Sprucing Up My Theater Room

Posted on: 29 March 2022

Building a sound system for a large auditorium is often challenging. Whether installing your equipment in a church, a school, or another local where many people gather, you need to strike the right balance between cost, quality, and power. While everyone wants to achieve the best possible sound quality, that perfect sound won't do much good if the people in the back can't hear it.

If your current system isn't quite meeting your needs, these three tips will help you design an upgrade that's cost-effective and capable of delivering the sound you need for your hall.

1. Measure Twice, Buy Once

Your hall's dimensions will significantly impact the overall acoustic qualities of the room. Large and small rooms can perform very differently with similar equipment, and the size and shape of your room will impact factors such as sound reverberation time. Whether you're buying the equipment yourself or working with a professional company, you'll need to consider these issues.

The best way to understand your room is to take the same approach you would with any construction project. Spend enough time measuring the room and recording its overall layout. If you're working with a professional company, make sure they don't skimp on this step. These measurements will impact everything from your choice of speakers to the placement of acoustic panels and other treatments.

2. Know Your Needs

Unfortunately, not all acoustical designs have the same requirements. For example, the correct amount of reverberation can add depth to a live musical performance, but it can also be detrimental for speakers that need clarity. Knowing how you will use your hall is crucial when planning any upgrade since it will likely determine which parts of your existing system you need to replace.

You'll want to favor whichever aspect is likely to be more prominent in a mixed-use hall. Losing a little clarity in favor of a more reverberant hall might be beneficial if you primarily host live music. Still, you'll want to avoid treatments that reduce clarity if your usage primarily includes speakers.

3. Consider the Whole Package

If you're on a tight budget, you might want to try upgrading individual aspects of your hall's sound system. While this approach might be acceptable if you have a clear weak link, it's often better to build a cohesive audio experience for your audience. Pairing the right speakers, amplifiers, acoustic treatments, and other equipment guarantees you'll get the most bang for your buck out of your new system.

Working with an experienced audio/visual company is usually the best way to ensure that you select equipment that both fits your needs and pairs well together. This approach will help you get an upgrade to last for many years while achieving the sound quality balance you need.