Speaker / Mic system for 6th form common room!

[kennysarmy]

Message from our head of 6th:

 

I would be really interested in purchasing a speaker and microphone system in the common room. With the growing sixth form numbers, our guest speakers are often not heard very clearly at the back of the common room and I wondered about buying a clip on microphone that could project our speakers voice through speakers at the back and middle of the room.

 

Has anyone purchased anything similar?

[DavR]

Never used lapel mics here, but for our assemblies and guest speakers we use Shure hand held wireless mics. This has the benefit that they can be passed around between speakers and in discussions

 

Last one I bought was a Shure PG58 and receiver, and we've had no problems with it - https://www.studiospares.com/Microphones/Mics-Wireless/Shure-BLX24PG58-Vocal-System-CH38_433870.htm.

[kennysarmy]

Never used lapel mics here, but for our assemblies and guest speakers we use Shure hand held wireless mics. This has the benefit that they can be passed around between speakers and in discussions

 

Last one I bought was a Shure PG58 and receiver, and we've had no problems with it - https://www.studiospares.com/Microphones/Mics-Wireless/Shure-BLX24PG58-Vocal-System-CH38_433870.htm.

 

Good point!

[mikeprice]

I got a set of 2 handheld mics from Maplins - they always sell the same make

 

it has a wireless charger so I can just leave them somewhere sensible and they will always work

 

Before that we had battery powered ones - which never had working batteries when we needed them

[SamanthaD]

If you want something that can be portable (whole school use rather than permanent install in one location) I like the Denon Envoi all in one system. Bluetooth compatible (so visiting speakers can connect their bluetooth enabled device to it as well), 3.5mm input as well as phono, and 1 handheld mic as standard, as well as the option to run a second wireless mic - either handheld or tie clip - or a wired mic. Oh, and it runs on batteries too, so no power cables to trip over.

 

If you want install, please read up on UK radio mic licences or feel free to PM me. PMSE frequencies are an ever changing minefield and if you're not on top of it it will bite you where you don't want to be bitten!

[jmak]

I got a set of 2 handheld mics from Maplins - they always sell the same make

 

it has a wireless charger so I can just leave them somewhere sensible and they will always work

 

Before that we had battery powered ones - which never had working batteries when we needed them

+1 for the maplin mics.

 

I got fed up of soldering and replacing the Shure mics we had and bought a pair of the cheapo ones from maplin for much less than a new capsule for the Shure. I'm sure they get dropped just as much and they've lasted much longer...

 

I didn't get the rechargeables - I just left a box of 9v batteries in the box and another in my desk for when someone comes and says they've used the last battery.

 

I think we paid about £35 for two.

[Sylv3r]

Depends how big your common room is, ours is a fair size and we use one of these that works well. Only requires one power plug or you could if necessary use the audio out to plug into your existing sound system.

[DynamoNickev]

We just use a hand held mic (Behringer XM5800 - cheap Shure SM58 clone, but very good for £13!) plugged directly into a 400W active speaker. The speaker also has a 3.5 mm aux input for running simultaneous audio from laptop, iPod etc. Added advantage of being able to use it anywhere in the school.

[3s-gtech]

Installing a couple of speakers for sound reinforcement in the the common room shouldn't be too expensive - we have a budget system in a classroom with a mixer amp, two small speakers on the wall, and a Samson wireless mic (USB rechargeable). Has been a good system and wasn't dear.