In many recent sound system installations, the results have been so poor as to make the rooms where they are installed unusable. In redesigning the sound systems we have applied the concept of sound reinforcement rather than the usual philosophy of the P. A. salesman. In many cases in school, church, conference room, and theater sound systems, excellent amplifiers are used in conjunction with high quality but suitable microphones and loudspeakers. In some cases basic errors in equipment location or the use of an unnecessary low‐level system have caused system failure. Case histories illustrate the failure of a number of sound systems to meet the needs for sound reinforcement (dead spots, low intelligibility, intermittent ringing, mechanical or tinny quality) and the simple solutions to provide complete satisfaction for the owner.