How should you set up your sound system in 2026?

Type of sound system:

• Comfort (background music + calls + messages)

• Safety (Evacuation – EN 54 certification)

The venue to be sound-engineered:

Shops, restaurants, places of worship, schools, supermarkets, shopping centres, care homes, swimming pools, stadiums…

Building specifications:

Floor area, partitioning, height, suspended ceiling, ambient noise, reverberation (echo)

The venue to be fitted with a sound system:

Shops, restaurants, places of worship, schools, supermarkets, shopping centres, care homes, swimming centres, stadiums…

Building specifications:

Floor area, partitioning, height, suspended ceiling, ambient noise, reverberation (echo)

CHOOSING SPEAKERS

The type of audio content determines which speakers to use: standard speakers for simple voice messages, or speakers with a wide frequency response to reproduce high-quality background music.

Typical loudspeakers:

• The built-in or suspended speaker is notable for its ease of use.

• Wall-mounted speakers generally offer more power than in-wall speakers.

• The sound projector is most often used outdoors or because it is waterproof.

• The acoustic column prioritises range and reverberation.

CHOOSING AN AMPLIFIER

The amplifier’s power is generally determined by the total power of the loudspeakers used in the area to be covered. It is also possible to broadcast several messages simultaneously in different locations, allowing each zone to remain independent.

TYPICAL AMPLIFIERS

• The mixer-amplifier handles the majority of standard sound systems and is easy to use.

• A power amplifier is most often used to supplement a system in order to achieve the desired power output.

• The matrix amplifier is designed for multi-zone and multi-source use in venues such as shopping centres and hotels.

READERS’ CHOICE FOR MULTIMEDIA PLAYERS

In addition to the system itself, the modulation sources (tuner, MP3, USB, SD or Bluetooth) allow background music or radio to be played if required (ER-100CVB, IR-100).

These modulation sources are only added if the amplifier does not offer this type of function.

CHOOSING A MICROPHONE

The choice of microphone depends on its intended use, namely whether it is for an event, a speech, a phone call or locating someone.

Any type of microphone is generally compatible with most amplifiers, preamps, mixers, etc.

TYPICAL MICROPHONES: WIRED OR WIRELESS

• Wireless microphones are generally used for entertainment or singing, as they make it easier to move around.

• Wired microphones are most commonly used for speeches and lectures in multi-purpose halls or town halls, for example.

• The public address microphone enables voice calls and messages (shops, shopping centres).

• The public address and multi-zone microphone system enables announcements and paging in large areas.

SPEAKER CONNECTION CABLES

The rules to follow!

The cable cross-section depends on the power of the speakers connected to the line, as well as the length of the line

Il faut également savoir que le câblage des haut-parleurs sur une ligne 100V entraîne une perte de la puissance tout au long de la ligne. Cependant, cette perte de niveau ne se ressent pratiquement pas à l’oreille.  

It is also important to note that wiring the speakers to a 100V line results in a loss of power along the line. However, this drop in volume is virtually imperceptible to the ear.