PA System

A PA system (public address system) is the collection of speakers, amplifiers, and signal processors that projects the FOH mix to the audience. At a concert, the PA is everything the crowd hears — vocals, instruments, playback, and effects — all balanced and amplified to fill the room.

Components of a concert PA

A typical concert PA includes main speaker arrays (hung or stacked on either side of the stage), subwoofers for low-frequency reinforcement, front fills (smaller speakers along the stage lip for the first rows), delay towers or speakers for deeper venues, amplifier racks powering the speakers, and a system processor managing crossover frequencies and speaker protection.

PA specs in the rider

The technical rider specifies the PA requirements — speaker brand and model preferences, coverage requirements, subwoofer count, and minimum SPL levels. During the advance, the production manager confirms that the venue's PA (or the touring PA) meets the rider specs. Major tours carry their own PA system in the truck. Smaller tours rely on whatever the venue or a local rental company provides.

Venue PA vs. touring PA

Club and theater tours typically use the house PA. Arena and stadium tours carry their own system — tens of thousands of watts and dozens of speaker cabinets designed for the specific show. Festival stages usually provide a PA that all acts share.