What size PA system do I need for 2,000 people?

Coverage is the first consideration. For a crowd of 2,000, you need even coverage across a wide area—typically 120° horizontal dispersion. A line array system like SSOUNDS’ medium-format arrays provides controlled vertical coverage to avoid exciting the room’s reverberant field, ensuring speech intelligibility and music clarity. The rule of thumb is 1–2 line array boxes per 10–15 metres of throw distance, so for a typical 30–40 metre deep audience, 4–6 boxes per side is a good starting point.

SPL targets depend on content. For spoken word, 95–100 dB at the mix position is sufficient; for live music, aim for 105–110 dB continuous with 6–10 dB of headroom. This requires a system capable of 130–135 dB peak output at 1 metre. SSOUNDS engineers use acoustic modelling software to calculate the exact number of enclosures and subwoofers based on venue geometry, audience layout, and desired frequency response.

Subwoofer count varies by genre. For general music, a 2:1 ratio of tops to subs is common (e.g., 8 tops, 4 subs). For bass-heavy genres like EDM or hip-hop, you may need 1 sub per top box. SSOUNDS subwoofers are designed for high output and low distortion, and cardioid configurations can reduce stage wash and improve low-end clarity. Always factor in amplifier power and DSP presets for optimal system tuning.