The 5 Best Speakers for Church Sanctuary

Editor’s Choice

  • SonicGuard protects the high-frequency driver from excess power without interrupting the performance.
  • Non-resonant, all-steel handles are used.
  • An attractive 18-gauge perforated steel grille protects components from damage.

Best Overall

  • Built-in dual-angle pole socket to be stand-mounted at different angles
  • Ergonomically engineered handles for added strength and durability
  • Heavy-duty 16-gauge protective screen for sonic accuracy, structural strength, and professional good looks

Budget-Friendly

  • Patented Radialinear Planar Phase Correction System
  • Full-range inputs include a Neutrik Speakon 4-pin jack and 2 – 1/4″ phone jacks
  • Bi-amp capability via internal wiring jumper

If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best speaker for church sanctuary is, then I’d recommend the Bose F1 812 Model Flexible Array Loudspeaker as the best one.

A church needs to magnify the worship experience of its members. One way of doing this is by upgrading their sound system. Now, God has entrusted you with the resources and the decision to make. So here is an article that will help you choose the best speakers for your church sanctuary. Remember, the best speaker is the one that is built like it’s specifically designed for your church sanctuary. 

Here are the Best Speakers for Church Sanctuary we will be reviewing:

Importance of Having the Best Speakers for Church Sanctuary

Speakers are responsible for creating the sound that everyone is hearing, so they are crucial in a church’s sound system. It needs to work correctly and sound well all the time, for it allows the Word and music to be heard by the whole congregation.

Types of Speakers for Church Sanctuary

Floor standing speakers

Floor-standing speakers, sometimes called tower speakers, are designed to produce a solid, composed, and extensive array of sound enough to fill a large area. A more profound bass is its advantage. Meaning, that it creates a more enhanced bass response.

This speaker’s size and capacity make an immersive full-range sound that is pleasant to the ear even without a subwoofer. Floor-standing speakers have enough bass, midrange driver, treble, and the like. So they tend to be more affordable in the long run.

Bookshelf speakers

These speakers are smaller in size. They can be on a bookshelf or in smaller spaces. So they are more flexible and better for smaller-sized rooms. However, they often produce limited low-end bass because of their small form factor. 

Bookshelf speakers are not always full range, so they don’t always have the best bass response. If you want to amplify its performance, you may want to add a subwoofer or two. But the good thing is, the bass doesn’t always sound good. You don’t always have to have a good bass performance. So this type of speaker enables you to place them where they sound best.

Also, bookshelf speakers are not tall enough to sit on the floor. Of course, you want it to rest quite close to the ear level when you are both seated or standing up. So you may want to add extra costs to your budget if you’re going to put it to the stands.

Choosing the Best Speakers for Church Sanctuary

You don’t just buy the best speaker you think your church needs because it fits your budget or liking. Yes, we all know that a church is more than a building. But it is also essential to find a speaker that matches the size and geometry of your church sanctuary.

Size of the Church Sanctuary

Small Churches

A church is small if its physical size can cater to up to 150 people. So a small church means a small sanctuary as well. Its sanctuary may be approximately 80 sqm in dimension.

Medium to Large Churches

Medium to large churches can fit at least 300 people in one service. These kinds of churches tend to have a bigger sanctuary and elevated central stage. So people seated at the back can still have a good worship experience.

Appropriate Speaker Setup

How many speakers does your church sanctuary need?

A small church needs at least four 100 Watts of full-range speakers to create a quality sound for the whole congregation. So if you have a medium to a large church, you might need to add more.

Where should a speaker be placed in your church sanctuary?

It is also essential to ask for a professional’s advice about this matter. Speaker placement is different for every church, depending on your church’s construction. Other churches have floors, walls, and ceilings that are different from yours. So it is necessary to consider the structure of your church first.

How do I aim my speakers in our church sanctuary?

Aim your speakers in your church sanctuary in a place where the congregation can see the speaker. If people cannot see the speaker, they won’t hear the sound clearly. Place the speakers where there will be no obstructions to the sound it produces. They should also be away from walls and ceilings.

How do you set up the speakers in your church sanctuary?

I would recommend asking for professional help on this. Consult with sound system designers or engineers first. They are the ones responsible for all your speaker’s technical work. They know what best fits your church sanctuary.

How to Choose Speakers for a Church Sanctuary

Consider asking for professional help first in choosing the best speakers. This will help you save a lot of time, money, and stress along the way. In the meantime, here are some points to ponder: 

Location and set-up of the speakers (Positioning guide)

Should your speaker setup be temporary or permanent? What is your church’s style of worship and culture? What is the shape of your church? How are your church ceilings and walls structured? What is your ceiling and wall distance? These are some of the questions you need to consider as well. 

It would also be best to point the speakers to where people are seated. For best all-around coverage, others choose to position their speakers just below standing height. Also, if you have a central stage with a flat floor, you may need to direct your speakers down. 

Room coverage

The number of speakers you need depends mainly on the construction of your church. The larger your church sanctuary is, the larger your sound system will be. Thus, making it more complex and difficult to maintain and handle.

Also, you will have untrained volunteers along the way who will run sounds for your church. Of course, you don’t expect them to know everything about speakers very well. So it is also important to assign people who will be in charge of different tasks around the room. The skill level of the people tasked with operating it should match the designed setup.

Mounting your speakers

In mounting your speakers, study your church’s wall structure first. You don’t want it to break because of how you mounted it or how you positioned it. This also depends on your church’s style of worship or how you do your sermons. You will need people who are good at going up ladders or assembling mounts and stands.

Cables or Wirings

Church sanctuaries should always be visually pleasing. That is why cable and wiring management plays a significant role in your church’s sound system. Also, secured cables and wires can help prevent accidents. They should be nowhere close to the people’s walkways to help prevent accidents like people stumbling across them or electrical shorts. They must be properly secured, organized, and stored in places where they are easily accessed if something goes wrong.

Budget

It is wiser to invest in speakers that you know will meet your church sanctuary’s needs in the future. These speakers may or may not be affordable at this time. Still, you should also consider the amount of money you can save in the long run if you choose something that is audibly and aesthetically perfect for your church sanctuary now. 

Also, allocate a budget that is specifically for professional help only. Spending at least some of the funding for sound system designers or engineers because they know exactly what will work best for your church sanctuary.

Here are the best speakers for the church sanctuary that we recommend. 

Bose F1 812 Model Flexible Array Loudspeaker

Speakers Church Sanctuary

This 1000-watt, full-range floor-standing speaker has nine speakers supported by a lower crossover point than conventional loudspeakers. Even at high volumes, it delivers more explicit, more natural vocals and gives full voice midrange clarity. It also features a 30-cm woofer placed behind an 8-high output array driver that creates quality low bass extension that adds to the clear and powerful sound it produces.

The standalone sound of this Bose F1 812 Model highlights its controllable vertical coverage pattern. Also, it is designed with two audio inputs with independent volume controls and a line-level/mic switch on channel 1.

Pros:

  • It perfectly works with a Bose F1 Subwoofer if you need a more powerful bass.
  • It weighs 44.5 pounds which makes it lightweight
  • Very easy to set up
  • Highly flexible, so you can play around with different configurations so you know what will work best.
  • It makes a clear and decisive but well-balanced sound at any level 

Cons:

  • A flatter sound may be produced when in the full forward configuration
  • It has top and back handles but does not have side handles to make the handling easier

Peavey SP 4 3-Way Dual 15″ Speaker

Speakers Church Sanctuary

The Peavey SP 4 speaker has an ingenious design that improves low-end performance and produces clearer sound in the high-frequency range. This quasi-three-way enclosure has 2 – 15″ Peavey Black Widow speakers, capable of handling up to 4000W peak power, and has field-replaceable baskets for quick, easy repair.

It has a much more efficient crossover that directs low frequencies to both woofers while limiting midrange frequencies to only the top woofer. An RX22 titanium driver that is ferrofluid cooled for maximum tweeter performance and longevity handles upper mids and high frequencies.

Peavey’s exclusive Quadratic Throat Waveguide technology actually reduces horn distortion and aims sound directly at the audience, not over their heads. The aspen hardwood plywood enclosure uses extensive internal bracing that produces a tighter bass response. It’s finished in the durable Hammertex and has heavy-duty handles and kick-back wheels for easy transportation.

Pros:

  • Patented Radialinear Planar Phase Correction System
  • Full-range inputs include a Neutrik Speakon 4-pin jack and 2 – 1/4″ phone jacks
  • Biamp capability via internal wiring jumper
  • Aspen hardwood plywood enclosure
  • Durable Hammertex finish

Cons:

  • It is not portable

JBL Professional JRX215 Portable 2-Way Loudspeaker

Speakers Church Sanctuary

The JBL JRX215 produces a quality sound specifically designed for music in live shows, playbacks, and speech reinforcement. Its extended lows and great top-end create smooth and natural-sounding music that does a great job projecting live vocals and speeches.

Moreover, it features the JBL 2414H-C 1″ polymer diaphragm compression driver that improves system reliability and high-frequency performance. The JBL 1″ low-frequency driver causes excellent efficiency and power handling with a 2.5-inch diameter edge wound ribbon voice coil that is also one of the main highlights of this speaker. 

Pros:

  • SonicGuard protects the high-frequency driver from excess power without interrupting the performance.
  • Non-resonant, all-steel handles are used.
  • An attractive 18-gauge perforated steel grille protects components from damage.
  • Dual-angle pole-mount socket allows the speakers to tilt 10 for more uniform audience coverage
  • Progressive Transition high-frequency waveguide

Cons:

  • You need an amplifier first to produce sound from them
  • Final sound quality will depend on other pieces of equipment you will use

Mackie DRM315-P 3-Way Passive Speaker

Speakers Church Sanctuary

This 3-way passive speaker produces world-class performance with steadfast reliability at the same time. They are specifically designed for live performances in large venues. This speaker is made with a roadworthy, texture-coated 18mm plywood cabinet and a powder-coated heavy-gauge steel grille.

With this Mackie DRM315-P speaker, its maximum transparency is guaranteed because of its 1.4″ titanium diaphragm compression driver. Also, this speaker’s 6.5″ midrange custom high-sensitivity transducer gives you enhanced punch. 

Pros:

  • Its angled design can be used as a stage monitor
  • Has M10 fly points that you can use for vertical orientation
  • Its 15″ high-excursion woofer delivers excellent bass response, sensitivity, and reliability

Cons:

  • No aux or reverb is available

Electro-Voice ZLX-15BT 15″ Powered Loudspeaker

N/A

The 15″ woofer and 1.5″ high-frequency titanium compression driver speaker is designed for House of Worship, Pro Music, and other applications, making it #20 in Powered Speaker Cabinets. This speaker can perform beyond your expectations with enough sound reinforcement.

Electro-Voice is known for its speakers’ clarity. So a small speaker like ELX115P, it does its job of creating great sounds even at high volumes. It also features components optimized for use with its integrated high efficiency. With its versatile input and output options, it is surprisingly easy to connect and control.

Pros:

  • Lightweight and easy to carry
  • Works well with a subwoofer or two 
  • A single elevated speaker can produce quality sound for a 20×60-foot walled yard with enough sound reinforcement

Cons:

  • Lacks in bass
  • Can cost you additional expense if you prefer to use it with subwoofers
  • Its thin grill on the front can cause a slight dent 
  • Fresh out-of-the-box speakers may not have a pleasing smell

Conclusion

Let’s admit it, a church’s sound system plays a vital role in providing a great worship service for church members and even first-timers. Thus, speakers magnify people’s worship experience. The best speakers for your church sanctuary should be worth every cent that the people give tithes for. After all, God provides if one abides. He knows exactly what your church needs, so I suggest you pray about it first.

Overall, I would recommend the Bose F1 812 Model Flexible Array Loudspeaker for your church sanctuary. Not only does it provide the best sound coverage, but it is also highly flexible and can surely cater to your needs as a church member. This Bose speaker would undoubtedly elevate your worship experience and will surely be future-proof.

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Alex Shute
EDITOR
Alex Shute, MBA
Alex is a family man and entrepreneur based in Los Angeles. His passion is to serve the global Church and bring people of diverse backgrounds together to learn & grow.


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