How to Tune a PA System: Step-by-Step

TL;DR

Tuning a PA system involves measuring the transfer function between the electrical input and acoustic output at representative listener positions, then using EQ to flatten the response within ±3 dB of the target curve. SonaVyx's guided PA tuning workflow walks you through every step.

Step 1: Baseline Measurement

Play pink noise through the system and capture the transfer function at the mix position.

Step 2: Identify Problems

Look for peaks above +6 dB and nulls below -10 dB. Check coherence — low coherence indicates reflections or noise.

Step 3: Apply EQ

Start with broad corrections (1/3 octave) before fine-tuning. Cut peaks rather than boosting nulls.

Step 4: Verify

Re-measure to confirm improvements. Compare before/after using SonaVyx's comparison mode.