Harman E-System 10 Portable Sound System

I love top-quality audio equipment. But when it comes to providing P.A. support for school events, I look for sound gear that’s durable, quick, easy to set up, and doesn’t require me to baby-sit it throughout each and every assembly and presentation.

The Harman E-System 10 satisfies both competing interests; it’s serious sound, kept simple. A single box contains everything you need to provide multiple-source sound for your school’s bigger venues, such as auditoriums and gyms. And the system also scales down to suit a small classroom with a single presenter. You get two JBL-powered speakers, two AKG microphones, a Soundcraft E6 mixer, and all the necessary cables. Keep it all on a single cart and you’ll be prepared for any sonic situation.

The powered speakers provide the system’s brawny amplification. Each packs 175 watts of bleacher-rattling power, yet weighs only 23 pounds. The downside of having powered speakers is that each one needs to be plugged in, which can be a bit of a hassle if your facility lacks lots of electrical outlets. The upside is that the speakers can function independently as self-contained P.A. systems. And if you only require a single microphone for a small presentation? Grab one speaker, a mic, and a cable and you’re all set. You’ll find volume controls on the back of each speaker and, since both mics have built-in on/off switches, you can set your volume level, switch off the microphone, and the system will be ready and waiting when the MC takes the stage. Need a bit more oomph? Grab one more cable and you can daisy chain to the second speaker and get all the power and coverage of the complete system without having to mess with the mixer.

Even so, you’ll appreciate having the Soundcraft E6 mixer for your more elaborate sound reinforcement situations. You can jack in up to six microphones or other monaural sources, plus two stereo sources (like cassette/CD/MP3 players) and keep all your sound elements cued up and in perfect balance, using the lightweight unit’s controls.

While the E-System 10 lists at $1,979, it can easily be found for around $1,330, which makes it an affordable way to cover a typical school’s diverse P.A. needs with a single purchase order.