PA / Live Sound

The M15 active speaker promises Turbosound’s trademark warm sound, while the M18 subwoofer is designed to add some extra low-end level.

This portable line-array from LD systems is incredibly easy to use, but does it deliver the all-important sound quality?

The Turbosound Milan Mi0 enters a competitive market. Can this little newcomer stand out from the crowd?

Alto’s modestly priced all-rounder can serve as either a main PA speaker or a monitor. How does it fare on stage?

If you’ve found PA systems fiddly and time-consuming to set up, perhaps the HK Soundcaddy One is right for you.

When your live show requires plenty of punch and power, this 2000W system should give you everything you need.

Whether you’re looking for a compact stage monitor or a boost for a small PA, this active speaker could help.

The Eon range of portable powered speakers evolves further, with new styling, improved output, and more besides.

If you’re in need of some extremely portable amplification or monitoring, Mackie’s tiny SRM150 might just save the day.

If you’re looking for a lightweight PA setup that can be scaled to suit your needs, HK’s Elements system warrants closer inspection...

The extremely portable size and shape of these neat little PA speakers make them suitable for a range of more unusual sound-reinforcement jobs, plus those awkward gigs in tiny venues.

Guitar preamps that use digital modelling technology have found their way into vast numbers of studios. But do they have a useful place on stage, and what do you need to know if you want to use one live?

Although Renkus-Heinz is a well-known name in high-end PA components, it's not one often seen on the stages of more modest gig venues — but that may be set to change with the arrival of the new CF/CFX series.

This premium German-made PA aims to offer a genuine hi-fi approach to live sound reproduction. But is it worth the investment?

If you've been to a large gig or a festival in recent years, you've no doubt had the pleasure of hearing line arrays of loudspeakers in action. But why are line arrays the current 'best practice' in large-scale PA, how did they evolve, and will they ever filter down to more modest gig venues?

We test this affordable complete vocal PA you can carry from the car to the stage in one trip!

The PA market isn't short of powered 'plastic' cabinets at the moment, but not many use the coaxial speaker design approach — which is what sets apart this Italian-made model.

Italian company RCF have a good pedigree. They helped design and manufacture for Mackie when the latter first entered the live sound market. We check out RCF's own entry in the portable powered PA stakes.

Staying safe on stage is more than a matter of simply making sure that willing hands are available before taking a dive. Knowing how to properly handle the mains power we all need is also crucial to performance health...

For years bands have needed unwieldy, expensive PA systems to play live, and separate monitoring systems to hear themselves play. Bose's new system aims to do away with much of this complexity and expense. We take a first look...

Having looked in Part 1 at how to condense your studio setup for use as a live rig, David Harman concludes this short series with tips on how to prepare yourself and your gear for the rigours of live performance.