Pro Audio

A working PA system is a chain, not a product: loudspeakers sized to the room, amplification matched to those speakers, processing to tune the result, microphones at the input and a console to mix it. This range covers each link, from line array elements and stage monitors through amplifiers, mixers, signal processors and microphones. Audience size and room type decide the first choice, and everything downstream follows from it.

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Specifications below are taken from the product data for each item in this collection. Rows with fewer than two published figures are omitted. Sorted by price.

How to build a PA system

Size the loudspeakers to the audience first. Point-source cabinets cover small and medium rooms efficiently and are quick to deploy. Line arrays earn their complexity in larger rooms and outdoor spaces, where controlled vertical coverage keeps level consistent from the front row to the back. Below a few hundred people, an array is usually more rigging than the job needs.

Match amplification to the speakers, not to a wattage target. A common guideline is an amplifier rated about 1.5 to 2 times the loudspeaker's continuous power rating, with limiting set to protect the drivers. Underpowering causes more damage than overpowering, because a clipping amplifier sends distorted energy to the high-frequency drivers.

Check impedance across the whole load. Nominal impedance is published per cabinet. Two 8-ohm cabinets on one amplifier channel present 4 ohms, and the amplifier has to be rated for that load. This is where improvised systems fail.

Add processing before you add power. A crossover sets what each driver receives, delay aligns distributed cabinets, and equalisation fixes the room. A properly tuned modest system beats an untuned large one in almost every room.

Plan the input side deliberately. Microphone choice, channel count and the console's bus structure decide what the mix can do. Count your sources, add spares, and confirm the console has the buses for the monitor sends you need.

Frequently asked questions

How do I match an amplifier to my speakers?
A common guideline is to choose an amplifier rated about 1.5 to 2 times the loudspeaker's continuous (RMS) rating, and to use limiting and sensible gain structure to protect the drivers.

What impedance do I need to watch for?
The total load on each amplifier channel. Two 8-ohm cabinets in parallel present 4 ohms, so the amplifier must be rated for 4 ohms at the power you intend to use.

When is a line array worth it over point-source speakers?
Generally in larger rooms and open-air spaces, where controlled vertical coverage keeps the level even from front to back. For a few hundred people in a normal room, point-source cabinets are usually the better fit.

Do I need a separate signal processor?
If your speakers are passive and multi-way, or if you are aligning distributed cabinets, yes. Processing handles crossover, delay and room equalisation, and it affects the result more than extra power does.

How many subwoofers do I need?
It depends on programme material and room size rather than a fixed ratio. Music-led events typically run more subwoofer capacity relative to tops than speech-led events do.