Peavey SP5

The Peavey SP5 is a 2 way f-o-h speaker with a single 15" Scorpion woofer and a 2" HF voice coil (with a slightly less than 1" throat). They measure about 27.6 " X 20.5" X 16.5" (as seen from front - they are trapezoidal).

Each (passive) unit is rated at 400 watts continuous (800 program, 1600 peak). The xover frequency is 1800 Hz. The boxes are made of Baltic birch plywood covered with black carpet (ozite?) and feature both 1/4" and Speakon input jacks. They are relatively lightweight at 56 lbs each. As mentioned above they feature a 15" inch Scorpion Plus HO woofer and a 2" HF RX22 compression driver on an asymetrical quadratic throat CD horn (for a dispersal of 90 horizontal X 40 vertical degrees).

These speakers sound surprisingly good. I say surprisingly because I have never been a fan of Peavey when it comes to high frequencies, though their woofers have long been highly regarded (by myself, at least). Though still less sweet than, say, many EV products, the high freqs are nonetheless quite pleasant. As for woofer, and the overall performance, I was truly impressed. Not only do they sound very good, and very well tuned, but they put out an enormous amount of grunt. I truly believe they are capable of handling the rated 400 watts continuous as advertised. Certainly at the couple of gigs I've used them so far they've performed admirably. Along with 4 single 18" subs I've had for years they easily filled a large reception hall with 400 people in it. Were I playing a small gig, say a restaurant, I wouldn't even bother with the subs - the SP5s put out a lot of very pleasant and useable low end.

The feature set is as simple as you would expect - pole mount adapter, 1/4" and Speakon input jacks, and recessed handles. No gig bags available for them, apparently, which is unfortunate. At a relatively light weight of 56 lbs they are quite transportable though I'd recommend having cases or bags made for them. The carpet finish just doesn't seem all that tough or resistant.

Thus far these speakers have performed very well and were a step up for me in terms of sound quality and as a result of their modest weight. Were they to be stolen or destroyed I would almost certainly buy another pair. As a working musician (with over 25 years as a pro) I've owned, leased or rented any number of PA systems and I can truthfully say that the Peavey SP5s are worth every penny and sound every bit as good as speakers that sell for a good deal more. The one problem I have is, as mentioned above, that no gig bags are available for them and I've had to make my own, which is a time-consuming pain.

This is your standard 2-way 15" enclosure with a horn. It is a trapezoidal shape and is relatively light to average in weight.

It is a passive speaker that specs out at 800-1600 watts!!! WOW!!! However, I truly belive these specs to be a bit overblown -I have seen them work perfectly with 400 watts. You could go up from there if you want to increase your headroom, but I really wouldn't put more than 800 watts into them. They use a Scorpion speaker that seems to do a good job. They seem very well built and are lighter to me than their 56 lb rating indicates... I've gotta knock the rating down here a bit, simply because the specs seem ridiculous. Other than that they are great!

This my favorite speaker at $350. It has a more broad, "mature" tone to it than anything else I have heard at its price and seems to have good construction. The lows are very present, the mids blend in smoothly with the rest of the spectrum (it doesnt honk) and the highs are strong and unharsh. I think it is the best speaker Peavey offers for the money.

Flying is manageable, its pole mountable and has both Speakon and 1/4 inch jacks on the back. So thats a thumbs up.

This speaker has been well received at a local bar that just upgraded its sound system, it pushes well through the mix and as I said before, sounds strong. Its hard to beat for the price, and is just fine the way it is... except the specs should come down to earth a little.