From Backyard Parties to Beach Weddings:
How Battery-Powered PA Systems Can Transform Any Event
Your sound system can make or break even the most well-planned events. So it’s important to find the right audio solution to fit your needs and successfully transform your location into a vibrant event space.
In this article, we’ll explore why upgrading to a battery-powered PA makes a huge difference when planning an event.
Then we’ll examine how battery-powered PA systems can enhance events ranging from backyard parties and destination weddings to street performances and community and corporate events—all with unmatched convenience and superior sound quality.
Let’s dive in…
Why Upgrade to a Battery-Powered PA System?
PA systems have been around for decades. You may even have one lying around the basement or garage from the old college band days. So why not blow off the dust and use it for your next big event? Simply put, PA systems have evolved significantly to provide better performance in every possible way. Modern PAs deliver powerful, clear audio in highly portable housings, with some even featuring the incredible convenience of battery-powered performance (look ma, no wires). That means you’ll be able to set up and achieve professional sound at any location and host events you never thought practical or possible.
At Mackie, we’re superfans of battery-powered PA solutions. That’s why we’ve been at the forefront of this technological advancement, consistently innovating to meet the demands of modern events and performers with high-quality, reliable products. So if you’re interested in picking up a new battery-powered PA for your events, check out Mackie gear.
Read below to see how a Mackie battery-powered PA will elevate your next performance or party.
Best PA for Backyard Parties
Backyard Parties are a mainstay of the Summer months, but they’re also famously underpowered in the audio department. That’s usually because traditional PAs require running extension cords to the yard and dealing with convoluted cabling and setup. All that adds up to a pretty high barrier of entry for most hosts. That’s why you’ve attended one too many parties DJ’d with woefully inadequate Bluetooth speakers. Well, not anymore.
Battery-powered PAs make it easy to set up and get dynamic sound without extension cords, generators, or cable runs. And since you aren’t tethered to one location, you can easily move the music wherever the action is.
A great battery-powered PA for backyard parties is the Mackie Thump GO. It features 12 hours of battery life, built-in Bluetooth connectivity, and an intuitive onboard mixer for reliable, high-quality sound, anywhere. Thump GO also has built-in audio processing that optimizes your sound for different applications, all at the push of a button. Choose between indoor/outdoor modes and music/speech functions to get the most out of your PA and bring life to any party.
Battery-Powered PA for Weddings
Fact: nobody should skimp on sound at their weddings. Unfortunately, getting great audio isn’t a given—even if you’re hosting the event at an indoor location with plenty of room for a traditional PA system. Now add on the challenges of providing wedding-worthy sound in outdoor or remote locations, and you have a five-star recipe for letdown. That’s why battery-powered PAs are a must for outdoor and destination weddings.
Battery-powered PAs allow you to transform any location into a venue and achieve amazing sound. Want to have a ceremony on a secluded beach? A battery-powered PA will get you there. Found the most idyllic farm with centuries-old trees festooned with string lights? Set it up anywhere, switch it on, and power up your favorite playlist. Mountain-top matrimony more your thing? Lightweight, portable designs make it easy to transport your tunes and get audio clearer than an alpine lake.
If you’re looking for a PA for weddings, we recommend the following two Mackie systems:
Thump GO is a Goldilocks PA that delivers the right amount of features, power, and battery life for most events. It can handle multiple microphones during the ceremony, live music during the happy hour, and produce dynamic sound for dancing. It’s all you need for small to medium-sized outdoor weddings—just add a microphone.
For those needing a full-sized battery-powered PA system for large events, check out Mackie Thrash212 GO. This is the big gun of the Mackie lineup, boasting an ultra-efficient 300W amplifier, a 12” woofer, and up to 10 hours of battery life. You can even pair multiple speakers wirelessly to provide sound all around the venue, all at once.
PA for Busking and Street Performances
Buskers and street performers have seen a rise in popularity in the last few years, with many starting to livestream their sets to thousands of fans on social media. The only drawback is that busking can mean carrying a lot of cumbersome gear that’s tedious to set up when the eyes of the world are upon you. With a battery-powered PA for busking sets, all that changes.
Battery-powered PAs eliminate the need to MacGyver a power solution for traditional PAs. That means no more expensive battery banks, hijacking power from a local shop, or being limited to purely acoustic playing. Mackie PAs deliver up to 15 hours of battery life so you can perform all day without running out of juice.
Looking for a PA system for busking and street performances? Here are two we’d recommend:
Mackie ShowBox is the ultimate battery-powered PA for busking. Period. ShowBox combines 12 hours of battery life, a powerful 400W amp, a 6-channel mixer, and built-in effects into one portable unit. For any buskers looking for a no-compromise PA that elevates every performance, this is the must-have system.
If you prefer a streamlined and highly portable rig that still packs a punch, the Mackie FreePlay LIVE is for you. Its ultra-compact design delivers 15 hours of battery life and 150W of power, making it ideal for busking and intimate venues. It also has an app for effortless mixing from your mobile device, and Bluetooth pairing so you can play music while taking a break.
PA for Corporate Events and Presentations
The strength and success of an idea depend largely on how well it’s communicated. And a key component of communication is how well you can be heard. That’s why clear, professional sound is vital for presentations and speeches. Additionally, anything that helps you set up faster and stay focused on your presentation or event is worth its weight in gold. After all, you’re a business professional, not an audio engineer. Things should be simple, streamlined, and effective.
A battery-powered PA like the Mackie Thump GO is perfect for this setting. It offers wireless connectivity, making it easy to integrate multimedia presentations without the fuss of cables. 12-hour battery life and swappable, rechargeable batteries mean you’ll never be without the power you need to be heard during even the longest events.
Thump GO also makes it dead simple to get pro-level sound with virtually no setup. A built-in feedback eliminator ensures your presentation is free of ear-piercing squeals that’ll send people running. A selectable ducking feature lowers the volume of music when you start speaking for effective transitions between intermissions and speaking sessions. And its dedicated Speech mode EQs the sound so even you like the sound of your own voice. So if you want to enhance the overall professionalism and impact of your event, give a Mackie PA a shot.
PA System for Community and Public Events
If the last several years have taught us anything, it’s that the strength of local communities is essential. There are many ways to foster a sense of community, but something achievable for most people is volunteering at social and cultural events. Whether you’re getting involved in planning local festivals, farmers' markets, and fairs, or participating in neighborhood forums and local government events, reliable, high-quality audio is a must. That’s where battery-powered PAs come in.
Mackie offers battery-powered PAs in a range of sizes, from the FreePlay LIVE that excels in intimate venues like classrooms to the Thrash212 GO full-sized PA that’s at home at local music festivals and the largest public events. No matter which one you choose, you’ll get exceptional audio, industry-leading features, and build quality that will withstand anything you can throw at it (just don’t throw it at anything else). These systems are easy to use and can help you keep your community connected and informed.
Your Event, Your Way, Your PA
Battery-powered PAs have revolutionized audio for events. Now it’s easier than ever to achieve professional sound quality anywhere, anytime. So whether you're hosting a backyard party, planning the destination wedding of the century, busking on the streets, or organizing a corporate or community event, there’s a Mackie battery-powered PA that’s right for you. The only question is, what will you do with it first?
Mackie THUMP GO
Mackie THRASH212 GO
