Peavey Messenger Portable Sound System

Feature:
Nothing super amazing about it, but it does the jobs its built to do very well. The Messenger comes with everything you need to setup and go, except the music itself (if you're using it for that). You get a fully contained small 5 channel PA system. The speaker cables, mic, mic cable and an audio Y cable, for connecting things like an MP3 player to the unit are all included. It does not come with an instrument cable or stands for the speakers. However, you can easily use mic stands for that. Even the really cheap On Stage stuff works for this.

Quality:
Peavey has always has some pretty good quality stuff, save some of their amps and PV line mixers. The Messenger is a well built little unit. Not a powerhouse by anymeans, but it'll take a few tips and small drops before you'll have to do anything with it. Cosmetically, it can get a little dingy looking after time, but honestly... what doesn't? I found the Messenger a very dependable unit, again for what it does. You couldn't use one of these for something that might require a system more Escort size, it just won't do the job and you'll damage your speakers. I'd definatly take one of these 'on the road'. There's just something nice about being able to walk in with a guitar in one hand and my PA in another.

Value:
There are other similar setups to the Messenger. Yamaha has one, Fender, Kustom and a few others. They aren't quite as portable though. That said, they aren't exactly what this was designed to do either. So, keeping in mind what its able to do and not trying to over use it, this is a wonderful value for anyone that performs in small places, or gives small seminars and such.

Desirability:
I've been looking around for a while for something a little smaller and more portable then what I've got, and this is the unit I'd go for. Needing, at most, 4 channels and 150 watts the Messenger fits into that just fine. I have a bigger system also made by Peavey that is great for those places, and some out doors stuff that I've done, but its a pain to have to carry all that around and set up in a smaller venue. This fits for that just right. The sound is good and has a good range of tone settings, it'll get loud enough without blowing anyone away.

Sound:
This little guy sounds pretty good for its size. I used to sell them and the Messenger could produce enough sound to fill the store. It has a good amount of adjusting you can do to get the sound you want, each channel has individual settings, plus a master 5 band eq. The mic that comes with it is crap. If you've got a better mic, sell this one for $10 and use yours. Since its small, its definalty not something you're going to want to use for outdoors stuff, or larger rooms. In my case I'm going to be getting one of these for smaller venues that I preform at.

Ease of Use:
If you are a karaoke singer, or a guitar player that sings along with your own playing, this is ideal for little places like a small coffee shop. If you've got other instruments that tend to be a bit bassy, the Messenger doesn't hold up as well unless you've got your sound under compression. That being said, once you've figured out what its able to do with your situation, its pretty much a 'set it and forget it' system.

Support:
I can't say that Peavey has super tech support on this item cause I never had to send one back when I was selling them. However, all my other dealings with the Warranty Repair Department with Peavey went very well.

Overall:
Its not flashy, its not fancy, but if you've got a job that needs something like this... I can say that you'll be satisfied with it. Selling these things, I'd put them though a lot of 'test' during and after store hours and I was quite impressed with what this little guy can do. By no means is he a powerhorse as I said... but he's definatly an Under Dog that will suprise you if you give him a chance.

Quality:
It seems well manufactured, but why would they not have standard 1 3/8" or 1 1/2" hole for speakers to mount on a stand. They want you to buy their proprietary sized stands. THe system itself sounds great for what we expect out of it

Desirability:
35lb portable suitcase soundsystem- if that is what you need, this fits the bill.

Sound:
For such a compact unit, the sound is above average

Overall:
Just wanted to use std speaker stands that I already had. Peavey wants me to blow more dough to get the speakers in the air.