Actually this post makes it sound like Yamaha P2500S would be enough:
@ 8 ohms 275W Watts/Side
@ 4 ohms 390W Watts Bridged 780W
@ 8 ohms Cooling System Continuously Variable Speed Fan DSP No Filters Yes Inputs 2 x XLR, 2 x 1/4 Outputs 2 x SpeakON, 2 x 1/4, 2 x Binding Posts Rack Spaces 2U
If I'm understanding how channels work.
Would P3500S or P2500S be better? Is 2500 enough power? It would be safer as far as blowing out speakers by the sounds of things.
I think you miss something here.
Normal speach are around 75-80dB. A person singing loudly around 85 dB.
Playing your stereo loudly are around 82dB in listening position which I assume are at approx. 3 meter.
People start covering their ears in pain at 106 dB.
So I would say that you can not have a higher sound level than maximum 106 dB regardless of activity.
Necessary power from the amplifier are around 8 Watts in this application but to be able to handle peak transients without clipping them a headroom of around 20dB is good practice. 20dB means 10 times 8 Watts.
An amplifier at 50-100 Watt will be plenty for this application and these speakers.
You must stop looking at what the speakers can handle and start looking at necessary sound levels.
You have not discussed that at all, and that is what is important to understand.
500-600 Watts will be able to generate sound levels similar to a starting Boeing 747 in your church for a few seconds before they burst into flames.
Placing the speakers for even radiation and even sound levels in all places is also important.
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Can you recommend something that;s a good brand but not too expensive? I'm currently looking at a Yamaha P2500S but I think that's 250 watts so I guess still too powerful?
You can never have too much power, you just need to handle it well, and a 250 Watt amp can put out 1 Watt too.
You just need to understand how much power you need to not stand there with to little power.
They will have about 10-20 times the power you acctually will need for this application.
So it will be easy work for that amplifier.
Yamaha P2500S is intended for these kind of applications so you can't go wrong with that amplifier.
Speakers have good capacity.
Place them well and I think you will be satisfied.
Don't remember, but was it 4 speakers you had?
Since speakers are 8 ohm you can parallell them on each output.
You just need to understand how much power you need to not stand there with to little power.
They will have about 10-20 times the power you acctually will need for this application.
So it will be easy work for that amplifier.
Yamaha P2500S is intended for these kind of applications so you can't go wrong with that amplifier.
Speakers have good capacity.
Place them well and I think you will be satisfied.
Don't remember, but was it 4 speakers you had?
Since speakers are 8 ohm you can parallell them on each output.
Agreed, but maybe the OP doesn't really know which makes it near impossible for us to know with any certainty. The speakers they have may be adequate or not at all.
What I do know is the 75-80db SPLs you mentioned are not applicable in many cases with modern church groups which often have a full band playing at night club sound levels.. I have a church group near me that I have done some work for... they like it loud! I do pro sound and lighting for a living BTW where the smallest systems I supply are capable of 120dB+
Most church settings they don’t play it THAT loud. Modern megachurches anything goes, and they have the budget for it. They might be using two of those speakers for choir monitors, not expecting The whole service to go through them. You want the preacher‘s voice to be clean and loud enough in his normal tone of voice. It’s ok to distort a little when he says PRAISE GOD in 44 point bold type because it actually helps the emphasis. What you don’t want is constantly replacing drivers from doing it.
I ordered a Yamaha P2500S. Thanks everyone for your input.
For music, the church usually only has a keyboard. There is no band with drums and guitars. I am trying to help them diversify keeping in mind what is accepted in the denomination. We have a children's bamboo flute and ukulele orchestra now but it is not mic-ed, They also have an un-miced cajon and sometimes a hand drum or other percussion instruments. Nothing needs to be mic-ed to be heard in the small space though mic-ing could be of value in adjusting levels of quieter and louder instruments. Sometimes someone plays an acoustic guitar but that hasn't been mic-ed though that could change as we're about to start doing more with the mixer I got them and looking to train people.
Also, it's a traditional church and no loud shouting or anything during the sermon.
All four speakers are focused on the congregation but can be heard by the pastor, elders, multi-media, and others who sit in the front.
For music, the church usually only has a keyboard. There is no band with drums and guitars. I am trying to help them diversify keeping in mind what is accepted in the denomination. We have a children's bamboo flute and ukulele orchestra now but it is not mic-ed, They also have an un-miced cajon and sometimes a hand drum or other percussion instruments. Nothing needs to be mic-ed to be heard in the small space though mic-ing could be of value in adjusting levels of quieter and louder instruments. Sometimes someone plays an acoustic guitar but that hasn't been mic-ed though that could change as we're about to start doing more with the mixer I got them and looking to train people.
Also, it's a traditional church and no loud shouting or anything during the sermon.
All four speakers are focused on the congregation but can be heard by the pastor, elders, multi-media, and others who sit in the front.
People start covering their ears because it's loud and they don't want to damage their ears. The pain threshold is reached between 120 dB and 140 dB (varies from one person to another). Wiki
If you use equipment which only reaches the max spl then your equipment will not have a very long life. Headroom saves money.