Using a powered PA speaker as a sub? (1 Viewer)

[ChrisConklin]

I'm not sure if this has ever been brought up, but would using a full range PA speaker w/ a 15 inch woofer work as a good sub? Would 2 speakers make good mains for home theater? Any difference between getting a powere speaker or speakers that come w/ an external amp?

 

[Tim Streagle]

No. PA speakers are designed for maximum output, not for accuracy. They will not have the low freq. extension that you probably desire.

 

[Wayne A. Pflughaupt]

If you’re talking about a PA speaker with a single 15” and a horn, think about what you have there. Typically the horn covers down to 1000Hz or so, and the 15” picks it up from there. So the 15” is just a big speaker doing duty all the way up to the lower midrange. I’ve RTA’d a few of these over the years and - surprisingly - they typically fall like a brick below 100Hz or so. Like Tim noted, they’re designed to play loud, not low.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt