A good practice PA

AnimalInstinct625 · Post by **AnimalInstinct625** » Tuesday Aug 26, 2008

I was just wondering what kind of PA system a vocalist might strive for to practice with?

Colton · Post by **Colton** » Tuesday Aug 26, 2008

I've seen alot of people using small Fender powered mixers... From what I hear, the Berringer (spelling?) practice PA's are pretty nice as well. Spirit Lost uses one for practice, so Ace probably sells them

AnimalInstinct625 · Post by **AnimalInstinct625** » Tuesday Aug 26, 2008

How much do you think I'm gonna pay for a decent practice PA?

Also...I'm probably gonna stick with a chorded mic, but should I eventually go chordless?

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Tuesday Aug 26, 2008

Rather than get a small PA, I would recommend a high-quality stage monitor that you could use to play out with. Add to that a small, mono powered PA head and you'd be set for practicing.

JBL makes some real nice passive monitors. For practice, Behringer makes some nice quiet powered mixers--they actually sound great--but you have to beware the shoddy manufacturing. Once you find the loose screw or wire and fix it, you are set.

Also, you may want to consider a quality powered speaker that has a mic input and could be used as a stage monitor as well.

The EV SXa100+ comes to mind. Yamaha makes a 250W monitor with a built in mixer amp called the StagePas 250M and Samson makes a similar one called the XP300--these both have reverb. Yorkville also has a few nice items along these lines.

Killjingle · Post by **Killjingle** » Tuesday Aug 26, 2008

Rather than get a small PA, I would recommend a high-quality stage monitor that you could use to play out with. Add to that a small, mono powered PA head and you'd be set for practicing.

+100

heres why I would suggest this: in most professional rooms u only get to use monitors to hear yourself anyway. u cant hear the FOH. Why not get used to the way it would sound anyway? And if u are using someone to run FOH who doesnt have monitors; u just killed 2 birds with one stone by bringing yours. I personally like like how flat the vocals sound out of reasonable quality passive monitors.

AnimalInstinct625 · Post by **AnimalInstinct625** » Wednesday Aug 27, 2008

Dumb question...what's FOH?

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Wednesday Aug 27, 2008

AnimalInstinct625 wrote:Dumb question...what's FOH?

Front Of House (speakers)

These are the "mains" that are the primary speakers used to entertain the crowd, the dancefloor, etc.

DirtySanchez · Post by **DirtySanchez** » Friday Aug 29, 2008

You can usually get a nice power mixer combo with two twelve inch speakers w/ horns, a monitor and a couple mics from Musicians friend at a dec. price. Yamaha/Crate/Fender/Behringer all have these "combo packs". They're nice for practice and even small shows I think they usually cost about $800. Add a couple 15's and you would be surprised how powerful these things are.