Technical note · public address
PA system design checklist: zones to amplifier size
A practical order for a building PA system: zones, 15 m / 8 m coverage, tap load, amplifier size and fire interface.
SONTRA Project Team·
Read the noteTechnical notes
PA system, conference AV and ballroom sound technical notes.
Design checklists for public address, conference AV and ballroom sound. Each note carries the tables used at concept stage.
8 technical notes1–2 tables per note
Technical notes support design review; they do not replace the project specification or local acceptance requirements.
Technical notes
All technical notes
Technical note · conference AV
Conference room AV checklist: display, speakers & mics
A room-first checklist for conference AV: room data, display size, 1 room layout, speaker placement, microphone count and control.
SONTRA Project Team·
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Technical note · ballroom
Ballroom sound checklist: meeting mode vs banquet mode
A ballroom changes use within a day. This checklist covers 2 acoustic modes, array coverage, subwoofers, wireless RF and event checks.
SONTRA Project Team·
Read the note
Technical note · public address
What is a PA system? Components, zones and selection
A plain-language guide to PA system components: head end, zone matrix, loudspeakers, 100V line, paging, fire interface and selection.
SONTRA Project Team·
Read the note
Technical note · public address
Mixer amplifier selection: power, zones and headroom
How to select a mixer amplifier: count zones, sum tap load, add 1.25–1.5× headroom, check inputs and priority, and confirm fire override.
SONTRA Project Team·
Read the note
Technical note · public address
Ceiling, horn or column speaker: which fits the space?
How to choose between 3 loudspeaker families — ceiling, horn, column, wall and landscape — by room height, noise, reverberation and coverage.
SONTRA Project Team·
Read the note
Technical note · voice alarm
Voice alarm and PAVA systems: EN 54 checks before the quote
What a voice alarm or PAVA system includes, how it differs from a music PA, and the EN 54-16 / EN 54-24 checks to confirm before the quotation.
SONTRA Project Team·
Read the note
Technical note · public address
Speaker spacing & SPL: check coverage before the quote
A practical guide to speaker spacing and sound pressure level: ceiling height, coverage angle, the 15 m and 8 m rules, tap settings and a worked example.
SONTRA Project Team·
Read the noteSections & tables
Section structure and table index
Each note is organised by section: the decision order first, then one or two tables that turn it into checkable inputs.
01 · Note index
Notes and their table count
| Note | Topic | Tables | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| PA system design checklist: zones to amplifier size | Technical note · public address | 2 | 2026-10-28 |
| Conference room AV checklist: display, speakers & mics | Technical note · conference AV | 2 | 2026-10-28 |
| Ballroom sound checklist: meeting mode vs banquet mode | Technical note · ballroom | 2 | 2026-10-28 |
| What is a PA system? Components, zones and selection | Technical note · public address | 2 | 2026-10-28 |
| Mixer amplifier selection: power, zones and headroom | Technical note · public address | 1 | 2026-10-28 |
| Ceiling, horn or column speaker: which fits the space? | Technical note · public address | 1 | 2026-10-28 |
| Voice alarm and PAVA systems: EN 54 checks before the quote | Technical note · voice alarm | 1 | 2026-10-28 |
| Speaker spacing & SPL: check coverage before the quote | Technical note · public address | 1 | 2026-10-28 |
The updated date is the last review date for the page.
02 · Table map
The tables inside each note
| Note | Table 1 | Table 2 |
|---|---|---|
| PA system design checklist: zones to amplifier size | Coverage checks | Commissioning record |
| Conference room AV checklist: display, speakers & mics | Room data | Commissioning record |
| Ballroom sound checklist: meeting mode vs banquet mode | Room modes | Event checklist |
| What is a PA system? Components, zones and selection | Components and responsibilities | Need to system |
| Mixer amplifier selection: power, zones and headroom | Mixer amplifier checklist | |
| Ceiling, horn or column speaker: which fits the space? | Space to speaker family | |
| Voice alarm and PAVA systems: EN 54 checks before the quote | Voice alarm checks | |
| Speaker spacing & SPL: check coverage before the quote | Worked example |
Each table can be used directly in a design-review record.
03 · How to use
Where the notes fit in the design process
| Stage | Use | Output |
|---|---|---|
| Concept | Check the room data and the design rules | Starting equipment schedule |
| Design review | Compare the note’s tables with the project schedule | List of missing inputs and open questions |
| Tender / submittal | Use the checks as a clause list | Clarifications and exclusions |
| Commissioning | Use the test table as a checklist | Record per zone and circuit |
One brief, one combined proposal
Send the building once. Get the whole system back.
Tell us the building type, zones, room sizes, ceiling height, seat or table count, fire interface and any ODM/OEM requirement. Our own factory and system team return one combined proposal: equipment schedule, interface list and open questions.
Reply within 48 hours · drawings welcome · no obligation