Best Portable All-in-one PA system ~$600

[KoNGo]

Hello,

Our church is looking to get one of those "All-in-one" portable PA systems - the ones that have the board, the amp, and the monitors all in one easy to carry package.

We are starting a Friday night campus ministry, and we're gonna need a small portable system to use in a medium/large size classroom at UC Berkeley.

Any suggestions? Thanks!

David.

[jim_n_virginia]

The only one I ever checked out was the Fender Passport. Looked like a large sewing machine that came apart in three sections and was a small mixer and two speakers with what looked like 3 or 4 six-inch speakers in each speaker case.

Pretty rudimentary and simple. I think there is a 150watt and a 200watt. I was drawn a little because it was so compact but didn't buy it because it just didn't have the power for what I wanted.

It might work for a medium sized room but definitely not an auditorium.

[slewis]

We have a Fender Passport system and for overall good-quality sound, price, simple operation, ease of use and portability, I think they're tough to beat. I haven't compared it to other similar systems (Carvin, etc.) but I know we're happy with ours. I know they have, or aty least had, two different models with different levels of power. Good luck!

[MJH]

I'm no PA expert, but I have a Peavey Escort that I like very much. At least give it a look.

[whiskeyjack]

I just went through this recently. I've a/b'd the Fender Passport 150 with the Kustom Profile One and read some reviews about the Peavey Escort 2000. Here's what I think:

Pro's:

1) Passports are the lightest units with the most redimentary adjustments. They sound pretty good. At about 30 pounds they're easy to get around with. Passport 150 = 150 watts.

2) Kustom Profile One is the most versatile with it's adjustable effects on each channel. It sounds very good and can be purchased with a roller bag with zippered pouches for speaker stands and accessories. Completely self-contained. 100 watts.

3) Peavey Escort 2000 appears to be a very convenient, self contained system as well. A clam-shell design with compartments for mics and cables, wheels on one end and built in tow bar on ther other. 75 watts I think. (I don't know what they sound like. . .appently very good.)

Cons:

1) Fender Passport 150 has no effects and some controls are so coarse that adjustments aren't even noticeable. There's just enough room in the storage compartment for a microphone, two speaker cables and a power cable. You'll have to carry along speaker stands.

2) Kustom Profile One weighs just about 85 pounds with the speaker stands, microphones and cables in the roller bag. It IS portable but it's not easy to get in and out of vehicles nor is it all that easy to tow. It has a tow handle at the top like a suitcase but you'd better hang on to it tightly because the weight on the towing axle (you) can get excessive. The partitions in the roller bag that separate the pa components are velcro'd to the sides of the roller bag. It's a bit of a headache to keep the partitions attached and doing their job. Dedicated speaker stands for this unit are stable at about four feet; any higher and watch out.

3) Peavey Escort 2000 weighs about 70 pounds. I haven't played through or seen one of these in person but from conversations and reviews it likely has some of the same physical cons as the Profile One. It's apparently narrower than the Profile One bagged system which would seem to make it unstable to tow. And, as I was about to buy one of these used, the seller suggested I invest in some speaker stands because the collapsible ones included with the unit are only 1/2" tubular aluminum. Her words were, "They're an accident waitin' to happen."

My money's on the Fender Passport series. Just plan on carrying speaker stands along with your mic stands and an extra case for mics, cords and other peripheral stuff. I just don't think the attributes of the Kustom Profile One and the Peavey Escort 2000 justify dealing with all that weight in one package unless there's two people to handle these units. They're both under four feet high so the tow feature is ok on your back if you're short, say five feet tall. But taller folks might's well carry these things or take a short course in Quasi Moto.

This is just what I think. . .I ain't sayin' I'm right about all this.

[rhudson]

My vote is for the Peavey Escort. I have been using one for about 2 years. It is very compact and the sound is much better than you would expect. Works good up to about 500 people. The sound I get from the Peavey is much better than most of the larger house systems where I play.

JMO.

[Stixx]

Bose PAS, hands down the best simplest , probably need at least two of em.

[franchelB]

Originally Posted by Stixx

Bose PAS, hands down the best simplest , probably need at least two of em.

For $600?! Hurry, where do I find one??

I've used my Fender P250 for 3 years without any problems...but I've been noticing that the prices have been raised closer to $700.
I wouldn't hesitate getting Fender's PD150...it's speakers were designed in collaboration with Bose.

[leftydude]

I own both a Fender Passport 150 and a Peavey Escort 2000. The Passport has a bit more power but the Peavey is cleaner sounding and much more portable. I prefer the Peavey. I did buy better speaker stands though.

[joser]

I own the Peavey Escort. We have used it for small gigs and all practice sessions for more than 2 years. Pretty versatile and very portable. We have also used it as a stage monitor system. Everything is included including a mic. The stands are not the strongest but I've had no issues with them to date. I think it was right at your $$ threshold.

Joser
814ce, Tobacco

[JohnZ]

I've used a Carvin AG100D for years for secondary gigs and wouldn't consider anything else.

The larger Passport has decent tone and the Carvin makes a battery powered unit with 10's that I've used with ok results, but overall, the AG100D is far more versitile.

[AcousTronic]

I recently looked into a small PA also, and in that price range, the Peavey Escort 2000 system got rave reviews!! One of the reviews said that it blows the Fender unit's out of the water for overall sound quality and sounds like a larger JBL system... Here's a link to the system w/ user reviews: http://www.zzounds.com/item--PEVESCORT2000

Personally though, I am going to save the extra cash and get the Bose PAS System!! (about $2k more than the Peavey) But for us people that spend $2-3k on a guitar, it would be pointless to use anything less!! http://www.bose.com/controller?event....jsp&src=AUGDM

[JohnZ]

I wonder if the Bose and Peavy units can sit in 110 degree heat all day at max volume on a pool gig and be used later that evening with the highs unplugged as a bass amp on a club gig? Are they one piece and weigh less than 37 pounds total?

Carvin AG100D

Bigger PA's are another matter.

[4Gtrs]

If you're considering the Passport, I'd recommend the Deluxe version. The speakers and sound quality are different from the standard model.

[rhudson]

Originally Posted by Stixx

Bose PAS, hands down the best simplest , probably need at least two of em.

Uh, - I think he said $600?