You’ll get the best sound from a hired PA system by choosing the right speakers, positioning them correctly, using high-quality microphones, and having an experienced AV technician fine-tune the audio for your venue. 

Most people only notice sound when it goes wrong. A muffled keynote. A microphone that keeps dipping. That hollow echo you can’t unhear. In London’s busy conference rooms, hotel suites, and exhibition spaces, a hired PA system can either lift your event… or quietly unravel it.

The good news? You don’t need to be a sound engineer to make it work beautifully. You just need the right approach and a few insider habits that AV teams rely on every day. 

These eight expert tips will help your hired PA system deliver clarity, consistency, and confidence from the first word to the last. 

CHOOSE A PA SYSTEM SIZED FOR THE ROOM, NOT JUST THE AUDIENCE

Match your PA system to the room’s acoustics and layout to prevent weak sound, echo, or overpowering volume. 

London venues vary wildly: glass meeting rooms in Shoreditch, carpeted ballrooms in Westminster, and open foyers in Canary Wharf. Each one behaves differently. A PA system that’s perfect for 80 guests in a lecture theatre may struggle in a wide exhibition hall. 

A well-sized system ensures speech carries comfortably to the back row without blasting the front. When booking, ask your AV partner to recommend the right wattage and speaker type for the room, not just the expected headcount. 

Use High-Quality Microphones For Natural, Clear Speech

Better microphones instantly improve clarity and reduce feedback issues. Your PA system is as strong as the microphone you feed into it. For corporate events, stick with the following:

• Lapel mics for presenters on the move.
• Headset mics for workshops and training. 
• Wireless handhelds for Q&As and audience interaction.

Cheap mics create harsh highs and muddy lows, especially noticeable during panel discussions. A professional microphone gives you clean, balanced speech that’s easier to listen to for long periods.

POSITION SPEAKERS AWAY FROM MICROPHONES TO PREVENT FEEDBACK

Place speakers in front of microphones and raise them above head height for clean, even sound coverage. 

Most audio issues come from poor placement, not poor equipment. Keep speakers in front of presenters, not behind them, angle them inward, and raise them so sound travels above the audience. 

Large rooms may need additional fill speakers to cover side sections. Exhibition halls might require tighter coverage to avoid sound spilling into neighbouring stands.

Good placement means fewer surprises

ALWAYS HAVE A DEDICATED AV TECHNICIAN FOR REAL-TIME CONTROL 

A technician manages levels, prevents feedback, and responds instantly to audio changes. Corporate events move fast. Panellists swap seats, presentations switch laptops, and hybrid guests join mid-session. A technician monitors:

• Gain levels. 
• Mic handling noises. 
• Different laptop audio outputs. 
• Audience noise changes. 
• Live stream and room feed balance. 

This is essential for AGMs, conferences, product launches, and hybrid events where clarity matters. 

DO A PROPER SOUND CHECK USING REAL DIALOGUE 

Use natural speaking lines during sound check to detect issues that scripted tests miss. 

“Testing 1–2–3” does not reveal breath pops, low-end rumble, or sharp consonants. Instead, ask your speakers to run a few lines from their actual script or notes. 

This helps the technician adjust:

• EQ for voice tone. 
• Volume balance. 
• Compression for consistency. 
• De-essing for sharp “S” sounds. 

The result? A warmer, more natural voice that carries without strain. 

KEEP THE SIGNAL CHAIN SIMPLE AND STABLE 

The fewer unnecessary devices you add, the cleaner and more reliable your PA output becomes. Corporate events often mix laptops, video switchers, Zoom feeds, and presentation decks: complexity invites noise and failure. 

A clean signal chain includes:

• Balanced XLR cables.
• Direct mic-to-mixer routing.
• Minimal adapters.
• A stable digital mixer with presets.

It lowers the risk of unexpected hums, crackles, and sudden dips.

PREPARE SEPARATE AUDIO FOR HYBRID OR LIVESTREAM EVENTS

Hybrid events need a dedicated audio feed for virtual attendees to ensure clarity and balance.

If your event includes remote guests or a live broadcast, your PA system should integrate seamlessly with your livestream setup. You’ll need:

• A separate clean feed (aux send).
• Backup routing.
• Audio delay management.
• Remote monitoring.

This avoids the “in-room is too loud, online is too quiet” problem.

CONSIDER THE ROOM’S NATURAL ACOUSTICS BEFORE YOU SET UP

Every room reflects, absorbs, or amplifies sound differently; plan your setup around it. London venues include modern glass suites, traditional halls, underground spaces, and open exhibition floors; each introduces its own acoustic personality.

Common behaviours:

• Glass rooms: reflections + sharp highs.
• Carpeted spaces: softer, warmer sound.
• High ceilings: reverb build-up.
• Conference halls: long throw needed.
• Exhibition stands: overspill risk.

Your AV team can tune EQ, adjust speaker angles, and add fill speakers to adapt to any of these.

PA SYSTEM ESSENTIALS FOR DIFFERENT EVENT TYPES

Here’s a quick guide to what tends to work best in each format:

CONCLUSION 

Great sound does not draw attention to itself; it simply lets your event run smoothly. With the right equipment, careful placement, proper testing, and a skilled technician, a hired PA system becomes invisible in the best possible way. The message lands. The audience stays engaged. The room feels effortless. 

If you are planning an event in London, our AV team can help shape every detail, from the first brief to the final cue, with dependable PA system hire, smart technical support, and quick response times from our Central London hub. 

FAQs:

HOW DO I KNOW WHAT SIZE PA SYSTEM I NEED FOR MY EVENT?

Most people guess based on guest numbers, but the room matters more than the headcount. A glass meeting suite in Shoreditch needs a different setup than a carpeted ballroom in Westminster. A good AV team will size the system for the shape and behaviour of the room, not just the number of chairs.

WHAT’S THE BIGGEST CAUSE OF BAD SOUND AT CORPORATE EVENTS?

Poor speaker placement. One speaker too low, too close, or pointing the wrong way can undo everything. Good placement solves 80% of the problems before the technician even touches a mixer.

SHOULD I TEST MICROPHONES BEFORE GUESTS ARRIVE?

Yes, but use real speech, not “testing, testing”. A few lines from the actual script reveal things a standard test never will: breath pops, sharp consonants, or low-end rumble. That’s the stuff that ruins clarity when the room fills up.

WHAT’S THE IDEAL MICROPHONE TYPE FOR PRESENTERS?

It depends on the presenter, not the system.

• Confident speakers: lapel mic
• Moving speakers: headset mic
• Guests who forget they’re holding something: wireless handheld
• A good choice protects you from last-minute surprises.

WHY DOES THE SOUND CHANGE WHEN THE ROOM FILLS WITH PEOPLE?

Bodies absorb sound. An empty room behaves one way; a full room behaves another. That’s why your technician will often do a second tweak once the audience settles. It’s not overkill; it’s how you keep clarity from start to finish.

CAN A PA SYSTEM REDUCE ECHO IN LARGE VENUES?

It can manage echo, not eliminate it. High ceilings, glass walls, and long corridors create reflections. A smart setup, speaker angles, EQ adjustments, and additional fill speakers help guide sound forward instead of letting it bounce back.

WHAT SHOULD I PREPARE BEFORE THE AV TEAM ARRIVES?

Just the essentials:

• Room layout.
• Number of presenters.
• Mic preferences.
• Agenda timings.
• Laptop models.

Give these to your AV team early, and your setup becomes smoother, faster, and far less stressful.

HOW EARLY SHOULD I BOOK MY PA SYSTEM IN LONDON?

For weekdays, a few days are usually fine. For conferences, exhibitions, AGMs, or anything in Central London during peak season… the earlier the better. Popular dates fill quickly, and last-minute bookings rely on stock availability.