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Sound Reinforcement - Forums for Live Sound Professionals - Your Displayed Name Must Be Your Real Full Name To Post In The Live Sound Forums => LAB Lounge => Topic started by: Andrew Broughton on May 10, 2019, 12:43:22 PM
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What's decent quality in a small portable system that can do the following:
1-2 Speakers on stands with integrated wireless, 2 hand held W/L mics, 1 iPod/Phone input for music (BT would be a bonus)
Something that packs together but has decent quality as well as able to withstand a bit of rain and keep working. Bonus if it's lightweight and easy to carry around.
For a community center for meetings and outdoor announcements (<50 people), so operated by non-technical folks. Something that sounds good out of the box.
What's decent these days?
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What's decent quality in a small portable system that can do the following:
2 Speakers on stands2 Wireless hand held mics1 iPod/Phone input for music (BT would be a bonus)
Something that packs together but has decent quality as well as able to withstand a bit of rain and keep working. Bonus if it's lightweight and easy to carry around.
For a community center for meetings and outdoor announcements (<50 people), so operated by non-technical folks. Something that sounds good out of the box.
What's decent these days?
Yamaha Stagepas 400BT or 600BT
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Yamaha Stagepas 400BT or 600BT
Thanks, Tom. I had looked at those. Too complicated and overkill for non-techies, and too expensive. Also doesn't have built-in wireless...
I'm looking at the Galaxy Traveler Quest or Anchor Go Getter 2 system, wondering if anyone has any opinions about those?
Any other manufacturers make something that has 2 wireless receivers built in? (The Sennheiser LSP500 system looks amazing, but at $2500 without wireless makes it a bit too expensive...)
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Never used one so can't speak to quality.....Fender Passport system??
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Thanks, Tom. I had looked at those. Too complicated and overkill for non-techies, and too expensive. Also doesn't have built-in wireless...
I'm looking at the Galaxy Traveler Quest or Anchor Go Getter 2 system, wondering if anyone has any opinions about those?
Any other manufacturers make something that has 2 wireless receivers built in? (The Sennheiser LSP500 system looks amazing, but at $2500 without wireless makes it a bit too expensive...)
The Anchor stuff is pretty bulletproof (and weatherproof) and simple to deploy, though the wireless quality leaves a bit to be desired. Given your specs that shouldn't be an issue, though. Worst case you can supplement with a dedicated wireless setup. They're pretty standard issue for most school systems with outdoor extracurriculars, hell, when I was in high school we had an anchor system we used in marching band. Got plenty loud to address a hundred or so kids stretched out across a football field, so I would assume they have enough oomph to work with your use case.
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What's decent quality in a small portable system that can do the following:
2 Speakers on stands2 Wireless hand held mics1 iPod/Phone input for music (BT would be a bonus)
Something that packs together but has decent quality as well as able to withstand a bit of rain and keep working. Bonus if it's lightweight and easy to carry around.
For a community center for meetings and outdoor announcements (<50 people), so operated by non-technical folks. Something that sounds good out of the box.
What's decent these days?
I don’t think that anything I’ve ever seen can be operated without some degree of understanding, certainly not for what you are looking for. Everything in this field needs some understanding of gain structure, and balancing.
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Galaxy Audio is headquartered here in Wichita and I've seen the Traveler but not auditioned it. Based on my experience with Galaxy products, I'd expect it to do what Galaxy claims, no less and no more.
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The Mipro MA708 is pretty decent.
I just had a client needing a battery operated 2 speaker system with 4 wireless mics. I tried the Galaxy TV10 first, but the noise floor of the wireless was awful so I returned it all. Then put together a setup with the MA708 that is probably 30% more expensive but FAR better in function and apparent build quality. The handheld mics in particular are the standard issue Mipro ACT3 series with condensor capsules.
My recommendation would be to stick with no more than 2 or 3 wireless channels operating with one of these systems. We were able to get 4 handhelds working plus a wireless link between the two systems using an ACT3 bodypack, but it took some channel juggling to avoid interference. I think the fact these built-in receivers have no external antennas limits their performance.
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I don’t think that anything I’ve ever seen can be operated without some degree of understanding, certainly not for what you are looking for. Everything in this field needs some understanding of gain structure, and balancing.
That doesn't necessarily have to be the case. If the wireless mics are part of the system, they can be internally eq'd and gained appropriately and "just work".
Let's not go into a discussion about how small committees should be hiring technicians or whether not-for-profits need to have an A/V person on staff, just looking for opinions on the best system that's user-friendly, will last and sounds good.
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Fender Passport system??
I've heard they are awful. Have you used that one?
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The Anchor stuff is pretty bulletproof (and weatherproof) and simple to deploy, though the wireless quality leaves a bit to be desired. Given your specs that shouldn't be an issue, though. Worst case you can supplement with a dedicated wireless setup. They're pretty standard issue for most school systems with outdoor extracurriculars, hell, when I was in high school we had an anchor system we used in marching band. Got plenty loud to address a hundred or so kids stretched out across a football field, so I would assume they have enough oomph to work with your use case.
Thanks, Taylor! Ever tried the Galaxy? It's quite a bit less expensive.
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Galaxy Audio is headquartered here in Wichita and I've seen the Traveler but not auditioned it. Based on my experience with Galaxy products, I'd expect it to do what Galaxy claims, no less and no more.
Not exactly sure what that means. Did the stuff you tried work well and sound good? How was the wireless?
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The Mipro MA708 is pretty decent.
I just had a client needing a battery operated 2 speaker system with 4 wireless mics. I tried the Galaxy TV10 first, but the noise floor of the wireless was awful so I returned it all. Then put together a setup with the MA708 that is probably 30% more expensive but FAR better in function and apparent build quality. The handheld mics in particular are the standard issue Mipro ACT3 series with condensor capsules.
My recommendation would be to stick with no more than 2 or 3 wireless channels operating with one of these systems. We were able to get 4 handhelds working plus a wireless link between the two systems using an ACT3 bodypack, but it took some channel juggling to avoid interference. I think the fact these built-in receivers have no external antennas limits their performance.
Good info, thank you. No more than 2 wireless will be used. I'll check out that system.
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The MA708 has a built-in CD player and Echo. It's 2019 FFS.
I mean, I hate to throw around stereotypes.... But it's not hard to tell where these are being built and sold.
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Thanks, Taylor! Ever tried the Galaxy? It's quite a bit less expensive.
I have not, but I've seen them in a few conference room setups around town so PSAV seems to like them at the very least haha
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Not exactly sure what that means. Did the stuff you tried work well and sound good? How was the wireless?
I've seen the product (actually almost all their products) but I've only used a few of them and the Traveler is not among them. I've known the family owners for 30 years or so and know how they design, spec and contract their manufacturing. The products are typically better than the price point indicates but don't expect anything that's not on the spec sheet or in the manual. Again, I have zero experience with this product line.
Order a unit from a vendor with generous return policies and see what you think, Andy.
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That doesn't necessarily have to be the case. If the wireless mics are part of the system, they can be internally eq'd and gained appropriately and "just work".
Let's not go into a discussion about how small committees should be hiring technicians or whether not-for-profits need to have an A/V person on staff, just looking for opinions on the best system that's user-friendly, will last and sounds good.
Hi Andrew, I wasn’t suggesting for one moment about hiring pro techs, it’s obvious from your first post, this isn’t what you/they are after. I’ve seen systems in churches that are almost plug and play, but the gain structuring is set up and locked off and they are left with a couple of knobs or faders to control, Soundweb, etc make this stuff, but out of your budget and remit.
My suggestion would be to buy a small Yamaha style system and a simple analogue mixer and add a couple of bits of tape with gain position marked off on it. Wireless, well that’s as complicated or simple as you buy, not sure of anyone integrating it. LD systems do some decent but cheap gear. Whatever you do, I think you are going to have to set up a training day and possibly print out a step by step manual so it can be user operated or volunteer operated.
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Has anyone tried the Bose S1 Pro? It is very small, light, can run on batteries, has pole mounts, Bluetooth, wireless mic receiver, 3 ch mixer with line out, +/-3 dB at 62-17k Hz. Downside, the claimed max SPL is only 103 dB at 1m. I haven't heard it but saw a good review in Sound on Sound. Not sure if it would be loud enough for OP's needs, although you could daisy chain 2 or 3.
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Andy,
We have about 5 Anchor Audio AN1000x in our inventory. We give them to non-technical people to use at meetings. I configure the systems as robust as possible by including an SM-58, a Whirlwind MK25' mic cord, all contained in the Anchor Audio CC100 case. The system is lightweight, easy to use, provides undistorted vocals with coverage for 50 seat meeting rooms. We generally get about 10 years of daily use out of them before they need to be replaced.
I have not used their wireless options for the AN1000x or know how they hold up with outside use.
Steve
What's decent quality in a small portable system that can do the following:
1-2 Speakers on stands with integrated wireless, 2 hand held W/L mics, 1 iPod/Phone input for music (BT would be a bonus)
Something that packs together but has decent quality as well as able to withstand a bit of rain and keep working. Bonus if it's lightweight and easy to carry around.
For a community center for meetings and outdoor announcements (<50 people), so operated by non-technical folks. Something that sounds good out of the box.
What's decent these days?