How many subwoofers do I need for a festival?
Quick answer
For a festival, you typically need 4-8 subwoofers per side for a main stage (depending on size and SPL requirements), with additional subwoofers for delay towers or side fills. A good rule is 1 sub per 2-3 tops for balanced low-end coverage.
The number of subwoofers for a festival depends on stage size, audience capacity, and desired low-frequency impact. For a medium-sized festival (5,000-10,000 people), a common configuration is 4-6 subwoofers per side in an end-fire or cardioid array to control rear rejection. For larger events (20,000+), 8-12 per side may be needed, often flown or ground-stacked.
SSOUNDS subwoofer systems are designed for high-output, low-distortion bass. Our recommended ratio is 1 subwoofer per 2-3 full-range cabinets for balanced coverage. Use subwoofer arrays like left-right or broadside to maximize coupling and pattern control. Always consider venue acoustics and local noise limits.
For delay towers, add 2-4 subwoofers per tower to maintain low-end consistency. Use DSP presets from SSOUNDS to align phase and time between subs and tops. A system design simulation (e.g., using EASE or proprietary tools) is essential to predict coverage and SPL before deployment.
Key things to consider
- Start with 4-6 subs per side for medium festivals; scale up to 8-12 for large events.
- Use cardioid or end-fire arrays to reduce rear spill and improve front-of-house bass.
- Match subwoofer quantity to tops: 1 sub per 2-3 full-range cabinets.
- Add subs to delay towers (2-4 per tower) for consistent coverage.
- Always simulate the system with acoustic modeling software for accurate prediction.
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