Recommend me a decent cheap PA system

[SoCal80s]

Get 2 cheap powered speakers that can be used as wedges, such as the Alto TX208 or TX210. Alto brand are a great value and decent sound. Since you think you need 4 inputs, I suggest you get something with at least 8 inputs, because you will always need more down the line, trust me on that. I recommend the Yamaha MG10 (or at least the MG06).

 

[kjp360]

I am not a pro live sound guy by any means but have done some smaller sound reinforcement both for pay and also for my own projects (where no one else would or could step up to do it). For speakers: I have had good results with the EV lines (including their value line), the middle and higher end Yorkville gear and was recently surprised by some reasonably affordable Yamaha 12" bins. For mixers it is really a question of what your needs are as there are a lot of variables anda boat load of choices. If at all possible I would rent gear and see if it meets your needs and expectations before spending the money. Many retailers will deduct at least half of the rental cost if you end up buying and it is totally worth it.

 

[jthisdell]

We use a Soundcraft signature 12 mixer and Yamaha DBR 10's and 12's

 

[Stewie]

I bought a nice 8 channel Peavey powered mixer, a couple of nice 12 inch with tweeter speakers, a matching floor monitor, and stands for the speakers for 275. Wonderful gear for up to medium sized gigs. Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace

 

[wyleeboxer]

I have a side cover band doing Motown and funk, often 5 piece with 4 singers. I often use this little head (Behringer PMP500MP3 Ultra-Compact 500-Watt 8-Channel Powered Mixer with MP3 Player) to power two passive 112 PA cabs and I have one powered monitor, some members bring their own powered monitor.. For bars, restaurants and small outdoor gigs this head actually delivers it so well that I actually get the band members always complimenting on the sound, even the keyboardist from my other main cover band that usually brings his 2000 watt system to the other gigs

 

[theduke1]

Musician Friend sell a Harbinger package 4 channel mixer (powered) two speakers for $299.00
Or a Gemini with speaker stands included for
$349
Pretty low cost options
Duke

 

[flannel cat]

im gonna echo the post of go for more channels like 8 channels as mentioned,,i found a used 16 channel starcrafter for 100$ for our practice studio its got everything plumbed through the monitors plus a turntable ,and a cd player, works great! its nice having xtra options..

 

[vvvmmm]

He didn't say Call me a decent cheap PA system, he said, recommend me a decent cheap PA system.

Yes, and I so recommended him, for it is I, The Great Recommender what called him, "good".

 

[One_Dude]

I second the suggestion of going with a mixer that has a minimum of 8 channels. You won't be sorry going forward, and the price difference if you buy used isn't much. Yamaha, Peavey, and Mackie are the popular and reliable brands that are easily found used. With a many bands moving to digital mixers, there are a lot of good used analog boards available.

Thump on,

One_Dude

 

[juancaminos]

I second the digital Behringer. Bring your family into the current century. I am a Yamaha man through and through as far as PA equipment goes but have been reading a lot about those digital mixers.

 

[seamonkey]

Headphones or IEM - still the best.
Next are the column/line-array PA speakers from the top name brands.
You can get good even coverage around the room.

And +1 on digital mixer.

 

[Bass Man Dan]

If you are just needing vocals for rehearsal, this will work fine:
Phonic Powerpack PPOD-410 PA System-PowerPod 410 Head & Mixer + S710 Speakers | eBay

We've used this set up for a couple of years, no issues for rehearsal.

 

[bordinco90]

I would get a small 4 or 6 channel mixer with a harbinger VARI 12 inch powered speaker. I have one and it sounds great.

 

[gumtown]

I would recommend two of the "Yamaha DBR12", they are a great and reliable all-rounder, and are plenty powerful enough (1000w) for stage monitors or FOH for a small~medium gig.
These are great speakers, we use them for stage monitor and FOH, with a couple of Yamaha DXS15 subs.

For a desk, something cheap if only using for home, a Behringer Xenyx QX1202USB 12-Input Mixer w/ FX & USB (4 mics + 4 stereo line inputs).

or if you want something Digital and useful for gigs too, I recommend the Soundcraft Ui16, which is a compact floor box and full featured, just add your own wifi devices for control.

 

[murph7489]

I found a mackie 8 channel fx8 pro for like 100 bucks on reverb..great mixer for that price level..probably can't beat it really..the money is in the speakers..probably best bet is some EV speakers for around 450-500 for a pair...that's pretty much all you ever will need at 800 watts, 8 channels..boom done...

 

[Samatza]

I've used a Allen and Heath ZED 10 FX and two Behringer 8" PA speakers for small duo gigs in restaurants, they sound OK if you don't push them to hard. Even with bass and drum machine going through them they're OK for low volume work.

 

[BassNugget]

If you are not playing out, i.e. just being in your home, you can buy a mixer with enough channels (10-12) for all instruments and vocals. Run the main outs to your stereo system. Instant band system for the house provided your stereo is half decent. I once helped PA a gig for about 200 people where we did exactly that. The mains were Bose 901s from our living room powered by a Carver magnetic field amp. Sounded better than most PAs we had ever used indoors. Most PAs (in my humble opinion) sound terrible indoors.

 

[Keyser Soze]

I recommend subscribing to Musician's Friend "Stupid Deal of the Day" email. They regularly feature cheap PA components; mic stands, mic cables, mics, mixers, speakers, often in "two-fer" lots. These are often "close-outs," model lines that are being refreshed by the manufacturer, at close-out prices.

Between Craigslist and MF's "Stupid Deal of the Day," you can source good gear at rock bottom prices, pretty much everything you'll need, with a little patience. My "home PA" gear is Mackie, JBL, Shure; not off-brand or bargain bin stuff except for the cables and stands.

 

[clickclack]

Probably depends where you live but: Yamaha.
We use a Yamaha emx512sc with two huge Yamaha speakers, can't recall their model name.
Can handle bass & guitar & vocal together effortlessly. Some nice internal low & hi cut going on to protect speakers I reckon.
Setting EQ of guitars to sound good/better is essential on any system of course.

 

[jallejulius]

What with being stuck in the house all the time, we thought we'd do the family band thing. So I'm looking to buy an affordable but decent small PA system for use at home. It doesn't need to be anything fancy. Just a small board and two speakers should do it.

Any recommendations? I'm happy to consider a used system.

I'm also a fan of the Alto TX line of powered monitors. Our band uses a couple of their 12 inch ones (TX212) as stage monitors. Plenty loud, lightweight, and they've been hauled around a lot and are still reliable. $200 each on Musician's Friend it looks like, now. I got mine on sale, but don't remember the price I paid.

Anyway, these will sound better than their price and weight would lead you to expect. Have fun!

In my band, we're using Altos TS315's as FOH and they sound great. With the subs (two TS318s), we can do up to ~300 guests.
My suggestion to TS is to get something that could also be used outside your garage, if needed later down the road. The price difference between the TX and the TS line is not very much, but you will get a lot more power and SPL. But if your're never going to use these speakers outside your house, or at very small places, the TX should also work