The Best Place to Sit at a Concert for Sound

Your favorite performer or band is finally coming to town, so you jump online to look for tickets. There’s only one problem — you aren’t sure where to sit so you can hear everything the way it’s supposed to sound.

Managers of music arenas, halls and theatres often tout their facilities as having no bad seats. In reality, some seats are better than others when it comes to being able to clearly hear the music, singing and talking. Knowing the best place to sit at a concert can heighten your experience quite a bit.

Front and Center Is Better for Sight Than Sound

Snagging a seat just feet from the stage will give you a great view, but the sound won’t be ideal. Typically, speakers are located on the side of the stage and are pointed toward the center of the venue. If you’re up front, the best sound will be directed behind you. You’ll hear music, but it will have a distorted quality.

Sounds Bounce in the Back of the Room

Those discount back-of-arena tickets may sound great to your wallet. Unfortunately, far-back seats aren’t the best place to stand at a concert.

When you’re too far from the stage, the sounds that come to you have tons of time to bounce around. They bounce off walls, ceilings and even people. Often, people with discount back-row tickets complain that all they hear is noise. For crisper sounds, you’ll need to dig deeper into your budget and opt for seats that are a little pricier.

Sound Quality Is Low By the Speakers

A lot of younger people think it’s exciting to stand next to giant speakers at concerts. Feeling the sound waves can seem thrilling. Yet the closer you are to a single speaker, the less balance you experience from the sound itself.

It also goes without saying that when you’re nearly hugging a speaker, you’re putting your hearing at risk. Resist the temptation to get a seat too close to any speaker.

The Almost-Middle Is the Sweet Spot

As you’re exploring the seats available at your music venue of choice, try to figure out where the middle is. Then, pick seats to the left or right of that area.

Speakers are generally set up to hit the middle of most venues, especially indoor facilities such as concert halls. If you’re going to an outdoor concert at an open-ceiling arena or long, runway-style venue, use your best judgment. When you get into the center-left or -right, the sound can travel to you without hitting many obstacles along the way.

Replicate the Big Concert Excitement at Home

You can’t get to every show. But you can always have the best concert seating at home if you use the right sound and audio equipment. As you’re creating your personal entertainment space, be sure to consider how soundproofing and noise reduction materials can help you get the best sound quality from the comfort of your house.