The Best PA System for Acoustic Guitar and Vocals

A small PA system is a necessary tool for anyone looking to play music outside of their living rooms.

Any public performance will require a PA to spread your sound around the space you're in, and no basement jam room is complete without one.

Acoustic musicians are more dependent on having a good PA than electric players are.

They only have the volume level of their instruments to work with, but they are a regular part of life for all of us musical types.

Today, we’re going to discuss the best PA system for acoustic guitar and vocals and give you an idea of what you need for small gigs and rehearsals.

Ready to learn?

Quick Top PA Systems for Acoustic Guitar:​

Keep reading for the full reviews!

What Is A PA System?

A PA system is an audio device that amplifies everything happening onstage and spreads the sound out over the club, venue, or stadium in which you’re performing.

It allows multiple sound sources to be mixed, balanced and equalized for the maximum enjoyment of your audience.

In the old days, the abbreviation “PA” stood for “public address,” as they were originally conceived to boost the voice of someone speaking to a crowd, and little regard was paid to the sonic quality of said boosting.

Try to recall the sound of the announcements at your high school sporting events, and you'll get the idea.

Somewhere in the 90s, “PA” started to mean “pro audio” and this is a better definition of what we do with these things today.

Now, even small PAs are intended to provide good, natural-sounding reproduction of whatever is pumped into the.

Your average bar band today owns or rents a system that’s better and more efficient than what The Beatles used at Shea Stadium.

The simplest PAs consist of a multi-channel mixer that acts as the brain of the system and is what all your mics and instruments connect to and a pair of speaker cabinets that shoot your sound out over the crowd.

The giant systems seen at major concerts are merely larger versions of this concept.

Anyone who regularly plays acoustic guitar and sings will benefit from owning and learning to operate a basic PA system in more ways than can be described here.

It’s just what you need.

Here come some examples!

The Rockville RPG2X10 PA system package is a super cool, compact and easy-to-use bundle of gear that will make any acoustic player happy.

It includes a 4-channel powered mixer, two 10" speaker cabinets, speaker stands, two wired microphones and Bluetooth connectivity.

This is exactly the style of compact PA system that’s used on countless live and DJ gigs all over the world.

The Rockville is a versatile and complete PA that comes with everything you need right down to the cables.

The mixer has four discrete channels that each have Delay and Reverb and are suitable for either acoustic guitars or microphones.

It puts out 200 Watts RMS of power, which is more than enough for the situations in which it will be used.

Each channel has Bass and Treble controls to help dial in sounds, Level control and an Effects control.

The Master section has the expected RCA jacks for getting external sounds into the mix but also features an SD slot, a USB port and the Bluetooth connectivity mentioned earlier.

The speaker cabinets are a pair of 4-Ohm long-throw 10" woofers with 1.5" aluminum voice coils and 60oz magnets that provide incredibly deep bass for their size and plenty of acoustic guitar tone.

A state-of-the-art 1.75” crystal piezo compression horn tweeter is also present to handle your highs.

The cabs are designed with a two-way architecture that allows you to use them horizontally and vertically as mains or stage monitors.

They also mount on the included speaker stands.

The two mics are metal-bodied Rockville RMM-XLR dynamic models that will work swimmingly well on your melodious vocal harmonies.

Microphone cables are included.

This is a fine little system that simple to operate and easy to carry, which are both factors you’ll appreciate each time you have to move it and set it up.

The Rockville RPG2X10 PA system package will be perfect for many players seeking good sounds at a great price.

The Proreck Party 15 PA system is bigger and stronger bundle for those who need a rig with some horsepower behind it.

The slightly higher price is the only reason it's not the best PA system for acoustic guitar and vocals.

It’s a portable system built around two cabinets with 15” speakers that will provide plenty of low-end boom to both live and pre-recorded music.

The interesting thing about this setup is that the 2000-watt power amp and mini mixer are both built into one of the cabinets.

This is an innovative design that cuts down on the number of pieces you have to carry and takes up less space on the stage.

The other speaker cabinet is unpowered and connects to the powered unit.

The only drawback to this is that you only get a couple of input channels to work with, but this would be a rocking system for anyone regularly doing a solo act that also needs to provide background music for set breaks.

The mixer does feature Bluetooth connectivity, a USB input for non-Bluetooth devices, an SD card reader, and an FM Radio.

A remote control is also included.

Other nice touches are a five-band Graphic Equalizer and highly-readable LCD.

Speaking of displays, the speaker cabinets, themselves, have LED lighting in them that responds to your music and helps you entertain your crowd.

You also get a quality dynamic microphone, power and audio cables and a pair of sturdy speaker stands.

The Proreck Party 15 PA system is aimed at DJs as much as it is live musicians and is a good choice for anyone wanting the big sound that 15” speakers deliver but doesn’t need tons of inputs.

If its features fit your needs, it’s worth a closer look.

Here’s a quick demo of the Proreck system!

Fender Passport systems have been popular since their late 90s debut with players who need a good small PA system that doesn’t take an audio degree to operate.

The Passport design is extremely portable because the speaker cabinets attach to the powered mixer for transport, which makes it much like carrying a reasonably-sized suitcase.

The Passport Conference system features five input channels and 175 watts of power.

It’s great for acoustic acts in a small room but will also work well for worship events, meetings, seminars, and corporate presentations.

The beauty of this rig is that it’s designed with the layperson in mind, which makes it a snap to set up and use even if you have little background in sound reinforcement.

The channels have intuitive Volume and Tone controls that make mixing as easy as listening to your car stereo.

XLR and quarter-inch inputs are present for mics, and acoustic guitars and Channels Four and Five are a stereo channel that has two line inputs as well as a mini-plug jack.

One convenient bonus with the Passport Conference is international voltage compatibility, meaning it will run on 100V-120V or 220V-240V electricity.

You can use this all over the world with no power issues.

The entire system is made from molded black plastic and has a sleek, modern look to it that’s ideal for upscale gigs and business meetings.

The Fender Passport Conference is small and has some limits but is perfect for those looking for a no-brainer PA system that’s easy to carry and will get the job done.

If this sounds like you, you know what to do!

Here’s a demo!

Yamaha always has the good stuff, it seems, and this bundle is no exception.

The Yamaha StagePas 400i Portable PA system is a powerful and fully-featured rig that fits right into the company’s high-tech vibe and high-quality reputation.

The StagePas 400i is a bit more upscale than some of our other systems today and seems to be aimed squarely at the gigging acoustic player or small group.

It puts out 400 watts of power, which makes it suitable for many different applications.

The mixer has eight total inputs, two of them being stereo channels.

This arrangement offers much versatility and makes it a serious contender for serious players.

Two 8” bass reflex speaker cabinets push your sound towards the people and provide ample coverage for small to medium rooms.

Also onboard are Yamaha's legendary SPX Reverb and a Feedback Suppressor, and both will do much to sweeten up your live shows.

Two Rockville speaker stands get your music up in the air, and Yamaha's  M770 Mixer Stand is also part of the deal, which is significant.

Also significant is the fact that you get a pair of Rockville RWM1201VH VHF wireless microphones.

This is a major upgrade from wired mics and should get your attention.

The mics automatically connect to the included receiver and have a comfortable shape that most hands will like holding.

Also part of the package is a rolling bag to carry the mixer in and a bag for the speaker stands, which make sense for anyone out running around with their gear.

Overall, the Yamaha StagePas 400i Portable PA system is a strong piece of kit that will do an admirable job for both gigging and rehearsing.

Here’s a quick listen to impress you even further!

The Powerwerks PW50 PA System is a compact modular one-piece unit that’s fit for more uses than you can probably list.

It’s a 50 watt personal PA with a three-channel mixer, two 4.5” speakers and a high-frequency tweeter.

It not only works for acoustic guitar and vocals but for keyboards, drum machines, samplers and other assorted audio toys too.

The sound is surprisingly warm and even for such a compact device and you’ll be pleasantly surprised from your first strum through the PW50.

Pretty cool so far, right?

Now, factor in that you can chain multiple PW50s together with Powerwerks’ own Powerlink Circuit.

Two or more units can be connected like this and will then function as a single, larger PA system when you need to move more air.

This makes the PW50 almost impossible to outgrow.

You can use one for your solo act, two with your duo and four with your full band.

This is a small and easily-moved solution to the question of acoustic amplification and is honestly fun to have around just for practicing.

Powerwerks is marching to its own beat on this one, and it's quite unlike most of its competitors.

You have to decide for yourself if that’s good or bad.

Fans of forward-thinking gear will like the PW50 a lot, but it might not satisfy those who have to have a traditional box mixer on the gig.

The Powerwerks PW50 is a horse of a different color but might be just the thing your gig needs.

Here’s a look and a listen to help you decide!

How To Choose Your PA System

When it comes time to buy your first PA system, you may quickly become overwhelmed.

There are so many variations on this theme that it may seem like an endless market to study.

The truth is, your PA choice will be mostly determined by how you plan to use it the majority of the time.

Will it mostly be used for small acoustic gigs and basement rehearsals?

Do you anticipate playing outdoors frequently?

Will it be for live coffeehouse-sized gigs or will you DJ through it?

If so, at what volume?

These are some of the things you'll need to consider to make the right choice for what you do.

If you’re all about small gigs and at-home jams, any of the systems in this article will be more than adequate for your purposes.

Having said that, it’s always a good idea to buy slightly more system than you presently need to allow yourself some room to grow.

Try to go for as many inputs as you can afford if your solo act expands into a duo or trio in the next year.

It’s always better to have and not need than need and not have.

If you’re planning to play outside a lot or with a full band, you’re going to need more power and cabinets.

Try to read and watch as many product reviews as you can to get a feeling on what these things do and what they sound like.

Time spent on research now will save much money and grief down the road.

What Cables Do I Need?

This is a very common question with new PA buyers.

There are enough types of cables in the world to warrant a blog just on that subject, but there are three basic kinds of cables you'll need to run your PA and not blow it up.

Microphone Cables are the ones with male and female three-prong XLR jacks on each end.

At this level of the game, they’re for connecting your vocal mics and not much else.

Speaker Cables will have male quarter-inch jacks on each end, maybe speakons, and will be used to connect your speaker cabinets to your mixer.

Instrument Cables are what you use to plug in acoustic guitars, keyboards and any other gizmos like drum machines and samplers to your PA.

They will also have male quarter-inch jacks on both ends.

Both Speaker and Instrument Cables will have their identity printed on their rubber covering, so be sure to take the time to look.

They’re not interchangeable and using one in place of the other can damage your gear.

Conclusion

PA systems are a normal part of this life of ours, and you'll feel much more secure about yourself once you understand their basics and learn to use them.

Plus, they’re all more alike than they are different, much like cars, and once you can drive one, you can drive them all.

I hope you found this blog on the best PA system for acoustic guitar and vocals to be fun and informative.

See you again soon with more guitar player know-how!