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Not every event needs a subwoofer.
For speeches, presentations and background music, a pair of full-range speakers may provide everything you need.
But when music becomes a major part of the event, particularly when there’s a dance floor, dedicated subwoofers can make a noticeable difference.
So when should you add subwoofers to an Electro-Voice PA?
The answer depends less on the number of people attending and more on what you want the sound system to do.
What does a subwoofer actually do?
A subwoofer is a loudspeaker designed specifically to reproduce the lower frequencies in music.
A full-range speaker has to reproduce a much wider range of frequencies, from low bass through to the midrange and high frequencies.
Adding a subwoofer gives the system a dedicated low-frequency section.
This is particularly useful for music containing significant bass energy, such as dance music, electronic music, hip-hop and many styles of modern pop.
It can also be valuable for live music where kick drums, bass guitars and other low-frequency instruments are an important part of the performance.
Do you need a subwoofer?
For many events, no.
A pair of full-range speakers can be perfectly suitable for:
- Speeches
- Presentations
- Conferences
- Wedding ceremonies
- Background music
- Smaller gatherings
- General announcements
Adding subwoofers to these types of events may simply introduce additional equipment without providing a meaningful benefit.
The situation changes when the event is music-focused.
When subwoofers start to make sense
Subwoofers become more useful when you need:
- Stronger bass
- More low-frequency impact
- A high-energy dance floor
- Greater low-end output for a DJ
- More substantial live music reproduction
- A larger music-focused PA
- More headroom from the overall system
For these applications, the subwoofer isn’t simply making the system louder.
It is giving the lowest frequencies their own dedicated part of the system.
Subwoofers for DJs
DJ events are one of the clearest examples.
A DJ playing background music at a small function doesn’t necessarily need subwoofers.
But once the objective is a proper dance floor, low-frequency performance becomes much more important.
Kick drums and bass lines provide much of the physical energy people associate with a dance-focused sound system.
A pair of full-range speakers can reproduce bass, but adding dedicated subwoofers allows the system to devote more of its resources to the low end.
For larger or higher-energy DJ events, this can make a significant difference.
Explore Audio Hire for DJs in Adelaide.
Subwoofers for weddings
Wedding receptions can vary enormously.
A reception consisting mainly of speeches and background music may not require subwoofers.
A reception with a DJ, packed dance floor and several hours of dancing is a different proposition.
If the dance floor is an important part of the evening, dedicated subwoofers can provide the low-frequency impact that helps make the PA feel like a proper music system rather than simply a pair of speakers playing music.
The important thing is to choose the system around the reception rather than assuming every wedding requires the same equipment.
Read the Wedding Audio Hire guide.
Subwoofers for parties
The same principle applies to parties.
Ask what role the music plays.
If people are mainly talking, eating and socialising with music in the background, full-range speakers may be enough.
If the room is going to turn into a dance floor, the requirements change.
For a larger party where music is central, an EV system with dedicated subwoofers can provide a more substantial low-frequency experience.
Explore Sound System Hire Adelaide.
Subwoofers for live music
Live music can benefit from subwoofers too.
Kick drums, bass guitars, keyboards and other instruments can contain substantial low-frequency energy.
A full-range PA can reproduce these frequencies, but dedicated subwoofers can provide greater low-frequency output and allow the main speakers to concentrate on the rest of the frequency range.
Whether you actually need them depends on:
- Number of performers
- Musical style
- Audience size
- Venue
- Stage size
- Desired volume
- Amount of bass in the music
A small acoustic duo and a full rock band shouldn’t be treated as the same PA requirement.
What happens when you add subwoofers?
Adding subwoofers doesn’t simply mean “more bass”.
A properly configured system divides the work between the main speakers and the subwoofers.
The subwoofers handle the lowest frequencies while the full-range speakers reproduce the rest of the program.
This can provide:
- Greater low-frequency output
- More headroom
- A fuller sound
- Greater impact from kick drums and bass
- A more capable music system
The crossover and DSP settings are important because the main speakers and subwoofers need to work together.
Simply placing a subwoofer next to a speaker and connecting it doesn’t guarantee a good result.
Do subwoofers make speech better?
Usually, no.
Speech intelligibility is primarily concerned with the frequencies that make voices understandable.
Deep bass isn’t normally what makes a speech clear.
For a speech-focused event, your priorities should generally be things such as:
- Good microphones
- Appropriate speaker placement
- Suitable speaker height
- Even audience coverage
- Correct system levels
- Feedback control
A subwoofer isn’t a substitute for any of these.
If you’re organising an event where speeches are important, explore Microphone Hire Adelaide.
How many subwoofers do you need?
There isn’t one universal answer.
For some applications, a single subwoofer can provide useful additional low-frequency reinforcement.
For larger systems and larger audiences, two subwoofers can provide greater output and a more balanced system.
Audio Hire’s larger EV configuration uses dedicated subwoofers as part of the overall PA system.
The number required depends on the event, venue and required output.
Do you need subwoofers outdoors?
Outdoor events can create different challenges from indoor events.
Inside a room, walls and other surfaces can reinforce certain frequencies.
Outside, there are fewer boundaries to contain the sound.
This doesn’t automatically mean you need subwoofers, but outdoor music events can benefit from additional low-frequency capability when strong bass is part of the objective.
The overall system still needs to be sized according to the event and audience.
Are bigger subwoofers always better?
No.
As with main speakers, more equipment isn’t automatically better.
A large subwoofer system at a small event can be unnecessary and may create more problems than it solves.
The objective is to provide enough low-frequency output for the event without overwhelming the space or adding equipment that isn’t needed.
A good system should feel balanced.
You want the bass to support the music, not dominate it.
Full-range speakers vs speakers and subwoofers
A simple way to think about the difference is:
|
Full-range speakers |
Full-range speakers + subwoofers |
|
Speeches |
DJ events |
|
Presentations |
Dance floors |
|
Ceremonies |
Larger parties |
|
Background music |
Bass-heavy music |
|
Smaller gatherings |
Larger music events |
|
General-purpose PA |
Live music requiring more low-end |
This isn’t a strict rule.
A pair of full-range speakers can handle music extremely well, and some smaller music events won’t benefit enough from subwoofers to justify them.
The question is what the event actually requires.
What about the Electro-Voice EKX-15P?
Audio Hire’s Electro-Voice EKX-15P is a 15-inch powered full-range speaker.
It can provide substantial output and low-frequency performance without requiring a separate subwoofer for every application.
That’s useful because it gives you a capable PA without automatically adding another layer of equipment.
When the event requires more low-frequency output, dedicated subwoofers can then be added as part of a larger system.
View the 2 × 1500 Watt 15” Speaker Package.
What about the Electro-Voice ZLX-12 G2?
The ZLX-12 G2 is a more compact 12-inch powered loudspeaker.
It’s a useful option for smaller and more general-purpose applications where portability and simplicity are important.
Read the Electro-Voice ZLX-12 G2 guide.
If you’re deciding between the ZLX-12 G2 and EKX-15P, our 12-inch vs 15-inch speaker guide explains the broader differences.
How do you know if your event needs subwoofers?
Start with these questions:
Is there a dance floor?
If yes, subwoofers are worth considering.
Is a DJ providing the music?
If the DJ is expected to create a high-energy dance floor, dedicated low-frequency reinforcement can be useful.
Is live music being performed?
Consider the number of performers, instruments and expected volume.
Is the event mainly speeches and presentations?
You probably don’t need subwoofers.
Is music simply background entertainment?
Full-range speakers may be all you need.
Is bass an important part of the experience?
If yes, a subwoofer system is worth considering.
You don’t need to work it out yourself
Choosing a PA shouldn’t require you to understand every specification on every speaker.
Tell Audio Hire what you’re organising, where it’s happening, approximately how many people are attending and what you want the sound system to do.
We’ll help you work out whether you need full-range speakers alone or a system with dedicated subwoofers.
Or browse Speaker Hire Adelaide to see the current speaker options.
More Electro-Voice information
This article forms part of the Audio Hire Electro-Voice resource.
The Electro-Voice Speakers Adelaide guide will provide the central starting point for the EV range once published, with supporting articles covering speaker selection, setup, microphones, subwoofers and different event applications.