Speaker Recommendations

[hemistry7]

Hello all

 

I am looking for a portable speaker to be used in a school, be grateful for any recommendations.

 

The speaker will mostly be used by the PE department must be easy to transport (trolley style wheels), powerful enough to be heard outdoors, Bluetooth compatible, can connect to wired or wireless speaker and most importantly have reliable battery that will hold charge for a morning or afternoon session.

 

Thank you!

[Aprice]

Something like the Behringer MPA40BT?

[h=1][/h]

[hemistry7]

Thanks! This fits the bill, have you used this yourself and if so decent battery life?

[dhicks]

Something like the Behringer MPA40BT?

 

We've just bought a Behringer B115W, with the optional Ultralink ULM202USB wireless microphones. Those wireless mics (another £100) also work with the MPA40BT, which might be handy. The only problem I can see with the MPA40BT is that it doesn't seem to have a wired output to link to another speaker, and it doesn't seem to support wireless linking to a second speaker, either.

[SamanthaD]

We have a Denon Envoi that has lasted for years - no longer available. I think the equivalent these days is the LD Systems Roadbuddy system - includes wireless mics receivers built in, bluetooth, speaker out (albeit on a jack connector) and other useful bits like another 2 channels (more mics or instruments?), a 3.5mm jack for non bluetooth devices and a USB player as well. Quoted at 8 hours battery (our Denon envoi would easily do 4/5 hours on a single charge) but the battery life does depend on how loud it's driven (louder = less time!).

 

If you don't want mics then maybe consider the EV Everse range. I have used the Everse 8 and it's amazing for such a small speaker, they've just released the Everse 12 and it looks awesome. No built in mics but they have a power output so you could power a receiver from the speaker. These also do wireless streaming to a second speaker, not something I've used but something you mentioned. Worth a look.

[dhicks]

At the cheaper end (£230-ish), we still have several QTX Busker PAs:

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/BUSKER-15-Rechargeable-Microphones-Bluetooth-Connectivity/dp/B073YKDWDL/ref=sr_1_6

 

12" or larger 15" options, two wireless mics, and those mics are cheap enough that you can replace them if they lost / broken / eaten by children. You can also buy compatible headsets - still limited to the two channels, though, and the mics do sound cheap. They have audio out connectors, although it's a twin-phono out, which we find tend to get broken with a bit of rough treatment (children pull the cables out and break off the ends inside the ports). The arials can also tend to get broken. Useful for locations where the equipment is going to be left unattended and bashed around anyway.