LD Systems MAUI 5 GO Battery Powered 8" Column Speaker

The LD Systems MAUI 5 GO (MAUI5GO) is a battery-powered column PA system with a built-in 4-channel mixer, built for mobile DJs, solo musicians, presenters and anyone working where there is no mains socket. It delivers 800 W peak (200 W RMS) from a Class D amplifier, reaches 120 dB peak and 114 dB average across a 50 Hz to 20,000 Hz response, and runs 6 to 20 hours on one charge of its exchangeable 28.8 V / 5,200 mAh lithium-ion battery, with the complete four-part system weighing 12.9 kg (28.4 lb). It is used for street performance, small weddings and ceremonies, corporate presentations, market stalls and pop-up events.

How does the MAUI 5 GO differ from the mains-powered MAUI 5?

Acoustically it does not. The LD Systems MAUI 5 and the MAUI 5 GO share the same amplifier rating, the same SPL figures, the same drivers and the same assembled height. What changes is the power source, and the weight and bulk that come with it.

	MAUI 5 GO	MAUI 5
Power source	Lithium-ion battery, exchangeable	Mains only (100 to 240 V AC)
Run time off mains	6 h (DJ mode) to 20 h (Lounge mode)	None
System weight	12.9 kg (28.4 lb)	11.3 kg (24.9 lb)
Amplifier	800 W peak / 200 W RMS, Class D	800 W peak / 200 W RMS, Class D
Max SPL	120 dB peak, 114 dB average	120 dB peak, 114 dB average
Frequency response	50 Hz to 20,000 Hz	50 Hz to 20,000 Hz
Dispersion (H x V)	120° x 20°	120° x 20°
Drivers	8" woofer, 4 x 3" mid/high	8" woofer, 4 x 3" mid/high
Assembled height	1,985 mm (78.1 in)	1,985 mm (78.1 in)
Mixer	4 channels	4 channels
Bluetooth	4.2, A2DP stereo	4.2, A2DP stereo

So the decision is straightforward:

• You need to work away from power. Take the GO. Nothing else in the range runs a full evening on a battery.
• You always have a socket. The MAUI 5, or the white MAUI 5 W, gives you the same sound for less money and 1.6 kg less to carry.
• You want the GO in white. The MAUI 5 GO W is the identical system in a white finish.
• You need noticeably more level or cardioid bass. Step up to the MAUI 28 G3, which is a larger mains-powered system, not a battery one.

How long does the battery last, and how quickly does it charge?

Between 6 and 20 hours, depending on how hard you drive it. LD Systems quotes 6 hours in DJ mode, where the system is run loud with sustained bass, and up to 20 hours in Lounge mode at background listening levels. The battery is a 28.8 V, 5,200 mAh lithium-ion element. Charging takes 3 hours to full and about 2 hours to reach 80 per cent, and the charger is built into the subwoofer, so there is no external brick to lose. An external charging dock is available from LD Systems as a separate accessory.

What can you plug into it?

Four sources at once, through the mixer built into the subwoofer. There is one microphone input on an XLR combo socket, one high-impedance instrument input on a 6.3 mm jack for guitar or bass, two line inputs on XLR combo sockets for keyboards, a laptop interface or a DJ controller, and a 3.5 mm jack music input for a phone or tablet. Bluetooth 4.2 handles A2DP stereo streaming at Class 2 range, up to about 10 metres. Each channel has its own level control, and there are separate volume controls for the system and the subwoofer plus a treble adjustment for matching the top end to the room.

How far does it throw, and how wide does it cover?

120 degrees horizontally by 20 degrees vertically. The narrow vertical pattern is what a column array is for: it puts energy along the audience plane rather than into the ceiling and floor, which is why the system holds intelligibility further back than a conventional box on a stick. The wide horizontal pattern means the performer standing beside the column hears it too, so a separate monitor wedge is usually unnecessary. LD Systems rates the system for audiences of around 100 people and upwards.

How much does it weigh, and how does it pack down?

12.9 kg (28.4 lb) in four parts. The subwoofer is the heavy piece and carries the amplifier, DSP, mixer and battery; the column sections stack on top of it and locate on multipin connectors, so assembly is a matter of seconds with no speaker cable to run. The assembled system stands 1,985 mm (78.1 in) tall and the subwoofer measures 305 x 405 x 395 mm (12.0 x 15.9 x 15.6 in), which fits on a car seat or in a boot without folding anything down. If you move gear regularly, we also list the MAUI 5 GO with a utility cart.

Specifications

System type	Active two-way column PA system with subwoofer base
Amplifier	Class D, 800 W peak / 200 W RMS
Max SPL	120 dB peak, 114 dB average
Frequency response	50 Hz to 20,000 Hz
Dispersion (H x V)	120° x 20°
Subwoofer driver	8" ferrite, 2" voice coil
Mid/high drivers	4 x 3" neodymium, 1" voice coil
Battery	Lithium-ion, 28.8 V, 5,200 mAh, exchangeable (Quick-Swap Technology)
Battery life	6 hours (DJ mode) to 20 hours (Lounge mode)
Charging time	3 hours to 100 per cent, 2 hours to 80 per cent; charger integrated in the subwoofer
Mixer	4 channels, separate input, system and subwoofer level controls, treble adjustment
Inputs	1 x microphone (XLR combo), 1 x instrument (6.3 mm jack), 2 x line (XLR combo), 1 x music (3.5 mm jack)
Bluetooth	Version 4.2, A2DP stereo streaming, Class 2 (up to 10 m)
Signal processing	LECC DSP: limiter, equalizer, compressor, crossover
Assembled height	1,985 mm (78.1 in)
Subwoofer dimensions (W x H x D)	305 x 405 x 395 mm (12.0 x 15.9 x 15.6 in)
System weight	12.9 kg (28.4 lb)
Construction	Four parts, multipin connectors
Finish	Black (white version sold as MAUI 5 GO W)
Warranty	Free 2 Year Warranty

Common questions

Can I change the battery in the middle of an event?
Yes. LD Systems' Quick-Swap Technology lets you exchange the battery element rather than waiting on a charge, so with a spare on hand the run time is effectively unlimited. The spare battery element and the external charging dock are LD Systems accessories and are bought separately.

Do I still need a monitor wedge?
Usually not. The column radiates 120 degrees horizontally, so a performer standing to the side of it hears the same mix as the audience, and LD Systems designs the system to work as PA and monitor in one.

Is the black MAUI 5 GO different from the white MAUI 5 GO W?
No, only the finish. The MAUI 5 GO W has the same amplifier, drivers, battery, mixer and dimensions.

Will it stream from a phone?
Yes. Bluetooth 4.2 with A2DP is built in, alongside the 3.5 mm music input if you would rather use a cable.

What warranty does it come with?
A Free 2 Year Warranty through Hollywood DJ.

Browse more battery-powered PA speakers and column speakers.

Not sure whether the battery GO or the mains MAUI 5 suits the work you do? Get in touch and we will help you choose.