PA systems are used as a medium to distribute sound throughout a decided space for example, in a school or church. The quantity and size of the PA equipment differ with the size of the venue. While schools, restaurants or home parties would want smaller and amplifiers with fewer functions, Discotheques, commercial buildings and concerts would require bigger and high-output PA systems.
Amplifiers, Speakers are that PA equipment which needs one another to function. For example, while an amplifier amplifies the sound and provides input to the speakers, the speaker generates output for the audience to listen. Any PA Equipment installation would require at least the first two of these for a basic setup.
There are varieties of Amplifiers, Speakers, and Microphones to begin with. The Amplifier installed at an office would differ from the one used at a concert. Similarly, there is a quite obvious difference between ceiling speakers and column speakers. You should know the varieties of PA equipment along with their applications.
The amplifier is a public addressing equipment that amplifies sound, that raises the frequency of the original sound produced. There are kinds of it and its uses:
Pre-amplifier- It prepares the sound to the level from where it is sent to mono amplifiers for further amplification. These are used along with mono-amplifiers at studios, or concerts.
Mono-plain Amplifier – These amplifiers have a basic function of providing input to the speakers. They are often used at mosques, temples, and places that require maximum output. Their sizes differ as per the output required from them.
Paging Amplifier – The Mono Amplifiers often used at multi-zonal structures such as educational institutions where the output is required in multiple zones of the buildings at different intervals.
The speaker is PA equipment that converts electrical impulses into sound and address the crowd. There are varieties of Speakers often found in different shapes at different places.
Ceiling or wall Speakers: Because of clamp system, these are apt for installations at commercial buildings, hospitals, schools or any place requiring a chain of speakers at a short distance.
Column Speakers: These are usually much of bigger sizes ranging from 10″ to 20″ rendering maximum output to address a large crowd. Sometimes these are installed at events, concerts or live stage shows to render output in a large space.
Thus, had there been no public addressing system, it would have been impossible to address the crowd with as hassle-free as it happens now. The Amplifiers and Speakers play a key role while Megaphones, Microphones, Reflex Horns among other PA equipment are used to address at other places.
