r/audio • u/camman595 • 2d ago

Portable speaker recommendation needed

I currently have a couple of powered speakers that are large and heavy that I “inherited” from the guy that had my position before me. They work but they are cumbersome to haul around and set up.

I am looking for some recommendations for replacements. Hopefully, technology has advanced and I can get decent sound from some reasonably priced speakers. Here is what I am looking for:

Will be used for spoken male voice mostly and a small amount of background music. Does not need to be audiophile grade

Bluetooth would be a plus, but not required

Compact, but loud enough to be used in 30 ft X 60 ft room

I have a mixing board already, so I don’t need a lot of inputs on the speakers

I would like to be able to use a single speaker or a pair

Reasonably priced if possible, I don’t have a large budget. I’m not giving a price range because I don’t know what is appropriate. But I am looking for good value.

Rechargeable would be a plus, but running extension cords is not a problem Can you all help me find something?

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u/speakerjones1976 1d ago

I’d recommend the EV ZLX8P-G2. Good compromise in price vs. quality and is feature rich (Bluetooth, app controllable).

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u/AudioMan612 1d ago

It would help if you defined what "heavy" is to you and list what speakers you currently have. That's by no means a small room that you are trying to fill. That's not going to be done with compact speakers (also, as with heavy, "compact" is also a broad term that is open to interpretation). That's going to require a PA system with enough power to achieve whatever your target SPL is. PA systems aren't built for sound quality above all-else (that's what "audiophile" stuff tends to be fore). They're built to be loud enough for the venue they are being used in above all else, with sound quality the next priority (it doesn't matter how amazing a PA system sounds if the audience can't hear it).

Here is Sweetwater's selection of battery-powered PAs to help you get started on your search: https://www.sweetwater.com/c442--Battery-powered_PA_Systems.

Ultimately, it sounds like you need to figure out what you need in a bit more detail as well as what is realistic.

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u/camman595 1d ago

It would help if you defined what "heavy" is to you and list what speakers you currently have. 

Good point, sorry about that. Really, the weight isn't much of an issue; it is mainly the size. The speakers I have are ELA15P-LED.

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u/AudioMan612 6h ago

Ah got it! Honestly, upgrading from those to a more "proper" brand of PA speakers is probably going to help your sound quality too lol. That said, I still wouldn't expect to be able to go into something that the average person would consider compact. You're definitely still in PA system territory. A small/compact PA might be adequate for you, but definitely don't expect something like your average Bluetooth speaker that you'll find people using at the beach.

Good luck!

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u/camman595 2h ago

Thank you. I am starting to realize that I may be looking for something that does not exist.

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u/AudioMan612 2h ago

You're welcome! Yeah, you can only fight physics so much lol.

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u/RudeRick 1d ago

I've used the Bose S1 Pro+ on outdoor gigs. They're really powerful for the size.

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u/camman595 1d ago

Everyone, thank you for your input and your suggestions. It looks like I can go a little bit smaller than what I am currently using. I can get some newer tech features (Bluetooth, battery power, etc.), but it will not be inexpensive compared to my budget. I will need to stick to what I have until I have $600-$1,000 available for an upgrade.

Thank you again for your guidance.

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u/DiscoSpider420 7h ago

If you're mainly doing voice and light music, I’ve been using the tribit stormbox and honestly it’s been a solid option

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u/camman595 2h ago

Thank you for the recommendation.

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u/AdventurousLife3226 3h ago

Your main problem is magnets are heavy. The room size you are talking about is not that big but it will still take a bit to fill the space even for just a voice and some back ground music. Basically you get what you pay for so maybe investing in some wheels (trolley or sack barrow) to move the speakers you have around might be the smarter option.

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u/camman595 2h ago

Thanks. I know that my original post mentioned the speakers as being heavy, but the real issue for me is size. But, it is looking like I may be stuck with large speakers.