Sound Delay Calculator

Speaker delay timing from distance for outdoor performances.

Main PA to listener (m)

Delay speaker to listener (m)

Main PA to delay speaker (m)

Air temperature (°C)

Haas offset (ms)

Tab to move between fields

Required delay (ms)

82.8

Delay (samples @ 48kHz)

3,974

Delay (samples @ 44.1kHz)3,651

Delay (samples @ 96kHz)7,949

Speed of sound (m/s)343.42

Main PA travel time (ms)87.36

Delay spkr travel time (ms)14.56

Main PA SPL drop (dB)29.54

Wavelength at 100 Hz (m)3.43

Wavelength at 1 kHz (m)0.34

Main To Delay Time Ms72.8

Wavelength4k Hz0.09

How to Use This Calculator

Enter the distance from the main PA speakers to the listener position near the delay speaker (m).
Input the distance from the delay speaker to its nearest listeners (m).
Enter the distance from main PA to the delay speaker location (m).
Set the ambient air temperature (°C) so speed-of-sound is calculated accurately.
Review the Delay Time (ms) to program into your audio processor for time-aligned sound.

How the result changes with Main PA to listener (m)

Main PA to listener (m): Distance from the main PA speakers to the listener position near the delay speaker.
Delay speaker to listener (m): Distance from the delay speaker to its nearest listeners.
Main PA to delay speaker (m): Distance from main PA to the delay speaker location.
Air temperature (°C): Ambient temperature — sound travels faster in warmer air.
Haas offset (ms): Extra delay so the ear perceives the main PA as the source (5-20 ms typical).

Required delay (ms): Electronic delay to apply to the delay speaker's signal processor.
Delay (samples @ 44.1kHz): Delay in audio samples at 44.1 kHz sample rate.
Delay (samples @ 48kHz): Delay in audio samples at 48 kHz sample rate.
Delay (samples @ 96kHz): Delay in audio samples at 96 kHz sample rate.
Speed of sound (m/s): Speed of sound at the given temperature.
Main PA travel time (ms): Time for sound from the main PA to reach the listener.
Delay spkr travel time (ms): Time for sound from the delay speaker to reach its listener.
Main PA SPL drop (dB): SPL reduction of the main PA at the listener distance (inverse square law).
Wavelength at 100 Hz (m): Sound wavelength at 100 Hz for phasing reference.
Wavelength at 1 kHz (m): Sound wavelength at 1 kHz.

Identify Input Parameters
4 parameters
Main PA to listener (m) = 30, Delay speaker to listener (m) = 5, Main PA to delay speaker (m) = 25, Air temperature (°C) = 20 = 5 input(s) provided
Calculate Required delay
82.8 = 82.8
Calculate Delay
Delay
3974 = 3974
Calculate Delay
Delay
3651 = 3651
Calculate Delay
Delay
7949 = 7949