It is one of the first questions every client asks, and the honest answer is that it depends on the job. A simple system can be quoted in a week and delivered the next day. A larger one takes a couple of weeks of planning. What matters more than the number is understanding the stages, because then you can see where the time actually goes.
Here is the full journey, from the first survey to the moment you switch the system on.
Stage one: the site visit
Every installation starts with me coming to see the space and meet you. There is no skipping this.
On the visit I am taking in the space itself, understanding what you expect from the system, and getting a feel for how much control you want over it day to day. Some clients want a single button. Others want to get into the detail. I also want to understand your budget, because that decides whether a simple analogue controller is the right call or whether something more capable is worth it.
That conversation shapes everything that follows. A system designed for the person who will actually use it is a far better system than one designed only to a spec sheet.
Stage two: the quote
After the visit, the quote follows.
For smaller installations, that is usually within about a week, and if the equipment is in stock, delivery can happen the next day. For larger installations, a couple of weeks of planning is typical, although we are generally flexible on timeframes and will work to what the project needs.
So if you are working to a deadline, tell me early. Often we can move quickly. The planning time on a bigger job is not delay, it is the work that makes the install itself go smoothly.
Stage three: the physical installation
This is the part people picture when they think of an installation: the cable runs and the speakers going up. And it is the stage where we do something that saves clients money.
Our preferred approach is to work with your own in-house electrician for the physical installation. They run the cable and hang the speakers, while we handle the design, the programming, and the commissioning. The electrician already knows the building, and bringing a full crew out on a day rate costs more. You get a familiar, trusted person on the tools, while we stay in charge of everything that needs specialist knowledge.
Stage four: commissioning
Once the system is physically in, we commission it. This is where the design comes to life.
Commissioning is where the programming is finalised, the zones are set, the levels are dialled in, and the system starts behaving the way it was designed to. It is the difference between equipment that is installed and a system that actually works the way you wanted.
Stage five: handover
The last stage is handover, and it is one of the things that sets our installations apart.
After commissioning, you get access to RackMap, our own installation management platform. It holds the rack elevation designs, the wiring schematics, the speaker placement plans, and the equipment manuals, all available through an online portal.
The point is simple. If anything ever needs attention years after we have left, you, your electrician, or any future engineer can see exactly how the system is wired and where everything is. Nothing is a mystery, and nothing is locked away in one person’s head.
For a worked example of how this plays out in a real venue, see our piece on sound system installation for pubs and bars.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an AV installation take?
For a smaller installation, often a quote within about a week and next-day delivery if the equipment is in stock. Larger installations usually take a couple of weeks of planning, though we are flexible.
What are the stages of an AV installation?
Five: a site visit, a quote, the physical installation, commissioning, and handover.
Can we use our own electrician for an AV installation?
Yes, and we often recommend it. Your electrician runs cable and hangs speakers; we handle design, programming, and commissioning.
What happens after the installation is finished?
We commission the system and hand over access to RackMap, our installation management platform, where all the designs, schematics, and manuals live online.
Planning an AV installation in North Wales?
Whether it is a single room or a multi-zone system, we will tell you honestly how long it will take and walk you through every stage from survey to switch-on.
Get in touch and we will arrange a site visit.
Darren Hughes is Director of Pivotal Sound & Lighting, an AV installation and event production company based in Llay, Wrexham, North Wales. PSL designs, programmes, and commissions commercial AV systems across the UK, working alongside clients’ own electricians to keep installations efficient and affordable.