10 Best Portable PA Systems

Choosing a portable PA system isn’t easy. You have to consider your intended audience and venues, the expected power needs, how much coverage the system offers, and how much weight you want to carry around. With today’s market saturated by cost-effective units, it may be hard to determine if you want to make do with a single-box PA or bite the bullet and get an incredibly powerful multi-component system.

Having the biggest and most powerful setup on the block is awesome unless it’s not the right system for the venue. As most gigging musicians can tell you, bigger is not always better when it comes to PA systems. That’s where Sweetwater’s four decades of experience comes in handy. We offer many portable PA systems that can handle most any application. To make it even easier for you, we assembled our list of the 10 best portable PA systems you can buy. Each PA on our list showcases amazing coverage while striking the perfect blend of portability and power. Ready to find your perfect PA system? Let’s get started.

Sweetwater’s Top 10 Portable PA Picks

Bose S1 ProElectro-Voice Evolve 50QSC K12.2Bose F1JBL EON One CompactPeavey Escort 6000Bose L1Yamaha StagePas 600BTMackie FreePlay LIVERoland BA-300

Bose S1 Pro

“Whatever can go wrong will go wrong.” Murphy’s law is commonly applied to gigging with needlessly complex systems. For those who are superstitious, the Bose S1 Pro multi-position PA system provides an all-in-one solution to your gigging worries. The S1 Pro is well suited for the solo or small act and provides plenty of coverage without hot spots.

Another reason to love the S1 Pro is its battery-powered operation. This 150-watt PA can provide up to 11 hours of entertainment on a single charge! It’s also incredibly versatile for being so small. Need to step away from the mic to use the restroom or mingle with the audience? The Bose S1 Pro doubles as a handy playback device, so you don’t kill the vibe with a quiet room. When not in use as a PA, your Bose S1 Pro can become a wedge monitor or a practice amp.

Pros:

Weight: The S1 Pro tips the scales at just 15 lbs.All-in-one: You don’t need to set up a complex system. Plop it down and play!Mounting options: The S1 Pro can be tilted, seated, stand-mounted, or placed on its side.

Electro-Voice Evolve 50

The Electro-Voice Evolve 50 provides amazing sound reproduction in an inconspicuous package. It has a compact 12″ subwoofer that’s topped by a slim column array. It produces 1,000 watts of Class D room-filling power that can be discreetly placed in a corner. Want to use it at your next spin class? It’s there. Gigging in a crowded coffee shop? Not a problem. No matter the application, the Evolve 50’s four factory presets — Music, Live, Speech, and Club — make sure you always sound perfect.

The Evolve 50 has just three components: a 12″ subwoofer cabinet, a speaker column, and a bidirectional coupler. Inside the column, you’ll find eight 3.5″ neodymium drivers that provide 120° of horizontal coverage and 40° of vertical coverage. The Evolve 50 has tons of headroom, so you’ll be safe cranking it up. It also has an onboard 3-channel mixer and two XLR combo inputs.

Pros:

Low-profile design: It ensures the attention stays on you instead of your PA.Seamless Bluetooth playback: Easily play music while you’re away from the mic.Includes carrying bag: Transport your column array and coupler in a padded bag.

QSC K12.2

Looking for a system that comes with cables, carrying bags, and stands? The QSC K12.2 Powered Speaker Pair and Subwoofer Bundle from Sweetwater is what you’re after. You’ll get two QSC K12.2 2,000-watt powered speakers and a QSC KS212C 3,600-watt powered subwoofer. Best of all, this Sweetwater bundle has everything you need to get started, including stands, cables, and covers. This QSC K12.2 bundle isn’t only portable, but it will also save you a ton of money when you buy it from Sweetwater.

The QSC K12.2 bundle is perfect for mobile DJs playing large venues. The powered speakers are loaded with factory presets that tweak the EQ to match the type of audio you’re playing. You also have user-adjustable parameters, such as EQ, delay, input configuration, and crossover. The QSC K12.2 Powered Speaker Pair and Subwoofer Bundle will take your live show to a totally new level.

Pros:

More power: This bundle includes two 2,000-watt powered speakers and a 3,600-watt powered subwoofer.Smooth coverage: The K12.2 uses Directivity Matched Transition to eliminate dead areas and hot spots.Included accessories: You also get speaker stands, a QSC KS212C speaker cover, and QSC K12 Totes.

Bose F1

If it’s big-system sound with a compact footprint that you’re after, then the Bose F1 PA Package will be your best option. This PA system ships to your door with a total of four speakers: two 1,000-watt array loudspeakers and two 1,000-watt powered subwoofers. Trust us — this PA system is powerful. You’ll be able to gig midsize venues without worrying about coverage issues.

Each loudspeaker features a line of eight vertically oriented drivers, and the custom 100° waveguide delivers consistent coverage. The adjustable coverage pattern automatically adjusts the EQ to tailor your speakers to your venue. Each subwoofer is loaded with two 10″ high-excursion drivers that provide floor-shaking bass — even at the back of the house. The speakers stack on top of the subs, making setup a breeze.

Pros:

Plenty of power: Four 1,000-watt speakers let you play midsize venues.Polarity switch: It modifies low-frequency overlap.Included carrying bags: Easy-to-carry bags save you time and money.

JBL EON One Compact

The JBL EON ONE Compact is a micro-array PA system that you can easily fit in your front seat. This PA is loaded with an 8″ woofer and 1″ tweeter that work together to create a balanced sound that’s suitable for any mid-sized audience. The 4-channel mixer has two XLR combo inputs with phantom power, a hi-Z input, 3.5mm aux input with 2-band EQ, and reverb level control.

For the singer/songwriter, the JBLThe EON One Compact is the perfect system. It has built-in handles and battery operation. While you’re onstage, its low-profile design remains completely inconspicuous. It has a tight woofer, and 120 watts of power that deliver 112dB of power, ensuring that your audience will be on their feet all night. If you need to step away from the stage, the EON One Compact has integrated Bluetooth playback to keep the party going for up to 12 hours on a single charge.

Pros:

Powerful subwoofer: Compact 8″ subwoofer pumps out tight, clean low end.Portability: One person can unload and set up the EON One Compact in one trip.Simple Bluetooth playback: Control and stream music from the dance floor!

Peavey Escort 6000

The Peavey Escort 6000 provides a quick and easy setup that’s incredibly easy to transport. This PA system is perfect for small- to medium-sized gigs and comes with a handy case to protect from travel-related damage. You’ll get two speakers, a 9-channel mixer, stands, and cables. The Escort 6000 has a pair of 300-watt speakers that combine to bring this PA 600 watts of power. Each speaker has a 10″ woofer and a tweeter to facilitate detailed sound reproduction.

The Peavey Escort 6000 has a 9-channel mixer that’s equipped with seven XLR combo inputs and stereo RCA inputs. In addition, you’ll have access to a 3-band EQ on each channel, a 7-band master EQ, Peavey’s Feedback Locating System, and digital effects that give you total control over your sound. If you need a system that strikes the perfect balance between power and portability, then the Peavey Escort 6000 is for you.

Pros:

Versatile EQ: The 7-band master EQ gives you total control over your sound.Includes accessories: Escort 6000 includes speaker stands and cables.Integrated rolling case: Molded case protects your system with enclosed storage for your mics.

Bose L1

If you’re a singer/songwriter or regularly give lectures to large audiences, then your perfect system is right here. The Bose L1 Compact system is an all-in-one 200-watt PA and monitoring system that provides superior coverage and better sound reproduction than many similarly sized PAs in today’s market. Best of all, the L1’s design is incredibly compact. With the subwoofer serving as part of the base and the speaker array mounted on top, the L1 has a footprint of only 1.5 square feet.

The speaker array is loaded with six precisely mounted drivers that deliver true 180° coverage. Depending on the size of your audience and venue, you can tailor your sound with two different listening positions to ensure that the back of the house can hear you. With its superior portability, easy setup, and even coverage, the Bose L1 Compact system will blow your audience away.

Pros:

Portability: One person can carry the entire L1 system into the venue in one trip.Superior coverage: Precision-mounted drivers provide you with true 180° coverage.ToneMatch channels: Fixed presets optimize playback for handheld microphone and acoustic guitar.

Yamaha StagePas 600BT

Looking for something that handles midsize venues as well as it does small venues? We have just the thing you’re looking for — the StagePas 600BT from Yamaha. This PA provides 680 watts of power, two speakers with 10″ low-frequency and 1.4″ high-frequency drivers, built-in stand mounts, and a powered 10-channel mixer with Bluetooth connectivity. By using the Yamaha StagePas 600BT, your entire band can treat your audience to a true stereo performance without breaking your backs to get set up.

The StagePas 600BT’s mixer offers two XLR inputs with phantom power, two XLR combo inputs with switchable hi-Z, and stereo line input channels to round it out. Better still, each channel is equipped with a 3-band EQ and effects level control. To ensure that you get the best coverage possible, the Yamaha StagePas 600BT is equipped with custom waveguides to widen sound distribution.

Pros:

Intelligent feedback suppression: It eliminates problem frequencies before they disrupt your set.Bluetooth connectivity: Wirelessly connect software instruments or intermission music in channels 9 and 10.Big enough for your band: The 10-channel mixer handles multiple instruments and mics.

Mackie FreePlay LIVE

The Mackie FreePlay LIVE is a Bluetooth-enabled PA and featherweight contender for the best portable PA out there. This compact PA easily fits on a tabletop and pumps out 150 watts of power. If you’re playing outdoors or somewhere where power outlets are scarce, then you can use the FreePlay LIVE’s battery to provide up to 15 hours of great music reproduction. Despite its size, the FreePlay LIVE will make sure you’re heard wherever you’re playing.

The combination of power, compact size, and long battery life makes the FreePlay LIVE the perfect backpack companion. This 2-channel PA has two XLR combo inputs that can handle mics, instruments, and line-level sources. To ensure your performance goes off without a hitch, the FreePlay LIVE has an onboard EQ that you can use to optimize your performance between Live playback and Music playback.

Pros:

Control it all from your smartphone: The FreePlay Connect app easily adjusts input levels, effects, and mute functions.Bluetooth connectivity: Wirelessly play tunes while you’re away from the stage.Weight: The FreePlay LIVE weighs just under 9 lbs.

Roland BA-330

Want to ditch your clunky PA rig in favor of a grab-and-go PA? The Roland BA-330 just might be what you’re looking for. This space-saving PA is powerful enough to handle small venues and outdoor gigs while staying small enough to fit on your back seat. To sweeten the deal, Roland loaded the BA-330 with such functional extras as onboard effects and advanced feedback control. The days of worrying about feeding back at high volumes are over!

The Roland BA-330 utilizes a 4-channel configuration with two channels for mic/line inputs and two channels for stereo inputs. If you want to use the BA-330 with another speaker, it’s equipped with a stereo link and line outputs. If size is a big factor in your purchase, the Roland BA-330’s compact size makes it the perfect portable PA for you!

Pros:

Single-unit operation: It’s a single piece of equipment — just plug in and play!Built-in effects: Use onboard EQ, reverb, and delay to tailor your performance to your venue.Flexible power options: Choose between AC power or eight AA batteries.

That’s it! Sweetwater’s list of the 10 Best Portable PA Systems you can buy! Still unsure about which PA you want? Call a Sweetwater Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700! Our expertly trained Sales Engineers will help you every step of the way. Whether it’s picking your perfect PA or working out financing and shipping information, our Sales Engineers will be happy to assist in finding the perfect PA for you!
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