When it comes to sound systems, many people assume the answer is to “just buy better gear.” But in reality, great audio is less about the price tag and more about the design behind it.
I’ve been in small ballrooms with modest budgets where the sound was crystal clear, and I’ve been in seven-figure auditoriums where speech was unintelligible, music was muddy, and the audience walked away disappointed.
What makes the difference? Design, planning, and execution.
Whether you’re upgrading or building a studio, planning an auditorium or a church, avoiding the following five mistakes can save you money, frustration, and endless “turn it up / turn it down” complaints.
1. Poor Speaker Placement
Even the best loudspeakers will underperform if they aren’t positioned correctly. Speakers are designed to project sound in a specific pattern (called “dispersion”). If they’re aimed incorrectly, you’ll end up with dead spots (areas where sound drops off) or hot spots (areas that are uncomfortably loud). In many venues, the main cluster of speakers is hung too high or aimed straight forward. The front rows end up blasted with sound, while people in the back strain to hear. In the case of studios, monitors placed too close to walls cause bass build-up, leading to inaccurate mixes.
So what's the solution?
- Check the datasheet: Before purchasing, review the speaker’s dispersion pattern. This tells you how wide and how far the sound will travel, helping you match the right speaker to the size and shape of your room.
- Use simulation tools: Software like EASE or manufacturer-provided coverage maps can show you how the sound will spread in your space. These tools make it much easier to decide the best placement and angle for each speaker, ensuring even coverage across the room.
Even small adjustments in placement and angle can completely change the listening experience.
2. Ignoring Room Acoustics
The room itself is part of the sound system. You can’t escape physics. Hard, reflective surfaces like concrete, tile, and glass cause reflection (or “echoes”) and muddiness. Bass frequencies naturally accumulate in corners, and untreated reflections across the room can severely reduce speech intelligibility. On the flip side, an overly “dead” room can feel unnatural and uninspiring.
Imagine walking into a tiled auditorium or event hall with tall ceilings and bare walls. The moment someone speaks into a microphone, the words seem to bounce endlessly around the room. Instead of hearing a clear sentence, the reflections overlap, blurring syllables together and making it hard to follow the message. The louder the sound, the worse the problem becomes — until the audience is straining to understand even the simplest phrase.
The best way to address reflections is through preplanning during the design stage. For new venues, involving an acoustician early ensures that materials, wall angles, and finishes are chosen with sound in mind — not just aesthetics. For existing spaces, bringing in an audio consultant or acoustician can help identify problem areas and recommend targeted fixes. Investing in acoustic treatments like wall panels, ceiling clouds, or diffusers may not be as flashy as new speakers, but it’s one of the most effective ways to improve clarity and intelligibility for the long term. They can make a $2,000 system sound like $20,000 — and the reverse is also true.
3. No Sound Zoning for Large Spaces
One set of speakers is rarely enough to cover every corner of a complex venue. Large rooms — whether auditoriums, ballrooms, or conference halls — often have unique challenges like balconies, side wings, or overflow areas. If these spaces aren’t considered in the design, the result is uneven coverage: some seats end up too quiet while others are uncomfortably loud.
Take, for example, a venue with a strong, balanced mix on the main floor. The audience there enjoys every word and notes with clarity. But in the balcony, people strain to understand because the sound isn’t reaching them properly. This isn’t a problem with the performance or the system itself — it’s a design issue caused by the lack of sound zoning.
The solution is to extend coverage strategically. Adding delay speakers in balconies, wings, or secondary rooms fills in the gaps, while time alignment ensures these speakers reinforce the main system instead of competing with it. For multipurpose venues, designing zoned mixes provides independent control over different areas, keeping the sound consistent no matter where someone is seated. With proper zoning, every listener — front row to back row — experiences the same clarity and impact. This is where design really pays off: one well-placed delay speaker can save you from endless complaints.
4. Using the Wrong Microphones
Not all microphones are created equal — and choosing the wrong one almost always leads to frustration. Each microphone is designed with a specific purpose in mind, whether it’s capturing a solo singer, amplifying a speaker, or recording a group of performers. When the wrong type is used, the result is weak pickup, feedback issues, or a sound that feels thin and unnatural.
Consider a choir trying to sing into handheld dynamic microphones. Instead of capturing the richness of the group, only the loudest voices nearest the mic are heard, while the rest of the ensemble disappears in the mix. Or imagine a speaker at a lectern using a handheld mic, constantly moving it around — one moment the voice is too loud, the next it’s barely audible. These are common issues that come not from the performers, but from poor microphone choices.
The fix is simple: match the mic to the source and the environment. Choirs are best captured with large-diaphragm condensers or overhead microphones. Solo singers should use dynamic or condenser handhelds designed for vocals. For presentations or lectures, headset and lapel mics provide consistent volume without the distraction of handling a microphone. Just as important, you should be careful to position and use microphones properly — because even the best mic won’t perform if it isn’t used the right way.
Right mic + right placement = clarity and control.
5. Skipping Professional Sound System Tuning
You wouldn’t buy a new car and never get the wheels aligned. The same goes for audio systems. The same principle applies to audio systems: no matter how expensive the equipment, it won’t perform at its best without proper tuning. Tuning is the process of aligning the system to the room, making sure every speaker, and devices and settings works together to deliver clear, balanced sound. Skipping this step often means leaving 30–40% of your system’s potential untapped.
The difference is easy to hear. Picture a brand-new auditorium installed with new line-array speakers. The system looks impressive and has plenty of output, but because it was never tuned to the room, certain seats get overwhelming bass while others barely hear any low end at all. Audience members in one section complain it’s too loud, while others can’t make out the words. The gear itself isn’t the problem — it’s the lack of proper system alignment and tuning. Instead of being a tool that enhances the experience, the system becomes a daily frustration.
The solution is straightforward: Tools like Smaart or REW are widely available and allow you to see exactly how your system interacts with the room. If you are not familiar with Audio system tuning, you can always seek the help of an experienced professional. Importantly, tuning isn’t a one-time event — if the venue is remodelled or its acoustics significantly change, the system should be re-checked and adjusted. A properly tuned sound system is easier to mix on, less prone to feedback, and far more enjoyable for the audience. It’s the final step that ensures your investment truly delivers.
Final Thoughts
Great sound isn’t about throwing money at equipment — it’s about smart design, thoughtful choices, and professional setup.
By avoiding these five mistakes — poor speaker placement, ignoring acoustics, skipping zoning, wrong microphones, and skipping tuning — you’ll create an environment where every word and note is heard clearly.
Whether you’re designing for a recording studio, auditorium, or church, the right design ensures your investment pays off for years to come.
📩 Need help designing or upgrading your sound system? Contact us today to get a solution tailored to your spaces