OT: recommendations on PA gear

[runmikeyrun]

Hello, I've gotta spec out a sound system for the skate park i'm building and i need some advice on gear.  Who makes good power amps and pa speakers on a budget?  Stuff like JBL and Crown is outta the question, what about Carvin stuff?  How about Yamaha speakers? Power amps like Mackie and QSC?  Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Mike

[Greg Moss]

I've used some pa's that incorperated those Mackie powered  speakers (their equivalent of the JBL EON's) - they sound pretty decent, and because they're internallly powered, you don't have to worry too much about crossovers, impedance matching and so  on.... Spending some money on some type of sub-woofer equipment will definatly help out with the overall sound, as well as prolong the life of your pa system.  Mackie does make those as well.

If  you're looking for separate enclosures and amps - the QSC stuff I've used has been good to me.  Carver too works well....  QSC/Crown/Crest have all come out with cheap lines of power amps.  I haven't had too much experience with them but I've heard the Crown stuff is pretty reliable.

[ErikMiller]

What type of program material is going out on this PA system?

Music To Thrash By? Announcements to remind people to wear their helmets?

Makes a difference in what type of equipment you should use.

[Nasse]

I believe they use horn speakers in outdoor sport areas. If they are ment to be outdoors all the time or long periods they must be made for it, take the rain snow and cold weather. I remember having seen these easily available, here in EU stuff like Monacor/Monarch and TOA are often used. Models are available for 100V line or ordinary amp use.

In one icehockey hall here I believe there is a big horn loaded subwoofer, maybe one 15" PA speaker inside, there might be plans around online, and some smaller speakers.

[Rory]

Hey Mike, what do you have in mind?  I work at a music store and can get you stuff el cheapo brand new.  Were you thinking of doing used stuff?  I can get it right at cost.  If you (or anyone really for that matter) are interested, send me an email at:

fanlemming@hotmail.com

FYI:  We're closing out our ZVEX inventory... prices I can't even believe.  We've got a VERY limited quantity, like quantities of 1.  Sorry, shameless promotion...

[troubledtom]

carvin is killer for the$$$$$$
   - tom

[Nasse]

http://www.synergenics.com/sc/

:mrgreen: Someone mentioned announcements for audience. Once downloaded this (automatic radio station/announcement machine that play audio files from your hard disk) when worked at communications kind of job, just loaded it in an leftover battered Pentium PC with cheap soundcard. Perhaps similar programs are around, maybe even free