10 June 2026

A PA system for your party — how to choose the right one

Written by Frederik Scharling, who has worked with sound, events and music production for more than 15 years and runs Lejhøjtaler.dk in Copenhagen. Updated 8 September 2026.

"Can we not just use a Bluetooth speaker?" We have heard that question many times. And the answer is: it depends on the party. Here is the difference between a Bluetooth speaker and a real PA system, so you can make the right call.

Bluetooth speaker versus PA system

| | Bluetooth speaker | PA system | |---|---|---| | Output | Low to medium | High | | Bass | Limited | Deep, clean bass via a subwoofer | | Reach | 3-5 metres | 15-30+ metres | | Microphone | Rarely | Yes, straight into the speaker | | Guests | Up to 15 | Up to 100+ | | Price (rental) | – | From 395 DKK per weekend |

When is a Bluetooth speaker enough?

Quiet background music for a dinner of 8-15 people
A relaxed evening in the living room
Music in the kitchen while you cook

When do you need a PA system?

Parties with 20+ guests, where the music has to carry over conversation
Outdoors — the garden, the terrace, the beach
When people are going to dance — you need bass
Speeches and a microphone — confirmations, weddings, company parties
A DJ setup — no DJ can work off a portable Bluetooth speaker

What is a PA system made of?

A party PA system typically consists of:

Tops (the speakers): powered speakers on stands handling mid-range and treble. "Powered" means the amplifier is built in — you just connect power.
A subwoofer: a separate bass speaker for the low end. It stands on the floor, since bass is not directional.
A mixer, if you need one: a small desk that lets you connect several sources (phone, laptop, microphone) and set each level. For a single microphone you do not need one — it plugs straight into the speaker.
Cables: signal cables between the sources and the speakers, power cables, and an AUX cable or Bluetooth for your phone.

Setting it up

It may sound complicated, but it takes under ten minutes:

Put the tops on stands, one on each side of the dance area
Place the subwoofer on the floor between them
Connect the cables from the source to the speakers
Connect your phone over Bluetooth or AUX
Turn it on and set the level

We always walk through the setup with you when you collect the equipment, and you get a short written guide with you.

Common mistakes

Starting too quiet: start low, but be ready to turn up once the guests are there. Conversation drowns music quickly.
The subwoofer on a table: it belongs on the floor. On a table, everything rattles.
Cables across the walkway: run them along the wall or tape them down so nobody trips.