5 Tips for the Perfect Placement of PA Speakers
Setting up Your Speakers Incorrectly Wastes Sound Quality
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Whether it’s a small club, an outdoor gig, or a DJ event in a rented venue, if you place your speakers incorrectly, the sound may come across as flat, unbalanced, or straining, even if the setup itself is high quality. A well-thought-out setup is therefore not an option, but a must. A well-thought-out setup is therefore not an option, but a must.
How to Perfectly Position Your PA Speakers
In this workshop, we take a practical look at the most important rules for placing PA speakers. We cover the technical basics and provide practical tips for everyday use. For example, we will refer to the ICOA Pro Pro System from LD Systems, a modern speaker system well-suited for various scenarios thanks to its flexible design and acoustically sophisticated components. These include compact, full-range speakers with a coaxial design, a rotatable horn, and optional flying points.
1. Play at Ear Level: Why the Dispersion Angle of PA Speakers is Crucial
A surprisingly common mistake is positioning the PA speakers too high or too low. PA speakers are positioned too high or too low. For most listeners, the sweet spot is clearly at ear level. However, this logical setup is often ruined by incorrectly mounted or poorly aligned stands.
Systems with a rotatable high-frequency horn are ideal here because they can be aligned optimally with the audience in both horizontal and vertical setups. Coaxial systems with symmetrical dispersion, such as the ICOA Pro System from LD Systems, are particularly practical because they perform very precisely in horizontal monitor mode as well. These features can be found in modern active speakers that look good upright on stands or as floor monitors.
2. Distance: Close isn’t Always Better
If the PA speakers are placed too close to the audience, the sound quickly becomes intrusive or unnaturally loud. If they are too far away, the sound loses definition. A good rule of thumb is that the distance between the PA speakers and the first row should be 1.5 times the height of the enclosure. For typical 12-inch systems, this is around two meters.
PA speakers with a wide dispersion angle (around 90 x 50 degrees) help keep the sound consistent even at moderate distances. Systems with a coaxial design (see LD Systems ICOA Pro) maintain remarkably consistent sound distribution across the entire area. This is particularly beneficial when the audience moves around, such as at standing concerts or club gigs.
3. The Angle to the Audience: Straight Ahead is Rarely Optimal
A common mistake is positioning the PA speakers straight ahead, causing them to radiate past the audience. Often, tilting them slightly toward the center or angling them 15 to 30 degrees is enough to distribute the mid and high frequencies more evenly.
If you use speakers with an optional high-stand flange tilt or fixed-angle adapter, you can account for this directly during setup. Trapezoidal enclosures or tilt angles on monitors also help target the exact right spot in the room. Current systems with flexible mounting surfaces and integrated angles offer a real advantage here.
4. Avoid Floor Reflections: Position of PA Speakers Determines Clarity
When high-frequency waves hit a reflective floor directly, a phenomenon known as comb filtering occurs. The result is that high frequencies disappear or phase out uncontrollably. This can often be avoided by raising the speaker slightly on a stand or tilting it.
Ideal speaker systems can be set up at an angle between 5 and 15 degrees without becoming unstable. When used as monitors, pointing the speaker slightly upward and ensuring a suitable distance from the microphone reduces the risk of feedback while improving speech intelligibility. Systems with targeted controlled dispersion, such as coaxial arrangement and a clearly defined high-frequency response, achieve particularly good results in this area.
5. Add Subwoofers Where Needed: Pay Attention to Phase and Position
Not only the tops, but also the basses, must be positioned sensibly. Placing the subwoofer directly under the top speakers saves space and ensures phase coherence. However, if the subwoofer is too close to a wall or in a corner, it can cause bass boosts or cancellations.
Modern subwoofers can be adjusted to optimal settings for the room thanks to configurable frequency separation, phase switches, and delay functions. It is particularly useful to combine them with tops that have DSP-controlled presets for specific setups. Systems with simple operation and clear visual feedback are helpful when things need to be done quickly or when there is no technician on site.
The ICOA Pro full-range system from LD Systems is one set that offers these advantages with its 12- or 15-inch coaxial speakers. In combination with matching subwoofers, these speakers deliver pressure, as well as defined mids and highs — even in difficult acoustics.
Additional Tip: The Cardioid Setup for the Subwoofer
One problem that often occurs on small stages is that the bass reaches not only the audience but also pushes heavily toward the back of the stage. This disturbs the musicians, especially in DJ setups, and can lead to uncontrolled resonance. A cardioid setup for subwoofers solves this problem. Two subs are arranged and synchronized so that the rear radiation is suppressed.
Many modern PA systems support this setup with ready-made presets that can be selected directly on the device or via an app. The ICOA Pro system from LD Systems offers an easy way to activate a cardioid setup with just a few clicks, either via the subwoofer display or the accompanying app. This setup ensures a clearer stage image, better monitor sound, and significantly more control in the bass range — all without additional signal processors or complicated cabling.
Bonus Tip: Use Room-Dependent Presets for PA Speakers
Those who work with DSP-controlled loudspeakers can benefit from predefined room profiles. Some manufacturers offer presets for small clubs, open-air events, and speech reinforcement. These presets adjust not only the frequency response but also the behavior of the limiter, dynamics, and transient response.
Systems with LCD menus or app control are a good example of this, as they allow access to such presets even under stress. This is helpful if you often perform in different locations or provide sound for different genres. Targeted adjustments improve the sound and ensure reproducibility. You’ll find this in the ICOA Pro system, too.
Practical Impressions with the ICOA Pro System
Coaxial loudspeakers that can be operated upright or at a monitor angle are useful for small to medium-sized events. The modular ICOA Pro system from LD Systems is a flexible companion that impresses with its clearly defined coverage area, even in acoustically challenging rooms. Even in crossover mode, it’s notable that the sound image remains stable and differentiated.
In practice, the ICOA Pro setup also earns high marks for its easily accessible DSP presets, which allow the loudspeakers to be quickly adapted to different setup situations. Whether used as a floor monitor, on a stand, or in a rigging system, the speaker’s response to position changes remains consistent and controllable. This saves valuable time, especially when room layouts change or modifications are required at the last minute.
The system delivers a well-rounded sound when combined with the appropriate subwoofer (or several subwoofers!). The tops and basses can be tuned at the touch of a button, which is particularly advantageous in hybrid setups consisting of DJ and speech reinforcement. If you are looking for a flexible PA system for different locations, the ICOA Pro series offers a well-designed, practical solution.
Conclusion
The best PA system only sounds as good as it is set up. Taking a few minutes to properly position the equipment will prevent frustration during sound checks and provide a significantly better listening experience for the audience. Expensive tools aren’t always necessary — simple design features such as rotatable horns, coaxial construction, and flexible mounting options make all the difference.
PA speakers that can be used in both full-range mode and as monitors offer real flexibility advantages. Systems such as the current ICOA Pro models from LD Systems are prime examples of the sonic potential of a well-designed enclosure. Paying attention to details like these allows DJs, band members, and event organizers to get the most out of every gig.
More Information About LD Systems PA speakers
- Product page
- LD Systems at Thomann*
- More about LD Systems
*Note: This workshop, “5 Tips for Perfect PA Speaker Placement,” is sponsored by LD Systems/Adam Hall and contains affiliate links that help us finance our site. The price remains the same for you! If you purchase something through these links, we receive a commission that supports our website and work!
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One response to “5 Tips for the Perfect Placement of PA Speakers”
This was less useful that I imagined it would be as it focused on what one manufacturer’s system had… For those that have a PA system that isn’t this, it became only somewhat useful.