As a rule of thumb, Alquiaudio allows 6 to 12 watts per person indoors and 15 to 25 outdoors, adding subwoofers from 100 people if there is dancing.
Why don’t watts tell the whole story?
Because power tells you what a speaker can deliver, not how well the sound will reach the back row.
We have seen 2,000 W systems sound worse than a well-placed 800 W one. What shapes the experience is coverage (sound reaching everyone), speech clarity and the absence of distortion. That said, watts are a useful first reference for sizing a system.
How many watts do you need by audience size?
These are the set-ups we install most often, with their approximate power.
Outdoors the figures almost double because there are no walls or ceiling to reflect the sound. And if it is windy, it is better to spread more speakers around than to turn two up.
| Audience | Indoors | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 50 people | 500–800 W | 1,000–1,500 W |
| 50–100 people | 800–1,500 W | 1,500–2,500 W |
| 100–250 people | 1,500–3,000 W with subwoofer | 3,000–4,500 W with subwoofers |
| 250–500 people | 3,000–4,500 W | 4,500–6,000 W with columns |
What changes with dancing versus speeches only?
Dancing needs subwoofers; for speeches only, intelligibility matters more than power.
Speech only
A 150-person ceremony is covered with two 12″ speakers and a good mic. Adding power doesn’t improve speech; placing the speakers in front of the speaker and setting the EQ does.
Background music
Several speakers at low volume beat two at full blast. Guests can talk and the music reaches every table equally.
Dancing
From about 100 people dancing, an 18″ subwoofer makes all the difference. With two, the floor feels full without raising the overall volume.
How do you know what your event needs?
The quickest way is to tell us the date, town, guests and space: within an hour we tell you the exact set-up.
With photos of the venue we can see where to put the speakers and how many sockets there are. You can ask via the Alquiaudio quote form or see full set-ups on sound equipment hire in Barcelona.