What to Consider When Buying a PA System

No matter what their use in the end, you need to do your research and understand exactly what you're buying when you look at choosing a PA system. It's important to check into each item. Each item is unique and only as good as its whole. Don't simply consider the price of the system. Just because you select the most expensive system or piece of equipment doesn't mean it's the best. There are multiple pieces to the PA system puzzle.

First up is the amplifier. This is a component of the system that ups the signals in the system. You need to make sure that the amp will not alter the signal and distort it. Be sure to consider the amount of power that you need. Too little power results in poor sound quality.

Next on the list is the speaker. This piece of the puzzle projects the sound. It's important to determine how many speakers you want and/or need with your PA system. You need to determine how much power you want the speakers to have or need them to have. What determines how many speakers you need and the power you need is how you will use the system. Look at how big of an area you want to reach with the sound.

Now, consider the microphone to use with your PA. If you have bad input to start, then the sound will be bad going out to everyone. The mic selection will vary. You need to consider how many people are going to use the PA system at one time. If a few people will use the microphone at one time, you need one type of microphone. The best choice would be an omnidirectional type. Why would multiple people be using a microphone at the same time? One example would be for small radio use. If only a single person would be using the microphone at any one time, then a unidirectional microphone is the item of choice.

Next consider the mixer. A mixer takes each piece of audio that you input into the PA system and allows you to adjust it for output. Each input connects to a channel and you can adjust each channel individually.

Finally, you need to consider the cables to use with your system. The cables attach to each and every component of the PA system. You want to make sure that the cable you select is made specifically for audio use. Different cables are made for different things, like video, audio, etc. Also, you want to make sure that the cable is strong and not flimsy. The last thing you want is for it to break after only a few uses. And, you also want to make sure you have enough cable. Don't underestimate how much you need to string between pieces of your system.

If you take each of these pieces into consideration when you purchase your PA system, you'll come away with a good experience. And, your system should give you exactly what you need.