Today we’re looking at the best PA for acoustic guitar and vocals.
PA systems can be extremely useful tools for musicians and performers. They increase the volume of a performance to a loud level. This article looks at the Best PA systems for acoustic singer/songwriters.
If you play acoustic guitar and sing, this guide is for you. This guide would also be useful for venue owners, and people who host gigs and open mics.
We cover a wide range of PA styles, each better suited for different needs. We look at some fantastic portable PA systems which are ideal for buskers and traveling performers!
I tested 6 products and found the JBL Professional Eon One to be the Best PA system for acoustic guitar and vocals.
This is the perfect balance of portability, quality, and affordability. The Eon One has a great array of connection options. It has a clean, full sound, with excellent bass. Use it with an external power supply or a long-life rechargeable battery.
We loved the JBL Professional Eon One for several reasons.
This portable PA works fantastically for guitarists singers. The large selection of inputs means you will be able to plug almost anything into it. This is perfect for solo performers or larger groups. The speaker has great bass performance too.
There are many PA systems available, we’re here to help you find the perfect match for your needs.
Depending on the style of your performance, you’re going to need a certain set of features. It could be Bluetooth capabilities or multiple cable inputs. You might even want onboard effects or a bass-reflex subwoofer for extra bass. Maybe you need a system that works with wireless microphones or in-ear monitors.
Whatever you need, we’re here to show you the best PA speakers for use with an acoustic guitar and microphone!
Keep reading for our full exploration of the Best PA for acoustic guitar and vocals
Alternatively, check out our post about the best acoustic guitars!
Best PA for Acoustic Guitar and Vocals in Our Tests
- Bose L1 Compact
- JBL Professional EON ONE Compact
- LyxPro SPA-8 Compact 8″ Portable PA System
- Rockville RPG2X12 Package PA System
- Fishman Loudbox Mini
- Roland CUBE Street EX
- A Pocket Guide to buying PA for Acoustic Guitar and Vocals
- FAQ’s
- Conclusion
6 PA for Acoustic Guitar and Vocals Reviews in Details
1. Bose L1 Compact
Product info
The Bose L1 Compact Line Array System is an all-in-one professional sound system. This, lightweight system is designed for performers and sound engineers. It captures the sound and dispenses it evenly throughout the audience or stage for a more cohesive experience. Created with touring artists and technicians in mind, the L1 Compact Line Array System is easy to transport and amazingly powerful.
This fully-featured array system folds up to 1/8th its open size. The Bose L1 Compact fits into a pedal case for easy transport, and it can be set up in minutes. It has field-tested performance and is available at a great price. This bundle includes a built-in Bluetooth adapter for connecting the PA to mobile devices.
The Bose L1 Compact has 2 channels with fixed presets for a handheld microphone or acoustic guitar. It also has an integrated bass speaker in the power stand for increased subs. It has two setup positions: collapsed for smaller spaces or extended for larger ones.
This is a great choice for an acoustic singer-songwriter, guitarist, and other solo musicians. It combines the best of a traditional sound reinforcement system with modern portability. You’ll enjoy improved sound quality with improved transporting convenience.
The Bose L1 Compact is the perfect live sound system for on-the-go professionals. It’s lightweight, easy to use, and has a fantastic stereo sound. This ultra-portable bundle includes a microphone
Pros and Cons:
- Excellent portability.
- Multiple setup positions.
- Bluetooth capacity.
- Clear, loud sound.
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2. JBL Professional EON ONE Compact
Product info
This All-In-One battery personal PA System has a fantastic sound and built-in Bluetooth.
The JBL Professional Eon One is a battery-powered sound system with a rechargeable battery. The battery is rated with 12 hours of use time, which is more than enough for a day of busking!
The speaker’s advanced digital signal processing provides wide coverage and excels at delivering speech intelligibility.
The Eon One features an integrated IEC charging cable and comes pre-loaded with JBL’s patented Claritywaves processing technology.
With wireless Bluetooth and USB streaming, Eon One has all the connectivity you need.
This PA is perfect for solo performers or small groups who want to perform without the need for a power outlet. It has 4 input channels, so you can connect it to at least 4 microphones.
This JBL professional active speaker delivers deep low-frequency performance down to 37.5 Hz. Its 8-inch woofer and 1-inch tweeter deliver a uniform frequency response across the entire audible range for a sound experience that’s truly top-notch.
Available in both black and silver, EON ONE offers a sleek, modern design with the power and clarity to stand up to the most demanding gigs
With a powerful 112 dB SPL peak, it provides clear, full sound. No matter how imperfect the acoustic environment is.
Overall, the JBL EON ONE is a complete, ultra-compact PA system that delivers legendary sound for live performances and small venues.
It’s easy to carry, sounds great, and is incredibly easy to use. It features the renowned sturdiness of JBL products, so it’s suitable for busking and rowdy gigs.
Pros and Cons:
- Compact and easy to carry.
- Wide variety of connection inputs including Bluetooth.
- Decent sound quality, solid subs.
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3. LyxPro SPA-8 Compact 8 Portable PA System
Product info
The LyxPro SPA-8 Compact PA System is a powerful speaker system to get your voice heard. It’s rugged, portable, and easy to use. It’s also very affordable!
It has 100-watt RMS power and decent quality speakers for clear sound. The SPA-8 includes four inputs, so you can plug in your instruments, laptop, turntable, and more. It has connections for SD card, USB, ¼ instrument cables, XLR mic cables, and 3.5mm aux. The SPA-8’s Bluetooth connection lets you stream music from your phone or tablet
Two independent channels and additional connections make it great for acoustic performers who play with backing tracks. This unit comes in 8 or 10-inch varieties, so you can choose a side with the best volume output for your needs,
Whilst this portable PA system is lightweight and compact, don’t let that fool you. It’s powerful enough to serve as a DJ PA system and delivers clear sound and performance with its 8-inch woofer and 30-watt high-frequency speaker.
These are perfect for use with an acoustic guitar. If you’re interested in acoustics, you might enjoy reading our article about the best Washburn acoustic guitars.
This is one of the best PA systems for those on a tight budget. Whether you’re a DJ, sound engineer, band player, student, or just want to amplify your voice. This unit has been carefully engineered at the highest standards to produce a compact PA speaker that sounds as good as it looks.
Overall, the SPA-8 Compact PA Speaker is an affordable, portable PA system that can be set up easily and sounds great. These make excellent PA systems for acoustic players on a budget.
Pros and Cons:
- Affordable, great for beginners.
- Lightweight and easy to carry.
- A good amount of inputs and controls.
- Average Sound Quality.
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4. Rockville RPG2X12 Package PA System
Product info
Get a complete professional PA system for a great price with the Rockville RPG2X12.
This Rockville PA System is the perfect solution for small clubs, coffee shops, restaurants, parks, and more. This setup is ideal for an acoustic band or solo performer. You get a few things as extra accessories, making it an even better deal.
A complete package, this includes an 8 channel powered mixer with 100 watts of power per channel. Two microphones, a remote control, and all the required cables are included.
The mixer has some great features, including Bluetooth connectivity, xlr inputs, and independent reverb controls for each channel. An aux input lets you plug in a mobile device or laptop. The inclusion of 48v phantom power means you can plug in condenser mics. The stereo RCA input provides access with
The two 12″ speakers that have a powerful, wide sound that fills their space. The Rockville RPG2X12 features two 12 inch long-throw woofers with 2″ voice coils. 40 oz magnets deliver an incredibly deep bass that can be felt in your chest. The tweeter delivers a clear and crisp sound.
The included stands are relatively sturdy. The setup process is straightforward, so this is great for quick gigs and busking.
You also get two speakers with amazing sound and 2 microphone stands, as well as two 16 foot speaker cables and 2 XLR to ¼ inch cables. With this setup, you will be able to play out live gigs like a pro.
These Rockville bundles come at affordable prices, providing fantastic value for money. Rarely do you see mixing boards included with PA systems at this price.
Pros and Cons:
- Extensive bundle with everything you need.
- Powerful 8 channel mixer with Bluetooth.
- Two speakers for a full, wide sound
- Affordable.
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5. Fishman Loudbox Mini
Product info
This 60-Watt battery-powered acoustic combo amp is perfect for the busking musician. This amp is ideal for a singing guitarist, as it includes both an XLR input and a ¼ RCA. This means you can plug in a microphone and guitar at the same time.
Portable, powerful, and ready to make your musical life easier, the Fishman Loudbox Mini has more than just Master volume control. Each input has EQ, reverb, volume, and tone knob controls. The amp has a high-quality sound straight from the box. Although, you can shape it even further with the onboard controls.
Fishman’s patented feedback-fighting Phase switch helps you eliminate feedback at the source.
This compact and lightweight powerhouse have a rechargeable battery and Bluetooth technology which make it perfect for gigging and jamming anywhere, anytime. Along with its instrument and mic channels with input gain controls, this amp also supports ⅛” aux cables.
The Loudbox Mini’s compact size and powerful sound make it the perfect choice for a busking musician. With its sleek, look, and professional features, this is one of the best PA systems for acoustic performers.
Pros and Cons:
- Compact and durable.
- High-quality Sound.
- Good controls.
- Only 1 mic input, so will need to use an acoustic-electric or adapter.
For more information on acoustic-electric guitars, have a look at our post!
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6. Roland CUBE Street EX
Product info
If you’re looking for a reliable, compact, and affordable PA system, look no further. Roland CUBE Street EX is the perfect package to take your sound up a notch.
This battery powered amplifier features four 50-watt amplifiers with individual channel controls, as well as a built-in mixer for easy channel mixing.
Its lightweight, compact design includes a carrying cases with wheels and shoulder straps.
With the power of the COSM amp models onboard, you can expect incredible sound quality. Enjoy clean power with the eco-mode for practicing or small gatherings. Or activate the loudness contour EQ and experience pure rock ‘n’ roll.
Roland’s CUBE Street EX is an ultra-compact amplifier with two 8″ woofers and two “Tweeter”. The CUBE Street EX is perfect for musicians or DJs looking for an affordable, lightweight, battery-powered amp. It has enough power to keep up with the loudest drummers, guitarists, and DJs.
Overall, roland’s Cube is a fully featured system for mobile musicians. With fantastic connectivity, you can connect a variety of microphones, instruments, and audio devices for recording or performance. The CUBE Street EX also features two XLR mic inputs so you can use it with a guitar and microphone simultaneously.
This unique product takes Roland’s most powerful amp modeling technology and delivers it in a lightweight, portable design.
Pros and Cons:
- Amp modeling and effects, fun to use.
- Multiple inputs, ideal for guitar/singers.
- Excellent sound, durability, and battery life.
- Small and portable.
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A Pocket Guide to buying PA for Acoustic Guitar and Vocals
Investing in a public address system is a significant investment, and you should evaluate several factors before making a decision.
With the options listed below, I’ll walk you through the most important elements to consider when choosing a PA for acoustic guitar and the human voice. This will help you to choose a PA that has optimal performance for your use.
What cables do you need for a PA system?
A variety of cables are required to connect your PA system together.
For most PA setups, there are 3 types of cable you will need:
Microphone cables:
These are called XLR cables, and have a 3 pronged socket. These are mostly used for connecting Microphones to the PA or digital mixer. If you’re using a condenser microphone make sure you have a 48v phantom power switch on the mixer.
Speaker Cables:
Feature male quarter-inch jacks on both ends. This style of cable is also often used to connect the PA speakers to the mixer.
Instrument Cables:
These are the type of cables used to plug guitars or keyboards into the PA. As well as other electronic devices like drum machines and samplers. These also use male quarter-inch jacks on both ends and are very similar to speaker cables.
Power
You should consider the size of an audience you will be playing to. Also, have a think about the size of the venue. You want ot make sure you choose a PA that is loud enough to fill the space, but not too loud. For a medium sized venues, with around 50 people, a 50 watt speakers should suffice.
According to basic guidelines, you should strive for a power consumption of one watt per person under typical conditions (in-door space, not a lot of noise).
As an example, take a small coffee shop or restaurant with around 90 square meters of space. A group of 50 people. drinking coffee at their tables and speaking quietly. In this situation 40 to 60 watts would be plenty for a guitar and a voice to be heard.
In order to accommodate big groups of people, enormous stages, high ceilings, and loud situations, you will need to quadruple the power available. Our recommendation is to overestimate rather than underestimate yourtoower requirements in order to prevent having a distorted and horrible sound as a result. Its easier to make loud speakers quiter, than quiet speakers louder.
Portability
Whether you are a lone artist or traveling band, the portability of a PA system is a vital point to consider. If you have to transport a musical instrument, a PA, and other gear, it can get overwhelming. Slimming down on the size and weight of PA will make your life much easier.
If you’re a busker, you’ll need something small and lightweight that you can tote about without exerting too much effort. This isn’t so important if you use a car to transport equipment.
Will you have access to a power cord? Or do you need to use a battery powered system with an internal power supply.
If you have access to mains electricity in the area where you are playing, you should have no problems. However, if you intend on doing a short solo performance on the street or outside, it’s worth getting a PA with a long, rechargeable battery life.
Frequency Response
PA systems replicate and magnify sounds that fall within the audible range of human hearing.
In a musical sense, these frequencies are often divided into three categories:
- Bass: between 20 Hz and 300 Hz.
- Middle: between 300 Hz and 4 kHz.
- Treble: above 4 kHz.
A good pa system for acoustic guiar will have an appropriate frequency range. They should also have a balanced sound, without exaggerating any section of the spectrum.
For guitars and vocals, there isn’t a lot of low frequencies, so you don’t need to get something with a super heavy subwoofer. Although, if it lacks too much bass it can sound thin.
Effects
It depends on your playing style, but some people like effects in their PA systems.
Reverb effects are more common, although you will often see more complex multi-effects systems in high end PAs.
Often artists want to achieve a sound closer to music produced in a recording studio. On board effects can help musicians to create more interesting tones.
The greater the number of effects, the better a PA system is. It will be able to achieve more variety. Using a PA with an amp sim effect is a great way to get acoustic guitars to sound more like an electric guitar.
FAQ’s
How do you mic an acoustic guitar with vocals?
First, work out how the performer is going to perform. Are they standing or sitting?
Get the player to perform, as they would normally.
Put one mic close to the soundhole of the guitar. Put the other mic around 6-12” from the vocalists mouth.
Explaining proper mic placement technique would require a whole article in itself. My best tip is to just move it around until it sounds good. Be careful of feedback. Use a dynamic mic like a Sure SM57 or SM58 for stage situations. These have decent rejection, and only amplify sounds in close proximity. This will stop you from creating feedback.
How does a PA system work for Acoustic?
If its a standard acoustic guitar, you’ll need to mic it up. Alternatively you could buy a clip on mic, or mount an external pickup.
Do PA speakers sound good?
It really depends on the build, but most PA systems are capable of producing a great sound quality.
Are PA speakers good for home use?
For home use I’d recommend a set of active monitors. Guitar amplifiers are also a great choice.
Conclusion
Overall, we thought the Best PA system for acoustic guitar and vocals was the JBL Proffessional Eon One.
This is a fantastic portable PA for the singer songwriter. It has all the connections you need, including XLR, instrument, and bluetooth.
It sounds great, with strong bass and clean treble.
Its durable, portable, and affordable, making it ideal for the traveling musician.
The quality is super high, and these will last for years of busking and performance.
Check out the JBL Proffessional Eon One. on amazon!
Noah is an accomplished audio engineer with several years of experience producing music for major companies and independent artists. He enjoys sharing his vast knowledge of audio engineering topics to help musicians and music producers create great music.