I work in a Corporate AV situation, and often provide audio for meetings in hotel conference rooms. Usually 70-100 people. I have an old heavy Anchor Liberty system with wires running between all the parts. I'm looking to replace my two large speakers with 2 or more much smaller speakers that I can connect via Bluetooth (or other wireless option) to my mixer. I already have the mixer and lots of wireless mics, but I can't seem to find powerful-yet-small Bluetooth speakers that will all connect to some kind of transmitter I can connect to my mixer's output. I'm sure there must be some way to do this, but I can't find the answer. So if any of you smart folks here have options for me, that would be very helpful. Thanks for any replies!
Updating Old Portable PA - Want Lighter, Smaller, Scalable, and Bluetooth. Help?
- Thread starter Mikey Dalton
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Re: Updating Old Portable PA - Want Lighter, Smaller, Scalable, and Bluetooth. Help?
Turbosounds IP and IX lines have bluetooth capabilities. I have never used their stuff before so I don't know how they sound but it may be worth looking into. Also I believe Mackie has a couple of speakers that have bluetooth. Then maybe something like this to plug into your mixer?
Turbosounds IP and IX lines have bluetooth capabilities. I have never used their stuff before so I don't know how they sound but it may be worth looking into. Also I believe Mackie has a couple of speakers that have bluetooth. Then maybe something like this to plug into your mixer?
Re: Updating Old Portable PA - Want Lighter, Smaller, Scalable, and Bluetooth. Help?
JK Audio and others make Bluetooth interfaces that have XLR and/or 1/4" connectors on them for professional integration.
I wouldn't trust it for a main link, but it's handy as an option so long as there's a backup in place.
- Jordan Wolf
JK Audio and others make Bluetooth interfaces that have XLR and/or 1/4" connectors on them for professional integration.
I wouldn't trust it for a main link, but it's handy as an option so long as there's a backup in place.
- Jordan Wolf
Re: Updating Old Portable PA - Want Lighter, Smaller, Scalable, and Bluetooth. Help?
I'm not sure that Bluetooth would be the answer I would be looking for. Bluetooth has an incredibly short range of about 30 feet, and in a corporate situation where there are many wireless devices in the same frequency band, the potential for dropout becomes pretty significant. It's fine if you plan to use bluetooth to put a music source nearby the speaker, but to run an entire mix through bluetooth is asking for trouble.
An option that does work quite well is using IEM systems. You can then have a transmitter and multiple receivers. Your frequency then is safely away from all of the transmitters that will walk into the room when the meeting starts. IEM receivers are small enough to be velcroed on to any powered speaker. With a little creative wiring, no batteries needed.
I'm not sure that Bluetooth would be the answer I would be looking for. Bluetooth has an incredibly short range of about 30 feet, and in a corporate situation where there are many wireless devices in the same frequency band, the potential for dropout becomes pretty significant. It's fine if you plan to use bluetooth to put a music source nearby the speaker, but to run an entire mix through bluetooth is asking for trouble.
An option that does work quite well is using IEM systems. You can then have a transmitter and multiple receivers. Your frequency then is safely away from all of the transmitters that will walk into the room when the meeting starts. IEM receivers are small enough to be velcroed on to any powered speaker. With a little creative wiring, no batteries needed.
Re: Updating Old Portable PA - Want Lighter, Smaller, Scalable, and Bluetooth. Help?
The Anchor Liberty speakers aren't what I would call large, and I'm not aware of any integrated solution that's significantly smaller and lighter. If solid integration is more important to you than cost, Sennheiser has a rather slick option that has proper wireless built in (input and loop output), as well as Bluetooth. It's the LSP 500 Pro. But it's not much smaller and ligher than the current Liberty system from Anchor.
How small/lightweight are you looking for, and what's the aversion to running wires?
The Anchor Liberty speakers aren't what I would call large, and I'm not aware of any integrated solution that's significantly smaller and lighter. If solid integration is more important to you than cost, Sennheiser has a rather slick option that has proper wireless built in (input and loop output), as well as Bluetooth. It's the LSP 500 Pro. But it's not much smaller and ligher than the current Liberty system from Anchor.
How small/lightweight are you looking for, and what's the aversion to running wires?
Re: Updating Old Portable PA - Want Lighter, Smaller, Scalable, and Bluetooth. Help?
Bluetooth would be used just for background music, right? I would not use it for the link to the mixer, the latency (delay) would be huge!
Bluetooth would be used just for background music, right? I would not use it for the link to the mixer, the latency (delay) would be huge!
Updating Old Portable PA - Want Lighter, Smaller, Scalable, and Bluetooth. Help?
My recommendation: buy a pair of JBL PRX712s, QSC K12s, or Yamaha DSR112s. The EAW RL series sound nice, too, and then there's Meyer, Fulcrum Acoustics, and Danley Sound Labs. JTR Speakers get many good reviews, but I have never had the chance to hear any.
- Jordan Wolf
My recommendation: buy a pair of JBL PRX712s, QSC K12s, or Yamaha DSR112s. The EAW RL series sound nice, too, and then there's Meyer, Fulcrum Acoustics, and Danley Sound Labs. JTR Speakers get many good reviews, but I have never had the chance to hear any.
- Jordan Wolf
Re: Updating Old Portable PA - Want Lighter, Smaller, Scalable, and Bluetooth. Help?
I want to use wireless (Bluetooth or other tech) to carry my main audio for the meeting, not background music. After reading that Anchor has Bluetooth included in all their systems now, I was thinking that this was the main way the speakers connected to one another. And based on the comments above, I think my assumption was wrong. So, perhaps the IEM technology mentioned is the way I want to go instead. I've never heard of this, so I'll research that today. I was hoping that there was some new innovation that had made speakers lighter than my system, but that was simply my hope in the magic of technology and was likely, again, misguided. So, my current plan is to look into IEM, then see if I can find a way to power my second speaker so it doesn't need to have a physical line to my primary speaker. I'd like to eliminate cords because 1). Cord Safety, but primarily 2). Laziness in setup and tear-down.
I appreciate all the replies so far. The response has been even better than I had hoped!
I want to use wireless (Bluetooth or other tech) to carry my main audio for the meeting, not background music. After reading that Anchor has Bluetooth included in all their systems now, I was thinking that this was the main way the speakers connected to one another. And based on the comments above, I think my assumption was wrong. So, perhaps the IEM technology mentioned is the way I want to go instead. I've never heard of this, so I'll research that today. I was hoping that there was some new innovation that had made speakers lighter than my system, but that was simply my hope in the magic of technology and was likely, again, misguided. So, my current plan is to look into IEM, then see if I can find a way to power my second speaker so it doesn't need to have a physical line to my primary speaker. I'd like to eliminate cords because 1). Cord Safety, but primarily 2). Laziness in setup and tear-down.
I appreciate all the replies so far. The response has been even better than I had hoped!
Re: Updating Old Portable PA - Want Lighter, Smaller, Scalable, and Bluetooth. Help?
UPDATE: So, going in a slightly different direction, I've found something called the Alto Stealth Wireless Pro, which seems designed to take output from a mixer, and run it to two wireless receivers... so seemingly just what I need. It does not use Bluetooth, which is fine. So, if I would use this, and then find some way to make my 2nd passive speaker into an active speaker (hopefully that's possible), I think that should solve my problem. Any thoughts on this route? Good, bad, or otherwise?
UPDATE: So, going in a slightly different direction, I've found something called the Alto Stealth Wireless Pro, which seems designed to take output from a mixer, and run it to two wireless receivers... so seemingly just what I need. It does not use Bluetooth, which is fine. So, if I would use this, and then find some way to make my 2nd passive speaker into an active speaker (hopefully that's possible), I think that should solve my problem. Any thoughts on this route? Good, bad, or otherwise?
Re: Updating Old Portable PA - Want Lighter, Smaller, Scalable, and Bluetooth. Help?
Personally, I would be wary. A pair of XLR cables aren't really that expensive.
Why do you want the speakers to be wireless?
Personally, I would be wary. A pair of XLR cables aren't really that expensive.
Why do you want the speakers to be wireless?
Updating Old Portable PA - Want Lighter, Smaller, Scalable, and Bluetooth. Help?
Mikey,
I don't mean to offend, but wireless doesn't "just work". You seem to have some experience with wireless devices, and I'm sure you've been frustrated when they don't work reliably.
I would hate for a show to be messed up by such a thing. Wired works, and it works well with fewer links in the chain. If you do corporate events, you'll recall how persnickety meeting planners can be. Worry about those wrinkles in the P&D, not whether something ELSE wireless will or won't work.
Stick with hardwired.
- Jordan Wolf
Mikey,
I don't mean to offend, but wireless doesn't "just work". You seem to have some experience with wireless devices, and I'm sure you've been frustrated when they don't work reliably.
I would hate for a show to be messed up by such a thing. Wired works, and it works well with fewer links in the chain. If you do corporate events, you'll recall how persnickety meeting planners can be. Worry about those wrinkles in the P&D, not whether something ELSE wireless will or won't work.
Stick with hardwired.
- Jordan Wolf
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Re: Updating Old Portable PA - Want Lighter, Smaller, Scalable, and Bluetooth. Help?
I second keeping things wired. I would upgrade the anchor audio speakers purchase a couple of rolls of gaff tape and call it a wrap.
I second keeping things wired. I would upgrade the anchor audio speakers purchase a couple of rolls of gaff tape and call it a wrap.