The Best Passive PA Speakers Under $500

This is the price range where most people get their unpowered speakers. So it's unsurprising to know that this is where competition gets tough. This is where manufacturers are continually improving the quality of their products. A $1,000 budget affords you two or more of these speakers; some will give you enough change to get accessories.

Best Passive PA Speakers from $500 to $1000

Based on our analysis, these investments provide years of reliable use, flexible mounting options, loudness, and great sound.

Things To Consider When Buying Passive PA Speakers

Power Rating - Continuous (RMS), Program, and Peak

Getting a good passive pa speaker involves understanding the volume requirements of your venue. This entails understanding how much power is needed, and finding speakers that can meet the requirements.

The power rating specification applies to both active and passive speakers.

PA Speaker power ratings are most often listed values for Continuous (also often called RMS), Program (sometimes called Music), and Peak power. But what do these mean?

Continuous power refers to a worst-case scenario where you are blasting the speaker with sound at all frequencies (pink noise, to be specific) for hours and hours on end. The biggest problem with speakers is overheating, which doesn't allow the speaker to take a break and cool down. Unless you are in an avant-garde pink noise outfit with pieces lasting hours, your music won't stress the speakers this hard.

Manufacturers also list Program or Music Power, which almost always double the Continuous Power rating. This rating is for some versions of 'typical' music power loads with dynamic range and relative quiet periods, allowing the speakers to cool down.

Peak power refers to how much your speakers can produce for an 'instant,' which can cause a lot of heat and is the limit to which the speaker's diaphragm can safely move. The Peak power listed is nearly always double the music power and four times the Continuous Power. Keep this information in mind when comparing speakers from different brands. Many tend to use other total power measurements.

Matching with Amplifier Power Ratings

Passive speakers don't have built-in amplifiers, so they must be paired with a separate power amplifier. And the two devices have to match if you want your audio system to sound good.

It's safest to match the Continuous RMS Power with the output power of your amp. But you'll get better results with a more powerful amp. A typical recommendation is about double this level, which, as we've learned above, is generally Program or Music Power.

So, if you have a passive speaker with a continuous power rating of 500W, the optimal amplifier is one rated 1000W or close to that. The reasoning is that apart from getting the most out of your speakers for typical loads, you are less likely to turn your amp up too high, which can lead to a clipped/distorted signal rather like a square wave.

A clipped signal from your power amp is the worst signal for your speaker and can damage them even at lower power levels. Some even recommend an amp that goes all the way up to the Peak Power. On the other hand, some suggest that matching to Continuous RMS Power is the safest bet.

The main point is to ensure your connected power amplifier doesn't go into the red, whatever the power rating is. Connect your speaker with an amp with double the Continuous RMS rating for normal music loads. Using the correct speaker cableis also important for the reliable and safe operation of your amplifier and passive speaker.

To avoid this complexity, you are better off with a powered speaker. Although, you'll still have to consider this information if you plan to utilize the power speakers' output. You also need to be using compatible Speaker Connector Types to properly connect your speakers.

Impedance Matching

The typical load for speakers is 4, 6, or 8 ohms (Ω). The safest route is to have an amplifier that matches the load (4-ohm amp output to 4-ohm speaker). Low-impedance speakers cause amplifiers with high-impedance outcomes to work harder. This results in audio clipping or faster heat build-up that may damage your equipment.

So pairing your speaker impedance properly is important to preserve your amplifier and speaker and to have a clear sound.

Speaker Loudness and Sound Pressure Level (SPL)

The wattage ratings of PA speakers relate to how much power they use up, and this sometimes only refers directly to how much sound they can produce. This is because speakers vary in their efficiency at making sound vs heat. The speaker efficiency rating is called Sensitivity, which is how loud in decibels (dB) it will be 1 meter from the speakers with 1 watt of power. The overall maximum loudness of the speakers is the Maximum SPL, which is also measured at 1 meter in front of the speaker.

While this can be a helpful comparison point, it's important to point out that this doesn't give you a consistent measure of what levels of clarity and precision there are at these high levels, so apart from cranking the speakers and listening from a safe distance, the best method is to check what others have experienced using the speakers in real life situations. Fortunately for you, this is what we've done and incorporated into our written analysis. To prevent unwanted noise and Crackling from Speakers, speakers have to be used at the proper sound levels.

Speaker Cone Size

Most top-rated passive speakers have either 12" or 15" woofers, with these two speaker sizes considered the most ideal for music PA systems. The general difference is that bigger 15" speakers offer more punch and low-end frequency response (although not as much as a subwoofer) at the cost of overwhelming some of the highs. They also tend to be more expensive and heavier. 12" speakers offer a more balanced sound for many applications. Still, they may need to be more for bass-heavy music.

Also worth considering is the size of the tweeter, the presence of a midrange woofer, and the material used for the cone and tweeter. Given the loud volume of these speakers, they aren't meant to be used as passive bookshelf speakers for low-volume listening.

Weight, Portability, and Mounting

Since passive speakers have no amplifier components, they are generally lighter than the average powered speaker. This makes them ideal for use in a mobile speaker system. For easier setups, look for passive speakers compatible with stand, hang, and wall mounts. Other portability features to watch include handle location, size, and weight.

Remember that you'll probably be using a set of speakers, so you have to consider the space and power source of more than one speaker. Having no active circuitry, passive speakers can't have modern features like Bluetooth. So, if you are looking for a wireless speaker, you'll have to go for an active speaker instead.

Passive PA Speaker Summary

If you feel a speaker should be included above, first check to see if it's in our Music Gear Database, then let us know in the comments below if you would like us to consider including it.