Library Furniture

The libraries of the 21st century are no longer merely repositories for books. Libraries now provide an increasing range of different services. Libraries have also become a key meeting place for an exchange of ideas and information. With a growing need for means to reach larger groups in a library setting, the public-address system remains one of the best investments for such a task. The applications of a public address system are endless. But even if you will be purchasing a PA system for a similar environment as one listed, how do you know which one to choose? This guide will help you narrow our selection down by answering some simple questions, and ultimately choosing the public address system that will be perfect for your needs.

• Who will be using the PA system?
• What features would assist your presentations?
• How large will your audience be?
• How many watts do you need?

You may already own a microphone, or you're planning on adding your new PA system to a shared environment where multiple users will supply their own mics. In these situations, select a system that does not include a microphone. However, if you're building a presentation system from the bottom up, you may want a product that includes a microphone. Most come with a wired microphone, but all are compatible with wireless mic systems.

Also, some of the PA systems we offer include two or more microphone inputs, thus enabling more than one speaker to use the system simultaneously.

A PA system that is AC powered doesn't have to be recharged, and in some cases allows more volume. However, it does not give you access to the quick and easy portability of a PA system.

Some systems come with media players that can play their source material while also using the microphone jack for vocal applications (also known as a “voice over”). These include a CD and/or tape player that is built to be more rugged than common audio players, with added skip protection. Nevertheless, PA systems do include input jacks for additional media sources, if you'd like to supply your own.

The audience size that a PA system's audio output can cover is affected by several variables, including amplifier wattage, mixer voltage, and the size of the woofer speaker (to reproduce the lower frequencies of your source material, be it voice or music). We've conveniently listed our selection of public address systems as being ideal for small, medium, or large audiences. If the size of your audience will fluctuate from application to application, many systems have companion speakers, to expand your crowd coverage.

A general rule of thumb when determining how many Watts you need is 1 Watt per person in your audience. Depending on the venue you are working in, this may change. When working outdoors, or in other areas where you will need to over come loud conditions you will need at least 250 Watts. For smaller rooms, you will most likely not need more than 50 Watts.

We hope that after using this guide you are able to choose the perfect public address system. However, if you still have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to give us a call (800) 675-4024 – our staff at CSN Library Furniture is always happy to help!