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REVIEWED
REVIEWED: Yamaha StagePAS 200
Recently there’s been a boom in battery-powered technology and the new Yamaha StagePas 200 firmly plants itself in the running for leader of the battery-powered portable speaker sector. As an all-in-one portable PA system that offers versatile and high-quality sound, this compact and lightweight PA system is an ideal solution for DJs, small bands and solo artists – pretty much anyone who requires a small, simple and efficient setup.
The StagePas 200 offers an 8” coaxial speaker with a 1” high frequency driver. Its main features include an on-board mixer, Bluetooth audio input and control (via the StagePas controller app) and battery power (a battery is included with the StagePas 200BTR model but not the standard 200 model).
Sound output
Of course, an 8” speaker it isn’t going to blow you away with chest-pounding bass and ear-piercing volume, but that’s not what the StagePas 200 is made to do. It isn’t designed to be your main front of house, so it shouldn’t be used in that way.
Instead, powered by 180W of amplification, it can easily fill a small- to medium-sized room with clear audio – perfectly suited for background music, ceremony music, speeches, or as a backup speaker.
The sound output is both clean and full, with rich and punchy lows and highs that aren’t so piercing that your ears hurt. The output really is impressive and the speaker can produce a quality sound even at a higher volume. Of course, as the speaker goes into limit you can hear a reduction in quality, but in normal use that level should not be reached.
At a recent SEDA event we had the chance to test the Yamaha StagePas 200 against many of its rivals. In my opinion the Yamaha was one of the best sounding speakers in the line-up. It’s a well-refined classic Yamaha sound that is pleasant and easy to listen to.
On-board mixer
The in-built 5-channel mixer section can be controlled from the StagePas app. It includes three combo XLR/jack input sockets and a ¼” stereo jack input, allowing you to connect a variety of input sources. Next to the inputs is a link output via a ¼” jack connector, used to connect multiple StagePas200 (or other) systems together.
The first three channels feature a switch for selecting mic/line modes (and link mode for channel 1) – these are used to change input sensitivity. Yamaha has included a Hi-Z switch on channels 2 and 3, used when connecting an instrument without a DI box; a peak light to help identify overdriven inputs; and a phantom power switch (it’s worth noting that this will turn on phantom power for all three inputs).
You’ll also find a switch to turn on the Bluetooth. You can connect as many as eight devices to the StagePas 200, although we didn’t try connecting multiple inputs simultaneously.
When it comes to EQ, the StagePas 200 is equipped with a ‘one-knob’ EQ setting and an on-board effects processor that gives you access to a range of high-quality reverb, delay and chorus effects.
I found this one-knob EQ setting interesting. Turn it left to cut bass for microphones and turn it right to add bass and highs – a smiley face curve that you see a lot in other systems (usually labelled as ‘boost’ or ‘power’). In the centre position, the EQ remains flat. The EQ for the stereo input offers the same characteristics sound wise, but the icons next to the knob are slightly different.
I personally prefer separate controls for bass, mid and treble, but then this would take up a lot more space, so it’s an understandable choice by Yamaha and it ensures the EQ is easy to use. If you do want to set the EQ in a more advanced way, you can use the StagePas app, which I liked a lot (more on that in a moment).
The on-board mixer also includes a row of five LEDs, which are indicators for volume level but double as battery-life indicators when the battery check button is pressed. Above this is a single LED for charging status. In addition, you have a master output volume knob, with a limiter light and a feedback suppressor on/off button, a master EQ (speech, music and club settings), and another knob for controlling reverb type and decay time.
StagePas app
The StagePas controller app is my favourite way of controlling the system and something I’d want to use over the on-board controls as it offers much more flexibility and control.
The volume controls on the mixer will need to be turned up to use the app, even if you’re using the sliders within the app itself.
You can spend quite a bit of time in the app as there are so many things to explore. It greatly expands the on-board controls, in particular the EQ and effects. You can also control duck settings (the duck function is fantastic by the way), effects, compression, and levels and custom EQs per channel and the master output (with six variable EQ points on each).
The media player function allows you to add songs from your device’ library into a playlist and easily trigger with a play button. It appears either in its own full-screen window or on a window with simple volume controls per channel which makes adjusting the volume and seeing the status of your track easy.
The player also lets you skip backwards and forwards, or you can use the ‘cued mode’, which loads the next track but doesn’t play it. This can be triggered on or off in the settings and will be a fantastic feature for ceremonies. Be aware that in cued mode you can’t tap and select the next track, as it instantly selects it and stops the playing music. It’s best to test this before you try it! Tracks can also be set to repeat all or repeat once.
The app also has a demo mode, so if you wanted to try it out before you buy a StagePas system then you can. It means you can prepare and test your music lists before an event without even having to connect to the system.
In short, the app is one of the best features of the StagePas 200. It’s easy to use and navigate and gives you a mixer in the palm of your hand, a feature you tend to see on much more expensive products.
Battery life
Yamaha states that the StagePas 200 has a maximum battery life of around 10 hours. In our testing we had the speaker playing all day at a low-to-mid volume in our office (with short breaks for when the phone rang) and it easily lasted the full day. Of course, at higher volumes the battery life is likely to be shorter, but it should be more than enough for gigs. There’s also a battery saver that turns the speaker off after 30 minutes if no input volume is detected.
Yamaha also offers the option of a replacement battery, so in theory you could swap the battery during use. However, this is not hot-swappable, so the unit would need to be powered off before replacement
Design and portability
Yamaha has designed the StagePas 200 to be set up and taken down quickly, making it an ideal choice for mobile DJs and anyone on the go. On the side is a 35mm pole-mount socket so the speaker can be stand mounted – a welcome addition, although its location is odd because the Yamaha badge ends up on the side rather than the bottom. However, it does mean the controls will be on the left and easier to reach if the speaker is mounted high.
The speaker comes with rubber feet that slot into place on the bottom for stability during transport. You can use these feet in two different configurations to give the StagePas 200 a 30- or 60-degree incline, which is handy if you’re using it as a small monitor or on a table top.
As I’m sure you can tell, there are quite a lot of features packed into such a compact unit (just over 30cm x 30cm x 30cm). But this does result in a hefty weight of 12.5kg (with battery). That said, I like the design and ergonomics, which ensure the speaker feels sturdy in whatever chosen orientation or mounting method. It’s also easy to carry with the single handle on the top.
On the subject of carrying, Yamaha does offer a trolley case to house the entire system (product code CASE-STP200). The case was supplied for this review and is something I’d recommend. It’s a heavy duty bag on wheels, with a pull-out handle that means you can transport the speaker with minimal effort. The case also includes handy storage pouches.
In conclusion, the Yamaha StagePas 200 is a versatile and high-quality speaker system that’s great for DJs who need a system for background music, small sound reinforcement, or backup duties. With its compact design, lightweight construction and powerful 180W sound, this is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a portable PA system that’s easy to set up, transport and use.
Personally, I’m interested in the StagePas 200 as a purchase for us as an easy-to-use background speaker as well as a backup in the event of power loss.
At an MRSP of £939 (with battery), it isn’t the cheapest on the market but it in my eyes its features result in great value for money.
The StagePas 200 offers an 8” coaxial speaker with a 1” high frequency driver. Its main features include an on-board mixer, Bluetooth audio input and control (via the StagePas controller app) and battery power (a battery is included with the StagePas 200BTR model but not the standard 200 model).
Sound output
Of course, an 8” speaker it isn’t going to blow you away with chest-pounding bass and ear-piercing volume, but that’s not what the StagePas 200 is made to do. It isn’t designed to be your main front of house, so it shouldn’t be used in that way.
Instead, powered by 180W of amplification, it can easily fill a small- to medium-sized room with clear audio – perfectly suited for background music, ceremony music, speeches, or as a backup speaker.
The sound output is both clean and full, with rich and punchy lows and highs that aren’t so piercing that your ears hurt. The output really is impressive and the speaker can produce a quality sound even at a higher volume. Of course, as the speaker goes into limit you can hear a reduction in quality, but in normal use that level should not be reached.
At a recent SEDA event we had the chance to test the Yamaha StagePas 200 against many of its rivals. In my opinion the Yamaha was one of the best sounding speakers in the line-up. It’s a well-refined classic Yamaha sound that is pleasant and easy to listen to.
On-board mixer
The in-built 5-channel mixer section can be controlled from the StagePas app. It includes three combo XLR/jack input sockets and a ¼” stereo jack input, allowing you to connect a variety of input sources. Next to the inputs is a link output via a ¼” jack connector, used to connect multiple StagePas200 (or other) systems together.
The first three channels feature a switch for selecting mic/line modes (and link mode for channel 1) – these are used to change input sensitivity. Yamaha has included a Hi-Z switch on channels 2 and 3, used when connecting an instrument without a DI box; a peak light to help identify overdriven inputs; and a phantom power switch (it’s worth noting that this will turn on phantom power for all three inputs).
You’ll also find a switch to turn on the Bluetooth. You can connect as many as eight devices to the StagePas 200, although we didn’t try connecting multiple inputs simultaneously.
When it comes to EQ, the StagePas 200 is equipped with a ‘one-knob’ EQ setting and an on-board effects processor that gives you access to a range of high-quality reverb, delay and chorus effects.
I found this one-knob EQ setting interesting. Turn it left to cut bass for microphones and turn it right to add bass and highs – a smiley face curve that you see a lot in other systems (usually labelled as ‘boost’ or ‘power’). In the centre position, the EQ remains flat. The EQ for the stereo input offers the same characteristics sound wise, but the icons next to the knob are slightly different.
I personally prefer separate controls for bass, mid and treble, but then this would take up a lot more space, so it’s an understandable choice by Yamaha and it ensures the EQ is easy to use. If you do want to set the EQ in a more advanced way, you can use the StagePas app, which I liked a lot (more on that in a moment).
The on-board mixer also includes a row of five LEDs, which are indicators for volume level but double as battery-life indicators when the battery check button is pressed. Above this is a single LED for charging status. In addition, you have a master output volume knob, with a limiter light and a feedback suppressor on/off button, a master EQ (speech, music and club settings), and another knob for controlling reverb type and decay time.
StagePas app
The StagePas controller app is my favourite way of controlling the system and something I’d want to use over the on-board controls as it offers much more flexibility and control.
The volume controls on the mixer will need to be turned up to use the app, even if you’re using the sliders within the app itself.
You can spend quite a bit of time in the app as there are so many things to explore. It greatly expands the on-board controls, in particular the EQ and effects. You can also control duck settings (the duck function is fantastic by the way), effects, compression, and levels and custom EQs per channel and the master output (with six variable EQ points on each).
The media player function allows you to add songs from your device’ library into a playlist and easily trigger with a play button. It appears either in its own full-screen window or on a window with simple volume controls per channel which makes adjusting the volume and seeing the status of your track easy.
The player also lets you skip backwards and forwards, or you can use the ‘cued mode’, which loads the next track but doesn’t play it. This can be triggered on or off in the settings and will be a fantastic feature for ceremonies. Be aware that in cued mode you can’t tap and select the next track, as it instantly selects it and stops the playing music. It’s best to test this before you try it! Tracks can also be set to repeat all or repeat once.
The app also has a demo mode, so if you wanted to try it out before you buy a StagePas system then you can. It means you can prepare and test your music lists before an event without even having to connect to the system.
In short, the app is one of the best features of the StagePas 200. It’s easy to use and navigate and gives you a mixer in the palm of your hand, a feature you tend to see on much more expensive products.
Battery life
Yamaha states that the StagePas 200 has a maximum battery life of around 10 hours. In our testing we had the speaker playing all day at a low-to-mid volume in our office (with short breaks for when the phone rang) and it easily lasted the full day. Of course, at higher volumes the battery life is likely to be shorter, but it should be more than enough for gigs. There’s also a battery saver that turns the speaker off after 30 minutes if no input volume is detected.
Yamaha also offers the option of a replacement battery, so in theory you could swap the battery during use. However, this is not hot-swappable, so the unit would need to be powered off before replacement
Design and portability
Yamaha has designed the StagePas 200 to be set up and taken down quickly, making it an ideal choice for mobile DJs and anyone on the go. On the side is a 35mm pole-mount socket so the speaker can be stand mounted – a welcome addition, although its location is odd because the Yamaha badge ends up on the side rather than the bottom. However, it does mean the controls will be on the left and easier to reach if the speaker is mounted high.
The speaker comes with rubber feet that slot into place on the bottom for stability during transport. You can use these feet in two different configurations to give the StagePas 200 a 30- or 60-degree incline, which is handy if you’re using it as a small monitor or on a table top.
As I’m sure you can tell, there are quite a lot of features packed into such a compact unit (just over 30cm x 30cm x 30cm). But this does result in a hefty weight of 12.5kg (with battery). That said, I like the design and ergonomics, which ensure the speaker feels sturdy in whatever chosen orientation or mounting method. It’s also easy to carry with the single handle on the top.
On the subject of carrying, Yamaha does offer a trolley case to house the entire system (product code CASE-STP200). The case was supplied for this review and is something I’d recommend. It’s a heavy duty bag on wheels, with a pull-out handle that means you can transport the speaker with minimal effort. The case also includes handy storage pouches.
In conclusion, the Yamaha StagePas 200 is a versatile and high-quality speaker system that’s great for DJs who need a system for background music, small sound reinforcement, or backup duties. With its compact design, lightweight construction and powerful 180W sound, this is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a portable PA system that’s easy to set up, transport and use.
Personally, I’m interested in the StagePas 200 as a purchase for us as an easy-to-use background speaker as well as a backup in the event of power loss.
At an MRSP of £939 (with battery), it isn’t the cheapest on the market but it in my eyes its features result in great value for money.
The full review can be found in Pro Mobile Issue 118, Pages 76-78.
