Feature:
This is a basic system, but that can be a great thing if you want simplicity. There's not much control over the reverb, but the basic reverb works fine for us. The speakers sound great. The included mics are OK, but we prefer to use our Audix OM3s. It would be nice if there were more mono line-in jacks (2 of the six lines in are stereo), but this can easily be fixed with a $2 mono-to-stereo converter from Radio shack.

Quality:
The first model I received had a defective speaker, but the replacement came right away and that one has been fantastic. The whole unit seems pretty sturdy and like it should last a while.

Value:
We are thrilled with the quality, compactness, and ease of use. It's a screamin' deal.

Sound:
Our bluegrass/jazz/funk band was looking for a nice clean sound, and this system is perfect for us. It always sounds quite good. Many of our regular fans said that we'd made huge improvements as a band, when all we did was buy the Passport system. We use the Passport for 3 vocal mics, 1 banjo (though a pre-amp) and one hollowbody guitar (through a VOX amp). My acoustic guitar also sounds great when I plug directly into the Passport.

Ease of Use:
We can set the whole thing up in about 15 minutes. We just leave the settings the same for each gig, and we can get a good sound with minimal tweaking to fit the space. Just plug and play, and it sounds great. We usually point one speaker toward the band as a monitor, and the other speaker out toward the crowd. And we can get plenty of volume just from the one speaker pointing out.

Support:
I haven't dealt with Fender, but the Zzounds support was outstanding when my first shipment had a problem.

Overall:
If our Passport got lost or stolen, I'd buy another one right away. There's really nothing else on the market that can compare.

• User: a customer from yahoo.com
• Submitted: 10/24/2007
• Style of Music: bluegrass/funk/jazz
• Location: Seattle, WA, USA

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.

• User: a customer from earthlink.net
• Submitted: 2/11/2007
• Style of Music: Folk
• Location: Binghamton NY

Feature:
I run a Beheringer Effects unit through the aux and the vocals sound great!! The reverb itself is very good, as far as reverb goes, and I operated the karaoke with just that for a few years with no complaints, but I wanted to snazz up the vocals a little. Also, I run a DVD burner out of the cassette out, and have been recording excellent DVDs with video added out of this unit! The sound quality is perfect!

Quality:
I've seen a few comments about the fact that this is made out of plastic... this unit is SOLID!! It has been dropped, fallen, banged bumped, and tossed in and out of the truck... NO PROBLEM!! It holds up to abuse... trust me on that!! I don't think any other PA would hold up to what mine has been through and still play awesome!

Value:
A friend of mine payed less for the Peavy system and he's kicking himself for not getting the passport instead! At this price, there is no better!!

Desirability:
I couldn't live without it!! Practical but very cute... love the set up... and everyone always asks me, "What is that???" Especially when they hear very loud, full music coming from these little bitty speakers!!!!

Sound:
I own a Karaoke business, and for my line of work, this is the best!! I own a P250, and have used it for 6 years with no real problems except after this long, playing 6 days per week for 4 hours per day, it is getting a little tired, so I just purchased the PD250, and I'm hoping that I have the same luck with the new one! I'm keeping the P250, it still works fine, just time to replace and renew!

Support:
Haven't needed it...

Overall:
Just purchased my second one... I hope the Deluxe is as good as the P250... because I love mine!! If you run Karaoke, especially if you are a female, as am I, this is perfect... I can lug it around with no problem and set up and break down myself... system is under 60 lbs and easy to pack up!

• User: a customer from aol.com
• Submitted: 6/13/2005
• Style of Music: Rock / Alternative
• Location: North Stonington, CT, USA

Feature:
Has great features. EQ, reverb, pan, and the VIP is great when you need to talk over or announce during a break while music is playing.

Quality:
I'm satisfied with the quality, just a lil apprehensive of the speaker clamps (plastic) and other "plastic" cabinet components. Once they break.. they are broke. Got the optional padded cover for added protection.

Value:
For the money there isn't a system that comes close.

Desirability:
Ease of use, ease of functions, absolute ease of portability... it is soooooo "sexy".

Sound:
The sound is great. Distinct highs, great mids, could use a little more bass response, but overall terrific. I added a Behringer Eruorack UB1622FX Pro mixer/effects board by using two of the inputs on the Fender system. I have 4 mics, Ovation guitar, Fender mandolin and a Kawai ES1 keyboard all plugged into the board and through the system with power to push two floor monitors out front and still have two empty inputs. NO PROBLEM! Our bass guitar is plugged into its own Peavey TKO 115 amp. We have enough bass. I have played in rooms as small as 100, outdoor concert from a gazeebo, to a high school gymnasium packed with 1400 people. NO PROBLEM!!!!!!!!!!! Someone wrote that it has no monitor outs. It sure does. All I did was bought a 5 dollar dual in/single out adapter for speaker out.. and one for the monitor out channels. NO PROBLEM!! I love this simple, effective, versitile, portable , great sounding system!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Support:
Never dealt with Company. Never had to. lol

Overall:
I will have this system for a long time, basically until I need more output for huge outdoor gigs. (Which will never happen)

• User: a customer from midconetwork.com
• Submitted: 3/17/2005
• Style of Music: Gospel/Bluegrass
• Location: Bismarck, ND

Feature:
The p-51 mics aren't bad. I prefer and use SM58's, but wouldn't hesitate to substitute in a pinch. '

Quality:
So far, so good. Fender provides a 5 year warranty. I'm a couple of years in and hope I have no experience.

Value:
I paid below street price, I'd have paid more if necessary.

Desirability:
I was initially wary of its non-standard, not black rectangles and boxes look. Now I'm happy that I resisted my initial tendency toward conformity.

Sound:
I've rated it a 8. I'm comparing it to the half-dozen small systems I've used in my own solo and small group performance and in providing concert sound for solos and duos. Ease of operation and clarity of sound are its best attributes. Clean and silent, but plenty of say it best. By using a 10 band EQ in the send and return circuits with just a modest boost of the low end, I was able to create the best sound I've ever mixed for a singer-songwriter-guitarist considered to be one of the best of the genre. Feed back is never an issue.

Support:
No contact

Overall:
I'd simply supplement with some processing

• User: a customer from hotmail.com
• Submitted: 1/28/2005
• Style of Music: Folk-Blues-Bluegrass
• Location: Drummond, WI USA

Quality:
High frequency drivers burned out twice on both channels. One time I cranked it but the other time was only moderately loud. Both times took 8 weeks to get new drivers. I heard that they were Bose drivers. Probably the same bookshelf speaker drivers. Can't cut it as loud PA. No way I'd depend on them for a paying gig.

Support:
After 8 weeks I called Fender and they got the drivers to my repair shop. So I guess that's cool/

• Submitted: 10/25/2004

Feature:
Needs better EQ. Single nob system doesn't cut it for all instruments.

Quality:
Just got it so who knows, but it sure seems road-worthy.

Value:
I researched far and wide. This is worth the money. Think of the years in stress it'll save you.

Desirability:
The Passport is easy to set up and easy to use and delivers accurate sound. We're about playing music and accurate amplification of it is we want out of a sound system. You guys who are about technical mumbo jumbo look elsewhere. The Passport works.

Sound:
We play in a duet, bluegrass-influenced traditional and original material, with several friends sitting in now and then. This PA has been the headache-relief we've been looking for. No hassels. Great sound, minimal tweeking. Just giving the audience an honest approximation of what we're playing. Loud rockers look elsewhere. This little gem performs for the acoustic musician in a non-arena venue. Wish the EQ was more nuanced but, hey, you can't have everything.

Support:
Not an issue yet, knock on wood.

Overall:
So far so good.

• User: a customer from cox.net
• Submitted: 10/16/2004
• Style of Music: Bluegrass and original singer-songwriter
• Location: Wichita, Kansas

Feature:
No real monitor outs for this system. They had it in P-250 but removed it from the PD-250. Funny. Monitor outs would be nice. Reverb is close to unusable.

Quality:
So far no problems for me. I am worried as I heard of quality issues with the cabinets.

Value:
Price is good for a portable system in a small package.

Desirability:
Looks cool. Everyone likes it when we gig. Not suitable for loud rock gigs tho.

Sound:
Sound is good for it purpose - a portable system that requires minimal setup time. What it has in clarity, quiet operation and brightness, it lacks in bass. That is understandable for its size and power rating. I recommend this for an indoor event less than 200 people. Anything more you need major juice for you PA system. Best suited for acoustic gigs, full rock bands look elsewhere.

Support:
N/A never dealt with them.

Overall:
I am happy for now for what i use it for, accoustic gigs and rehearsals.

• Submitted: 9/21/2004

Feature:
Pretty much what you'd get in a small mixer, except that I saw no way to run a pair of monitors, nor can you "daisy chain" the speakers. What you have is what you get.

Quality:
I had no qualms with the mixer quality, but the speakers were a mite lightweight, which is one thing that may account for the lack of depth and warmth.

Desirability:
Aesthetically elegant and well-designed, but a lightweight, not for the professional musician.

Sound:
What the Passport has in convenience it lacks in power. Cranked up to 8, it would probably be fine for the spoken voice, but for music it lacked warmth and depth, sounding rather ringy. Even at 8 it would barely handle, say, a 100 person coffeehouse, and it's probably not healthy (for the system) to run it that high for extended periods anyway.

• User: a customer from vgernet.net
• Submitted: 7/1/2003
• Style of Music: Southern Old-time
• Location: Berkshire County, MA