Loudspeaker and Headphone Handbook, 3rd Edition

 

10	Sound reinforcement and public address
	Peter Mapp

10.1 Introduction

Sound reinforcement and public address form two different applications for loudspeaker technology, but they have enough in common to enable them to be discussed together. Sound reinforcement, as its name suggests, has to do with the boosting and distribution of live or natural sound and is usually connected with observable events in theatres, conferences, churches, auditoria, lecture rooms, etc. The term public address (PA) can be taken to include all sound systems in which there is no live sound, or observable natural event to reinforce, such as paging, general and emergency announcements in airports, railway stations, shopping and leisure centres, stadia, industrial ...