How many subwoofers do I need for a festival?

The number of subwoofers required for a festival depends on stage size, audience capacity, music genre, and SPL targets. As a rule of thumb, start with 4 subwoofers per side for a small-to-medium stage (up to 5,000 people), 8 per side for 10,000 people, and 12–24 per side for major festivals (20,000+). Electronic dance music or hip-hop demands more low-end output, often requiring double the count compared to acoustic or folk events.

Subwoofer configuration matters: cardioid or end-fire arrays reduce rear spill and improve front-of-house consistency, but may require additional cabinets. SSOUNDS subwoofer systems are designed for high output and low distortion, with DSP presets that optimize performance in any configuration. Always factor in headroom—running subs at 70–80% of their maximum capacity ensures reliability and cleaner sound.

Use simulation software to model coverage and SPL distribution before deployment. SSOUNDS engineers recommend measuring the venue and calculating required subwoofer count based on desired dB levels at the farthest listening point. For most festivals, a ground-stacked or flown subwoofer array with 2–4 cabinets per cluster provides balanced coverage across the audience area.