Speccing a sports day PA system

[localzuk]

I have been asked to spec up equipment to use for a decent sports day event. Using our current equipment as a guide, which is inadequate, I've come to the conclusion that we need 6 speakers and the amp + some method of plugging a single wireless mic in and changing the volume.

 

We currently already have 4x Yamaha S15e unpowered PA speakers (8Ohm, Power handling being 125W/250W/500W (noise, program, peak), so ideally we would like 2 more speakers of the same size and power. I've had a look and the Yamaha AX15 seems to fit the bill with them being 8Ohm 200W/400W/800W (slightly higher power handling, but I don't see that as a huge issue).

 

Now, I need suggestions on how to connect all 6 to the amp(s) and what amp would people recommend. Traditionally we've only ever used 2 speakers with a shure PA amp/mixer.

 

So any suggestions or clues as to what I should be buying?

[mjs_mjs]

what pa/mixer do you have? is it capable of doing 2ohm/channell?

[localzuk]

what pa/mixer do you have? is it capable of doing 2ohm/channell?

 

Its only capable of 4ohm per channel I'm afraid. I'm struggling to find one that can handle 2ohm per channel. Also, ideally we would want a dedicated pa/mixer for this job as the one we use normally is usually hooked up in the sports hall and its a pain to have to disconnect things and move it.

[K.C.Leblanc]

Have you thought about just approaching a local PA hire firm and seeing what they can offer. If it's only going to be used once a year this might make more sense.

[localzuk]

How about the following?

 

1 x "Behringer" Behringer Ultralink Pro Mx882 at Studiospares

1 x "Yamaha" Yamaha P2500S Power Amplifier at Studiospares - Can handle 2 Ohm loads, with a slight increase in power output

 

Would that do what I want? Never been sure about hooking up multiple speakers.

[localzuk]

Have you thought about just approaching a local PA hire firm and seeing what they can offer. If it's only going to be used once a year this might make more sense.

 

Best price we've been offered would be around £350 for a week... Not really reasonable. Our PTA is wanting to buy this for the school anyway, they have given me £1000 to spend.

[localzuk]

Also, another problem (well, if it is a problem) is that the distance between the amp and one of the speakers will be 100m roughly. Can I just get a 100m cable to deal with that?

 

EDIT: Scratch that. The distances involved are as follows

 

50m, 75m, 100m, 125m and 150m. With speakers being daisy chained as follows:

 

Speaker 1 50m from amp -> Speaker 2 25m from Speaker 1 -> Speaker 3 25m from Speaker 2

Speaker 4 100m from amp -> Speaker 5 25m from Speaker 4 -> Speaker 6 25m from Speaker 5

Edited May 12, 2010 by localzuk

[laserblazer]

If they are line voltage speakers then it shouldn't matter. If you are driving individual 4/8 ohm speakers from separate outputs then ideally you want to have the same length cable on each speaker so that the loss is the same. Otherwise, when you wind up the volume to get a decent output from the further speaker(s) there will be feedback from the closer ones.

 

For the same reason, if you wiring them in parallel, go out to the furthest speaker and then come back to the closer ones.

[localzuk]

For the same reason, if you wiring them in parallel, go out to the furthest speaker and then come back to the closer ones.

 

What about speakers in series?

 

EDIT: Again, scratch that - that's just me being dumb

Edited May 12, 2010 by localzuk