Speaker Delay & Time Alignment Calculator
Quick answer: Enter distance from main speaker to secondary. Get delay in ms and samples at 44.1k/48k/96k.
Calculate the delay time needed to align secondary speakers (delay towers, subs, fills) with the main PA. Uses speed-of-sound at temperature-adjusted values. Outputs delay in milliseconds and samples at common sample rates (44.1k, 48k, 96k).
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Last reviewed: April 2026Report an error
From reference (mains) to secondary speaker.
20°C = 68°F (default).
Delay Time
87.36 ms
Distance 30m / 98.43ft → 87.36 ms delay. Speed of sound at 20°C: 343.4 m/s.
Delay (ms)
87.36
Samples @ 44.1k
3,853
Samples @ 48k
4,193
Samples @ 96k
8,387
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The Formula
delay_ms = (distance_m / c) × 1000 ; c = 331.4 + 0.6 × T(°C)
- c = Speed of sound (m/s) — varies with temperature
- T = Air temperature in °C
- samples = delay_ms × sample_rate / 1000
How to Use This Speaker Delay Calculator
- 1Enter distance in meters from your reference (typically the main hang) to the secondary speaker.
- 2Optionally adjust ambient temperature (default 20°C / 68°F).
- 3Read delay in milliseconds and samples for your sample rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Sound from speakers at different distances arrives at the listener at different times, creating comb filtering and frequency cancellation. Delay aligns arrivals so they sum coherently — clean phase, full bass, no weird frequency dips.
- Yes. Speed of sound varies ~0.6 m/s per °C. A 20°C swing changes delay by ~1ms over 30m — enough to undo precision alignment. Outdoor festivals running through cooling evening air should re-tune.
- Subs typically need 1-3 ms delay vs mains because cone speakers have inherent latency from voice coil mass. Use real measurement (Smaart, SysTune) for final alignment — calculator gets you in the ballpark.
- Delay towers carry sound to the back of long venues. Place them ~30-40m apart in the audience plane, time-aligned to mains. Use 70% rule: tower SPL = mains SPL at the listener point to avoid the "two-source" effect.
- Same thing, different units. Most digital consoles accept both. Samples is more precise for digital systems; ms is more intuitive for distance math. The calculator gives you both.
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