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Intro to live sound equipment

Choosing the right gear for your PA system

In this article: We'll explain what a PA is and how it works, then break down the key PA components you'll want to understand before you shop, including...

PA speakers

PA mixers and amps

PA mics and accessories

...and we'll help you figure out what type of PA system would work best for you.

The first club-sized PA system I really appreciated — back in the late 1980s — belonged to a band in Charlottesville. The music coming out of their system sounded detailed and pleasantly enormous. A lot of it had to do with the musicians, of course. But their great sound also depended on their custom-built PA system and the guy who ran it.

Whether you're a solo performer, part of a band, the owner of a club, or the music director at a church or theater, having quality live sound can elevate your performance.

What is a PA system?

Every PA does one thing, basically: reinforces live sound. It could be as simple as one microphone and one powered PA speaker for making toasts at a party. Or as complex as a multi-channel, multi-speaker sound system for bands that play in arenas to audiences numbering in the thousands.

How does a PA system work?

Sounds picked up by microphones or electric instruments travel through mic cables to a mixer. Whoever controls the mixer can adjust volume, tone, effects like reverb, and other audio parameters for every input.

diagram of signal flow from microphone to speakers

The signal in a typcial PA system flows from a microphone to a mixer, then on to an amplifier before coming out of the speakers to reach its final destination — your audience's ears.

The mixed sound goes out to an amplifier, which sends it on to the speakers. And the audience — and the musicians themselves — hear what's coming out of the speakers.

Let's break down the different parts of a PA system.

PA speakers

There are two basic roles that PA speakers play in a live sound system: audience-facing "mains" and performer-facing "monitors."

And there are two basic types of PA speakers — powered models, which have built-in amplification, and passive models, which need an external amplifier.

Powered vs. passive PA speakers

You can use a lot of passive or powered speaker models as either mains or monitors

With powered speakers, you don’t have to worry about which amp to choose — or carry separate amps around.

Passive models are great for permanent installations, especially if you’ll be hanging them from a ceiling, since they never need to be powered on or off.

PA main speakers

Your main speakers are the ones that face the audience. Most systems have two — or multiples of two — on either side of the stage.

Main PA speakers

Your "main" speakers are usually positioned on either side of the stage, in front of the performers.

PA monitors

Monitors are speakers you point at the performers, so they can hear themselves play, sing, or speak. Some performers use in-ear monitors, which can help keep onstage volume down.

Illustration of a monitor speaker aimed at musician

Monitor speakers sit on the floor and play toward the performers, so they can hear what they're doing.

PA subwoofers

Subwoofers are large speakers that reinforce the deep low-frequency sounds of kick drums, bass guitars, and synthesizers. Most models are powered. They usually sit under the mains.

To learn more about the different types of PA speakers, read our live sound speakers buying guide.

PA mixers and amps

You plug each audio source (microphones, instruments, etc.) into a mixer. Each source gets its own channel, with independent volume, tone, and other audio controls. Mixing is the art of using knobs and faders to balance the channels for the best possible sound.

With some mixers, you can also create a separate “monitor mix” for your performers since they often need to hear channels at different volume levels than what's coming out of the mains.

Mackie analog mixer

This analog mixer has 24 onboard effects and lets you connect and mix up to ten sources.

Most mixers provide unamplified output signals that go to amps or powered speakers

Powered mixers have built-in amps and connect directly to passive speakers. These can be great for band practice, small shows, or even as one or more separate onstage systems for monitoring in a bigger PA.

Analog or digital PA mixer?

One big decision is whether to get an old-school analog mixer or a digital mixer. Analog mixers are easy to use, with all of the knobs and faders right in front of you on the console.

Digital mixers typically give you a lot more capabilities. All the knobs and faders are virtual in a remote control app on your tablet or smartphone. Plus, you can mix from pretty much anywhere in the room, so you can make sure the mix is balanced throughout the space.

Tablet with Presonus Studiolive app at music venue

With a digital mixer, you can easily adjust your mix from different audience positions using an app on your phone or tablet.

A lot of mixers feature acoustic effects like reverb and compression which you can use to color the sound. With digital mixers, the effects are built into the software, so you have more optoins.

If your mixer's onboard effects aren't enough for your needs, you can add outboard signal processors like an equalizer that lets you boost or lower specific frequency bands to get the best sound.

Analog or digital, make sure you get enough mixer channels to accommodate all of your mics and instruments.

Learn more about mixers and how to choose the right one by reading our mixers buying guide.

PA amplifiers

Pro audio amps are built to withstand the rigors of the road. They're also versatile. They can safely adapt to a variety of speaker system configurations. Models with digital signal processing (DSP) let you tailor the amp’s output to suit your speakers and the space they’re in.

Crown pro audio amplifier

This two-channel pro amplifier can cleanly power a wide variety of PA speakers.

Each amp should have at least as much output power as the total wattage ratings of the speakers it’s driving. Having extra wattage available is often called "headroom." With good headroom, you have all the power the speakers can handle, not just the bare minimum they need to get by. That ensures clean, distortion-free sound, especially during sudden musical peaks.

See our pro audio amplifiers buying guide for more details and advice on matching amps with speakers.

PA microphones

Road-worthy dynamic microphones are the most popular option for live sound. Shure’s industry-standard SM58 is famously great for vocals. Other dynamic mics are designed especially for capturing specific instruments, like drum and guitar amp sounds.

Dynamic microphone

Dynamic microphones like these are the most widely used for live sound.

Wireless mics are great for performers who move around on stage. Clip-on lavalier models are perfect for public speakers who don't want to hold a mic.

Learn more about microphones in our microphones buying guide.

PA system accessories

Live sound equipment requires connections. Mics and instruments require cables. And sometimes you just need some gaffer's tape. Here are some essential accessories you'll need to get your live audio gear up and running.

PA cables

When it comes to live audio equipment, there are standard connections. But there are enough variations that you'll want to make sure you get the right type of cables for connecting your gear. Cable length is important as well — too short is too short; too long and things start to get tangled up.

Stationary analog mixers usually work best centered in front of the stage. Instead of running several mic cables from the stage to the mixer, get a cable snake. A snake is a single thick cable with a bunch of female XLR mic inputs on the stage end and corresponding male outputs on the mixer end.

Cable snake

A snake lets you connect all your sources on the stage and send it to the mixer with a single cable.

For help, check out our pro audio cable guide.

Direct box

Sometimes musicians plug their electric instruments directly into a PA instead of miking an onstage instrument amp. This can be to help keep stage volume down, or just for convenience.

A direct box, or DI (direct input) box lets you do just that: you plug an instrument cable into it and use its XLR output to send the instrument's signal to a mixer's mic or line-level input.

Mic and speaker stands

There are mic stands for every purpose — straight stands, boom stands, clip-on stands, and more.

Most PA speakers have a socket for a speaker stand. Just make sure the stand you pick is rated to hold at least as much as the speaker weighs.

AC power conditioning

If possible, all of your PA equipment should be plugged into the same power outlet. This helps prevent noise from interference and even shocks — touching your lips to an ungrounded microphone is startlingly unpleasant.

For even cleaner power, get a good power conditioner. They further reduce noise and protect your gear at the same time.

Tools of the trade that you shouldn't forget

Finally, here are a handful of items that belong in every soundperson's gear bag:

What type of PA system is best for you?

Are you setting up your PA more or less permanently, or will you be setting up and breaking down a lot?

Portable PA systems are designed for single or small ensemble acoustic performers. They're easy to transport, and you can get really nice sound from a portable line-array PA like the JBL EON ONE MK2. And for something a little bigger but still portable, check out our live band sound system packages.

Portable PA system

You can carry many portable PA systems in one hand.

You can also put together your own portable system. Gigging bands with a drummer and electric instruments will need monitors and mains. A system that uses powered PA speakers helps keep setup and breakdown simple, since you don't need separate amps. That's great if you're traveling to different venues and have to unpack and pack the system fairly often.

Need a permanent system for an auditorium, church, or outdoor stage? You can hang or mount passive speakers where they fit and sound best and tuck the amplification away in a control room or under the mixing console. Get in touch with our system designers for help thinking it through and finding everything you need.

We're here to help

Want friendly, one-on-one help putting together the best PA sound system for your needs? Our expert Advisors can help. Contact us today for free, personalized advice. Free lifetime tech support is included with every Crutchfield purchase.

Please share your thoughts below.

  • James Wilbanks from Woodland Mills

    Posted on 12/29/2022

    thanks for the info. It has been a big help to me,

  • Fritz Cooper from Batchelor,La. 70715

    Posted on 1/13/2019

    Can you send me a catalog on stereo equipment such as double cassette decks ,amp.turntables.receivers,and powerful speakers

    Commenter image

    Buck Pomerantz from Crutchfield

    on 1/13/2019

    Fritz, In order to receive Crutchfield's free catalog, just click on this link, and sign up.
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