With a variety of options in the marketplace for portable sound equipment, it can sometimes be a bit overwhelming trying to pinpoint which portable speaker will be most suitable for your education needs. Two important considerations are the size of the venue and the size of your audience.
“I had a temporarily paralyzed vocal cord. I used a PA Pro in my 5th grade class to project my voice with no strain or any further damage. The PA Pro is an answered prayer.”
Getting the best quality of sound regardless of speaker size is as important as what you’re trying to project in the first place. For larger audiences in auditoriums or outdoor fields you may want a larger portable speaker such as the ones in the PowerPro™ or the PresentationPro™ lines. However, if you are conducting a meeting or some sort of tour, perhaps a smaller yet still powerful portable speaker such as the PA Pro™ may be what you’re looking for. Even in a classroom setting this 10-watt speaker can project enough audio to reach a decently sized group of students and the best part is, as an educator, projecting your voice can be effortless. The PA Pro includes its own beltpack transmitter and hands-free lapel microphone. While the other wireless & portable speakers in the Califone line use a 16-channel UHF frequency for their beltpack transmitter and lapel mic, the PA Pro uses a VHF radio frequency for its 100 foot transmission range. The PA Pro is available in two different frequencies so two systems can be used in the same area at the same time with no cross over. This way two different sets of messages can be broadcast from two people.
The dedicated beltpack transmitter and lapel microphone also provide teachers with the comfort needed throughout a grueling school day so they can focus on what they are teaching their students instead of being distracted over how best to get their message across. Having to carry out multiple presentations can over time become somewhat cumbersome and debilitating on a person’s vocal cords. Using the lapel microphone in place of increasing the volume level of your own voice will help prevent vocal strain or the potential for losing your voice altogether. Shares Regina Corsbie, a 5th grade teacher from Haleyville, AL, “I had a temporarily paralyzed vocal cord. I used a PA-10 in my 5th grade class to project my voice so there is no strain or any further damage to the paralyzed vocal cord. The PA Pro is an answered prayer.”
If you’re new to working with PA gear and would like to learn more, please read our “How to” series about PA gear.
