For several years, many people in town have wanted to replace the long-defunct sound system on Main Street USA, for the purpose of ambient ‘area music’, mainly during tourist season, but also as a PA / Public Address system during the 4th of July Parade, Homecoming Parade, Wine & Art Stroll, and a few other annual events where people gather along Main Street. In 2022 Richard Hoon and I both researched feasible and cost-effective systems for this purpose. The lowest price for a simple wireless repeating sound system that could be installed on every other light post on Main Street was approximately $25,000. The next price level above that was around $75,000 and up.
The research was shared with different groups in town, but before that amount of money was even considered for fundraising, that company went out of business. Since then, researching other companies, the lowest price for a wireless, repeating Main Street sound system, with wireless microphones and the ability to connect external audio sources to it, is still in the $75,000 range.
As an alternative to the high tech sound – and considering the generally low usage of the system – it is proposed that a far less, simple solution be installed. Rather than using wireless repeating speakers and antennas on the light poles, with the approval of building owners in the middle block of Main street (on the City Hall side of the street,) outdoor, weather-resistant speakers can be installed on several rooftops along Main Street. Using outdoor, weather-resistant cable to connect the speakers, and connect those to a ‘control box’ installed in City Hall, this system would cost around $3,000 and could still supply the basics of the desired idea.
While this system would not reach all the way through Ripley Square, or all the way to the end of Main Street, and the more subtle sound coming from 35 feet up (instead of speakers at the 10-ft level,) the desired effect should still be achieved. Mounting speakers on the roofline of the Allen Hotel, Los Chimas, and one at Regional Missouri Bank, pointing the speakers/horns down toward the sidewalk should cover much of Main Street with sound.
Using IP65 rated speakers (or horns) and cabling to withstand wind, rain, and snow, this ‘low cost’ solution would last many years. (Remember: “Perfect is the enemy of the good.”)
General equipment
- To target loudness at the sidewalk (~35 ft from the wall/rooftop), ambient music needs about 75 dBA to overcome vehicle noise.
- PA / announcements need to be ~85 dBA for clears sound.
- 70V / 30-60 W weatherized column speakers (best for music and speech.)
- 70V mixer/amplifier (~150–350 watts) with at least 2 mic inputs (XLR, with switchable phantom power.)
- Hopefully Hurtt Fab could build simple steel mounts that fit over the roof parapets, or could sit on the roof but lean over the edge of the roof, and could be weighted down for further wind protection.
- ~250 feet of UV‑resistant jacketed cable with high outdoor IP rating for weather.
What’s that cost?
Speakers
- ~$1,200 – Slim, outdoor column 30-60 W speakers ~ $400 each
Amplifier / Mixer / Amp
- ~$650 – 70V commercial mixer/amp, 350 W, with mic priority & music input. (TOA, Tarvos, AtlasIED, JBL, Crown, Yamaha Commercial)
Cable
- ~$200 – 250ft of 14/2 UV-resistant outdoor speaker cable.
Mounting & Misc
- ~$500 – Hurtt Fab-built metal mounting stands.
- ~$100 – other mounting hardware/brackets/screws/etc.
Other old notes about wireless options
- ARX-910 Outdoor (or Indoor) Wireless Installed Sound