Super compact, exceptionally powerful

The Stagepas 200 is a truly portable speaker. The first thing I thought when seeing it was how compact it is. And if you get the battery version, you can really take it absolutely anywhere.

Its cube design is quite different to many portable speakers in the same class – most of which are wedge-shaped. An advantage of this is the powerful sound system that Yamaha have loaded into it.

The speaker features an 8″ LF coaxial speaker with a 1.4″ HF compression driver, driven by a 180W Class-D amplifier. This results in high-quality, powerful sound. To put it simply, I was impressed at how loud such a little speaker could be. It’s all you could ever need for small-scale performances.

If you get the battery version, this speaker can last up to 10 hours of constant use. This is probably more than you’ll ever need in a single use, but it’s good to know it can last so long.

And though it boasts a cube design, you can still angle the speaker like its wedge-based counterparts. This is thanks to rubber feet that tuck neatly into the design, allowing you to set the Stagepas 200 at both 30-degree and 60-degree tilt angles. Plus, the 35 mm Diameter Pole Mounting socket gives you the full flexibility you’d want with a speaker of this kind.

Connectivity and mixing for a range of inputs

The Stagepas 200 has the perfect number of inputs for any small group, especially music duos and trios.

There are three combi inputs for either microphones or line inputs and a stereo line input.

The stereo input can also be used as a Bluetooth connection, so you can stream music from any smart device.

Each of these inputs has level controls, as well as EQ and effects controls, giving you the chance to mix your sound from the speaker itself.

If you play guitar you’ll know that the sound you get when plugged directly into a speaker isn’t always the best. With this in mind, the second two inputs have a Hi-Z button, which means you can plug in directly to the Stagepas 200 without sacrificing tone in the process.

You can also link the speaker to other units via the first input and link output. If you’re using it for this purpose, Yamaha have labelled the level controls with the optimal level for link, so configuring this is super easy.

Fast yet powerful one-knob control

Yamaha’s signature one-knob control makes it easy for you to do a lot of things.

Each input channel has a one-knob EQ control.

The middle, neutral setting is a flat EQ curve, but turn it all the way to the left and you’ve got an EQ preset optimised for microphones. And turn it all the way to the right and the preset is optimised for line inputs and guitars. Or by turning it just a little left or right, you can more subtly adjust the EQ curve to your liking.

The stereo channel has different settings designed for music inputs, meaning you can get presets that specifically suit sculpting this kind of sound.

So, when you plug in an input you can optimise the sound in a matter of seconds. This is great for gigs where setup is a time-sensitive issue.

I like that the StagePas 200 allows me to change to guitar-ready EQ in a single turn of a dial – diving around EQ settings can often be time-consuming and produce a sub-optimal result (especially if you don’t know what you’re doing).

The master mode compressor is another useful one-knob control. This changes the setting based on how you use your speaker. The middle setting is designed for music, the left for speech, and the right for use in a club. This means you can quickly change your sound based on context, and even blend subtly between these presets.

For example, if you’re playing music and need to make an announcement, you can quickly switch to ‘Speech’ mode and then back to ‘Music’ as soon as you’re done. I like that Yamaha have labelled these based on context because it means there’s no confusion when using them in the moment. Plus, you don’t need to know anything about audio engineering to get the sound that’s right for you.

Smart functions make great sound easier

You get a lot of unwanted problems cropping up when configuring live sound. With this in mind, Yamaha have added a range of smart functions to the Stagepas 200 in order to make using it as stress-free as possible.

One great feature is the intelligent Feedback Suppressor. Just the touch of a button turns this on, and it automatically eliminates unpleasant feedback for you. This is a common problem with small-scale performances, so to have a simple button to solve it is great.

And – ideal for events where you need to speak while music is playing – the Priority Ducker is super useful. This will automatically attenuate background music and secondary signals when the input from the primary mic or another specific sound source is detected.

You can also look forward to a smart app to control the Stagepas 200 from afar and dive deeper into different DSP settings.

While this isn’t available to try until launch, it will be excellent to have for this kind of speaker.

Other products in the Stagepas series

The 200 is the most compact entry in the Stagepas Series so far, but why not check out some of the others too?

The Stagepas 400BT and the Stagepas 600BT both offer a stereo portable PA system and come with a mixer that can be fitted into the back.

Need something a bit bigger? The Stagepas 1k MK2 Column PA System is an ideal choice for bigger venues – while still being made for portability.

Final thoughts

The Stagepas 200 is a real step up in the realm of portable speakers. If you’re looking for something that is portable, powerful, and flexible for different uses, this is for you.

Whether being used for busking, as a stage monitor, or at a dance music event – the Stagepas 200 does the job.