Can I use home audio speakers as PAs?

[sublime0bass]

so, i have a mixer, a power amp, and a microphone, and was wondering if i could buy/obtain some medium-sized home speakers to use as a PA system.

assuming all cables and impedances match, should this work?

mic --> mixer --> Poweramp --> speakers

 

[JonathanD]

For low volume gigs yes. However you can get cheap PA cabs that can handle being moved around often.

 

[Vandelay]

Do home audio speakers still use the red & black "bare speaker wire" type of connections? If so, I'm guessing you'd have to remove the 1/4" plug from a standard speaker cable and strip the wires?

I remember doing these kinds of jerry-rigs when I was young and had no money. My little band once threw a party where I used my home speakers as the mains, my home audio receiver as the power amp, and a 4-track cassette recorder as the mixer, lol.

 

[sublime0bass]

no this is purely for messing around at the house. id never use it for a concert.

most speakers still use black and reds. this power amp in particular has 3 kinds of outputs: bare wire, banana plug, and 1/4 inch. so the out signal wont be a problem.

as long as i have some speakers with a decent range, should i be fine?

 

[bluestarbass]

Yea youll be fine. I wouldnt turn it up any louder than you need to, or any louder than you listen to music on them. The main differences between an actual PA speaker and home audio speaker is durablity and power handling. As long as your not pushing them real hard im sure youll be fine.

 

[EastCoastThump]

Yea youll be fine. I wouldnt turn it up any louder than you need to, or any louder than you listen to music on them. The main differences between an actual PA speaker and home audio speaker is durablity and power handling.

+1. This will be fine for home listening and even coffee house gigs. In fact, decent home audio speakers will probably be more even sounding than all but the spendiest sorts of FOH cabs and stage monitors.

BTW, if you'll be at some point tempted to run your bass through that set-up, throwing a limiter b/w the mixer and power amp would be worthwhile insurance.