Small battery powered monitors

[JEGG]

Does anyone know of a pair of battery powered speakers that I could run for 45 minutes to one hour at reasonable levels (say peak 85 dBC) in a not very large room?

I'm looking for something that sounds like the AudioEngine A2's and are the same size. These are not for critical use, rather being able to play things for people, something to have at a meeting, use in a hotel, etc. (Yes I know, but I really want a battery powered option.)

I'm fine with cobbling together an NiMH pack, or buying one of the _small_ general lithium batteries and chargers that are sometimes mentioned here.

(BTW, the A2's require dual 17.5 volts and a bespoke connector, so I'm wondering if there's something a little simpler to power. That's all I get from their tech email writer at the time, I don't know if that's plus and minus.)

Again, the priority is _small_ and lightweight, decent quality (AE-A2's), and speed of setup= battery powered.

Ideas?

[tourtelot]

Remote Audio, an arm of Trew Audio in Nashville, manufactures and sells a pretty good speaker that runs on a 9v battery (!). Or external PSU. Here is the link:

Remote Audio SPEAKEASY v3 | Trew Audio

Now this is no near-field monitor for mixing but they make fine utility monitors. I own and use three of them regularly in my day job as a motion picture soundman and they work just fine.

D.

[philper]

I have an old Lectrosonics "MaxiMouse" which has been great for this kind of thing. It has an internal gel-cel battery, can take two inputs from dynamic mic to hot line level, etc.. and play loud all day (was a fave of street musicians). I would describe the sound as mid-fi, but loud. I wonder if the Speakeasy will play that loud that long on its internal batt? Maybe get an external battery for them?

phil p

[JEGG]

Thanks Philper and tourtelot!

After I posted, I looked at more things on line-and became even more certain I'm looking for something that's an impossibility and/or doesn't exist.

Thanks for your suggestions, I'll look into those-at least I know that my quest is not completely crazy.

I welcome more suggestions.......!

[tourtelot]

Originally Posted by philper

I have an old Lectrosonics "MaxiMouse" which has been great for this kind of thing. It has an internal gel-cel battery, can take two inputs from dynamic mic to hot line level, etc.. and play loud all day (was a fave of street musicians). I would describe the sound as mid-fi, but loud. I wonder if the Speakeasy will play that loud that long on its internal batt? Maybe get an external battery for them?

phil p

I didn't get from the OP that he was looking for loud. I don't think that the Speakeasy will be loud but I think that it will sound more "hi-fi" than the Mouse amp. It's a two-way speaker.

BTW, I have had one of those (the original, not the Maxi) since they were new. My first Lectrosonics product! I still use it ALL the time as a quick and easy playback on the set. Brilliant piece of gear!

D.

[John Willett]

The K+H PAS 100 may be worth looking at.

Battery and reasonably priced.

But as I'm international roaming with only an iPhone I can't look up and see how they compare in size to the ones you mention.

Anchor Audio also do battery portables and as they are a US company, may be cheaper over there.



Posted via the Gearslutz iPhone app

[JEGG]

Originally Posted by John Willett

The K+H PAS 100 may be worth looking at.

Battery and reasonably priced.

But as I'm international roaming with only an iPhone I can't look up and see how they compare in size to the ones you mention.

Anchor Audio also do battery portables and as they are a US company, may be cheaper over there.



Posted via the Gearslutz iPhone app

I had no idea about the KH mentioned. That's a surprise.

I'll be looking at Anchor, too. Didn't know about that either.

Thanks, John!

So far, I've not been aware of a single product mentioned in this thread, so, for other readers, please do continue to contribute.

This has been interesting and enlightening so far.

[hbphotoav]

Originally Posted by JEGG

I had no idea about the KH mentioned. That's a surprise.

I'll be looking at Anchor, too. Didn't know about that either.

Thanks, John!

So far, I've not been aware of a single product mentioned in this thread, so, for other readers, please do continue to contribute.

This has been interesting and enlightening so far.

We run a pair of Anchor (8"+tweet, one powered and one extension) that do pretty well off the wall, at church. I'm not sure about the battery life, though... never used them that way. I also have a smaller Anchor (2500, maybe?) that I got from a AV liquidator for $45 a couple of years ago. It's loud and good enough to use as a FOH reference monitor on smaller PA gigs to check feeds and feedback. It's AC only, although I think they made it with a battery option.

If bulk isn't an issue, use a 12v auto battery and a clean DC->120v AC converter and your choice of speaker-on-stick (JBL, RCF, Mackie, QSC...)

HB

[John Willett]

I forgot to mention that both the K+H and Anchor units can take radiomic receivers to make them truly wireless, both from the mains and mic. cables as well.


Posted via the Gearslutz iPhone app

[DCtoDaylight]

You might consider the Tivoli Audio PAL. They have an internal rechargeable battery, and really sound surprisingly good for their size. One of them would give you a mono mix (from a stereo input), or you could get a pair for the full effect.

[JEGG]

Originally Posted by tourtelot

I didn't get from the OP that he was looking for loud.

Correct. Something that might hit about 85 dBC peak in a smallish room.

[JEGG]

Originally Posted by DCtoDaylight

You might consider the Tivoli Audio PAL. They have an internal rechargeable battery, and really sound surprisingly good for their size. One of them would give you a mono mix (from a stereo input), or you could get a pair for the full effect.

That is an imaginative suggestion, and presents a lot of options.

I tried one of these a few years ago for my radio in the bedroom, but it had a low level whine and in the day or two before it was returned, the LCD and whatever drove it bit the dust.

I do think it works for most people, however, many have commented about the whine. I can't remember now what conditions made that so apparent, but that alone was a nonstarter for me. Again, not everyone's experience, to be sure.

[DCtoDaylight]

Originally Posted by JEGG

That is an imaginative suggestion, and presents a lot of options.

I tried one of these a few years ago for my radio in the bedroom, but it had a low level whine and in the day or two before it was returned, the LCD and whatever drove it bit the dust.

I do think it works for most people, however, many have commented about the whine. I can't remember now what conditions made that so apparent, but that alone was a nonstarter for me. Again, not everyone's experience, to be sure.

Hmm - haven't noticed any extraneous noises on our PAL, but that's not to say they couldn't exist, especially when it's working as a radio. Are you sure the unit you had was a PAL? They don't have any LCDs or other displays, and have a wall-wart power supply that recharges the battery.

In any case, thanks for starting this thread - I'm learning a lot!

[WVUtubadude]

The school I am a brass tech at has a pair of speakers from Anchor for PA and metronome amplification for marching band rehearsal. They sound good, and provided the kids remember to plug them in, the battery life is pretty good.

[JEGG]

Originally Posted by DCtoDaylight

Are you sure the unit you had was a PAL? They don't have any LCDs or other displays, and have a wall-wart power supply that recharges the battery.

My mistake. It wasn't a PAL. It was a different Tivoli product (it also offered on board charging), and it was that one that people were having problems with, not the PAL.

Thanks for mentioning it.

[Remoteness]

We have about six or so K+H PAS 100s each with a Sennheiser wireless unit in them.

They are very handy when you have clear line of sight (transmitter/receiver,) but the cable run is too difficult to manage.

[eoats]

How about:

Carvin.com :: S400



oh, never mind you don't need loud.

[RickZ]

I bought a pair of these monitors for the rare occasions that I have to play my keyboard and ac power is questionable or non-existent.

They fill a room pretty well, imho.

Rick Z

TAILGATER