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Anyone know anything about Small PAs?

Blown240

Monkey
Nov 19, 2013
443
290
I want to pick up a small 4 channel PA system for my garage. My son plays electric drums, I play bass, my daughter is picking up guitar and she loves to sing. Im hoping to spend in the $300 range.

I saw this at guitar center, but I've never heard of the brand:
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Harbinger/M120-120-Watt-4-Channel-Compact-Portable-PA-with-12-Speakers.gc


OR, my buddy has a pair of these he will sell my for $150, but then I will need a powered mixer:
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Yamaha/S12E-12-In-2-Way-Cabinet.gc


Does anyone have any experience in what Im looking for?
 

jdcamb

Tool Time!
Feb 17, 2002
19,799
8,383
Nowhere Man!
I want to pick up a small 4 channel PA system for my garage. My son plays electric drums, I play bass, my daughter is picking up guitar and she loves to sing. Im hoping to spend in the $300 range.

I saw this at guitar center, but I've never heard of the brand:
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Harbinger/M120-120-Watt-4-Channel-Compact-Portable-PA-with-12-Speakers.gc


OR, my buddy has a pair of these he will sell my for $150, but then I will need a powered mixer:
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Yamaha/S12E-12-In-2-Way-Cabinet.gc


Does anyone have any experience in what Im looking for?
I would recommend this as it will prevent you from being Nickle and Dimed by the Guitar Center.

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Yamaha/Complete-PA-Package-with-MG12XUK-Mixer-and-Mackie-Thump-Boosted-Active-Speakers-12-Mains-1500000216881.gc
A few more bucks, but it comes with everything you need and is much more durable then the Harbinger gear (which tend to overheat...). USb device interface and pro tools compatible also. The stands are kidproof...
 

Greyhound

Trail Rat
Jul 8, 2002
5,065
365
Alamance County, NC
The Harbinger powered mixer/speaker combo will be fine for what you're looking for it to do. The bass and drums are going to be a challenge to get good Hz response with 12" speakers while also carrying any vocals and guitar, but if you have a bass amp already, you can use that to carry the room as much as possible to free up some headroom for the other instruments.

Many powered speakers made today have built-in mixers for at least three inputs, and work great for these types of situations.
 

djjohnr

Turbo Monkey
Apr 21, 2002
3,001
1,693
Northern California
To get any kind of thump out of your son's electronic kick drum you're going to need at least a 15" woofer to get below 50hz. An 18" would be preferred but a 12" will be inadequate. If I were you I'd find the cheapest used 15" powered speaker pair I could get my hands on, then pick up a used 4-8 channel mixer.
 

Blown240

Monkey
Nov 19, 2013
443
290
Thanks for the replies!

Here is what I ended up getting:

A Crown amp for $129 from a local guitar store
A pair of Yamaha speaker from a buddy for $150
A 16 Channel mixer from another buddy for free
An old Laptop I already had with Logic and Garage Band installed...
IMG_4504.JPG
IMG_4505.JPG
IMG_4525.JPG


I think it turned out pretty good, and the kids are STOKED!


IMG_4520.JPG
 

Tantrum Cycles

Turbo Monkey
Jun 29, 2016
1,143
503
Don’t get harbinger or other cheap brands. They sound like crap and then blow up

For small setups, I like a QSC powered speaker, there is an 8”, 1000 watt version for around 300

Add an inexpensive mixer and you’ll be amazed what you can crank out. QSC is top notch, great
Sound and great
Warranty
 

Tantrum Cycles

Turbo Monkey
Jun 29, 2016
1,143
503
Thanks for the replies!

Here is what I ended up getting:

A Crown amp for $129 from a local guitar store
A pair of Yamaha speaker from a buddy for $150
A 16 Channel mixer from another buddy for free
An old Laptop I already had with Logic and Garage Band installed...
View attachment 132173 View attachment 132174 View attachment 132175

I think it turned out pretty good, and the kids are STOKED!


View attachment 132176

Oops,shoulda read that last post. But Crown is top notch and Yamaha is pretty good kit as well. You got a great deal