Keys To A Proper Sound System
This could be a book in itself, so briefly :
- Good electrical supply. A separate circuit(s) is recommended. A
sub-panel with an isolated ground is even better. You want to
deliver clean and stable voltage to the equipment. Be careful about
sharing neutrals with the rest of the building. Use a licensed
electrician. Arthur Klem has
an excellent website.
- Fat Loudspeaker Wire. We started with 12 gauge wire, when 10 gauge
became available about 15 years ago, we switched to only using that
for all loudspeakers. Hook up a stereo playback system with one
channel 14 gauge and one channel 10 gauge and you'll hear quite a
difference. The 10 gauge we use has over one hundred strands per
conducter. Do not use solid core.
-Amplifiers. Use amps that have a 2 ohm rating and double or triple
the power rating of the loudspeaker. Use
one amp channel per loudspeaker. We want the sound system
to just be "coasting" along and never stressed.
- Use a equipment rack. Even if it's just a small system, put a rack
in, don't stack the pieces on a shelf.
- XLR's. Use balanced, low impedance XLR connections wherever
possible. Use a converter like
this if you need to have RCA jacks.
- Wireless microphones & Cellphones. They don't mix. Do not keep
your cell phone in your pocket while you have a wireless mic. The
radio frequency spectrum is very crowded and it's going to get
worse.
- Stage Left & Stage Right these are theatrical terms that
denote left and right. If you stand on the stage or altar looking
out, that's Stage Left and Stage Right.