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If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best powered speaker for Live band is, then I really recommend the QSC K10 2 Way powered Speaker.

If you are part of a rock band or any band for that matter, then you know that you need the best powered speakers.

Why?

Simply because you need something that packs the punch and has clarity

Powered speakers are very necessary if you want something that that is versatile and is suitable for crowds of 200 to 500 people.

When it comes to choosing the best powered speakers for live band, there are some things you need to consider.

For example, you definitely know that you need to go for passive speakers and not active speakers.

Also you want something that is off high quality and does not cost a lot of money.

In this article, we will be looking at a review of the top 5 powered speakers for live band, what to consider before you make a purchase, and how to get the best from your latest purchase.

At a glance, these are the top 5 Powered Speakers for Live Band I will be reviewing

• QSC K10 2-Way Powered Speaker
• Yamaha DBR10 700-Watt Powered Speaker
• EV Electro-Voice ZLX12P Powered Speakers
• Mackie THUMP15 15-Inch Powered Loudspeaker
• JBL EON612 Powered Speaker

What are powered speakers?

Powered speakers also called active speakers are simply speakers that have amplifiers built into them.

What this means is that they usually do not require any additional power amps to power them.

Also this combination makes them very versatile and improves their sound making them ideal for use by most musicians and sound engineers.

There are lots of advantages to using a powered speakers especially if you are in a live band. Here are some of them

• You require no additional power amp. While getting powered speakers is going to cost you some extra cash, in the long run it will save you the cost of buying and logging extra amps around. It is much advisable and better that you have few equipments when working as this prevents equipment failure and burnout.
• It won’t’ burn out your mixers. One good thing about using powered speakers is that you can be very sure that your mixers are safe. This is as opposed to a situation whereby you are using a powered mixer.
• You are sure of getting the right and better sound. With the amps already built in, you can be sure that the manufacturers have tuned the amps to give out the right sound and volume. This means your speakers are going to produce better and cleaner sounds which you are bound to hear in your mixes.

Related: Click for the best turntables for sampling

What to look for before buying a powered speaker

1. What is the power rating?

Depending on the size of the crowd and gathering, you want to make sure that you check the power rating of the speakers.

If it’s a big venue and big gathering, then you want more power.

Ideally a speaker with a power rating of 700 to 1000 watts should be ideal to handle small to medium venues.

2.  How portable is it?

Since you are looking for powered speakers for a live band, you definitely need something that is portable and can be easily carried about.

Also you want to make sure that it has some mechanism for being able to be moved around easily.

A product that is portable will make your life so much easier and save you from unnecessary stress.

3. How reliable is it?

Reliability here has to do with how rugged it is and the kind of materials it is made of.

Basically you want something that is of high quality, very durable and also has an ergonomic handle that is easy to hold.

Our Top 5 Best Powered Speakers for Live Band

1. QSC K10 2-Way Powered Speaker

This is a 2 way powered speakers that is very common and popular among musicians.

It has a 10 inch subwoofer which ensures that it produces clear and crisp sounds.

It has a 75 degree vertical and horizontal coverage angle which ensures that your sounds are dispersed and heard in every corner.

It has XLR and TRS inputs for both mic and line in and also helps you connect extra media devices.

It has a set of on board switches that helps you add EQ settings to your sounds

It is built with very rugged materials which makes it very light and durable.

2. Yamaha DBR10 700-Watt Powered Speaker

This is a 700 watt powered speakers that is ideal for use in small gatherings.

It is bi amped and comes with 10 inches powered speakers giving you that sharp and clear sounds that you need for your band.

It can be used as a high performance main or monitor speaker

It comes with a set of high efficiency 1000w amplifiers that ensures that it is suitable for whatever shows you do.

It comes with M8 rigging points that makes it very easy for you to install and begin using it

It comes housed in a rugged, compact and lightweight cabinet that makes it very durable and portable for easy movement and transportation.

It has an onboard 2 channel mixer and a custom designed transducer that gives you the option to mix and add effects to your sounds as they come out.

3. EV Electro-Voice ZLX12P Powered Speakers

This is a 2 way speaker that comes bundled as 2 items.

It has a 12 inch woofer and a 1.5 inches high frequency compression driver that ensures that it produces the best quality sound when used.

It has a 1000W class D amplifier that helps with the volume and makes sure that it can be used for large gatherings.

It comes housed in a rugged and durable enclosure making it very durable and easy to move about.

4. Mackie THUMP15 15-Inch Powered Loudspeaker

This powered speakers made by Mackie is a very versatile and excellent loudspeaker

It has 1000 W of high output power and comes in a very durable and portable package.

It’s 15 inches frequency driver and compression driver ensures that you get the best sound quality from the bad boy anytime.

It has a unique integrated precision crossover and transducer alignment that helps it deliver outstanding audio quality.

It comes with its own sound enhancing tools that saves you the hassle of buying and using external processors.

It has a 3 band EQ which makes it very flexible and versatile

5. JBL EON612 Powered Speaker

This is a 2 way powered speaker that is designed to deliver the best sound possible when used.

It comes with it onboard EQ parameters that can be easily controlled wirelessly using bluetooth. This makes it very easy to plug your settings and get a rich sound.

It is made from the latest technology in cabinet materials making it very durable and rugged.

It has a nice and purposeful design that makes it very ergonomic and pleasing to the eye

How to hook up a powered speaker sound system

Here is a YouTube video showing you how to connect your speakers easily

Are powered speakers better than passive?

While all active speakers are considered powered, not all powered speakers should be called active.

The difference is that a powered speaker has the same signal path as a passive set-up, but the amplification (often both pre and power amp) is hidden in one of the speaker enclosures.

Can I use powered speakers with a powered mixer?

No… do not try this at all

Doing so will bring about massive and costly damage to your speakers and amplifiers.

What you can do is to use a balanced or unbalanced line between the mixer and the powered speaker.

You can easily get this with your mixer as  almost all current mixers have balanced output jacks, again with XLR, TRS, or both connectors

Do powered speakers need an amplifier?

No they do not.

Powered speakers do not need an amplifier because they are also known as self powered or active speakers and have their own built in amplifiers.

They can easily be connected directly to a mixing console or other low-level audio signal source without the need for an external amplifier.

Do powered speakers need a preamp?

Yes you do.

Powered speakers need a preamp especially when connecting it to a turntable.

Some turntables have a preamp built-in. … If your turntable has a USB output, it has a built-in preamp.

If you do need an external preamp, you will need a set of cables (usually RCA cables) to connect to your audio system. 

Preamps have a wide range when it comes to build and sound quality.

Conclusion

Choosing the best powered speakers for your live band should not be difficult.

Basically you want something that is of high quality and will last for a long time

Fortunately all the speakers mentioned in this review are really good and will serve you for a long time.

If you have any tips or advice leave them in the comment box below

All images sourced from Amazon.com