Active Speaker Hire

Active Speaker Hire Auckland — Professional Powered Speakers for Events

Edwards Sound has been supplying professional audio equipment to Auckland events since the 1960s. Our active speaker hire range covers everything from a single compact 8" cabinet for a meeting room presentation to large-format dual-15" and dual-18" cabinets for concerts and high-energy productions. Every speaker in the fleet is professional-grade equipment — the same brands and models used by touring productions, installed venues, and production crews across New Zealand and internationally.

Active speakers — where the amplifier is built into the cabinet — are the standard choice for event hire because they are faster to deploy, require fewer cables, and deliver consistent and predictable results without external amplifiers or crossovers to configure. Plug in, connect your source, and the system is ready.

Choosing the Right Speaker for Your Event

The right speaker depends on four things: audience size, room or site type, event content, and how much of the setup you want to handle yourself.

For speech-primary events — presentations, conferences, ceremonies, and assemblies — a matched pair of full-range active speakers covers most rooms comfortably without a subwoofer. Clear vocal intelligibility, even coverage, and a clean professional appearance are what matter here.

For music events — DJ nights, live bands, corporate parties, and outdoor concerts — adding a powered subwoofer changes the character of the system entirely. Bass frequencies fill the space, the full-range tops are relieved of low-frequency work they are not optimised to handle at high levels, and the overall sound is cleaner and more physical at the same volume.

For very small events, meeting rooms, and boardrooms — where a 12" speaker would be disproportionate — the compact 8" cabinets deliver professional quality in a package that does not dominate the room.

If you are unsure which system suits your event, contact our hire team. A short conversation about your audience size, room dimensions, and event content is usually all that is needed to land on the right recommendation.

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Our Active Speaker Hire Range

Audiocenter GT508A — 8" Active Speaker with Built-In Mixer Hire code: GT508A

The compact self-contained option. A microphone and a laptop connect directly to the GT508A's built-in two-channel mixer with no external mixer required — the XLR Mix Output chains the combined signal to a second cabinet. Fast, simple, and clean for small events up to 80 to 100 people.

DAS Audio VANTEC-12A — 12" Active Speaker Hire code: VANTEC12A

Edwards NZ's preferred general-purpose speaker. 1,500W peak, 135dB SPL, FIR DSP with DAScontrol presets, Bluetooth HD streaming, rigging points for flown positions, and a current professional appearance that suits client-visible events. A pair with a subwoofer covers 300 to 500 people for general events.

DAS Audio VANTEC-215A — Dual 15" Active Speaker Hire code: VANTEC215A

The most powerful point-source speaker in the fleet. Two 15" drivers plus 1" compression driver, 2,250W peak, 138dB SPL, and bass extension to 40Hz — full-range performance without a subwoofer for most music applications. The step up when a 12" is not enough and the EVENT line array is more than the event requires.

DAS Audio VANTEC-18A — Active 18" Subwoofer Hire code: VANTEC18A

The matched subwoofer for the VANTEC range. 2,000W peak, 134dB SPL, 30Hz extension, DAS 18LX long-excursion driver, variable crossover from 80 to 125Hz. The right addition when music is the priority and bass weight matters.

DAS Audio EVENT-218A — Dual 18" Active Subwoofer Hire code: EVENT218A

The largest and most powerful subwoofer in the fleet. 3,600W peak, 140dB SPL, 32Hz extension. Used in the Edwards EVENT28-5 through EVENT28-9 line array packages. Available individually for custom large-event configurations, concert productions, and DJ systems requiring maximum bass output. Ground placement only — never flown.

Matched PA Packages

If you need a complete system rather than individual components, Edwards offers matched PA packages that combine speakers, subwoofers, and a mixer in a single hire — pre-configured, tested, and ready to connect. Browse the PA system hire range for the VANTEC12M, VANTEC1218, VANTEC6K, VANTEC6K2, and CONVERT8K packages, or the EVENT series line array packages for larger productions.

Frequently Asked Questions — Active Speaker Hire

Do I need a subwoofer? For speech events — conferences, ceremonies, presentations — usually no. A matched pair of full-range speakers covers the room cleanly for vocals and background music without a sub. For music events — DJ, live bands, parties, and outdoor concerts — a subwoofer adds the bass weight and physical presence that makes music events feel right. If music is part of the programme and the brief involves dancing or high energy, hire the sub.

Can I connect a microphone and music source without a separate mixer? The Audiocenter GT508A has a built-in two-channel mixer that handles exactly this — microphone on Channel A, music source on Channel B, no external mixer required. For any other speaker in the fleet a mixer is needed if you want to blend multiple sources. Edwards can supply a mixer alongside any speaker hire — from a compact analogue desk to a full professional digital console.

Can active speakers be used outdoors? Yes — outdoor events are one of the most common applications for the fleet. Weather protection, correct placement, and aiming are the key considerations. The VANTEC range and larger DAS cabinets are used regularly on outdoor corporate events, school sports days, markets, and concerts. Contact us for guidance on outdoor placement and any weather protection requirements specific to your event.

How do I know if a speaker is powerful enough for my room or site? Audience size is a starting point but room acoustics, ceiling height, whether the audience is seated or standing, and event content all affect the answer. The coverage guides on each individual product page give a realistic range with the caveat that actual results vary with conditions. When in doubt, contact the hire team — we ask a few questions about the space and event and recommend accordingly. Hiring slightly more system than you think you need is almost always better than arriving with something underpowered.

Are these speakers easy to operate for non-technical users? The DAS Audio VANTEC range and Audiocenter GT508A are designed to be straightforward — connect, select a preset, set levels. Edwards also supplies setup instructions with every hire and the team is available by phone during the event if anything unexpected comes up. For events where you would rather have someone else handle the technical side entirely, Edwards can quote delivery and setup by one of our technicians.

Contact our hire team at (09) 571 0551 or hire@edwardsnz.co.nz for advice on the right system for your event, or browse the full audio visual hire range for complete system packages.

Please note: Prices as shown are the cost to hire the equipment only. Delivery, pickup and technical support, if required, are calculated at check out.