Most congregations meet in buildings ranging from cathedral-inspired traditional houses of worship, to small re-purposed store-fronts in malls. Although a congregation is more than the location where it assembles, the acoustics of those rooms determine whether worshipers enjoy and understand both message and music. Excellent church sound system design ensures that listeners will be involved and interested, rather than simply trying to hear.

Most people today have been in spaces with unpleasant amplification issues, and are aware that simply throwing a lot of money at a poor setup may indeed resolve some issues, but can actually end up creating others. Volume may become normal in some parts of a hall, but horrendously loud a few feet away. People using microphones may be loud enough, but impossible to understand. The pulpit speaker might seem disembodied or distorted.

In some rooms, thick carpeting and panels eliminate any trace of echo, while other locations grapple with layers of reverberation. People sitting toward the front might hear the minister easily, but those a few pews back might as well have stayed home. Microphones are not all created equal. Some reproduce human speech well, but when faced with a wide musical frequency range they create muddiness, overtones, and distortion.

Although some members attempt to fix the problem on their own, acoustical fine tuning often requires the help of a professional analyst and designer. Even though most congregations are self-funded, the final cost of a newly-designed audio configuration is only one of the factors critical to choosing a new acoustic setup. Without determining the real causes of problems, spending on speakers or microphones may be wasted.

Good analysis relies on digital electronics for critical measurements, and the human ear for final judgments. Every room has its own unique acoustical footprint, and that can be determined best using specialized audio reference software. Spots that encourage echo or that swallow certain frequencies can be eliminated, creating a dynamic range that is not only aesthetically pleasing, but which is also universally audible.

Many rooms require more than one speaker, and that can create regions where there are acoustic hot or cold spots. When properly balanced and timed, those spaces are eliminated, providing clean signals to every single location. Calibration may be difficult to achieve without the proper equipment, but an experienced consulting and installation firm takes the guesswork out of optimization.

Both music and spoken words are vital to church services, and a system must be able to handle both at the same time. Certain microphones are fine for vocal reproduction, but not for the combo that accompanies the singers, and can create a wall of distorted noise rather than amplifying an inspiring anthem. Choosing speakers because they are on sale can be disappointing, even though budgetary considerations are always important.

After finalizing the equipment choices and room design, professional installation avoids code-breaking electrical errors, while eliminating inductive noise sources. Other important requirements include concealment of intrusive connections and wiring, and making sure that heavy, hanging speakers are safely anchored. After installation, most firms also train selected church members in audio control panel operations.