A public address system (PA system) is an electronic system comprising microphones, amplifiers, loudspeakers, and related equipment, The term, sound reinforcement system generally means a PA system specifically for live music or performance.
Simple PA systems are often used in small venues such as school auditoriums, churches, and small bars. PA systems with a larger number of speakers are widely used in institutional and commercial buildings, to read announcements or declare states of emergency.
Intercom systems, which are often used in schools, also have microphones in each room so that the occupants can reply to the central office.
A number of Public Announcer companies are now making lightweight, portable speaker systems for small venues that route the low-frequency parts of the music (electric bass, bass drum, etc.) to a separately-powered subwoofer.