Finding the Limits ofBattery-Powered Sound & Light
The first transparent, scientific test series pushing the world's largest battery-powered speaker and lighting systems to their absolute limits — on a dedicated test bench and at major techno events across Berlin.
How many speakers for 500 people? At what point does linking degrade quality? Where exactly do these systems break? We're finding out.
Backed by TU Berlin certification • Conducted by Takeoff Collective at HPI
Watch our pitch video
A 2-minute introduction to One More Stage
19,000+
University Students
5
Speaker Brands Tested
500+
Guests per Event
1st
Scientific Test Series
The Problem
The problem nobody is solving
When we visited SOUNDBOKS HQ in Copenhagen, their team confirmed what we had suspected: there is a massive content gap in the portable event tech space.
Unanswered Questions
How many speakers do I need per 100 people?
How does multi-speaker linking actually perform?
What is the real-world battery life under load?
Can non-technical users set this up reliably?
When we asked SOUNDBOKS directly: "What is the maximum setup that produces great sound, and for how many people, with 5 connected speakers?" - even they could not answer with certainty.
Massive Content Gap
No one tests multi-speaker setups at event scale, compares ecosystems side by side, or documents whether non-technical users can actually operate these systems.
Market Ready for Revolution
A new generation of battery-powered, wirelessly linkable speakers and lights has hit the market. But nobody has proven what is actually possible.
Academic Foundation: TU Berlin
We are building our methodology on the Outdoor-Beschallungsplanung certification course at TU Berlin (April 8-10, 2026). This 3-day intensive seminar covers speaker physics, simulation software (d&b ArrayCalc, NoizCalc), immission protection regulations, and hands-on PA system deployment with d&b audiotechnik equipment.
Led by Prof. Dr. Stefan Weinzierl (TU Berlin) and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Anselm Goertz (IFAA Aachen), this course provides the scientific framework for our testing methodology.
View Course Details"We intend to close this gap. Scientifically. Publicly. And with the most demanding test audience imaginable: 19,000+ university students who throw parties every week."
Who We Are
Takeoff Collective at HPI
A 30-member nonprofit techno collective of students from the Hasso-Plattner-Institut and Universität Potsdam. We build custom speaker systems, organize large-scale events in Potsdam's largest nightclub, and run outdoor stages at festivals.
30 Members
Active techno collective
4+ Events/Year
500+ guests each
TU Berlin
Academic certification
#1 CS Program
CHE Ranking Germany
Academic Foundation
TU Berlin Outdoor Sound Engineering Seminar with Prof. Dr. Stefan Weinzierl and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Anselm Goertz. Professional training with d&b audiotechnik and certification upon completion.
Hasso-Plattner-Institut
Universität Potsdam
19,000+
Enrolled Students
#1
CS in Germany
Active event organizers – not reviewers. We use what we test. Student groups from across the university already ask to borrow our PA.
Equipment
What we are testing
5 units of each speaker system. Professional lighting and laser systems. All tested under identical conditions.
Curated Through Research
We have extensively researched the portable event tech market and pre-selected equipment that has the potential to effectively serve 500+ people. Systems that clearly lack the power, linking capabilities, or reliability for large-scale outdoor events have already been filtered out. The equipment below represents the most promising candidates for serious portable event deployment.
| Brand | Model | Units | SPL | Watts | Battery | Link | Price | HQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOUNDBOKS | SOUNDBOKS 4 | 5x | 126 dB | 216W | 40h | SKAA (5) | ~€999 | Copenhagen, DK |
| Teufel | Rockster 2 | 5x | 132 dB | 440W | 15h | Party Link (100) | €1,200 | Berlin, DE |
| Teufel | Rockster NEO | 5x | 130 dB | 200W | 36h | Party Link (100) | €900 | Berlin, DE |
| JBL | PartyBox 720 | 5x | ~116 dB | 800W | 15h | Auracast | ~€800 | Garching, DE |
| Marshall | Bromley 750 | 5x | 127 dB | 500W | 40h+ | Auracast | €999 | Stockholm, SE |
The Journey
A documentary, not just a review
We are producing a documentary-style content series that takes the audience on a learning journey – from zero knowledge to certified expertise to real-world deployment.
Learn
April 2026
TU Berlin Outdoor Sound Engineering Seminar certification
- Enroll in TU Berlin seminar with Prof. Weinzierl and Prof. Goertz
- Film the training: loudspeaker physics, simulation, measurement
- Earn TU Berlin certificates in outdoor sound planning
"We got certified at Germany's top technical university. Here's what we learned."
Plan
May 2026
Professional coverage simulations and methodology alignment
- Create simulations using ArrayCalc and NoizCalc
- Define measurement positions, SPL targets, audience zones
- Align evaluation criteria with all sponsors
"How to plan sound for 500 people – the scientific way."
Test
June 2026
All systems tested same day, same conditions
- Calibrated SPL measurement at 1m, 10m, 20m, 50m
- 10-ear panel blind evaluation
- Multi-speaker linking stress test
- Setup speed test: unboxing to music
"We tested €25,000 of portable party tech. Here's what actually works."
Deploy
July+ 2026
Real-world deployment via One More Stage lending program
- Equipment enters circulation for student events
- Structured video testimonials from borrowers
- Non-technical usability testing across faculties
"We gave €25,000 of equipment to students who know nothing about sound. This happened."
Guide
Fall 2026
The definitive comparison video
- Long-form YouTube video: comprehensive, science-backed
- Data-driven: SPL measurements, simulation overlays, testimonials
- The video people find when they Google "how many SOUNDBOKS for 500 people"
The definitive resource for portable event tech decisions.
Partnership
What you get as a partner
Join us in creating the definitive resource for portable event tech decisions.
Content & Visibility
Documentary Feature
Feature in a documentary-style comparison video targeting high-intent buyers of premium portable event tech.
Marketing Assets
Individual product highlight clips for your own marketing channels, free to use.
Pre-Publication Review
You see the video and all evaluations before they go live. Co-developed evaluation criteria.
Long-term Brand Exposure
Semester-long Visibility
Your products actively used at 10+ events per year across multiple faculties.
User-Generated Content
Every borrowing group provides a short testimonial video. Direct access to 19,000+ students.
Platform Presence
Logo and product link on the One More Stage landing page – the central booking platform.
Strategic Value
Real-World Usage Data
Structured feedback from dozens of student events, answering the questions your customers ask.
Academic Credibility
Association with Germany's #1 CS university and TU Berlin's audio research group.
Content Gap Solution
"How many speakers for 100/200/500 people?" answered with data you can reference.
Timeline
Project roadmap
From TU Berlin certification to ongoing deployment, here is our planned timeline.
New Outdoor Stage: The Ultimate Test
We have been running state-funded nightclub events for years with great success. This year, we are opening a new outdoor stage right next to the nightclub. This creates the perfect hardcore testing environment where we can compare all sound systems with the same audience, same conditions, same night.
April 2026
TU Berlin Seminar
Outdoor-Beschallungsplanung certification (April 8-10). Learning professional simulation tools, speaker physics, and immission regulations.
May 2026
Simulation & Methodology
Professional coverage simulations using d&b ArrayCalc and NoizCalc. Methodology alignment with TU Berlin professors.
June 2026
Controlled Testing
All systems tested same day, same conditions. Direct side-by-side comparison under identical outdoor environment.
July-August 2026
Real-World Deployment
Real-world deployment via One More Stage lending program. Testing at actual student events with live audiences.
August-Sept 2026
Post-Production
Video post-production, data analysis, sponsor pre-review before publication.
October 2026
Publication
Video publication across channels + One More Stage lending platform launch.
WS 2026/27+
Ongoing Program
Continuous lending program with quarterly usage reports to sponsors.
Empowering Every Faculty
After testing, equipment goes into active rotation across Faculty Student Councils - maximizing real-world usage and generating continuous feedback.
The Student Council Challenge
A problem we see across every faculty at every university.
Each Faculty Student Council organizes events for approximately 500 students at least twice per semester - typically a Summer Fest and a Winter Fest. These are student-run, budget-conscious events funded by small entry fees and drink sales.
The challenge? They want to offer a great party experience but lack access to proper sound equipment. Professional PA systems are expensive to rent, require technical expertise, and are overkill for their needs.
We already receive inbound requests from students wanting to borrow our nightclub PA system. But it is too complex - it requires someone to operate it, is too large for most venues, and honestly overkill for a faculty party.
The new generation of battery-powered, linkable speakers could be the perfect solution. But nobody has proven this works at scale. That is exactly what we will test and then deploy.
Target Faculties for Distribution
Law Students
Law Party, Summer Fest
Business Students
Business Bash, Winter Ball
Humanities
Humanities Festival
Education
Education Summer Fest
Computer Science
Coding Night, Hackathon Party
Natural Sciences
Science Slam Party
Maximum Utilization
Equipment actively used across 19,000+ students instead of sitting idle between our events.
Frequent Deployment
Each Student Council hosts 2+ major events per semester. With multiple faculties, that means weekly real-world testing.
Structured Feedback
We require reviews from each faculty - real user feedback from non-technical organizers, exactly your target audience.
Plug & Play Validation
If a philosophy student can set it up for 500 people without technical training, we have proven the product promise.
Our Promise to Partners
Every unit you provide will be actively used - not stored. We guarantee deployment across multiple faculties, documented with photos, videos, and structured feedback from real student organizers who represent your actual target customers.
Invited Partners
Industry leaders, tested together
Your product will be evaluated alongside the strongest competitors in the market – a high-visibility comparison that attracts exactly the audience your marketing team wants to reach.
Sound Systems
SOUNDBOKS
SOUNDBOKS 4
5 units
Copenhagen, DK
Teufel
Rockster 2 + NEO
10 units
Berlin, DE
JBL / Harman
PartyBox 720
5 units
Garching, DE
Marshall
Bromley 750
5 units
Stockholm, SE
Lighting & Laser
Ape Labs
Battery LED cans & tubes
Cologne, DE
Astera
Battery LED tubes & spots
Munich, DE
LaserOS
Battery laser
Berlin, DE
Cameo / Adam Hall
Battery LED PARs
Neu-Anspach, DE
SOUNDBOKS
Audio-reactive party light
Copenhagen, DK
Chauvet DJ
Battery LED PARs
Florida, USA
Get Started
Let's start a conversation
We would love to discuss how your brand can be part of this groundbreaking project.
Introductory call or video meeting – 15 minutes to walk you through the project
Criteria alignment – share our draft evaluation framework and incorporate your suggestions
Equipment agreement – terms for product provision, logistics, and timeline
Pre-review clause – written commitment that you see all content before publication
Joint planning – test day coordination, any specific setup requirements
We will reach out to potential partners directly via email with a link to this website.
Contact
René
Co-Founder, Takeoff Collective
IT Systems Engineering, Hasso-Plattner-Institut
Potsdam, Germany
April 2026