Line Array vs Point Source: Choosing the Sound System for Your Corporate Event

For a corporate conference with more than 500 attendees in a standard room, the sound system to use is a compact line array (L-Acoustics Kara, d&b Audiotechnik T-Series or similar). Under 500 attendees, in a room with normal acoustics, a point source system (d&b Audiotechnik Y-Series or Yamaha DXR) is enough and more cost effective.

Line array vs point source, the main difference: a line array spreads sound evenly over long distances, while point source covers a concentrated area. Mobile Event has operated both types of system for clients since 2007.

What is a line array system?

A line array is a set of identical cabinets flown vertically, one under the other, working coherently to spread sound evenly over long distances. The technology rests on coherent interference. Several identical aligned sources create a controlled sound field with narrow vertical dispersion (10 to 20 degrees) and wide horizontal dispersion (90 to 120 degrees).

The main advantage: at double the distance, the SPL (Sound Pressure Level) loss is only 3 dB, against 6 dB for a point source system. That means the back row of a 30 metre room gets the same level as the front row, without blasting the front row.

Mobile Event operates compact line array (up to 8 cabinets per hang) for indoor rooms of 500 to 2,500 attendees. For large outdoor events we add a dedicated sub-array for low frequencies.

What is a point source system?

Point source is a single cabinet (or a stereo pair) with wide dispersion, set up to cover a concentrated area of the room. Unlike a line array, point source uses one driver per frequency band (or 2 for bi-amp) and has wider vertical dispersion (40 to 90 degrees).

Point source advantages: fast setup (usually on stands or ground stacked), lower rental cost, and enough coverage for audiences under 500 in rooms with controlled acoustics.

The Mobile Event inventory includes d&b Audiotechnik Y-Series point source systems, plus Yamaha DXR and RCF alternatives for standard budget projects. All of them pair with dedicated subs for low frequency extension.

Practical differences between line array and point source

• Coverage distance: up to 50 metres for line array, up to 25 metres for point source.

• SPL loss at double the distance: 3 dB for line array, 6 dB for point source.

• Vertical dispersion: 10 to 20 degrees for line array, 40 to 90 degrees for point source.

• Setup time: 2 to 4 hours for line array (rigging needed), 30 minutes to 1 hour for point source.

• Optimal audience: 500+ people for line array, under 500 for point source.

• Event type: large conferences, galas and festivals for line array. Workshops, mid-size conferences and intimate events for point source.

• Relative cost: line array runs 3 to 5 times an equivalent point source rig.

The simple rule: with more than 500 attendees, or a room longer than 25 metres, use line array. Below those limits, point source is enough and more cost effective.

Line array vs point source: how to choose for your event

The questions we ask in the technical brief decide the right answer:

1. How many attendees?

• Under 300: point source, 2 cabinets left and right, plus a sub if you need low end.

• 300 to 500: point source with 4 cabinets (2 per side) or a small line array (4 to 6 cabinets).

• 500 to 1,500: compact line array (6 to 8 cabinets per hang) plus sub-array.

• 1,500 to 2,500: mid line array (8 to 12 cabinets) plus a dedicated sub-array.

• 2,500+: large line array plus delay towers (extra cabinets mid-room for the back rows).

2. What is the room geometry?

• Long room (1:2 ratio or more): line array is mandatory to cover the distance evenly.

• Square or round room: point source with 2 to 4 cabinets in stereo can be enough.

• Room with columns or obstacles: line array with controlled dispersion avoids stray reflections.

3. What kind of audio content?

• Speech only: point source is enough, with 1 or 2 lavalier microphones.

• Speech plus ambient music: compact line array for speech clarity and musical impact.

• Live music (concert, launch with a band): line array is mandatory, plus a sub-array for bass.

4. What is the budget?

Budget decides whether we go point source (cheaper, enough for events under 500 attendees) or line array (a bigger spend, but even coverage for large audiences and long rooms). The difference is not only in equipment cost. It includes rigging, build time, crew size and the amplification needed. Talk to the Mobile Event specialists before you fix the budget. Depending on room geometry, audience and content, we can propose the best value configuration or optimise an existing setup without compromising audio quality.

Typical Mobile Event configurations by scale

Corporate workshop or training (50 to 200 attendees):

• 2x Yamaha DXR12 (point source) on stands.

• 1x Yamaha DXS18 sub for ambient music.

• Yamaha QL1 digital mixer.

• 4x Shure ULX-D wireless microphones (handheld and lavalier).

Mid-size corporate conference (300 to 800 attendees):

• Compact line array, 6x L-Acoustics Kara per hang (left and right).

• 2x L-Acoustics SB18 subs, ground stacked.

• DiGiCo S21 mixer with 32 channel I/O.

• 8x Shure ULX-D plus 4x Sennheiser EW microphones (lavalier, handheld, headset).

Corporate gala or premium launch (800 to 2,000 attendees):

• Mid line array, 10x L-Acoustics K2 per hang (left and right).

• 4x L-Acoustics KS28 flown sub-array.

• DiGiCo SD9 mixer with 64 channel I/O.

• 12x Shure ULX-D plus 8x Sennheiser EW wireless microphones.

• 4x in-ear monitoring packs for speakers and performers.

Outdoor festival (3,000+ attendees):

• Large line array, 14x L-Acoustics K1 per hang (left and right).

• 8x KS28 flown sub-array plus 4x KS28 ground stacked.

• Delay towers at 30 m and 60 m with a secondary line array.

• DiGiCo SD10 or Avid S6L mixer with 128 channel I/O.

Common mistakes when choosing a sound system

In 22 years we have seen 5 mistakes come back again and again:

1. Ordering point source for a large room. The back row cannot hear, the front row is blasted. The result: unhappy attendees and an organiser pushed to raise the volume past the point of distortion.

2. Ordering line array for a small room. The cost is not justified (2 to 3 times more expensive with no audible benefit), and the rigging gets complicated for nothing.

3. Undersized sub-bass. For a gala with live music or a launch with a musical intro, missing sub-bass makes the music sound thin. Always budget 1 sub for every 4 to 6 full-range cabinets.

4. No delay towers in very long rooms. In a room over 40 metres, a single line array does not cover evenly. The fix: a main line array plus delay towers at 20 to 25 metres, time aligned with system software (Lake LM44, BSS BLU-160).

5. Undersized mixer. For a conference with 10+ simultaneous microphones plus 4 audio sources (laptop, video, jingle, ambience), a 16 channel mixer is too small. Use a desk with at least 32 physical channels and expandable I/O.

A note: every event has its own configuration

The information in this guide is general and covers configuration patterns we have tested. Every corporate event is its own case: venue, room geometry, audience, brand message, show moments, budget. A proper technical brief with the Mobile Event team combines our judgement with operational precision to land the configuration your event actually needs. Talk to us before you commit a budget or sign a contract.

Mobile Event audio specifications

Our audio inventory covers:

Indoor line array: L-Acoustics Kara (8 cabinets per hang), L-Acoustics K2 (12 per hang), d&b Audiotechnik T-Series compact.

Outdoor line array: L-Acoustics K1 (12 cabinets per hang), d&b Audiotechnik J-Series for large projects.

Point source: d&b Audiotechnik Y-Series, Yamaha DXR12 and DXR15, RCF HD12 for standard budget projects.

Sub-bass: L-Acoustics SB18 and KS28, d&b Audiotechnik B22, Yamaha DXS18 for point source rigs.

Mixers: DiGiCo SD9, SD12 and S21 for large projects; Yamaha QL1, QL5 and CL5 for mid-size projects.

Microphones: Shure ULX-D (wireless), Sennheiser EW G4 (wireless), Shure SM57 and SM58 (wired), DPA 4099 (instruments).

Every system is run by a dedicated sound engineer who does the line check, room tuning with Smaart or Rational Acoustics, and continuous monitoring throughout the event. Audio processing runs on Lake LM44 for system EQ and delay alignment.

The choice between line array and point source comes down to 4 variables: attendee count, room geometry, audio content and budget. Under 500 people in a normal room, point source. Over 500 people, or a long room, line array. For events with live music or a wanted emotional impact (galas, launches), line array is the standard.

For a standard corporate conference, the configuration that works in 80 percent of cases is a compact line array of 6x L-Acoustics Kara, 2x SB18 subs, a DiGiCo S21 mixer, 8 wireless microphones and a dedicated engineer.

Mobile Event operates 15+ audio systems across every category, calibrated and checked before each event. See our technical production services or request a quote with specifications for your event.