Public announcement horn speakers: when to use them
Horn speakers are the least versatile speaker we stock and the right choice for one job: speech that has to cut through a noisy outdoor site, sometimes over a mile away.
Horn speakers are the least versatile speaker we stock. We recommend them for outdoor use only, and for situations where music does not need to be played through the system. They are best suited to applications where speech announcements need to cut through a noisy environment, such as motor shows or large event sites. Depending on the type, the sound from a horn speaker can travel up to a mile and a half.
Horn speakers were among the first sound reinforcement sources ever made and typically run as a mono system. As technology advanced, other speakers became the popular choice for music and live sound. Tannoy was one of the first producers of horn systems, and the brand name is still often used to describe them.
We stock smaller horn systems for schools and fetes, and large horn speakers for festival sites and campsites.
The benefits of horn speakers
- Low impedance. Multiple speakers can be linked in a line off one amplifier, with cable runs of over a mile between speakers.
- Weatherproof. They are waterproof and in some cases storm-proof.
- Light. They can easily be mounted to existing structures and scaffold.
- Cut-through. Horn speakers sound loud and harsh to the ear, which in an emergency or an important announcement helps the information be heard.
- Inexpensive to hire, thanks to their long life and durability.
See our carbon action rally project for a battery-powered horn system in action, or read our guide to great sound without feedback.
Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote.
