Thanks to all for really helpful responses. To answer:

- I don't think that the hifi speakers have been wrecked by high volume
(discos have used systems brought in by DJ - music use has been primary
kids dancing for plays etc), but it does sound as if PA speakers are
going to be a good idea.

We can find some money for new speakers - we have some cash ourselves,
and a lottery bid is a possibility.

What sort of size of PA speakers should I be looking for, and how much
do people reckon we need to spend:

- for a stand-mounted pair of speakers to serve a seated audience of
60?

OR

- for four roof-mounted speakers?


Hall is 6m x 20m - roof has open eaves - walls are 4m high, to top of
eaves is about another 4m.

(I am going to leave the sound-quality-vs-convenience tradeoff to the
Management Committee so want to cost both options).


John Geddes
Derbyshire

On 5 Sep 2006 03:26:38 -0700, wrote:


- I don't think that the hifi speakers have been wrecked by high volume

But have you checked?

Laurence Payne wrote:

On 5 Sep 2006 03:26:38 -0700, wrote:


- I don't think that the hifi speakers have been wrecked by high volume

But have you checked?

Sorry for sloppy wording. Yes, I did check - listened to some classical
music on the system and it sounded pretty decent.

John

In article . com,
wrote:
Sorry for sloppy wording. Yes, I did check - listened to some classical
music on the system and it sounded pretty decent.

If the speakers sound fine on music - and I'm assuming your hearing and
perception is fine - then it must be the mic that is at fault. Cardoid
mics tip up the bass end when used close which might be the cause of the
woolly sound. But changing half decent domestic speakers for PA ones ain't
going to improve speech quality or clarity.

--
*Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On 6 Sep 2006 12:28:04 -0700, wrote:

Sorry for sloppy wording. Yes, I did check - listened to some classical
music on the system and it sounded pretty decent.

So should voice then. Sure the mic isn't knackered, or silly settings
on the amp? Whenever I walk into a community-hall sort of place I
marvel at just how WRONG someone's managed to set the sound up :-)

Laurence Payne wrote:

On 6 Sep 2006 12:28:04 -0700, wrote:

Sorry for sloppy wording. Yes, I did check - listened to some classical
music on the system and it sounded pretty decent.

So should voice then. Sure the mic isn't knackered, or silly settings
on the amp? Whenever I walk into a community-hall sort of place I
marvel at just how WRONG someone's managed to set the sound up :-)

'Hi-fi' speakers make for lousy 'PA' despite how good they may sound on music.

This is clearly the major problem.

Graham

In article ,
Eeyore wrote:
'Hi-fi' speakers make for lousy 'PA' despite how good they may sound on
music.

This ain't so. PA speakers may be more 'bomb proof', but that's the only
improvement. Any tailored response they may have to improve clarity can
also be applied to wide range speakers by different methods. The important
thing to avoid is over driving through the wide dynamics of differing
voice levels and mic techniques.

--
*Why are a wise man and a wise guy opposites? *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.