Sound hire gives you the speakers, mixing desk, microphones, cables and a technician to make sure everyone at your event can hear the speeches, the music and the announcements. A 40-person lounge party needs one pair of speakers and a wireless microphone; a 500-person year-end function or festival needs a larger PA, monitors and someone who watches the levels all evening. Tell us the venue, the number of guests, whether it is indoors or outdoors and what will be amplified, and sound companies near you send a quote directly.
Sizing a PA to your crowd
The right system depends on the room and the content, not only the head count. As a rough guide:
- Up to 50 people: two powered speakers on stands and one or two microphones, for speeches and background music.
- 50 to 200 people: a pair of full-range tops, a subwoofer if there is dancing, a small mixing desk and four to six inputs.
- 200 to 500 people: a larger line-up with delay speakers for a long tent or hall, stage monitors and a dedicated operator.
- 500 and up: a full concert-style rig, often quoted together with stage hire.
Outdoor events need more power than indoor ones because the sound has nothing to bounce off, and a tent with open sides swallows bass.
Microphones, music and the technician
Say what will actually go through the system. A handheld wireless microphone suits the MC and speeches; a headset or lapel microphone frees a speaker's hands; a lectern microphone suits a conference. Live bands need one input per instrument and a monitor mix so they can hear themselves. If a DJ is booked, ask whether they bring their own speakers so you do not pay for two systems. A technician is worth the extra cost: they set up, do a sound check before guests arrive, fix feedback, and keep the volume steady between a quiet speech and a loud dance floor.
Noise limits, curfews and power
Most municipalities and many estates and wine farms have noise by-laws, and a common limit is a cut-off between 22:00 and 23:00 on weeknights and a little later on Saturdays. Check with your venue and municipality before you promise a late party, and ask the supplier whether they carry a decibel meter. Power matters too: a large PA can draw several kilowatts, so confirm the venue's supply, or ask for a generator and cables, particularly if load shedding is a risk. Your supplier should also cover cables across walkways with mats, so nobody trips.
What affects the price
Sound hire is priced per day or per event, not per guest. Cost rises with the size of the system, the number of microphones, the technician's hours, delivery distance and setup time. A basic system for a small function starts around R1,500, and larger systems with an operator run to R15,000 or more. Compare quotes on the same basis: speakers and wattage, number of microphones, whether a technician stays all event, overtime rates and the damage deposit. Pair it with lighting and LED screen hire to get one supplier for the whole production.
What to include in your request
- Event type, date, start and end times
- Venue, indoors or outdoors, and the guest numbers
- What goes through the system: speeches, music, a band
- Number and type of microphones needed
- Curfew, power supply and whether you need a technician
Sound Hire for different events
- Weddings and traditional ceremonies: speakers and wireless microphones for the ceremony, speeches and first dance, plus music in the tent
- Corporate functions and year-end parties: a clean PA with lectern and headset microphones for awards, launches and year-end functions
- Conferences, launches and expos: lectern, panel and handheld microphones, a mixing desk and an operator to manage the room and recordings
- Birthdays and private parties: a small system for speeches and a playlist at a 21st, 40th or garden party
- Kids' parties and baby showers: a speaker and a microphone for the entertainer, party games and music
- School events and matric dances: a hall or field PA for prize-givings, matric dances, assemblies and sports days
- Funerals, church and cultural gatherings: church, funeral and unveiling sound with microphones for the speakers and a hymn playlist
- Festivals, markets and sports days: a full-range rig with monitors and a technician for bands, markets and outdoor concerts
Frequently asked questions
How much does sound hire cost in South Africa?
Do I need a technician or can I run the sound myself?
How loud can I play music at my event?
Will the sound system work during load shedding?
Sound Hire by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg