Illinois PGA Bronze Level Partner - AmpliVox Public Address Systems for Golf Courses

AmpliVox is a Bronze Level partner of the Illinois PGA Section and the recommended choice for public address systems preferred by the PGA pro's. AmpliVox portable and wireless PA Systems are used on the golf course to host:

Tournament Player Announcements
Broadcast first tee player introductions


Hole in One Contests
Relay results back to participants


Shot Gun Starts
Easily reach 144 players or more


Long Drive Contests
Provide distances to gallery and participants


Group Lessons
Cover audiences from 5 too 200


Award Ceremonies
Announce tournament winners and sponsors

“I recommend AmpliVox PA systems to any golf course that hosts golf tournaments or outings.

The products and the people are reliable, high quality, and feature top-of-the-line technology.

The wireless unit - in particular - gives you the opportunity to set up the equipment wherever you want to. This allows the host to speak to the group from any position.”

Dan W. - Illinois PGA Pro

Host your award ceremonies with the SN3250 Pinnacle Multimedia Lectern and SW915 Digital Audio Travel Partner

Premium and Platinum Packages include: SW915 Digital Audio Travel Partner (above), S1297-70 Wireless Powered Speaker (below), two S1080 Heavy Duty Tripods & S1073 Mic Stand

Public Address Sound Systems For Outdoor Golfing Events

Digital Audio Travel Partner Packages


250 watts, audience size up to 7,500 people, room size up to 25,000 sq. ft.

Ideal for Indoor and Outdoor Presentations & Audio. 250 Watt Amplifier Fills The Room with Full, Rich & Clear Sound. Lightweight Design, Luggage Handle & Wheels Make it Easy To Move.

Half-Mile Hailer Kits

50 watts, audience size up to 5000 people, room size up to 30,000 sq. ft.

The Hailer family is great for use in high noise areas and large open spaces. Your audience can hear loud and clear while you direct the action. Easily be heard over a half mile away.

Recognizing Excellence at the NSYMCA

AmpliVox calls the suburb of Northbrook, IL, home, and we take great pride in seeing our friends and community members thrive. One of our closest friends, Howard Schultz, has positively transformed the Northbrook and surrounding community during his time as executive director and CEO of the North Suburban YMCA.

We recently came across a great profile piece of Mr. Schultz from the summer 2013 issue of Advancing Philanthropy that illuminates the steps he has taken to improve the NSYMCA since assuming his role in 2006. He has completely reversed the organization’s financial troubles using strategic fundraising initiatives that have both paid off existing debt and offered new capital for renovations and structural improvements to facilities. He has also overseen the doubling of NSYMCA members thanks to an expanded selection of strong recreational programming for individuals and families. As a symbol of just how far the NSYMCA has come, the organization was named “Small Business of the Year” by the Northbrook Chamber of Commerce for 2013.

We congratulate Mr. Schultz on a job well done, and encourage you to read more about his work at the North Suburban YMCA by reading the Advancing Philanthropy article.

Click here to read the linked article.

On Your Marks, Get Set: The Half Mile Hailer Proves Victorious on the Track

It is the season for outdoor sporting events. From soccer to softball, athletics have moved outside and with it, the challenges of being heard.

The challenge of extending your voice is especially prevalent in the world of track and field. With multiple events taking place at once across a massive track setting that stretches farther than a football field, clear sound is vital to maintain organization and communication before, during, and following a track and field meet.

Track and field race starters have a particular challenge during the course of the meet. After all, they have the important job of marking the beginning of each race by notifying the participating runners, in a fair and clear manner, when to take their marks, get set, and go.

According to the United States of America Track and Field (USATF) Officiating Technique Manual on race starters, “The importance of the starter’s voice control cannot be emphasized too much. A calm voice is one of the most important characteristics of the successful starter.” In an outdoor, crowded stadium though, there is simply no way for a starter to produce a clear and calm voice without help.

The S610A Half Mile Hailer

The AmpliVox Sound Systems Half Mile Hailer has proven time and again to be the solution to crafting outdoor sound that carries, without leaving stress and fatigue on the speaker. Using a simple set of controls and an amplifier with 50 watts of pure sound power, the device can carry your voice up to a half mile in distance. Runners at the starting marks will hear you. Coaches and other athletes getting prepared will hear you. Attendees in the crowd will hear you. 

At ten pounds and completely wireless, the Half Mile Hailer can be comfortably carried using an accompanying shoulder strap so wherever a starter has to travel during the course of a meet, he can be assured he will be heard. The device can also be strategically positioned at or near the starting line to ensure runners will have uninterrupted access to your voice.

Another important consideration for race starters is their relationship the microphone needed to project their voice. Depending on one’s particular needs and comfort, the Hailer is offered in three models, each with a different style of microphone: the S610A comes with a dynamic corded microphone, the SW610A is equipped with a wireless lapel and headset microphone, and the SW615A includes a handheld wireless microphone.

AmpliVox customer Jerry recently received one of our Half Mile Hailers to assist in his work as a track and field starter for USATF. He had these thoughts to share:

“I am a national level USATF track and field starter. The Half Mile Hailer makes it easier to do my job and leaves me feeling less tired at the end of a meet. I have seen some of the other systems starters use and nothing can beat the Hailer. Many have extension cords running everywhere and dinky tripods holding standard outdoor speakers that work okay but not great. With the Half Mile Hailer, I now have the perfect setup. I have tested it in every situation and it is outstanding. When the conversation comes up about portable PA system's, I will be pushing the Half Mile Hailer as the only way to go.”

We appreciate Jerry’s support and are pleased the Half Mile Hailer is making a difference for USATF track and field starter.

If you are a track and field starter like Jerry, or find yourself in need of audio support to improve your outdoor activities, we encourage you to learn more about the Half Mile Hailer by visiting our website, or give us a call at 800-267-5486. You can also follow us at @AmpliVox on Twitter or like our Facebook page to connect with us online. 

InfoComm 2013 Highlights - rAVe Publications Chooses AmpliVox PA Systems to Broadcast Announcements

InfoComm 2013 has come to a close, and one of its main attractions was all of the games and festivities going on at the booth of Rave Publications. Rave Pubs is a digital media group that focuses on delivering news covering audio visual technology and its tradeshows. This year Rave Pubs detailed all aspects of InfoComm13 by deploying an army of videographers onto the show floor to shoot videos on every single new product producing a catalog of what was presented at InfoComm13.



In addition to the InfoComm13 news coverage, Rave Publications and its sponsors brought to the event “The Game 4”, a Plinko style game tournament played at each sponsor’s booth giving away prizes such as head phones, gift cards, flash drives, iPod shuffles, Apple TVs, iPads, rAVe t-shirts and super hero collectibles. The first player at each booth who had their chip land in the specially marked sponsored slot then had qualified for a chance to win a 2013 Smart Car.



The winner at each booth was then entered into Rave’s Tournament of Champions, where competitors played against each other in a game of bean bag toss. Players advanced by tossing three bean bags and making more in the hole than their opponents. The lucky player that made it to the final got to play Dave Labuskes, CEO and executive director of InfoComm 2013, and if you could beat Dave then you would win the 2013 Smart Car.



rAVe Publications chose AmpliVox PA systems to broadcast announcements for their Tournament of Champions using the SW720 iPad, iPhone, iPod Wireless PA System and multiple S207 Beltblaster Pros for announcements, audio support and crowd control throughout the show, including their trips around the show floor during the opening Plinko rounds.

rAVe was very pleased with the performance of the AmpliVox PA systems. Here is what their President, Gary Kayye, had to say:

"At this year's InfoComm show, we selected AmpliVox for our live voice amplification system for rAVe's THE GAME 4 as well as to allow for LIVE listening of our Podcasts in the booth - both worked flawlessly.

Not only did the gear work exactly as advertised - something we don't often see in AV - but the user experience was perfect. It worked right out of the box, kept a charge all day and we never even had to open the user's manual. Bravo to AmpliVox for a truly 10+ customer experience factor!"

Incorporating Oral Presentation Lessons Tailored to your Students’ Interests

For educators, the balmy, relaxing days of summer are often spent teaching summer courses, conducting research, writing, or planning for the following school year. You may be thinking about adding some new features to an existing course, or you may be creating a new one from scratch!

As you plan, consider the importance of communication skills for your students’ success, as all future professionals and leaders need to be taught to present their ideas clearly. Whether you are teaching future scientists, engineers, computer programmers, artists, mathematicians, linguists, or musicians, all will benefit from the ability to speak in front of others and present ideas effectively.

Consider incorporating oral presentation lessons tailored to your students’ interests. Cross-curricular lessons help students understand how specialized knowledge can make an impact on the world. Perhaps a presentation – based on reality or a future fantasy – about their latest scientific breakthrough, masterpiece, or creative writing will get them excited about expressing themselves as only they can. Students may want to deliver their Nobel Prize or Kennedy Center Honors speech, including details about why they won their award.

Make sure to have a portable or permanent lectern in your classroom, or consider a portable voice amplifier for public speaking practice. Help your students understand that whatever their interests are, telling others about them is important to future success. Practicing in small groups, in front of the classroom, or at a school assembly will help students become comfortable discussing their unique skills in front of others.

Pinnacle Tabletop Lectern

EZ Speak Folding Lectern

Travel-Lite Folding Tabletop Lectern

Small, portable tabletop lecterns, such as the Travel-Lite Folding Tabletop Lectern and the EZ Speak Folding Lectern are excellent choices for classrooms as they both fold and store in compact areas. AmpliVox carries a wide variety of full height lecterns and portable sound systems as well.

Custom Logo for Lecterns

As an added bonus, lecterns may be customized with school, club, or team logos! Our friendly customer service team members are always happy to discuss your goals and objectives, and make recommendations for your particular class and room size.

Learning is rewarding, and the ability to share knowledge with others is a skill your students will benefit from for the rest of their lives. Who knows, in the future your student may thank you in a Grammy, Clio, or Pulitzer Prize Speech!

By Vita Schweighart

Half Mile Hailer Making a Difference in Africa

Every once in a while, we hear from a customer whose experience with their AmpliVox product really made a difference in their life. We recently heard from one such customer, Barry Webb, who purchased two of our Half Mile Hailer sound systems before traveling to Africa on a mission trip. He checked in to let us know how well the devices have worked for him, and we thought we would share it with you. Read below!

Greetings from Malawi, Africa! I just wanted to drop you a line and let you know that the two Wireless Half Mile Hailer sound systems we purchased from you have been such a big help!  

We are running a month of day camps on the weekdays and combined church rallies on Sundays. Every day, we travel one to three hours to a different village. On average, we minister between 200 and 700 people each day. We set up a portable puppet stage at the main meeting area and one of the Half Mile Hailer systems at each place. The Half Mile Hailer system works well for us because of our need for audio inputs and the wireless capability. When we arrive at the meeting site and set up the equipment, I hook up my MP3 player and play music over the system to let the surrounding area know where we are and that something special is going on.   

We have a wired mic on a stand for announcements and for the program director and song leader to use. We then switch to the on-board wireless with one of the headset mics. The translator for the puppets uses the second add-on wireless kit. When the puppets and singing are over, we dismiss the children to their meeting place, and use the on-board wireless system with the lavalier mic to teach the children, while their translator uses the other secondary wireless add-on kit. At the main meeting with the teens and adults, I switch to the lavalier mic to preach with.   

The Wireless Half Mile Hailer systems have performed flawlessly. I am using good Ansmann 2850 rechargeable batteries for the wireless packs. We purchased the battery packs for the two Hailer systems as well. There is no electrical power in our villages, so we needed the rechargeable systems. We have run our programs from 8:30 AM through 4:00 PM and neither system has had any power loss problems. We also bought the compact stands and the cases for them as well as the cases for the Hailer systems and it has been very helpful, since we need things to be highly compact and portable.   

We recently drove an hour to a tributary of the Shire River in lower Malawi. We were going to a meeting of several churches on an island in the middle of the river. We had to board dugout canoes to get over to the island. Having a light portable sound system and a smaller stand allowed us to carry all of that to our meeting destination and back. Each night when we return to the guesthouse where we are staying, I plug in the systems and pop the rechargeable batteries into a charger to get everything charged up for the next day.   

We are very thankful for these systems and I would be happy to recommend them to others who want a portable, rechargeable, economical, sound system for use with large or small crowds anywhere in the world.   

--Evangelist Barry Webb
Board Member, EurAsian and EuroAfrican Baptist Missions

We appreciate Barry’s kind words, and are glad the Half Mile Hailer is serving as a perfect audio solution for his needs.

With a 50 watt amplifier that projects sound up to a half mile, and at only ten pounds, the Half Mile Hailer embodies both sound power and portability. What’s more, the simple, straightforward controls and auxiliary port that syncs to your multimedia devices ensures the versatility necessary to thrive in both indoor and outdoor environments. Offered in three models, the S610A comes with a dynamic corded microphone, the SW610A is equipped with a wireless lapel and headset mic, and the SW615A includes a handheld wireless mic.

As Barry’s story proves, the Half Mile Hailer will ensure your outdoor sound needs are covered, whether your event is here in the States, or all the way in Africa.

Tanaka Farms uses the Audio Portable Buddy as their Tour Guide PA System

Tanaka Farms is a family owned and operated farm situated in the heart of Irvine California.

The 30-acre farm produces organic fruits and vegetables that supplies their produce stand and drives their CSA program (Community Supported Agriculture), providing farm fresh produce and fruit delivered to local businesses, company sites, schools and churches.

The real treat at Tanaka Farms is all the Guided Tours on the farm offers throughout the seasons, allowing for kids and adults alike to get a closer glimpse into the workings of a real farm.

The Tanaka family wanted to educate children where fruits and vegetables come from, where and how they grow. So back in 1998 they began to offer their Strawberry Tours, a guided wagon ride taking groups around their farm teaching them how different fruits and vegetables grow, sample various fruits and vegetables that are in season and also give tour groups a chance to pick and eat their very own strawberries.

Tanaka Farms uses the AmpliVox Audio Portable Buddy as their tour guide PA system to amplify their voice to the crowd. The Audio Portable Buddy gave them a moderate improvement in their sound coverage and voice clarity while comfortably being heard throughout the tour group and all along their wagon ride across the farm.

The Audio Portable Buddy is a battery powered public address system that goes anywhere you go and runs for up to 200 hours on 10 D-Cell batteries, or up to 10 hours of talk time with the optional S1465 rechargeable NiCad Battery Pack.

Its durable case stands up to rugged use, with its 50 watt stereo amplifier that can reach and audience size of up to 1000 people.

The headset microphones used by the tour guides at Tanaka Farms allowed for their hands to be free during their presentation, permitting the tour guide to simply point out areas of the farm and pick up different plants and fruits to show to the group while discussing them on the tour.

The Audio Portable Buddy can easily be heard over the tractor pulled wagon, allowing the for the tour guide to continue their presentation as the wagon is in motion and on its way to its next destination.

Seasonal tours extend into the summer with Watermelon Tours during the months of July/August, Pumpkin Tours during October and ongoing Cookout Tours from March throughout August where guests get a chance to pick their own vegetables, get them prepped and grilled for a lunch outing.

For more information on AmpliVox Tour Guide PA Systems or the Audio Portable Buddy please visit:
http://www.ampli.com/personal-pa-system/

Product Spec Sheet: Audio Portable Buddy

A Moment to Celebrate

On behalf of everyone at AmpliVox Sounds Systems, we would like to take a moment to congratulate Carolyn Roth and Pedro de Oliveira Fiuza on their upcoming wedding this Saturday, June 15 at the University Club in Chicago. Carolyn is the daughter of Don Roth, AmpliVox’s founder and CEO.

Pedro and Carolyn met in the fall of 2009 in Rio de Janeiro while Carolyn was in Brazil on a business trip. The two stayed in touch, and even though Carolyn lived in San Francisco at the time, they overcame the six-hour time difference using Skype, email, and talking on the phone. Pedro and Carolyn soon knew their relationship was special, and they made an effort to see each other once a month. In 2012, Pedro surprised Carolyn with a proposal during a trip to visit his family in Rio de Janeiro. 

Today, Carolyn is the Director of Investor Relations and Marketing in New York City for Stone Lion Capital Partners. Pedro is a partner at Gávea Investimentos (majority owned by J.P. Morgan Asset Management) and is also based in New York City. The couple currently lives in the Upper West Side in Manhattan. 

Carolyn and Pedro have traveled the world with each other, from San Francisco to Brazil, Chicago to France, New York to Italy.  They look forward to many more adventures to come in their married life together (beginning with their honeymoon to Greece!).

Congratulations Carolyn and Pedro! We wish you all the best! 

10 Summer Attractions to See In Chicago

Good news! After months of feeling like it would never it end, it appears that winter, in fact, is over. As the weather warms for good and we enter the summer season, everyone is excited to get outside and do something fun. At AmpliVox, we call Chicago home, and know our way around the city’s marquee attractions and activities, so we thought we would put together a list of 10 of the city’s must-do attractions to complete over the summer, whether you are a resident or tourist. Click the read more button below to see the list.

Read more »

Portable Audio Solutions To Make Life Easier On The Soccer Field

If you or members of your family participated in soccer leagues growing up, you know the scene: hundreds of kids of varying skill-sets and levels playing soccer across a half dozen fields. It's a sport that has risen in popularity among children in the United States over the last two decades, which has prompted parents, park districts, and others to organize and run seasonal soccer leagues.

Most of the time, the day’s worth of soccer games happens without a hitch. But there is a challenge for those in charge of managing these leagues. How do you communicate with so many people spread across such a great distance at a moment's notice? Click the "read more" button below for the answer.

Read more »