Buying the Right PA System in 2024 – Bands, DJs, Singer/Songwriters, and Electronic Performers

Buying the right PA system can be a daunting task. Equipment is expensive, and a poor choice here could end up costing more down the line. This buyer’s guide will help you make a good choice by outlining needs and suggesting gear plucked from reputable companies’ current offerings.

The following article contains affiliate links from which I may receive compensation at no cost to you. Audiomunk only recommends quality products from reputable retailers.

This is a guide to good gear. Bottom-of-the-barrel options aren’t covered here, because they are of a much lesser quality. They’ll get you started, but for the long run, I would not recommend them. Nor will I cover very high-end options, because they can easily fall outside of the average musician’s price range.

The gear covered here is mostly more or less mid-tier, ranging from “Okay” to “Great.” Some products are not the best, but they’re far from garbage. Some are of higher quality, but are pricier. None of it is trash, and none of it is the pinnacle of excellence.

I have included situation-specific recommendations for bands, DJs, singer/songwriters, and live electronic performers. Additionally, I included a few generic PA packages containing speakers, mixers, microphones, and cables.

But before we get into it, let’s review the basics of a PA system.

PA Fundamentals

A PA system must serve three functions:

-Combine all of your inputs
-Send the output to speakers for the audience
-Send the output to speakers for the performer

The levels of loudness and quality will vary depending on the equipment you use. There are 5 key components of a PA system, though some components are optional.

–Mains – These are your speakers for the audience.
–Monitors – These are your speakers for the performer.
–Subs (optional) – These are specialized low-frequency speakers for the audience.
–Mixer – This device combines all of your inputs and sends them to all of your speakers.
–Microphones – These devices translate sound waves into electrical signals.

*Cables – Carry the audio from component to component. I won’t cover the myriad of possibly required cables in this guide, but know that these are, of course, required. For an in-depth look at cable types, check out this article. Here are a couple XLR cables (the type that pro audio most often uses) to get you covered:

Of course, be sure to go over your particular situation and make sure you have all the proper cabling for your system to function.

(Click the following links to skip ahead to the Full Band, DJ, Solo Singer/Songwriter, Solo Live Electronic Performer suggestions.)

THE GEAR

Before we get into the situational PA requirements, let’s take at the gear I’ll be recommending. We’ll be focusing on product lines from great companies producing solid mid-range products: Mackie, Electro-Voice, and QSC (I think QSC is actually a tier above the rest, but I had to include them because they are truly awesome) for loudspeakers; Mackie, Allen & Heath, and Soundcraft for mixers; and AKG, Senheiser, and Shure for microphones.

A Note About the Speakers:
Speakers come in two varieties – passive and powered. Passive speakers require an external amplifier. Powered speakers have internal amplifiers. Trust me when I say that while there are advantages to running passive speakers, it is far more simple and convenient to run powered speakers. That being said, all speakers I recommend here are powered speakers.

Mains

Here, size matters. You will want at least a 12” speaker for Mains duty. These three companies’ offerings are all solid, though Mackie is the lesser of the three. Mackies are more affordable, but don’t sound quite as good as Electro-Voice or QSC. That’s not to say they sound bad, though. The Mackies can still thump!

The QSC speakers are an order smaller, but QSC quality cannot be argued with. They are significantly pricier, but with good reason.

Mackie SRT Series – This series has an on-board DSP to improve sound quality. It also has a companion app that allows you to tweak speaker settings from your phone.
Electro-Voice ZLX Series – This series also has a mobile phone app. It has EQ presets for various use cases.
QSC K.2 Series – QSC has a reputation for making very high-quality products. This series also includes EQ presets for various use cases.

Monitors

All of the mains I suggested previously are also built to be floor monitors. In this situation, you can often get away with smaller speakers than your mains. However it should be noted that for bands with louder stage volumes, an 8” speaker may struggle. 10”-12” is a solid bet for monitor duty. 15” is overkill.

Mackie SRT Series – See “Mains” entry above.
Electro-Voice ZLX Series – See “Mains” entry above.
QSC CP Series, K.2 Series – The CP series is compact and designed to be more portable than the average loudspeaker. It includes two EQ contours – Speech and Dance Music.

Subs

These are nice to have, but they are not required. Subs add a lot of weight to live sound. They make kick drums powerful, bass guitars thick, and for a DJ, they add that deep thump that you really want in your sound.

If you go with a sub, make sure you get one that is bigger than your loudspeaker. If you have 15s for your mains, go with at least an 18” sub. I also recommend that you stick with your mains’ brand. Subs are designed to be part of a system, so getting the sub that goes with your mains completes the package the manufacturer designed.

Mackie SR18S – This sub is designed to fit with the SRT Series.
Electro-Voice ELX200 Series – These subs technically belongs to the pricier ELX series, but seeing that the ZLX series doesn’t have its own sub, the ELX is the best way to go. They come in 12″ and 18″ varieties, but for subs, I always recommend going bigger if possible.
QSC KS Series – These subs are designed to fit with the K.2 Series. They come in 12″ and 18″ varieties.

Mixers

Grand Central Station for your system. Choosing the right mixer is probably the most important part of putting together your PA. You have to choose one that at minimum fits your needs right now, and preferably one with extra channels and features to allow room for growth.

The companies we’re looking at here are Mackie, Allen & Heath, and Soundcraft. Again, Mackie is the more “budget” option. It’s a solid midrange offering with a few bells and whistles, but don’t expect the quality you’d get from A&H or Soundcraft.

Mackie Mix Series, ProFXv3 Series, Onyx series

The Mix series is your bare-bones, lower-mid tier, compact mixer. Knobs instead of faders, aux and tape out, FX models have on-board effects. It gets the job done.
The ProFXv3 series is a step up featuring 192 kHz USB recording, on-board effects, and Onyx preamps. The 12 and up have faders instead of knobs. The 16 and up have 4 buses. “+” models have Bluetooth.
The Onyx series is another step up. They feature Onyx preamps (of course), USB recording, and on-board effects. All of these have Bluetooth, but what really sets it apart is that it is also capable of multitrack recording via USB.

Soundcraft Notepad Series, Signature Series

The Notepad series is a compact set of mixers built for small projects and setups. It has knobs instead of faders to make it physically smaller, but you can expect quality sound. Some come with on-board effects by Lexicon.
The Signature series are standard sized mixers. Great sound, excellent on-board effects by Lexicon, and gnarly preamps. The preamps are actually their own Ghost preamps used on their top-of-the-line studio mixing consoles. One in this series marked MTK is also capable of digital multitrack recording via USB.

Allen & Heath ZED Series

Allen & Heath have a reputation for making great mixers. (For DJs, they also make the much-loved Xone mixers) For portable mixing, their ZED series is an excellent choice. Ranging from compact to huge 32 channel beasts, the ZED series offers options. All have USB recording, Hi-Z inputs for direct input bass and guitars (Disclaimer: I still don’t recommend doing this – mics are always better), and nicely tuned, mid-sweepable EQ. FX models have on-board effects. This one is my personal pick.

Microphones

The Iconic Shure SM58 (left) and SM57 (right)

Shure SM Series – The classic ’57 and ’58. These mics need no introduction. They are the workhorses of the industry, and have been for several decades. They are relatively inexpensive, sound great, and are built like tanks.
Sennheiser e Series – Not as ubiquitous as Shure’s mics, but the Sennheiser e Series is frequently found out in the wild. They’re comparable to Shure’s SM series.
AKG Perception P3S – AKG’s cheaper dynamic vocal microphone. It works, it’s $75 vs $100, and it has an on/off switch. I included this one to give you a more budget option.

*And don’t forget the speaker and mic stands!*

Package Options

If they work for a situation, I’ve also included a package option suggestion. PA packages are rarely complete – usually missing monitors and subs – but they are cost effective and convenient for getting up and running from zero. All-in-one systems like Fender’s Passport series are significantly weaker than other suggestions – and they often cut corners in the mixer department – but they’ll do for a small project. And what they lack in power, they make up for in portability.

Situational Requirements

The equipment you will need for a public performance will vary depending on your particular situation – a band will have different needs than a solo performer, and a DJ will have different needs than a band. Let’s look at each common situation and find what you’ll need for each one.

Buying Guide for Full Bands

On the small end, you have the trio – usually guitar, bass, and drums, with any of them also singing. (There are duos, but they can often be treated like a solo performer.) On the large end… well, they can get pretty big, but for our purposes we’re thinking about 5 people.

What Full Bands Will Need:

Mains – In most cases, a band will need two main speakers. One won’t really cut it here, since bands tend to be much louder than solo performers. Plan on getting two of these.
Suggestions:
Mackie SRT212, SRT215
Electro-Voice ZLX12p G2, ZLX15p G2
QSC K12.2

Monitors – I would suggest 3 of these, but a trio could get away with 2. At the very least, you need one speaker downstage – for the guitarist/bassist/singers – and one speaker upstage – for the drummer. Seeing as this is for the band to hear itself, QSC quality is not as important.
Suggestions:
Mackie SRT210, SRT212
Electro-Voice ZLX8p G2, ZLX12p G2

*Note: It is very important not to skimp on the minimum of two monitor speakers. It is imperative that all the band members be able to hear themselves and each other in order to sync up. The drummer will not be able to hear the downstage monitor, and this will create problems for the performance.

Subs (optional) – Subwoofers are really nice for a full band situation because they add a distinct weight to the band’s sound. The kick will be thick and powerful, the bass will be much more present, and your band will sound much bigger, and more professional.
Suggestions:
Mackie SR18S
Electro-Voice ELX200-12SP, ELX200-18SP
QSC KS112, KS118

Mixer – These come in all shapes and sizes, so it is important to know your particular requirements. Count how many inputs you will need: one per singer, one per instrument. Drums are a special case and require at least three inputs to mic properly. Keyboards are also a special case since they best run in stereo, which requires two inputs. (They can also run in mono if space is tight, though.) As a standard 3-5 piece band, I doubt you’d need more than 12 channels, but I’ll include 16 channel options for the odd bigger project.

Another fundamental consideration for a mixer is whether it has a secondary output for monitors. Most mixers have this, but still – make sure before you buy. The ones I recommend will have this.

A final consideration for mixers are the extras. Some mixers come with on-board effects processors to add reverbs, delays, and more to your mix. Some come with dedicated compressors on select channels. Others come with Hi-Z switches on select channels for directly connecting guitars and basses. These extras are not essential, but they are really nice to have and can add a layer of quality and professionalism to your sound, if properly utilized.

Suggestions:
Mackie MIX8, MIX12FX, PROFX12v3, PROFX16v3, Onyx12, Onyx16
Soundcraft Signature 10, Signature 12, Signature 12MTK, Signature 16
Allen & Heath ZED12FX, ZED14, ZED16FX

Microphones – You will need as many mics as you have singers and instruments (excluding bass guitar and keyboards – those get patched directly into the mixer). I know The Beatles used to be cute and share their mics during performances, but you want to avoid this. For many reasons, it’s much easier to just have one mic per vocalist.
Suggestions:
For Vocals: Shure SM58, Sennheiser e835, AKG Perception P3S
For Instruments: Shure SM57, Sennheiser e609

Package Options – Yamaha makes a couple packages containing a pair of speakers and a mixer. For up to 5 piece bands with drums, I’d go with the MG12XU package because it has a bigger mixer. The STAGEPAS package’s mixer is more fit for up to about a trio, depending on instrumentation.
Suggestions:
Yamaha MG12XU With DBR PA Package 12″ Mains
Yamaha STAGEPAS 600BT Portable PA System With Bluetooth

Buying Guide for DJs

A DJ’s PA needs are unique compared to our other classes of performers. The main reason being that the mixer is their instrument! Which mixer works best for a DJ is outside the scope of this article, but I’ll get to it in a future piece where I’ll explore current offerings. For now, we focus on PA:

A DJ will need:

Mains – If you plan on playing small rooms – like in an apartment for your friends (be warned, the neighbors may hate you), one main would do, but anything beyond that and you will definitely want two main speakers. Speaker size is also a bigger consideration here because electronic music in particular gets pretty low in the audio spectrum. If you’re not going for a sub, I would advise springing a bit more for a bigger speaker, if you can swing it.
Suggestions:
Mackie SRT212, SRT215
Electro-Voice ZLX12p G2, ZLX15p G2
QSC K12.2

Monitor – Yes, you’ll have your headphones, but trust me – you want to hear what’s coming out of the mains. Headphones are for cueing. Monitors are for monitoring. Just one speaker will do fine. It doesn’t even have to be huge – you can easily get away with an 8-inch. QSC quality isn’t required here, so if you have to save a few bucks, go with a small Mackie.
Suggestions:
Mackie SRT210, SRT212
Electro-Voice ZLX8p G2, ZLX12p G2

Sub (optional, but recommended) – While not imperative to include, a sub for a DJ is more than a “nice-to-have.” It really pushes up the bottom end and ups the “club” vibe. Even DJs playing more traditional genres can benefit from a sub, as they will make your sound bigger and taller. All that said, if you can’t swing the price of a sub, don’t worry about it – your mains can get the job done at the average venue. Just try to go with bigger mains if you don’t plan on getting a sub.
Suggestions:
Mackie SR18S
Electro-Voice ELX200-12SP, ELX200-18SP
QSC KS112, KS118

Microphone (optional) – Some DJs like to hype up the crowd with their words. Some DJs prefer to let the music speak for itself. Which one you are is for you to decide. It should be noted, however, that DJs who perform at events are sometimes asked to make announcements. For those situations, you need to have a mic available. It doesn’t have to be a good mic – it can be cheap garbage – it just has to be there.
Suggestions:
Shure SM58
Sennheiser e835
AKG Perception P3S

Package Options – I’ll give you some speaker package suggestions – your packages don’t need a mixer because you (should) already have one. I didn’t cover the Mackie Thumps as a main suggestion because the SRTs are better, but the Thumps are tried and true. The Electro-Voice ZLX packages gives you two ZLX speakers and importantly, they throw in some speaker stands. In both cases, you’ll need to source a monitor.
Suggestions:
Mackie Thump215 Powered Speaker Pair With Road Runner Bags
Electro-Voice ZLX-12P G2 Powered Speaker Pair With Covers and Stands (Also has a 15″ speaker version)

Buying Guide for Singer/Songwriters

This is the least intensive of our categories when it comes to PA requirements. There are two reasons:

-There is only one performer.
-They tend to not be very loud.

This is good news if you’re trying to put together a gigging PA system as a singer/songwriter. You’ll be spending the least out of everyone. Of course, this also means you have the luxury of spending more on higher quality products.

A singer/songwriter will need:

Mains – As a singer/songwriter, you can often get away with a single main speaker. Quieter venues like coffee shops won’t require much more. However two may be preferred if you plan on playing venues with a louder ambience, such as a big, bustling restaurant or a rowdy bar. It may be a good idea to pick up a pair, just in case.
Suggestions:
Mackie SRT210, SRT212
Electro-Voice ZLX12p G2
QSC K10.2, K12.2

Monitor – As a solo performer, one monitor will do just fine. If you don’t feel like lugging around an extra speaker, there are also in-ear monitors that will do the job. Just don’t do headphones – it may work for DJs and electronic performers, but for a singer/songwriter it’s just a bad look. As a solo performer of more traditional music, headphones disconnect you from your audience. And that special connection is very often what makes a performance of this type memorable.
Suggestions:
Mackie SRT210
Electro-Voice ZLX8p G2, ZLX12p G2
In-Ear options: Shure SE215, Sennheiser IE100 PRO

Mixer – Like a band’s situation, it is important for you to know your particular requirements. As a solo performer, your requirements will be minimal. One mic per vocalist and instrument. In most cases, that means two – one for you and one for your guitar. If you’re a keyboardist, you can run direct – just try to choose a mixer that either has an extra channel or a stereo channel so you can run your keyboard in stereo. (Note that if you choose to run a single main, this point is irrelevant.)

Also, consider the extras. Compressors really help vocals and guitars shine, so a mixer with dedicated, on-board compressors are an excellent choice. The same goes with on-board effects processors – adding a touch of reverb and/or delay has a wonderful way of really polishing a live sound.

Note that if you have a feeling a full-band version of your solo project is a possibility in the future, you may want to jump to the mixer suggestions for full bands – better to spend a little more on a mixer now than have to buy a whole new one later. That is, unless size is a factor.

Suggestions:
Mackie ProFX6v3, ProFX10v3
Soundcraft Notepad-5, Notepad-8FX
Allen & Heath ZED-6FX, ZED-10FX

Microphones – Again, one for every singer and instrument. And in your case, that is likely two. Keyboards don’t count. Try not to get caught up in looking for a “Holy Grail” microphone. There are many excellent condenser options available, but they just aren’t necessary. They can be used live and do add a little shimmer, but they can pick up a lot of background noise. Large-diaphragm vocal condensers are more for recording.
Suggestions:
Shure SM58
Sennheiser e835
AKG Perception P3S

Package Options – Power isn’t usually a big necessity in this use case, so the all-in-one options are better suited here. JBL is a reputable company, and the EON series has been around since I first got involved with live audio back as a young teenager. The Fender Passport is also a popular option for solo/duo situations. I also threw in a mini-array from Electro-Voice. They are pricey, for sure, but they sound great and even come with a mini sub.
Suggestions:
JBL EON208P 300W Packaged PA System
Fender Passport Event Series 2 375W Powered PA System (also comes in 600W “Venue” and 175W “Conference” versions)
Electro-Voice EVOLVE 30M Portable Line Array PA System

Buying Guide for Live Electronic Performers

This situation is unique because the needs of live electronic performers can vary wildly depending on their setups. However, past the mixer – which will take the most consideration, if it is not already part of your rig – the requirements will be similar to that of a DJ.

*Need help designing your live electronics rig? Click here to open drop-down for some helpful articles!*

A live electronic performer will need:

Mains – Seeing as you’re playing electronic music, you will most likely want some nice bass. That being said, I wouldn’t suggest you go below 12” speakers for your mains. Like a DJ, if you’re playing a small room for a small audience, one main will suffice (unless you really want a stereo field).
Suggestions:
Mackie SRT212, SRT215
Electro-Voice ZLX12p G2, ZLX15p G2
QSC K12.2

Monitors – DJs need headphones to cue up tracks. But depending on your workflow as a live performer, you may not need private cueing. If you don’t need that, your headphones will work for monitoring. Otherwise, your monitoring requirements are the same as a DJ. Smaller speakers here are okay, and top quality isn’t as important – you just need to be able to hear what you’re doing.
Suggestions:
Mackie SRT210, SRT212
Electro-Voice ZLX8p G2, ZLX12p G2

Sub (optional) – Seeing that you’re playing electronic music, your live sound would definitely benefit from the addition of a sub. However unless you consistently play to larger rooms or crowds, a sub is an expense you can at least put on hold for awhile. A gigging DJ will get more use out of a sub (because, let’s face it – DJs generally get more gigs than live electronic performers), so it makes more sense for them. That said, if you do go for a sub, I’d suggest the same subs I suggest to the DJs.
Suggestions:
Mackie SR18S
Electro-Voice ELX200-12SP, ELX200-18SP
QSC KS112, KS118

Mixer – The mixer you use will very much depend on your live rig, and live rigs can vary wildly. That being the case, I won’t even try to make suggestions here for this category of performer. However, here are some things to consider:

How many OUTPUTS (not instruments – instrument audio can be chained in many situations) are you running?
Are you using effects processors that would negate the need for on-board mixer effects?
Are you running a software-based live rig – such as one built around Ableton Live – with Ableton operating as your mixer, perhaps with a MIDI controller?
Does everything run to a central location, like an audio interface?

Evaluate your answers to determine what type of hardware mixer you might need, or whether you need one at all.

Microphones – Quality here is usually not of paramount importance. In fact, some live electronic performers may eschew a microphone altogether. Still, good live vocal mics are not very expensive, and having one at your disposal could prove useful.
Suggestions:
Shure SM58
Sennheiser e835
AKG Perception P3S

Package Options – Your needs as an electronic performer are very similar to a DJ’s. That being the case, I recommend the same packages to you as I recommend to them. Monitors are not included here, and neither are subs. If you want a monitor (highly recommended) or a sub (optional), you’ll have to source them separately.
Suggestions:
Mackie Thump215 Powered Speaker Pair With Road Runner Bags
Electro-Voice ZLX-12P G2 Powered Speaker Pair With Covers and Stands (Also has a 15″ speaker version)

Full PA Packages

Lastly, I have aggregated all of my full PA package suggestions in case you’d rather get it all in one shot. Bear in mind that these packages are budget options, so they skew in that direction – that means smaller mixers with fewer features and less power, with the exception of the Electro-Voice ZLX package and the Mackie Thump package.
Suggestions:
Yamaha MG12XU With DBR PA Package 12″ Mains
Yamaha STAGEPAS 600BT Portable PA System With Bluetooth
Mackie Thump215 Powered Speaker Pair With Road Runner Bags
Electro-Voice ZLX-12P G2 Powered Speaker Pair With Covers and Stands (Also has a 15″ speaker version)
JBL EON208P 300W Packaged PA System
Fender Passport Event Series 2 375W Powered PA System (also comes in 600W “Venue” and 175W “Conference” versions)
Electro-Voice EVOLVE 30M Portable Line Array PA System

Conclusion

Buying the right PA system is important if you want to perform live outside of established venues with their own sound systems. For bands especially, they are a must to even have rehearsals.

I hope this guide has helped clear up any misconceptions you may have had, and simplified what could be confusing – and expensive – decisions you have to make on your musical journey.

Check back often or subscribe to the right for updates – I plan on posting more of these types of buying guides geared toward bands, DJs, and solo performers.

‘Til next time,

AudioMunk

Buying the Right PA System in 2024 – Bands, DJs, Singer/Songwriters, and Electronic Performers

PA Fundamentals