7 Questions to ask Before Buying a Tour Audio System

Picking the appropriate tour audio system can be a daunting task especially with the seemingly endless jargon, tech specs, and options. You’re not alone if reading through product descriptions feels like deciphering hieroglyphics.

We think finding the right system should be straightforward so we’ve compiled a list of questions that we ask all our clients to help them find the right system for their tours. We hope these questions make it easier for you to find the right audio system for your tour.

1. Where are You Giving the tour?
Your tour’s environment is going to greatly impact the decisions you’ll need to make when purchasing a tour audio system. If your environment is loud you’ll want to use headsets that block out the background noise and use a noise canceling directional microphone on a mic boom to ensure clarity of message. A museum tour (or similar sound environment) will be the exact opposite as your focus will be on providing an experience where your tour doesn’t disrupt the surrounding environment.

2. How many people will you have in the tour?
The tour size will dictate the number of transceivers you’ll need and the type of system. Many audio systems come in fixed sets or a maximum number of units that could mean limiting the tour size and future growth, creating unnecessary additional costs and technical setup. Knowing your average tour size will make it a lot easier to purchase the right equipment, including any add-on transceivers.

3. How are you currently communicating during your tours?
Are you relying on shouting or a bullhorn? Do you currently have a radio system? What’s not working right now with your communication? How are you supporting the hard of hearing? What would you really like to improve upon? Spending a little bit of time to figure out what you’re hoping to improve upon will help narrow down the right system for your tour.

4. How Many Tour Guides do You Plan on Having?
Will you have multiple tour guides or just one? Do you plan on having one of your QC experts, executives, or plant workers step in to talk for a few minutes? If you’ve got multiple tour guides or need someone to tag in for a few minutes to talk, you’ll want to focus on a tour audio systems that make it easy to seamlessly include additional presenters.

5. How Important is it for People to Ask Questions?
A lot of the companies that we work with lead tours for prospective customers. One of our clients (a large cabinet manufacturer) uses the ListenTalk two-way transceiver to allow potential customers to ask questions throughout the tour. The audio system’s made it easy for potential customers to understand the guides and ask questions in a loud and chaotic environment. Deciding to let your audience ask questions and providing them with an easy system allows for a more engaging and collaborative experience.

6. Do you need Headsets or Headphones?
They might sound like the same thing but they’re quite different. Headsets typically include a microphone while headphones do not include a microphone. Selecting the proper headset or headphone is very important in order to have a successful and enjoyable tour. A headset for loud environments is much different than for quiet environments such as a Museum tour or for training purposes.

7. Are There any Other Wireless Radio Systems in Your Tour Environment?
Radio interference is a real threat to the clarity of your message. Imagine you’re in the middle of your tour explaining the benefits of a major investment to key stakeholders only to find that they’ve been listening to the construction workers radio band next door or another tour taking place in the area? Luckily, this is a completely avoidable situation with a bit of planning and foresight. To avoid interference you could purchase a standard system and frequently test to make sure you’re using a radio band that’s not being used. Or you can use a system like ListenTalk that digitally encrypts the signal and automatically scans frequencies to avoid interference without any planning or worry on your part.

Still Confused?
We’d love to answer any additional questions you have about tour audio systems. We can even send out a free demo system (after discussing your tour) so you can see first-hand how the right tour audio system makes your life easier and provides the clarity that your message deserves. If you’d like to talk audio systems or want to set up a demo please fill out the form below.