Speaker Angle Calculator (V2)
Built for marching bands and drum corps speaker systems, this tool helps you aim your line array speaker stacks with precision. Enter your setup and target listening point location, and get instant splay angles and diagrams to ensure powerful, even coverage from sideline to stands.
Getting Started
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The Speaker Angle Calculator helps you aim your PA so that both vertical and horizontal coverage line up with your audience in the stands. It’s built for marching band, drum corps, and pageantry setups where stacks sit on carts in front of the front sideline.
It calculates:
How far your stack is from the target listening area
How much vertical angle you need from the bottom speaker up to the top row
The angle of each box in your line array, or the tilt angle for a single speaker
Horizontal toe-in for left/right stacks and how well their patterns overlap at the 50
Basic front-to-back level difference from front row to top row
A print-ready PDF report with text summary and three diagrams (side view, overhead view, and box splay) you can share with your staff
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Measure these elements on-site (in feet unless noted):
How high off the ground your bottom speaker is
– From the ground to the acoustic center of the bottom box / cabinet.How far in front of the front sideline your speaker cart is
– Straight line, perpendicular to the front sideline.Where your target listening point is (usually the judges or center of the press box)
– Horizontal distance from the front sideline
– Height of that location above the groundHow many speaker boxes are in your stack
– For line arrays. (Single-box “point source” options will auto-lock to one cabinet.)What type of speaker you’re using
– Choose the model from the dropdown so the tool can use the correct vertical and horizontal dispersion specs.
OPTIONAL BUT HIGHLY RECOMMENDED MEASUREMENTS
These unlock the advanced coverage and SPL estimates and make the diagrams much more accurate:
Distance between left and right stacks
– Center-to-center spacing between the two carts along the front sideline.Audience width at the 50
– How wide the target audience area is, centered on the 50 (e.g., the width of the main seating block).Front row position
– Distance from the front sideline to the front row
– Height of the front row above the groundTop row position
– Distance from the front sideline to the top row
– Height of the top row above the groundLabeling for your report
– Group / ensemble name
– Show name
– Date of the performance or rehearsal
How To Use
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Choose your speaker model from the dropdown list.
This auto-fills the vertical and horizontal dispersion for that box.
If you pick a single-speaker model (like the DZR series), the tool switches to single speaker mode – box count is locked to 1 and the starting angle field is no longer needed.
Don’t see your speaker? Choose “Custom” and type in the dispersion angles manually.
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Enter Your Stack Info
Bottom Speaker Height Above the Ground
How high the bottom cabinet is off the ground (usually 3–4 ft on a cart).Distance in Front of the Front Sideline
How far the cart is pushed out from the front sideline in feet (measured straight out from the sideline).
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This section applies to line arrays only. For single-speaker models, these values are handled automatically.
Enter the number of line array boxes in your stack.
Enter the starting angle of the bottom box (if you’re using a rig with adjustable tilt).
The calculator uses this plus the required total angle to recommend a splay angle per box and the aiming angle for each cabinet.
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Distance from the Front Sideline to the target audience / judges
– where in the stands you want to hit.Height Above Ground of that listening point
– e.g. 25–40 ft for a typical press box or top of the main bleachers.
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These fields unlock the horizontal coverage and SPL estimates, plus the overhead diagram:
Stack Spacing – distance between the left and right stacks (center-to-center).
Audience Width – how wide the main seating block is, centered on the 50.
Front Row Position – distance and height of the front row above the field.
Top Row Position – distance and height of the top row above the field.
The tool uses this info to show:
How well the horizontal patterns overlap at the center
Recommended toe-in angle for each stack
Whether your vertical window is wide enough from front row to top row
An estimated front-to-back level change (dB)
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Fill in Group / Ensemble Name, Show Name, and Date so the report is tagged for that production.
Click Calculate Angles to generate:
A Field Diagram (side view)
An Overhead Diagram (top view, showing spacing and toe-in)
A Box Splay Diagram (with per-box angles)
A full text summary of angles and coverage.
Click “Open Print-Ready PDF View” to open a multi-page, black-on-white report:
Page 1: text summary and project info
Page 2: field diagram
Page 3: overhead diagram
Page 4: box splay diagram
Use your browser’s “Save as PDF” or Print to download and share with your staff so they can deploy the system exactly the same way every time.
Speaker Angle Calculator V2
Project Details
Field Diagram
Box Splay Diagram
Box numbers and angles are shown inside each cabinet. The red aim line indicates the firing direction of the top box (or single speaker).
Overhead Diagram
Top view of left/right stacks and the center target. Use this for toe-in and spacing decisions.
Leave Us Feedback
Let us know how we can improve the calculator.