second PA

[DJ INDIE]

Ive been thinking for a while about a 2nd PA for events.

With doing a lot of weddings etc I intend to use this second PA for very small rooms playing background music etc or for amplifying speeches etc. the beauty being i can set the main PA up and use this other one for other uses, especially if there are multiple rooms (or outside) at the venue etc.

this second basic PA i can set up hopefully with either just a laptop or small CD player, or use as a stand alone PA for very small events such as christenings etc where only gentle background music is required etc. this should be a quick set up - rather than a big rig, and should save my back for the sake of a few hours.


having scoured the market, im thinking of a Mackie SRM150.

has anyone had any experience with these or similar items?

[Adam_F]

The SRM150's are very small. For around the same sort of price (well slightly cheaper) I'd say a pair of W Audio PSR 8A's. They are excellent for the money and great for background and low volume stuff.

I'm sure a few others on here use them or have them and will say the same. Infact James H has 3 pairs!

[DJ INDIE]

cheers i might keep an eye out for those in future - i used to have some W-audio EV300SX copies - theyre were impressive - a very underated brand if you ask me.

i like the fact the SRM150 has a built in (basic) mixer etc so its a very simple quick set up.

i think the speaker is only 5inch or so, but gives out around 110db at 1 metre?! so should pack a punch.

[djsteve10]

Just been looking at the Warrior PSR-8A and for £98 i have seen for some thinking about a couple of them for myself for using as background PA hire and maybe rig them on the truss in big venues for some sound re-enforcement or usethem as monitors so they have multi-use really.

[Adam_F]

They do, they are very good for the cost. RRP is around £215 a pair at most places, but sure you can get them cheaper as you've mentioned.

I've just got a pair of the Cerwin Vega CVA 28's, which are around the same size, as can fly them / use as stage monitors / dj monitors etc... but they're a little bit more ££ than the PSR's.

[nigelwright7557]

Ive been thinking for a while about a 2nd PA for events.
rather than a big rig, and should save my back for the sake of a few hours.



Have you thought about a light barrow to cart your gear in and out ?

B&Q do a great foldaway barrow that looks pretty sturdy.

Why break your back ?

A barrow also helps upstairs too.

[jamesh]

yep have to say i was very unsure when i first looked at them - the cost just didnt seem right for them to be any good BUT im glad i took the chance... OK they are never going to fill a room with sound as they aren't designed for that but for vocal support in smaller rooms or as in fill / background speakers in larger venues you really can't go far wrong...

During last xmas i had 6 of them flown above a 1000 people seating/eating area for corporate xmas parties and they were perfect... Plenty loud enough to relay the music at a good background level during the meal and plenty of punch later in the evening when the disco was in full swing and people were dancing throughout the whole marquee... (the dance floor area of the marquee was kitted out with a 5k HK rig)...

Mind you they do have their limitations... Don't use them on their own as tops for karaoke... that does push them a bit too much :P

But for small PA hire, additional speakers in other rooms of venues or marquees, monitor speakers and applications around those roles they are spot on and for the money you can't go wrong...!

[Paul James Promotions]

Yamaha PAS 300

[DJ INDIE]

just to conclude - i went for the Mackie SRM150 in the end - for its ease of use (self contained speaker, mixer, mic inputs, line inputs, amp and external line outs for extending all in a tiny box.

I used it last weekend at a family christening of about 70-80 people in a good sized room and it was fantastic. just perfect for the event.

got several comments off people who couldnt believe such a little box was giving off such a great loud sound.

didnt even need to get it anywhere near maximum volume either.

the added bonus that it took 5 minutes to set the whole thing up and take it down again, and i could carry all my equipment in one trip makes this a top buy in my eyes!

it is unbelievably loud at very close range (around 117Db), so you need to get it somewhere central on the stage to allow the sound to even out, rather than next to a table of people etc

also used it on the saturday at a wedding, to play music through whilst i was setting up the proper rig, to keep the crowd entertained for a while, rather than have nothing going on. seemed a good idea - just tickled some light pianoy jazz through......