A Guide to Choosing the Right Passive PA Speakers
There is a huge variety of passive PA speakers that you can choose from on eBay. In order to make sure you get the best ones for your purposes, it is a good idea to learn about their key functions and features. Passive PA speakers require a power amplifier to generate sound and have a major advantage in that they do not require mains power to work - they get all they need from the amp they are connected to.
Where can you use passive PA speakers?Passive PA speakers are good for use indoors where you want to amplify sound. For example, they can help provide a public address system for a speaker, a karaoke singer, or a live band. Since they require no power and are passive, you can use them outdoors, too. However, they are not designed to be resistant to rainfall. They are frequently set up in schools, pubs, village halls, and theatres to provide a means for audio to be heard by an audience.
What size of passive PA speaker do you need?Passive PA speakers tend to be rated according to the size of their largest cone. Many PA speakers have more than one cone and the largest transmits the lower frequencies. The size of a PA speaker cabinet is usually given in inches in the UK:
- 8" PA speaker cone - Good for discos in pubs and small venues.
- 10" PA speaker cone - Good for speakers and discos in function rooms, and medium-sized venues.
- 12" PA speaker cone - Useful for live bands and discos with lots of bass in village halls and music venues.
- 14" PA speaker cone - Handy for live bands and DJs who will play to several hundred attendees.
Yes. If your power amplifier is not compatible with your passive PA speakers, you could run into trouble. Make sure that the ohmage ratings of your power amp and your speakers are the same so that you don't accidentally overpower your speakers when you crank the amp up, either causing distortion or permanently damaging the drivers that push each cone back and forth.
Can you use active and passive PA speakers together?Yes. You can do this as long as only the passive PA speakers receive their audio signal from your power amp. Use a line signal for any additional active PA speakers you want to use in your set up.
