Audio engineers, church media leads and live sound production teams gathered at the Golden Tulip Terrace Hall at IRUKKA TOWER on Monday for the Wharfedale Pro Professional Audio Seminar 2026, where an international audio expert challenged practitioners to rethink the common belief that bigger speakers and higher volume automatically produce better sound.
The seminar, hosted by IRUKKA ONLINE, the sole authorised distributor of Wharfedale Pro, and broadcast live on Voice of the People TV (VOP TV), focused on practical ways to improve sound quality through better system design, room acoustics, sound distribution and digital processing.
The event featured a keynote address and technical masterclasses led by Daniel Clarke, Business Development Manager at Wharfedale Pro and an international sound expert with more than 25 years of experience working across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
Mr Clarke, who has represented several leading global audio brands, used the seminar to provide audio professionals with practical approaches to managing modern sound systems and improving audio quality in large venues across West Africa.
Beyond volume: Why bigger speakers do not always mean better sound
A major focus of the seminar was the misconception that increasing speaker size, power or volume automatically improves sound quality.
Mr Clarke urged technicians to pay greater attention to room acoustics, system design and sound distribution rather than relying solely on raw power.
“A lot of people think that if a room sounds bad, you just need bigger speakers or more power,” Mr Clarke said during his session.
“In reality, if you amplify bad acoustics, all you get is louder bad sound.”
He explained that large auditoriums, churches and event venues often present acoustic challenges because of high ceilings and reflective walls and surfaces.
According to Clarke, these conditions can create phase cancellation, unwanted reflections and echo build-up, making it difficult for audiences to hear speech, music and other content clearly.
He demonstrated how modern sound-system processing can help address these challenges by controlling how audio is distributed throughout a venue.
Digital processing and line-array technology
Mr Clarke highlighted the importance of digital speaker management and line-array dispersion control in modern professional audio systems.
He explained that properly designed systems can direct sound towards specific seating areas while reducing unnecessary reflections from ceilings and walls.
The approach, he said, allows technicians to achieve more consistent sound coverage across different listening zones without simply increasing volume levels.
The seminar therefore focused on the relationship between system architecture, acoustic conditions and digital processing, particularly for professionals responsible for large-scale live productions.
Inside Wharfedale Pro manufacturing
Speaking on behalf of Wharfedale Pro and its parent company, International Audio Group (IAG), Mr Clarke also provided participants with insights into the brand’s manufacturing philosophy.
He explained how vertical integration, including the production of drivers, enclosures and amplification within the wider manufacturing structure, supports quality control and product durability.
According to Mr Clarke, this approach is particularly important for equipment deployed in outdoor productions and environments with varying climatic conditions.
The seminar featured live demonstrations of professional audio equipment, including the XLA-308 line array system and active digital mixers.
Signal processing and EQ
One of the technical areas covered during the training was signal processing and equalisation.
Participants were introduced to the use of digital crossover adjustments, parametric EQ and delay alignment to improve clarity and achieve more consistent audio across different sections of a venue.
The training emphasised the need for technicians to understand how different components of an audio system interact rather than treating speakers and mixers as isolated pieces of equipment.
Gain structure and headroom
The seminar also addressed headroom and gain structure, which are critical to preventing distortion during live productions and broadcasts.
Mr Clarke and the facilitation team demonstrated how technicians can establish clean input-to-output gain structures to prevent unwanted distortion before signals reach stage amplifiers or broadcast mixing buses.
Proper gain staging was presented as an important part of achieving clean, reliable sound while protecting equipment from excessive signal levels.
Protecting audio equipment
Component longevity was another major area of discussion.
The training covered issues including impedance matching, heat dissipation and built-in limiters, all of which can affect the reliability and lifespan of professional audio equipment.
Participants were encouraged to pay attention not only to immediate sound quality but also to the long-term protection and performance of their equipment during extended live productions.
Building Nigeria’s professional audio capacity
The seminar comes amid growing demand for professional audio infrastructure across Nigeria’s event, broadcast and worship sectors.
By combining international manufacturing expertise with practical training in gain staging, room tuning, signal processing and system safety, the event provided participants with technical knowledge they can apply directly to live productions.
The collaboration between Wharfedale Pro and Irukka Online also highlighted the growing importance of technical capacity building alongside the distribution of professional audio equipment.
The organisers said the initiative reflects a shared commitment to strengthening local expertise and raising standards in Nigeria’s live sound and production industry.
With audio engineers, church media teams and production professionals increasingly required to deliver high-quality sound across complex venues, the seminar provided a platform for practitioners to deepen their understanding of modern sound-system design, acoustic management and professional audio technology.
WATCH FULL SEMINAR HERE:
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