How to Choose a PA Speaker

PA stands for ‘public address’ and PA systems are used for projecting sound to a group of people. Whether this be indoor or outdoor, for music or for speech, there are different things to consider when choosing the right PA system for your particular needs.
A PA system is often made up of several different components, including speakers, mixers and amps. In this guide, we’re going to be focusing on PA Speakers and explaining which features to look out for when considering the price of a product.

It’s very common for people to ask how much power is required for a PA speaker but really you should be asking “how loud do you need it to be?” as your power requirements will vary depending on your application.

It’s worth remembering that more power doesn’t necessarily mean more volume. While a speaker’s wattage affects its volume, its maximum SPL (Sound Pressure Level) is a better indicator of how loud the speaker can go. The louder it is, the more money you’re likely to pay.

Here's a brief overview of the key power-related terminology:

Wattage & RMS

In the world of audio, watts are used to measure the power-handling capabilities of speakers and the power-output capability of amplifiers. A higher wattage means that the PA speaker can be driven more effectively and efficiently during use. Wattage is like your car engine, it’s great to have power on-tap but if the car can’t handle it, then loads of power is no good. You need to invest in a speaker that can make the most of having a high wattage rating, some others will have that same high wattage but won't be able to handle it effectively.

RMS stands for Root Mean Squared and refers to how much continuous power a speaker can handle. It's not how loud it can go maximum, it's how loud it can go continuously without blowing up. This should not be confused with an amp’s peak output rating which refers to the maximum power level that the speaker can handle in short bursts. For example, an amp may be rated at 50 Watts RMS and 150 Watts peak, meaning it can continuously handle 50 Watts with occasional 150 Watts peaks.

SPL

SPL stands for Sound Pressure Level. SPL is measured in decibels (dB) and a high SPL denotes a rough max volume. The further away your crowd will be, the higher SPL you’re going to need in your system.

Wattage is important, but SPL is what you really need to focus on. The SPL determines how loud the speaker will be. Higher SPL means a better product and high-quality components and design are required to achieve this, which is all reflected in the price of a product

Always look at the warranty of the speaker, this tells you how comfortable the manufacturer is for you to run the speaker at the advertised level. A longer warranty ensures a better built product.

Like just about anything, a more detailed design and better-quality materials used will be reflected in the cost of the product but also produce better sound and results.

Materials

Better quality components equal better-quality sound and higher SPL, and so you get what you pay for. PA Speakers are usually enclosed within wood or plastic housing, with each material having pros and cons.

Materials like wood and ABS are often used for the sturdiness and support they provide. Moulded plastic housing is cheaper to manufacture, once the cost of the mould is amortized, and so this can often be reflected in the price of a PA speaker.

Different materials also produce varying tones, and some materials generally achieve better sound quality. Wood - plywood in particular - is more acoustically inert than plastic and this is ideal. This means it doesn't have the tendency to vibrate sympathetically with the sound coming from the drivers. This is why subwoofers are usually housed in wood, as you really don’t want any low-frequency resonance coming from the cabinet.

Speaker Size

Speaker size is very important as well. A bigger woofer means more bass response and a greater ability to handle high volumes without unwanted compression happening.

2 or 3-Way Design

2 or 3-Way design refers to the driver formation in the speaker. A 3-way design will often cost more, as it contains an extra driver. 3-way driver designs separate the frequencies better so that they're going through the right speaker, resulting in broader and more defined dispersion of frequencies and an overall better sound. For more info on this topic, check the Ultimate Guide further down!

DSP

DSP stands for Digital Signal Processing. In a PA speaker, DSP allows you to have options like EQ and compression on-hand. It also also allows you to program your settings into the speaker to recall for different venues and room sizes in advance so you're all set on arrival. This is a bit like an automated mixer or a guitar multi-FX processor which you would program before the gig, so that you're ready to go immediately when you turn up and plug in. We’ll cover DSP more later on in the Ultimate Guide.

Protection & Warranty

Some PA speakers come with built in protective features like limiters. A limiter controls how loud the speaker can go. This is a feature that is worth investing in, as it’ll give you the ability to prevent unwanted volume spikes that could blow your speaker.

Warranty is also a good indicator for how reliable a brand rates their product. A longer warranty gives confidence in the fact that it is a product that is built to last. If a warranty is over 5 years, for example, then this is a very good sign because it says that the speakers are designed to be used in a gigging environment which isn’t always gear-friendly.

If you need a speaker to take on the go, make sure you factor in the weight. Many speakers now are made using materials that are not only light but also very durable, this kind of high-quality material will be reflected in the price of course. It’s also worth considering whether it features a travel handle and wheels to save you having to carry it around.

Alongside physical connections such as XLR inputs, you may find Bluetooth connectivity to be extremely helpful, especially if you’re performing solo over a backing track/accompaniment.

While it’s very handy to have available, it’s also worth checking whether the system has a ⅛-inch aux input as a back-up in case Bluetooth lets you down. Features like Bluetooth will also be reflected in the price so it’s worth bearing this in mind when shopping.

If you plan to use your speaker in a remote location and will need battery power, make sure you remember that only smaller PA speakers will feature this option, so be sure to check before you purchase!

Since their humble beginnings in 1968 in a small garage in Costa Mesa, California, QSC has always set sights on empowering performers and entertainment providers with exceptional products and unparalleled support, giving them the confidence to deliver memorable experiences for their audiences. Today, QSC is a leading manufacturer and global innovator with R&D, manufacturing, sales, marketing, support and operations teams across multiple continents.

For over 90 years, Electro Voice has designed and engineered leading edge sound reinforcement solutions. They’ve accumulated generations of hands-on professional knowledge — all geared towards producing a portfolio of best-in-class speakers and microphones that combine performance, reliability, and value. Electro-Voice stands apart as one of the few companies to design all components in-house — enclosures, waveguides, drivers — ensuring excellent quality for every audio application, from a standalone loudspeaker to a networked sound system.

Yamaha’s history began when its founder, Torakusu Yamaha, repaired a broken reed organ in 1887. Shortly thereafter in 1900, Yamaha began production of upright pianos and over the last century they’ve expanded into countless different avenues. Today they are a globally iconic brand who continue to produce a vast range of high-quality music equipment, from keyboards and synths to PA systems and studio monitors. Efficiency, strength, and sound quality are all hallmarks of the Yamaha PA speaker range. From the passive Club V and BR Series, to the bi-amped active DSR, DXR, DSX and MSR Series, there are models for every venue, rehearsal room and gig.

The story of TurboSound officially started in 1978 after years of the founders questioning the existing methods of sound reinforcement. They began designing, building, and renting out their innovative speaker systems. For over 40 years Turbosound has repeatedly shown award-winning innovation and leadership in the world of high-end professional audio, producing landmark products that have defined and shaped the live industry.

Alto Professional was founded in 2000 by a passionate team of audio engineers striving to produce products that delivered superior performance at affordable price points for use in live performance settings. Alto describe themselves as a Live Performance Reinforcement company. Not only do they produce tools for the live sound engineer – speakers, amplifiers, and mixers – but also tools for the performing musician, including all-in-one PA systems for solo, duo and small group performance settings.

JBL founder James B. Lansing got his start innovating sound technology at movie theatres. Cinema was a common way that people consumed music and so it’s fitting then that JBL continue to power many of the world’s cinemas today. 1960s saw the start of rock festivals and at Woodstock in 1969, JBL sound equipment powered the festival. Since the 2000s, JBL continue to make top quality audio equipment including headphones and portable speakers.

The story of Mackie starts with a company making a small PA mixer who then grew to become a go-to brand for recording, pro audio, and live sound. By 1993 Mackie had grown to over 250 employees, including a top-shelf engineering team. Throughout the 1990s, Mackie’s great engineering minds paved the way for a series of ground-breaking products in rapid fire succession. In clubs and live venues across the globe, you couldn’t swing a mic cable without hitting a pair of Mackie SRM450 loudspeakers.

In 1949, RCF’s three founders conjured a bold vision based on technology that was considered niche at the time. The real breakthrough came in the ‘60s when concert sound began to transition from small acoustic setups to big spaces, requiring electric amplification for voices and other low-volume musical instruments. In-depth knowledge in transducers and electronics qualified RCF to develop complete audio systems, bringing the company to a leading position in multiple audio markets over the years, from OEM transducers to Hi-Fi, public address, portable speakers, recording studios, and big concert systems.

LD Systems are passionate about developing professional audio solutions that make your life easier on the job and meet your high expectations for sound and performance. LD Systems’ professional audio product lines include innovative, high-performance PA systems, advanced speakers and subwoofers for live events, installations, or battery-powered outdoor use.

Some loudspeakers/PA systems include DSP (digital signal processing) capabilities. This allows for fine-tuned controls and options to suit your needs. For example, some models may offer a DSP-controlled high-pass filter to be used if you have a dedicated subwoofer for managing the lower frequencies specifically. Others may include DSP-based limiters, used to help prevent volume spikes which could damage your speaker. As we mentioned earlier, the big benefit of having programmable DSP capability is that you can program your settings ahead of time to suit the room that your speaker will be used in, much like programmable guitar effects, so that you're ready to go on arrival at the venue.

Understanding a speaker’s coverage angle is important. The aim is to emit sound evenly to your entire audience with the PA system. A powerful speaker with a narrow coverage angle will reach fewer people than a less powerful one with a broader coverage angle.

The sensitivity of a speaker is a measurement of how effectively it can convert power into sound. Sensitivity specs measure ‘efficiency’ and can be used as a strong indicator of a speaker’s loudness, which explains why a less efficient 1,000-watt speaker isn’t necessarily louder than an efficient 500-watt speaker.

Headroom refers to how much power an amp can provide before the sound starts to break up and distort. This applies to any kind of amp in audio, whether it be a guitar amp or a PA amp. Granted, this can be a good thing when you run out of headroom in a Marshall for example, but for a PA system or a mixing console, it’s not a good thing. You want to make sure you will have enough headroom to ensure a clean signal with minimal noise.

The quality of crossover circuitry and drivers impact how a speaker sounds. A crossover is a device that splits an audio signal into separate frequency ranges which are then routed to different drivers in an audio system.

For example, a 2-way crossover might consist of a low-pass filter that sends lower frequencies to a woofer and a high-pass filter that sends higher frequencies to a tweeter. Crossovers can have a passive or active design and knowing where the crossover points lie in the spectrum can help you set up a better sounding mix.

Speakers will often have different inputs, usually XLR or ¼-inch jack. Sometimes you can run an XLR from mixers directly to your speaker but make sure you have a preamp on the speaker if so.

XLR cables are often used to connect a microphone to an input and can carry a balanced signal. They can also carry 48V of phantom power needed for condensers mics.

¼-inch jacks, like those used for guitars and amps, are common but are usually designed to receive unbalanced TS cables (as opposed to balanced TRS cables), therefore they can often be susceptible to noise over longer cable runs.

Some speakers or mixers may also feature speakon or RCA connections:

Speakon cables are rigid and feature a twisting lock mechanism to prevent being unintentionally pulled out. They can carry high current signals with ease and so speakon inputs are often featured on higher power PA systems.

RCA connections are most used for connecting DJ equipment and are capable of true stereo sound.