7. Powered Mixer or Mixer Plus Amplifier?

This is a question that often pops up, especially for musicians who are out there performing live gigs frequently. Powered mixers, well, they pretty much have it all: a mixer, an amplifier, effects, and sometimes even a graphic equalizer. It's like a one-stop-shop for your sound needs, and the idea of having everything in one box is pretty darn tempting. Plus, these powered mixers can sometimes pull double duty in a home studio, driving studio monitors with their built-in power amps.

But, like many things in life, there's no one-size-fits-all answer here. Sometimes, a powered mixer can outshine a system made up of individual components, whether you DIY it or buy it pre-assembled. Other times, the separate components win the day.

For straightforward and small sound setups, powered mixers are often the way to go. You can find models with four to six channels and an amp that packs 100 to 150 watts at 4 Ohms, and they won't break the bank. Depending on your music style, they can handle crowds of 50 to 100 folks. When you're playing in bigger venues, they usually have their own sound systems.

But, and here's where the plot thickens, in the world of loud rock music, these setups can fall a bit short, especially in the bass department.

Powered mixers get interesting when they match your needs like a glove. Take, for instance, a solo act or a duo. You don't need a massive 16-channel setup, right? A power amp with 200 to 400 watts at 4 Ohms should do the trick for most gigs. You can grab something like the t.mix PM800 (that's 250 watts at 4 Ohms) for around 222EUR, and don't forget to pick up some speakers. Oh, and a sturdy case is a good idea for lugging it around safely.

Now, if you're looking at systems cobbled together from individual components, things start to get exciting when you hit that mid-price range. Depending on what bells and whistles you want, you'll find a bunch of mixers to choose from. For example, pair a Behringer Xenyx X1832USB with a the t.amp TA1400 MK-X power amp and fit 'em into a Thon Rack 8U Eco 45. All this can be had for under 700EUR, plus some speakers, and you've got yourself a sound reinforcement setup that's easily expandable. Plus, having the power amps closer to the speakers usually makes for better sound.

And if you're all about those fancy effects, you can toss another effects unit into your roomy rack. Heck, if you've got the right rack setup, you can even squeeze in a second power amp and a crossover. Now, your system is super flexible and ready to handle the big sound reinforcement tasks.

But, let's talk about the studio. In there, individual components rule the roost. Nowadays, most studios are rocking active studio monitors (check out the Online Guide on Studio Monitors if you're curious), so those power amps are not really needed.

So, bottom line, it's all about what suits your needs. Take a good look at what you're up to and what you're aiming for, and that'll point you toward the right choice when you're making your gear-buying decision.