Photo courtesy of Mission Hills Church, Littleton, Colo.
I can remember being on staff at a church and hearing the worship pastor telling everyone that the room needed a line array. It was the “only way” to make the room sound great. He was looking for me to back him up in the conversation, I interjected that the room actually didn’t fit the criteria for using a line array. He quickly ignored the comment and went on about his business. It wasn't until months later, when the integrator told him that a line array wasn’t the best choice for the job, that he began to rethink his opinion.
So often, people get “sold” on a style of speaker or a particular brand that may or may not be the best solution. So how does one decide on the “right” speaker for the budget and the room? Here are some ways to make sure the speaker and speaker configuration are a good fit.
Some sound systems “come alive” at higher levels, but sound thin at lower ones. Some are just the opposite.
1. Tour similar buildings with quality designs
All too often large audio purchases are made blindly. The integrator is asked what is needed and the recommendation is completely trusted because the church leader or pastor feels inferior to the person telling them what they need. Good integrators will not only tell you what the church needs, but will also explain why it’s a good decision. One way to educate a church leader is to visit a few churches, similar in room size, within driving distance. Look at the equipment they have, the placement of the speakers, and listen to the room. How does it sound? Does it sound full or is it harsh? Does the bass in the room have a smooth sound or does it seem too boomy? How many main speakers and subwoofers does the church have? Is the sound consistent when walking around a room? Ask questions, and ask the production staff for their opinions. Take notes, and allow them to be a reference for questions when comparing the different churches you visit.
Photo of Orchard Hills Church, Wexford, Pa., courtesy of L-Acoustics. Photo credit: Ed Massery.
2. Know the goal of the sound system
Is the goal for it to be loud and full on Sunday, or is the goal for the volume to be low and smooth? These differences will change what type of speakers to buy. Consistent coverage should be the goal regardless of the worship style, but the experience you want to deliver is different. When you tour other churches, listen to the sound quality at different volumes or sound pressure levels. Some sound systems “come alive” at higher levels, but sound thin at lower ones. Some are just the opposite, and sound better at low or medium levels, but begin to sound shrill or harsh the louder they get. Knowing the goal of your sound system, and articulating that goal to the company designing and installing it is a vital element of a successful project.
3. Look at specs more than brand names
If the integrator is pushing the church towards a specific brand, do some research on similar speakers from other brands and ask about the benefits of one brand or model over another. Ask why they chose speaker A over speaker B even though speaker B. Often integrators make decisions based only on the brands they carry, those that offer better availability and customer service, or those with better pricing. All of these could be perfectly valid reasons for selecting a particular brand and model of loudspeaker. Still, as the customer, it’s appropriate to know the options and to ask questions along the way.
Yes, loudspeakers are built from moving parts, and they do wear out.
4. Don’t Over Think It
Truthfully, if three different speakers offer similar specifications and pricing, are of comparable build quality and reputation, and the integrator has a good system design as well as knowledge on how to tune the rig properly, then it’s unlikely the end result will be drastically different. However, you usually wind up getting what you paid for. One system that’s significantly cheaper than another will likely wind up needing to be replaced sooner due to failing parts, or sound that degrades more quickly over time. Yes, loudspeakers are built from moving parts, and they do wear out.
Photo of Times Square Church, NYC, courtesy of L-Acoustics and Digico.
5. Choose Brands that focus on the church’s price range
Full disclosure, this point is 100% opinion. Personally, I have found it valuable to choose a speaker company whose primary customer is in the price range of your particular of the project. Why? Because typically that means most of their research and development will be focused on making products designed for projects like yours. Here’s an example from outside of the audio world: A boss that I worked for in college really wanted a Mercedes. So he bought the Mercedes, but it was one of the most bare-bones vehicles I’ve ever seen. It still had manual roll up windows, no bluetooth, and no backup camera. He could have easily bought a different luxury brand car that focused on a different clientele and had a much better driving experience—which is what he eventually traded it in for. The point is, the most expensive and prestigious brand is not always the best option.
This may seem like an odd way to end a guide to picking out speakers, but in all reality this is significantly more helpful than telling a person they do or do not need a line array system or telling another person they should buy one brand over another. Choose loudspeakers that you’ve actually heard in a similar room, ask the integrator to help leadership understand the system design they spec'd for your room. If this happens, there will be a more confidence in the decision and a higher level of stewardship will be accomplished.