Who once played in a band or know someone who is in the band playing at the same time you have a PA or other discussions. This usually includes a trip to the local music store, astronomical housing prices to some extent. Then, if the band got some "performance" was a reference to a few thousand dollars, to go shopping and the band ordered something they called PA. Add some more shopping, and some bargaining, the system is growing into a larger PA. This cycle continues themselves in an almost infinite loop until the band "broke" all actions and like a couple at the time of divorce, and go their separate ways. The only exception is of course the parents have too much money, and try the local music store to buy their children a trip to the Grammy Awards in one-time payment of child. Whether these programs is a particularly wise investment.

The two main reasons why 99% of local band PA systems sound terrible is

1) the band guys nor the guys at the local music store know much about a sound system
2) the band guys do not have nor are they willing to spend the money it takes to put together a proper sound system.

Over the years, I have witnessed first hand these exact instances occur simultaneously numerous times. Band members head to music store and tell salesman they can spend $10,000. Salesman tells them that is plenty of money and they get started putting together the perfect $10,000 sound system. Now the band has $10,000 worth of mid-level equipment that they thinks is capable of anything and the salesman has a nice commission. Everyone is happy, bliss for all. Eventually, the band decides they need more subs so the kick drum will sound better and some compressors to make everything better. And last but not least, lots of effects.

The lack of knowledge and budget of Professional Line Array has lead the band to purchase gear that is just not capable of providing the level of performance they desire and need. I have made the suggestion many times to band members trying to spend $5000 or $10000 to not buy a full blown PA, but rather invest in very high quality self powered and processed speakers that double as monitors, a high quality small mixer and a high quality basic mic package. They will not get as much "stuff" but it will work at a much higher level and it will be easier to operate which is a huge bonus because of their lack of tech skills. This equipment can be used to practice and play small shows. This works out very well mainly because the level of technical skill needed is lower, there is less gear to carry around and it normally sounds much better than a bunch of music store junk.

If and when the band gets bigger and better gigs that the smaller self-powered boxes cannot handle, they then can call a reputable sound provider and rent a system that is appropriate for the venue. This has so many advantages I wonder why I see band PA so often in places it does not belong. The main and obvious advantage to renting a professional system is it just plain sounds better. The differences in a professionally deployed sound system, even a club type system, and a local band PA are overwhelming. Professional system will have better bass response while maintaining clarity and overall balanced sound as opposed to the kick drum heavy icepick tone of most band PA's. The Professional system will be able to achieve the SPL needed without driving the system into clip all night long. The professional system will come with a tech who will be able to dial in the system to the particular room and make the band sound better than they otherwise could or would.

The main argument most band guys have against this concept is that it costs too much to rent and they will make less money. I always counter by telling them they can probably play a large portion of their shows with the smaller powered cabinets and then ask them that if they are not making enough to rent a larger system, why are they willing to personally bring a larger sound system? The investment in the large useless pile of gear they call a PA was real money, but it generates nearly no return on investment (ROI); and assuming it still works, is barely worth half what they paid for it shortly after its purchase.

Instead, had them buy a high-quality, easier to use the gear and rented gear when needed, they will have better sounding, the resale value of the equipment is easy to use to save much better. They will spend less time to build and break gear. When their voices sound more professional, they play a bigger venue, should be able to better wages, and in the food chain as a whole a better place. They will get a better return on investment. But perhaps the most compelling reason is that the band should not buy a bigger sound system and rent gear is that they do not know they are doing something at the production level. They simply can not accomplish this task is not not realize this fact!

Related reading: Active Line Array Systems  high performance power amplifier