Do you need to buy a public address system for your school, business or organization? It can be a difficult task to choose the right public address system with so many different sizes and features available.

The following tips will help you reduce competition and find which system best suits your needs:

1. Portable or stationary?

Do you need to use your sound system indoors, outdoors, or both? Are there a variety of activities that I could use a public address system for? If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, then you should choose a portable system. Portable sound systems provide the planner and present the versatility to easily move their system wherever they want.

Many portable pa systems include rechargeable batteries and AC power options. This is a must for outdoor events like get-togethers and cross-country parades because it allows you to follow the action without tripping over cables, searching for electrical outlets, or untangling pesky cables.

2. Calculate your audience size

Portable public address systems reach between 50 and 7,500 people (in optimal conditions). Make a good estimate of the number of people you want to cover. It is always better to overestimate than to underestimate because you can always turn down the volume on the loudest and largest PA systems.

3. Calculate the desired coverage area

Top-of-the-line systems can cover from 600 square feet to 25,000 square feet with one device (additional speakers add more coverage). Remind: As with estimating audience size, it is better to err by overestimating.

4. Determine the desired characteristics

Portable PA systems offer a wide variety of options, including audio accessibility (iPod / iPhone, MP3 player, CD players / recorders …) and microphone options. Microphone options include the type of microphone (wireless, handheld, lavalier, headphones, etc.) and how many wireless microphones can be used simultaneously. The volume and tone controls are pretty standard. Many systems have additional features such as a voice priority feature that attenuates the music when speaking into the microphone.

5. Research.

It is important to diligently search for a good public address system that meets your needs and is worth the investment in purchasing a quality system. Looking for customer reviews, testimonials, and warranty options are great ways to make sure you’re getting the best quality system available. It is not uncommon to hear of a public address system that has lasted for more than fifteen years.

With all these tips in mind, a smart consumer should have all the tools and knowledge they need to make the right purchase.

Good luck choosing a public address system!