Better Sound
Better Sound Limited is a UK-based private company that hires, sells and repairs professional audio equipment — radio microphones, IEMs, mixers, recorders and PA systems — to broadcast, corporate, live-event and film clients, with BBC, ITV and Sky as named official suppliers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1962
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Better Sound does
Better Sound Limited is a UK-based, privately-held professional audio equipment hire, sales and repair company headquartered at 31 Cathcart Street, London. The firm serves the Broadcast, Corporate, Live Event, Entertainment and Film industries, supplying radio microphones, in-ear monitoring systems, mixers, microphones, loudspeakers, recorders, slates/talkback devices and supporting accessories from manufacturers including Audio Ltd, Sennheiser, Shure, Sony, Wisycom, DPA, Neumann, Sound Devices and SQN. Its hire fleet comprises over 700 radio microphone and IEM products, more than 1,000 microphones, 50 recorders, 35 mixers, 40 PA systems and 140 walkie-talkies, supported by an in-house maintenance and repair department and a 24/7 technical-support service for all hired equipment.
The company's commercial model centres on daily-rate equipment hire quoted in pounds sterling and excluding carriage and VAT, with length-of-hire discounts available. A secondary sales channel sells new equipment on a quote basis from a broad manufacturer roster, and a tertiary maintenance-and-repair stream services both hire-fleet and customer-owned kit to manufacturer standards. Pricing is not publicly itemised beyond a downloadable rate card; the go-to-market is sales-led and direct to enterprise broadcast and production buyers, with customers collecting from the London loading bay or arranging delivery. Better Sound is an official supplier to BBC, ITV and Sky, a sustaining member of AMPS (Association of Motion Picture Sound), and — via co-founder Brian Clarke — co-founded BEIRG in 2004 to represent PMSE industry interests with Ofcom on radio-spectrum policy. The firm also applies for PMSE licences on behalf of clients and holds its own general user licences for certain frequency bands.
Better Sound firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Better Sound
- Legal name
- Better Sound Limited
- Website
- https://bettersound.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1962
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Better Sound Limited is a UK-based private company that hires, sells and repairs professional audio equipment — radio microphones, IEMs, mixers, recorders and PA systems — to broadcast, corporate, live-event and film clients, with BBC, ITV and Sky as named official suppliers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Better Sound industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Audio Equipment Hire
- NAICS
- Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (33431)
- SIC
- Radio & Tv Broadcasting & Communications Equipment (3663)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pro Audio Equipment (Mics, Interfaces, Mixers, Studio Monitors) (MPAIAJAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Live Sound & Stage Equipment (PA Systems, Amplification, Monitoring) (MPAIAJAD)
Keywords
Where Better Sound is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Better Sound business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Equipment Hire: Primary revenue stream. Daily hire rates quoted in UK £, excluding carriage and VAT. Discounts apply for longer hires. Fleet comprises over 700 radio microphone and IEM products, 1000+ microphones, 50 recorders, 35 mixers, 40 PA systems, and 140 walkie-talkies.
- Equipment Sales: Secondary revenue stream. Quotes provided for equipment from a large range of manufacturers including Audio Wireless, Micron Wireless, Phonak, Beyer Dynamic, Sennheiser, Hawk Woods, AKG, Audio Ltd, Audio Technica, Anchor, Rycote, Sony, Sound Devices, SQN, Shure, Wisycom, and others.
- Maintenance and Repairs: In-house repair department services and maintains equipment to manufacturers' standards, providing a fast and efficient repair service for both hired equipment and customers' own equipment.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Daily equipment hire rates |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
Better Sound product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Better Sound Ltd is a UK-based professional sound equipment hire, sales, and maintenance company. It supplies wireless and cabled microphones, in-ear monitors, mixers, loudspeakers, recorders, talkback systems, and related broadcast/cinema production accessories to clients in broadcast, corporate, live event, entertainment, and film production. The company also operates an in-house repair department for wireless microphone and related equipment servicing.
Product overview
Better Sound is a professional sound equipment hire, maintenance, and sales company serving the Broadcast, Corporate, Live Event, Entertainment, and Film industries. Their core offering is an extensive equipment rental fleet comprising over 700 radio microphone and in-ear monitor (IEM) products, over 1000 microphones, 50 recorders, 35 mixers, 40 specialized PA systems, and 140 walkie-talkies. The product portfolio centers around several interconnected categories: Radiomics (wireless radio microphone systems from Audio Ltd, Sennheiser, Shure, Sony, Wisycom, and Trantec), In-Ear Monitoring systems (Sennheiser Evolution, Phonak-Wisycom Invisity, Phonak-Roger), professional Mixers (Sound Devices integrated mixer-recorders, SQN, Audio Developments, Mackie, Soundcraft), professional Microphones (Neumann studio mics, Sennheiser MKH shotgun series, DPA lavalier/headset mics, Sanken, and various stereo/surround configurations), Loudspeakers (Anchor battery-powered line arrays, Mackie SRM powered speakers, Bose systems), Recorders (Sound Devices, Marantz, Zoom field recorders), Slates and Timecode devices (Ambient, Denecke, Tentacle synchronization equipment), Talkback systems (ASL, Raycom, Kenwood, Motorola radios), and supporting Accessories (batteries, noise suppressors, DI boxes, cables, bags). The company also provides in-house maintenance/repair services and equipment sales through partnerships with multiple manufacturers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Wireless In-Ear Monitoring Systems Hire Rental of professional wireless in-ear monitoring systems for broadcast, live event, and production use.
- Wireless and Cabled Microphones Hire Rental of wireless and cabled professional microphones (e.g., lavalier, handheld, shotgun) for broadcast, corporate, live event and film production clients.
- Digital and Analogue Mixers Hire Rental of professional digital and analogue audio mixing consoles for live and broadcast production environments.
- Professional Loudspeakers Hire Rental of professional loudspeakers for live event, broadcast, and corporate audio applications.
- Professional Audio Recorders Hire Rental of professional location and studio audio recorders for film, TV, and broadcast production use.
- Production Slates Hire Rental of production slates (clapperboards) for film and television production sound workflows.
- Talkback Systems Hire Rental of professional talkback/intercom systems for production communication across broadcast, live event, and film shoots.
- Other Production Sound Equipment Hire Rental of additional ancillary professional production sound equipment not covered by the main categories.
- Equipment Sales (New and Ex-Hire) Outright sale of new and ex-hire professional sound equipment to broadcast, corporate, live event and film production buyers.
- In-House Equipment Maintenance and Repair In-house maintenance and repair service for wireless microphone systems and related professional audio equipment.
- Ofcom Wireless Microphone Licensing Support Guidance and support for obtaining Ofcom wireless microphone licences for clients deploying wireless audio equipment in the UK.
Companies that use Better Sound
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Better Sound technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Better Sound partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- AMPS (Association of Motion Picture Sound)coreBetter Sound is a sustaining member of AMPS (Association of Motion Picture Sound), the professional body representing sound engineers in the UK film, broadcast, and related industries.
- BEIRG (British Entertainment Industry Radio Group)coreBetter Sound's Brian Clarke, along with freelance sound engineer John Turnock, co-founded BEIRG in 2004 as a trade association to represent PMSE (Programme Makers and Special Events) industry interests in dealings with Ofcom regarding radio spectrum policy.
- OfcomcoreUK government regulator for radio spectrum. Better Sound applies for PMSE licences on behalf of clients and is actively involved in spectrum policy through BEIRG. Better Sound holds general user licences for certain frequency bands.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Better Sound competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Stage Electrics: UK audio, lighting, and staging equipment hire company serving theatre, broadcast, and live events; comparable B2B hire operator with a broad equipment fleet and trade counter / sales arm.
- Orbital Sound: UK audio hire and production company serving theatre, broadcast, and live events; comparable as a multi-vertical hire operator offering wireless, IEM, and mixing inventory.
- SSE Audio Group: UK-based pro audio rental and production services company serving live events, broadcast, and touring; directly comparable to Better Sound as a B2B hire provider with a large multi-brand equipment fleet and engineering support.
- Autograph Sound: UK-based sound design, hire, and production company specialising in theatre, broadcast, and live events; comparable multi-vertical B2B hire business with a focus on professional wireless and monitoring systems.
- Adlib Audio Solutions: UK hire, sales, and event production audio company serving concerts, festivals, broadcast, and corporate clients; comparable to Better Sound in B2B rental model and multi-vendor equipment inventory.
- White Light: UK technical production and equipment hire company covering audio, lighting, and video for theatre, broadcast, and events; comparable multi-vertical hire business with shared customer base in UK production.
- Wigwam Acoustics: UK pro audio hire and production company with extensive stock of consoles, PA, and RF equipment serving touring, broadcast, and corporate events; comparable B2B hire operator with similar customer verticals.
Regional players
- Location Sound Corp: US-based location sound equipment hire and sales company serving film and broadcast production; comparable core activity (rental of wireless mics, mixers, recorders for production) but operating in a different geography.
- Trew Audio: US-based professional audio equipment hire, sales, and service company serving film, broadcast, and live production; comparable hire business model and customer verticals but operating in a different geography.
Broad incumbents
- Audio Ltd: UK manufacturer of professional wireless microphone systems (A10, DX2040 series) widely used in broadcast and film production; comparable category overlap but operating as a manufacturer-supplier rather than a hire intermediary.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Better Sound social profiles
Digital presenceBetter Sound financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Better Sound leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Better Sound funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Better Sound M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Better Sound
What does Better Sound do?
Better Sound Ltd is a UK-based professional sound equipment hire, sales, and maintenance company. It supplies wireless and cabled microphones, in-ear monitors, mixers, loudspeakers, recorders, talkback systems, and related broadcast/cinema production accessories to clients in broadcast, corporate, live event, entertainment, and film production. The company also operates an in-house repair department for wireless microphone and related equipment servicing.
Is Better Sound a public or private company?
Better Sound is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Better Sound founded?
Better Sound was founded in 1962. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Better Sound based?
Better Sound is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Better Sound make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Equipment Hire is the primary driver. The others are equipment Sales and maintenance and Repairs.
Who are Better Sound's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Stage Electrics, Orbital Sound, SSE Audio Group, Autograph Sound, Adlib Audio Solutions, White Light and Wigwam Acoustics. Regional players are Location Sound Corp and Trew Audio. Audio Ltd is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Better Sound have an API?
No public API is recorded for Better Sound.
What industry is Better Sound in?
Better Sound's product category is Professional Audio Equipment Hire. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAJAB, Pro Audio Equipment (Mics, Interfaces, Mixers, Studio Monitors), with a secondary code of MPAIAJAD, Live Sound & Stage Equipment (PA Systems, Amplification, Monitoring). Its NAICS code is 33431 and its SIC code is 3663.