The PA system is the linchpin of any venue or event space, whether it’s the hottest new night club, this weekend’s big house party, or the screening of the next indie film sensation. It’s integral to the experience of social activity—and because music and sound deserve to be clear, coherent, and exhilarating, the PA system needs to serve up the goods by being powerful, reliable, and properly scaled for the event.
In our live sound guide, we go into the specifics of PA systems, how amplification works, active vs. passive speakers, and the other sorts of technical know-how—if you’re looking for something more in depth, head on over there. This lighter guide is meant to give you a bevy of categorical examples of great PA systems that will fit your specific needs and budget without going into the nitty-gritty. If you need to get a system up and running posthaste, this guide is for you!
Small, Portable, Rechargeable Systems
These smaller systems are designed for applications where AC power isn’t readily available and volume is less of a priority—camping, beach hangs, barbecuing in the park, or your nephew’s fifth birthday party are use cases for these machines (though these guys can get way louder than your typical Bluetooth speaker). Most use cases in these scenarios will only call for one active PA speaker—while you can still get yourself a pair, if there’s no need to project high fidelity stereo sound, just one can set the vibes by itself.
In 2026, Bluetooth is almost a requirement for these types of PA systems—it’s so ubiquitous that I find it useless to cover anything without it in this section. But connectivity is still a serious consideration when picking out your PA system, along with loudness, battery life, size and weight, and portability. Here are some of the standout systems in this category.
Bose S1 Pro+ Wireless PA System with Bluetooth: Jack-of-All-Trades
The Bose S1 is one of the leading best sellers in this category, and while it’s not cheap (Bose never is), it might be one of the most flexible and easy-to-use systems in the market, and it sounds great to boot.
Weighing in at 14.4 lb/6.5 kg, the S1 is surprisingly lightweight machine for its size and is physically designed to be used in multiple ways—from a floor monitor, practice amp, Bluetooth speaker, or in a full PA setup. It even has a built-in receiver that supports transmission from up to two wireless microphones or instruments, so you can use it to MC over your DJ set or make announcements at your next event (you can purchase a kit from B&H that includes a Sennheiser e825s microphone with a wireless XLR transmitter if that’s your intention).
The Bose S1+ is an all-in-one active PA system with DSP (digital signal processing) powering a 3-channel mixer with EQ, reverb effects, and tone processing with ToneMatch all built into the system—no need to get a separate mixer to control the sound.
The Bose S1+ can handle up to three inputs (two mono combo XLR-1/4” TS, one stereo ¼” TS/3.5mm) with an XLR line out, has USB-A and USB-C inputs, 11-hour-rated lithium-ion battery, and an IEC power port for charging or using with wired power. You’re also able to control the S1+ with the Bose Music App and can even link two S1+’s wirelessly for stereo output.
Rated at 150W, this PA system is perfect for smaller outdoor events or house parties—this is meant for casual consumer use and is not for venues or live rock band performances. Anyone looking for a strong system that’s easy to move around the house or put into the trunk of a car should consider the Bose S1+.
Behringer Europort MPA40BT-PRO: Super-Portable and Quite Affordable
The Behringer Europort Pro is a 19 lb battery-powered 8” portable PA speaker with a carry-on-luggage-style wheeled chassis, making it quite easy to move around town with. It does not feature any onboard DSP—so no digital effects—but does have an analog two-band EQ, two XLR/1/4” inputs as well as dual RCA inputs on the 3rd channel along with Bluetooth capability. It also allows for a bespoke wireless mic system via USB with Behringer ULM202USB Ultralink wireless microphones.
The Behringer is a more portable but less powerful system equipped with a 40W Class-D amplifier, and its price reflects that (look to our live sound guide for more info on amp classes). With its strong but bare-bones performance and a battery life rated for up to 12 hours, it’s best suited for smaller events, often used for things like busking or street performance.
Mackie ShowBox: Bring the Boom with Expansion and Control
This 28 lb PA system doesn’t exactly belong in this category, but it made it here by having some impressive and convenient features along with a powerful 400W amplifier power rating. It has the standard array of features like Bluetooth and USB-C streaming, mic, line, and instrument inputs, and other features you’ll find on most any portable PA system, but the Mackie ShowBox is doing something that other PA in this class usually don’t do.
The Mackie ShowBox has a fully featured 6-input mixer with 4 main channels, each of which can host effects like EQ, compression, distortion, loopers, and a tuner, along with two send effects for reverbs and delays. The control panel for these effects can quite fantastically break off from the speaker itself and can be mounted separately to a mic stand as a standalone mini-mixer. That means you won’t to bend over the speaker itself to fiddle with controls or tone shaping; set it up on a stand and have total control at your fingertips without looking strange or unprofessional while performing or monitoring or hand it off to your sound guy offstage!
This cool feature, along with its powerful amplifier (for its size) and a microSD card slot for recording and media playback, makes the Mackie Showbox perfect for smaller acts or small-sized event spaces. Those who need extra control and power but appreciate the portability and flexibility of a more mid-sized system should check it out.
Portable POWERED Turn-Key Systems
Sometimes your coverage requirements may exceed the capabilities of the rechargeable systems, so this next group of systems might be more appropriate. They require AC power but are designed to be portable and integrate components such as mixers, cabling, and a way to transport the system all into a compact form factor.
If you are doing a small event where you know you will have access to AC power and want to easily transport the system by yourself in a vehicle with minimal stress, the following systems are worth a look.
Fender Passport Series 2 Vocal PA
A classic, easy to carry, and fully capable PA system can be found in the Passport series from Fender. Available in three sizes and power levels, the Passport Conference Series 2 (175W), Passport Event Series 2 (375W), and Passport VENUE Series 2 (600W) all feature stereo speakers and a combination amplifier with a 5-, 7-, or 10-channel mixer module. The elements latch together to form one solid molded plastic case that can be carried like a briefcase by a recessed top handle.
The Passport Conference uses 5.25" woofers that deliver clear mids, suitable for public speaking. If your intention is to play music for a party, the Passport Event offers lower bass response because it uses larger 8" woofers in its speaker enclosures, and the Passport VENUE offers even more still by using 10" woofers. There are many factors to consider when choosing a system. Consider your application, how much weight you feel comfortable carrying, and if there might even be a need to upgrade the system to something larger over time.
JBL EON208P Personal PA System
The JBL EON208P is another turn-key system rated at 300W Class-D amplification for each speaker with an 8-channel mixer, onboard EQ and DSP limiting (so you don’t explode your speakers), phantom power for condenser mics on channels one and two with channel three supporting Hi-Z input for guitars and even includes an AKG mic. It has a locking briefcase form factor just like the Fender Passport, weighing in at 38.8 lb/17.6 kg total.
It also features Bluetooth paring, ¼”/RCA monitoring output, a subwoofer out, and a 3.5mm headphone output, making it quite a versatile machine for whatever your use case may be. B&H also sells a conference kit that includes two extra mics (three total) and two mic stands as well as a kit that includes speaker stands and protective bags if you’re taking everything on the go.
Samson Expedition XP800 800W Portable PA System
For those who need a portable system with a little more power can look to the Samson Expedition XP800 which consists of dual 400W speakers and a removable 8-channel mixer that attaches to the back of the system for transport, all in a system that packs up into a single portable unit weighing just over 40 lb.
The XP800 comes with the standard stuff including mic/line combo inputs with phantom power, Bluetooth connectivity, Hi-Z input for guitars, 3.5mm and RCA options, and digital effects programs. It also comes with a USB Wireless port for use with separately sold Samson XPD USB Digital Wireless systems.
Like the Fender Passport, the Samson Expedition comes in different tiers of power and I/O: the 300W XP300 with a 6-channel mixer and the 1000W XP1000 with a 10-channel mixer are available if you need a little more or a little less power, all with digital effects and a speech/music toggle for your preferred use case.
Classic Powered PA Speakers
These PA systems are the platonic ideal—they are meant to deliver huge powerful sound over a large group of people and are often used in medium sized venues as both front-of-house speakers and as monitors. These machines get into the pro territory, eschewing some features like Bluetooth or mic/Hi-Z inputs, so they’re not meant for casual listening or plugging a mic or guitar into directly (although many will still offer those features anyway). If you’re looking to build a real-deal system, take a gander at these mainstays.
Yamaha DZR Series (and Newly Released DXR Series): Serious Pro Gear for Venues and Installs
The Yamaha DZR Series of powered PA speakers has been a mainstay solution for front-of-house coverage and wedge monitoring for quite a while now, and there’s good reason for it: The Yamaha DZR series is powerful, flexible, and comes in all sorts of different variants to suit your venue’s needs, including both 2-way and 3-way systems.
However, the DZR Series does not have mic or Hi-Z inputs—only 2 line I/O ports (XLR/14” combo for input and XLR male for Thru/Output), so these are designed primarily for professional setups. As such, there is also a Dante-equipped version, which enables integration with Yamaha digital consoles and other Dante devices for remote, network-scalable control.
The Yamaha DZR PA systems set themselves apart with some powerful 96 kHz DSP processing—using FIR-X technology, they deliver phase-coherent EQ for the crossovers and frequency response along with offering a bevy of digital processing features like parametric EQ, delay, routing, and the ability to load user or factory presets. The unit itself can store up to eight user presets, but it has a USB port for loading up more presets saved on a USB flash drive, so you can easily save and transfer settings between multiple units.
A really interesting and decidedly awesome feature is Yamaha’s D-Contour, which combines the overall EQ settings with intelligent multiband compression that keeps the sound profile consistent regardless of how hard you drive the speaker—maybe more of a “if you have to ask …” kind of feature, but pros will love the convenience D-Contour will bring. D-Contour has a “FOH/Main” setting for front-of-house use that boosts low frequency content, and a “Monitor” setting for use as a stage wedge, taming low-end frequencies that will bounce off the stage while increasing clarity in general.
Especially when paired with a Yamaha DXS subwoofer, the Yamaha DZRs are some serious air cannons, especially great for EDM, DJing, and pumping music for a mid-sized crowd (with the ability to scale up with multiple units). But know that these are for serious professional setups and long-term installations, so if you’re looking for something that’s more “fun,” the next system I mention might be more for you.
The more recent DXR series keeps most of this functionality but has new features like Bluetooth capability, an improved LCD screen for control, and app connectivity, but loses Dante and the USB port and isn’t available as a 3-way system. Check out our April 2026 announcement to get some info on the DXR/CXR series and check out the specs on our store page.
QSC K12.2 Two-Way 12" 2000W Powered Portable PA Speaker: A Professional Grade System for Any Occasion
The QSC K12.2 is a powerful 12” 2000W loudspeaker that can be oriented as main PAs or as stage monitors able to handle Mic, Line, and Hi-Z inputs, meaning it can handle most direct inputs including guitars and other instruments. It’s quite common to see these QSC PA speakers used in mobile DJ setups or as installation speakers in event spaces and venues.
A great feature of the QSK K12.2 (as well as the rest of the K lineup that includes different sized cones and amplifier wattage) is their DSP system with presets and eleven programmable scenes for different use cases including vocal presentation, dance music, two monitor presets, acoustic guitars, using as a bass amp, and using as a studio monitor.
Additionally, the K12.2 has settings to match up with a subwoofer with selectable high-pass filter roll-offs and can save and recall scenes to store information like EQ, delay, and input configuration, so back-to-back sets or role-changes can be done quickly.
The QSC K12.2 is perfect for any serious professional PA setup that also might need to move around—at 39 lb, it’s not super lightweight, but it’s certainly not so heavy that you’ll need to break out the handcart. And if you want to use it for more “casual” purposes, you can use it as a guitar/bass amp, as a studio monitor, or whatever else you need it to do. You can get a pair with a full kit including stands, slipcovers, cables and a road case from B&H.
Professional Touring and Venue Installation
At this level, PA systems will typically use an impressive number of loudspeakers—one of the most common and visual recognizable is the Line Array. A line array is a system that has multiple identical speakers mounted together to great a wider and more consistent sound source with long throw distance, resulting in higher volume, less vertical dispersion, and superior horizontal coverage.
These systems will cost tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars to properly purchase and install and are usually done by independent audio installation contractors—but there’s nothing wrong with peeking into what these things are and what they can do! Here is an example of a pro-level system you’d work with if you’re at the top of the live event industry.
QSC LA 108 and 112 Line Array Loudspeakers
These 12” and 8” 2400W line array loudspeakers start at $2,600 USD … and you’re meant to buy multiple. While the setup is daunting, it’s meant to be done by a team of professionals but is surprisingly easy enough to do with touring acts, though they do quite well as installation speakers.
These speakers come with features meant to be used by professional sound engineers with things like prediction tools, simulated array coverages, network solutions for Dante and Q-SYS systems … stuff that is a bit much for a guide like this. What’s interesting is that they have a built-in system making them a cinch to connect multiple as an array whether they’ll be flown from the ceiling or rig or used with a mounting pole on top of an equally ridiculous subwoofer.
This is the kind of thing you’d buy if you were running a professional luxury event service, were running a large-to-stadium scaled venue, or were wealthy enough to have a permanent professional sound installation on a massive piece of property.
Other Considerations
The preceding products are the classic mainstays of PA systems, but there are some alternatives using different form factors and technologies that are worth mentioning—I’ll briefly discuss them here.
Colum Array PA Systems
Colum array systems like the Bose L1 PRO16 are essentially line array systems in a portable and financially attainable form. They gain their advantage by using a series of drivers in a tower—often six or more—to generate the same effect. This means better throw distance, wider coverage, and usually a speaker/sub combo that is easy to set up and break down.
The disadvantage of these systems is that they’re quite a bit more expensive and lose low-mid and bass response as their drivers are a fraction of the size of the ones you’d find in a traditional point source system. While they sound great, these systems are best suited for speaking engagements and lose their value when used primarily for music—but it doesn’t mean they can’t do the job.
Digital BEAM Steering
For improved control over mid- and high-frequency wall reflections, B&H currently carries some loudspeakers with models capable of what's called “digital beam steering.” Based on concepts developed by the US military for control of radar signals, Beam steering involves building a column speaker with multiple identical drivers in a vertical column. DSP is used to delay the firing of the signal between the respective drivers to steer the sound within a venue.
For more information on digital beam steering, check out the AtlasIED ALX-4D Digitally Steerable Multichannel 4-Speaker Column Array Speaker. Or Tannoy QFLEX 32LS-WP Digitally Steerable Powered Column Array Loudspeaker.
Conclusion
The aim of this guide was to provide an introduction and highlight a few favorites from the ever-expanding catalog of speakers for live sound currently available at B&H. While we are well known around the world for being a leader in photography, our global customer base should be delighted to know that the same level of technical expertise, customer service, depth and breadth of catalog offerings is available for live sound and pro audio in general.
So, whether you are looking to provide amplified sound for a picnic, a coffee house gig, or are ready to build a Mega Club, we are here to help. For more information on any of the topics covered in this article or related questions about live sound, please contact one of our experts today, via email, phone, or live chat.
