In this article, we’ll go over the basics of what to look for in a PA sound system. We will discuss some of the terminology you will hear and try to make it easier for you to understand what the different terms mean to you.
A PA (public address) system comes in many shapes and sizes depending on the application. Obviously a larger system is used in a concert hall than in a small hall. One basic thing to consider when looking to purchase or hire a PA sound system is the primary use.
Speaker Power Supply: There are two basic types of speakers. Passive and active. A passive speaker (also commonly known as a non-powered speaker) is essentially a speaker in a box (cabinet). It is unable to produce any sound by itself. It requires an amplifier to feed the signal. The other option is an active speaker (also called powered), which includes the amplifier integrated in the same box.
Speaker size – Speakers come in various sizes. The size of a speaker is expressed in inches and is taken by measuring the diameter of the speaker cone. Common sizes are 8, 10, 12, 15, and 18 inches. In general, the larger a speaker, the better the bass response, however the quality of the speaker also plays a role in the overall sound of the speaker.
The Mixer: The mixing part of the PA system is where you “plug in” your audio source (be it musical instruments, microphones, iPods, turntables, etc.). The mixer is where you can control the volume of each individual audio source. These are called channels. For example, a 4-channel mixer is capable of receiving four lines of audio. Many mixers also come with things like graphic equalizers, built-in effects (like reverb or echo), etc. The mixers can be with or without feeding. The type used depends on the type of speakers used. A powered mixer has a built-in amplifier, which means that it handles the power output to the speakers, while a non-powered mixer does not have an amplifier that allows the speakers to handle the power themselves. Make no mistake though, both types of mixers still need to be plugged into electricity to work, only referring to speaker power and not electrical power. So if you have a powered mixer, you pair it with unpowered speakers. If you have a mixer without power, you will need powered speakers.
Speaker Power – PA system power is measured in watts. The higher the watts, the generally more powerful the system. Typically, you will find a number along with a letter ‘w’ to indicate the number of watts the system is delivering.
We hope this article has helped you become more familiar with some of the things to look for when considering a PA sound system for yourself.