Frequently asked questions

Buying basics

Speakers, subs & spending

• Do I need one speaker or a pair?

  A pair, almost always. One speaker is mono — fine for speeches and small ceremonies, but it won't hold a dance floor and gives you no fallback if a cabinet fails mid-gig. Two tops cover stereo image, roughly double the SPL headroom, and keep the night going if a driver dies.
• Do I need a subwoofer?

  Depends on your music and crowd. House, techno, EDM, hip-hop, or any room over ~100 guests — almost always yes. Speeches, ceremonies, cocktail sets, and small parties under 50 guests — no, a good pair of tops is enough. Quick yes/no test here.
• Should I buy powered or passive speakers?

  Powered, for about 95% of working mobile DJs. The amp is matched to the cabinet, you skip a separate amp rack, and there are no long speaker-cable runs to babysit. Passive still wins for permanent installs and very large touring rigs — both edge cases for a mobile DJ. Full reasoning here.
• Are the prices on this site live?

  No. We never show invented price tags. Retailers update pricing daily, and faking a number here would mislead you. We show editorial tier ranges (Budget / Mid / Premium / High-end) so you can self-disqualify before clicking; the live number is one click away at the retailer.
• How does SpeakerHQ make money?

  Affiliate commission. When you buy through our links, our retail partner pays us a small share of the sale; your price is identical to anyone else's. Every brand we recommend pays the same commission rate, so the picks reflect what fits — not which brand pays the most. Full disclosure here.