Feature:
We got two mics and cables, the speaker stands, which are super light but really sturdy, all the cable we needed and ours has the receiver for the wireless mic. The dealer threw in a stereo line for the keyboard hookup. The best feature the PD250 has is its "fit anywhere" size. I can put the mixer next to the keyboard and you can barely see it. The speaker stands are great. We can cover a greater area with more sound than ever before. The only thing I'd like to see are a couple of headphone jacks and a lighted front panel. It's tough to see the control panel in dark places.
Quality:
So far so good. QC seems to be tight. I just love this thing. Reliability is huge for us because we are on the road 3 out of 4 weekends a month. I don't doubt that this unit will be there for us whenever we need it. I still have my old amp system (we called it Robo-Amp due to its size) mainly because it's not worth much to anyone except me, but that one was our only system for 13 years and it never let us down. I consider the Passport to be a much better unit than Robo-Amp, so I'm looking to use the PD250 until we retire the group in 15-20 years.
Value:
My wife and I are the road crew now that the kids are gone. Since I'm not 25 anymore (a long way from it) we needed something easy to move and set up. The unit paid for itself the first time I did NOT have to lug all the old equipment in and out of the van. The Passport is undoubtedly the most important part of our folkgroup, (sound sells) but it's almost the least expensive piece. Our instruments cost as much, if not more, than the Passport. I think the piece is perfectly priced, since we work for free. Anything we purchase for the group comes out of our pocket and it's refreshing to know that you can purchase quality at an affordable price. I'm certain that you can purchase a much better sounding system, but I don't plan on playing at the superbowl anytime soon and I don't have unlimited funds.
Desirability:
The first time we used the Passport, the entire look of the group changed. We looked "professional", with the speakers up on the stands, and no huge unit sitting around taking up space. The entire space we use looks neater and uncluttered. I actually like the black color because it tends to blend into the background. Is it sexy? Why not?
Sound:
We have a small folk group that plays for church folk services. After 13 years of lugging heavy equipment around, the PD250 is perfect. We play for 100-500 people and half-volume more than handles that. I currently use a Roland E200 Keyboard, a couple of guitars with the sound effects boxes, a mic for a flute, and a couple microphones and it handles those with ease.We found the two passport speakers just a little lacking on the bass so I added a Fender speaker with a 12" woofer and that absolutely took care of it. The first time we used the system we had people who have heard us play for years, ask what we changed because we sounded so much better.
Ease of Use:
What learning curve? I read over the owners manual once and completely understood it. It almost seemed too easy, but I discovered that the PD250 is actually that easy to use. The PD250 cut down our set up time by 1/2 hour. Our other guitar player likes the sound so much he stopped bringing his Peavy guitar amp and just uses our Fender Passport.
Support:
I rated this category the best because so far I have not needed service.
Overall:
I don't just buy things without researching them first, so I read all the reviews I could find. I was hesitant at first because it looked too small to produce the sound it delivers, so I tested the unit out at the dealers and was IMPRESSED.If you're thinking about this unit for a folk group, STOP NOW. JUST GO BUY IT. You'll love it. Some people said it was only good for practice sessions, and if you're a rocker, that may be true, but I'm not looking to blast out anyone's eardrums. I have a unit that delivers great sound for a great price. What more can you ask for.
I believe that I have purchased the last sound system I'll ever need. If it does wear out before we retire the group, I would purchase another one in an instant. I looked at other brand name units like the passport, but they fell short in many ways. You didn't get half the "stuff" and paid almost the same price. The best thing about this unit is it's ease of use and portability. I needed an appliance dolly for our old equipment, but I can carry this in one hand.
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