How Can I Choose The Right Amplifier And Speakers For My Sound System?

An amplifier should be selected that has an input and individual volume control for each microphone to be used. Each mike can then be adjusted independently.

For audiences of up to 200, it is good to select an amplifier with an output power of at least 30 watt. Larger auditoriums will require much more power. A solid-state unit is usually more dependable and trouble-free than a tube-type amplifier. Of course, we should select a unit that is designed for use as a public-address amplifier.

Loudspeakers serve as our final link in reproducing the spoken word. There are many types of reproducers available. We may select column-type loudspeakers for small auditoriums, placing one unit on each side of the stage. These are especially practical for temporary installations. For permanent installations, a distributed system using ceiling-mounted speakers is usually very satisfactory. If the ceiling is relatively low, this system is especially recommended, for it allows all in the audience to sit at approximately the same distance from a loudspeaker. Ceiling speakers should be spaced in staggered rows, their distance apart being approximately one and a half times that of the measurement from the floor to the ceiling. Those loudspeakers closest to the speaker's stand could be wired for lower power, permitting greater volume for the whole system before acoustical feedback occurs.