PA speakers are a must-have for a gig, a DJ set or any party. Choosing the best passive PA speakers can be tricky but it’s essential!
Speakers are the heartbeat of any occasion that involves music.
No matter how good the tunes, how nice the vibes, if the speakers aren’t top-notch, it’s sure to be a routine and run-of-the-mill affair.
Why Choose Passive PA Speakers?
Fair question…
Unlike, powered speakers, Passive PA Speakers will need to be powered by external amplifiers.
This may sound like a bit of a hassle,
But this aspect actually lends itself to a great deal of customization.
For professional applications especially, passive speakers are preferred choice.
Though, to be fair – passive speakers can generally fit into any existing setup, with enough creativity.
Before you start getting creative with your setup – let’s cover what makes a passive speaker worth buying.
If these recommendations aren’t for you, I delve into what to look for when buying passive PA speakers at the end of this post if you want do your own research!
Best Passive PA Speakers Compared
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⭐️ 5
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⭐️ 4.6
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⭐️ 4.1
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Our Top Recommendations
1. Grindhouse GH10M Speakers – Pair of 10 Inch Passive Wedge Floor/Stage Monitors
The Grindhouse GH10M speakers are a great choice for those looking for an alternative to high priced road gear.
These powerful, unassuming speakers will ensure your music is heard even, in the most crowded venues.
Grindhouse even had the foresight to position the speakers so that they’re pointed upwards while on the ground or stage, which creates a killer combination of power and perfect positioning.
Pros
- Perfect stage speakers
- Durable housing including a steel mesh screen to protect speaker and horn)
- Sold as a pair
2. Rockville RSG10 12” 3-Way 400 Watt 8-Ohm Passive PA Speaker
Though they’re not the lowest priced speakers on the list, the Rockville RSG10’s are arguably the best value for you money.
These speakers were built with attention to detail normally saved for more expensive models.
On the inside are 3 amplified signals, all delivering sound at high, low, and medium range frequencies, respectively.
The Rockville RSG10’s also deliver an impressive 400 watts making them perhaps the most powerful speakers on our list as well and absolutely perfect for DJs.
Pros
- 400 watt peak
- pole mountable
- durable rubber insulating the bottom
- multiple inputs, normally found on only higher-end speaker models
3. Behringer EuroLive B212XL 800-Watt 2-Way, Passive PA Speaker
Behringer are known for providing amazing value.
The B212XL are often compared to their bigger brother B215XL – and the stand up well!
Their frequency response isn’t the best on paper, but in real world terms it doesn’t mean much. You get a lot of bass from these speakers.
The build quality is reliable and you won’t find better at this price range!
Pros
- Provides 200 watts continuous power and 800 watts peak power
- Compact and lightweight for easy portability
- 12″ drivers provide very deep bass
- 1.75″ titanium-drivers provide accurate high frequencies
- Can be used as a wedge or mounted on a stand.
How to Choose a Good Passive PA Speaker
While you’re browsing through passive speakers, what details should you be looking at?
How can you tell from the information provided about the speaker, whether it stacks up to its peers or not?
Both good questions, and here are a few answers.
Though a lot goes into a “good” speaker, but we’re after the best passive PA speaker…
You can tell the caliber of the monitor you’re looking at with the following metrics.
Wattage
Generally, wattage is a measure of how much power your speakers can give out. If you’re specifically looking to use your speakers in public space (a small venue or concert hall), you’ll want a wattage that you fell can make your speaker heard in your space.
This really depends on the size of the space you’ll be performing in and the power you’ll need to ensure your sound is heard.
For home setups, it’s a bit easier; a wattage of 10-60 watts will be more than enough to completely fill your bedroom or living room with sound.
Size
Size is objective. What’s big for one person is most certainly large to several others. Height and weight are commonly provided along with other information about the speakers.
Assess not only what the height of your ideal speaker would be, but the weight.
Will the speaker remain in a fixed position, moved occasionally, or will this speaker need to be packed and moved to a different venue every night?
Price
It should go without saying, but there’s no need to “break the bank” buying speakers.
We’ve done our best to find the perfect mix of quality, delivery, and price, but there’s no shame in simply choosing the least expensive option for now.
However, realise that though you can find a good quality speaker for a less, more expensive speakers are often built with features meant to withstand years of use.
Single, bi & tri amps
Passive speakers have no internal amplifiers, but they do have amplified signals which still results in sound being transmitted at either one, two, or three different frequencies simultaneously.
Bi and tri-amp speakers are considered to have a more accurate sound than their single-amp counterparts, as the music is being separated and delivered according to different frequencies as opposed to all together.
