For work I need a speaker that can host ipad/ laptop connection and is loud enough for music to be heard across a small hall (1 x badminton court size). Microphone is an advantage. Music needs to be loud enough for exercise class and/ or kids disco music in small spaces. Is this big/ loud enough? http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/trust-urban-fista-go-pa-speaker-with-bluetooth-a83uu The organisation I am helping this with is only a group that will use this for occasional use. They don't have a huge budget, and the folks who are using the kit are likely to be "older" so won't want loads of complicated leads etc.
I am not an expert at all, but I would say that this speaker fits all your needs. i am also sure someone else will come along and tell you exactly what you need and I would listen to them rather than a numpty like me
At 40 watts not much more powerful than a home stereo system. As ever you get what you pay for. Theres a shop in darlington that does mail order called phase 1. They'll sell you something a bit better but may be nearer 200. Give them a bell and ask for mike
In a sound system like that, volume is a function of power (number of watts) and the speaker size, so 40 watts with a 12" speaker will be plenty loud enough, but with an 8" speaker it may not cut it. Also be aware that you need to increase wattage by a factor of 10 to double volume if all other things are kept same. I've a 15w valve guitar amp that's way louder than my 50w acoustic amp or my 100w mini pa. Get something with the largest speaker you can get in your budget. larger wattage will give you more 'headroom' which is the range where it's loud but not distorted. I'd be tempted to talk to someone in the shop and try the system you've identified. Take an iPod in and crank it up. Walk to far end of the shop and listen. There's no substitute for using your ears. Sorry for being vague.
This is what I was thinking of: https://www.djanddiscostuff.com/sou...15pa-aerobic-battery-powered-portable-pa-p969 Will last a good deal longer too.
40watts should be plenty. I've got a 40watt guitar amp which would blow your head off in a room that size.
Re: 40watts should be plenty. If you tried playing modern dance music through your 40 watt guitar amp, trust me it would suck. Guitars have a very narrow frequency range. To knock out music for kids you need to look at the speaker & the speaker needs more power at low frequencies to move the air. My job is running a mobile DJ company & I also do sound for live bands. Thing is if they take a cheap option it will be knackered within 6 months & warranty won't cover blown speakers.
Re: 40watts should be plenty. I bow to your superior knowledge mate. You wouldn't want it too loud for exercise classes or a kids disco though.
Thanks all for your advice. The group running the Chair aerobis and occasional kids party are happy with the one shown as it will only be occasional use, and not at full blast. However, the one in JPs link also looks like a good buy for the events where I work, so I will be asking the boss to get one of those also. Thanks again.
John Peachy and Plankton Pete are right. Having spent my adult life involved as a musician and then working in a college in a Music Department and then Theatre principally on live sound pre and post production The two products on paper look worlds apart. Personally JPs suggestion is, on paper, far superior to the one from Maplin, who, you must remember are not audio specialists and tend to offer low end products. Unfortunately, neither show full spec details . Size od speaker and RMS output do not tell the whole story. Frequency response is just as important. As someone said a guitar amp has such a small frequency range, and music would sound awful if played through one. Music through a 12 or 15 inch speaker would lack high frequencies (Treble) so a combination of large coned speaker (12 or 15 inch= plus a high frequency tweeter is best (like the one JP shows). You really need something that gives around 40Hz-18KHz to get decent sound. Cheap speaker amps tend to be 'middly' or 'boxy' and in a gym or echoing environment that tends to be emphasised so the sound becomes indistinct. In summary I would avoid the Maplin one
