How do you use delay speakers in live sound?

In large venues or outdoor events, the main PA system may not cover the entire audience evenly. Delay speakers are positioned further back in the venue to reinforce sound for those areas. Without proper delay, listeners near the delay speakers would hear the delayed sound from the main PA first, causing echoes and muddiness. By applying a precise delay time to these speakers—calculated based on the physical distance from the main system—the sound arrives at the same time as the direct sound from the stage, creating a coherent wavefront.

Setting up delay speakers requires accurate measurement of the distance from the main PA to the delay position. The delay time is typically calculated as distance (in meters) divided by the speed of sound (approx. 343 m/s). Most modern digital signal processors (DSP) and system controllers, like those in SSOUNDS amplifiers, include delay functions with millisecond precision. It's also critical to align the frequency response and level of delay speakers with the main system to avoid comb filtering and tonal imbalance. SSOUNDS engineers often use measurement software like Smaart to verify alignment and ensure seamless coverage.

For complex deployments, multiple delay zones may be needed, each with its own delay time and EQ. SSOUNDS line array systems are designed with advanced DSP presets that simplify delay configuration, allowing engineers to input distances and automatically calculate delays. This ensures consistent sound quality from front to back, even in challenging acoustic environments.