perhaps used) PA system.
- Mic - Get a wireless mic.
- Simple amplifier
- Power - Use a standard portable Jump-Start http://www.etoolcart.com/browseproducts/12-Volt--18-Amp-Hour-Jump-Start-with-Air-Compressor-ATD5921.HTML
and an inverter. A good rule of thumb is to take the amp hours x the volts, this gets you watts. So the one I provided in the link is 12x18 watts, which is 216 watts. Divide this by two to be safe, and you get about 100 watts for one hour. You don't want to drain these batteries beyond about 50% anyway.

The logic is this:

- The quality of everything will be much better.
- You can use each part of this for other things.
- If any one part fails you can replace it.

You will need a trolley (wheels) anyway for such an endevour, just do it right.

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Thanks! I'm a big fan of modularity, and off the shelf components. Any suggestions for PA systems or amplifiers? Or good stuff to read to find out what I should be looking for?

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Some of the other suggestions here were pretty good (I read them before posting).

I really like the Bose outdoor speakers (model 151)

http://cgi.ebay.com/BOSE-151-INDOOR-OUTDOOR-BOAT-PATIO-DECK-POOL-SPEAKERS_W0QQitemZ300285828731QQcmdZViewItemQQptZSpeakers_Subwoofers?hash=item300285828731&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50

They work in your house, outside, and the very thing that audiophiles complain about with Bose is what makes these PERFECT for human voice in a big room.

You will own these speakers for the rest of your life. They are the smallest speakers for the biggest sound (at the best price).

They have standard mounts built in.

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