Should you rent or buy? When it comes to a tour guide system, the answer depends on the occasion – from a one-off facility tour to a daily city walk. This decision guide shows you which BMS Audio product fits your needs and what to consider when making your decision.
When does renting make sense, and when does buying?
If you only need a tour guide system for a single event, a trade fair, or a training session, renting is usually the more practical choice: no investment risk, no storage, no maintenance effort. If you plan regular use instead – for factory tours, museum visits, or daily city walks – buying pays off quickly, since the purchase amortizes over time and you always have the equipment on hand.
Which system is available for rent only?
The TOM-Audio® TG-101 is now available exclusively for rent. Weighing just 34 grams and standing 69 mm tall, it's particularly lightweight and allows for quick group formation – ideal for spontaneous tours, trade fairs, or events where things need to move fast. An optional talkback function can be activated, letting your group ask questions directly.
Which devices can you buy or rent?
With the TOM-Audio® TG-200 and the TOM-Audio CLIP®, you have the choice between renting and buying. The TG-200 stands out with over 30 hours of battery life and a longer range – well suited for long city tours, facility inspections, or use in loud environments. The CLIP® is the most compact and affordable complete solution: it simply clips onto the ear and is especially suited for bus tours and outdoor city walks.
Which products are available for purchase only?
The TOM-Audio® acustra® and the TOM-Audio CLIP® with Live Translation are purchase-only products. The acustra® is our newest model with an activatable talkback function – ideal for factory tours and safety briefings where questions matter. The CLIP® with Live Translation combines the proven CLIP® system with the elysium® Live Translation app and broadcasts tours live in over 29 languages – perfect for internationally mixed groups.
Do you need a talkback function?
Not every tour needs interaction. But if your group should be able to ask questions, only two devices qualify: the TG-101 and the acustra®. Both offer an activatable talkback function that lets participants speak directly to you. The TG-200 and CLIP® are receive-only devices with no return channel.
How does renting work – and can you test beforehand?
Not sure yet which system fits your tours? BMS Audio offers a free product test: we'll send you a test kit with selected systems and accessories such as microphones, headphones, and an induction loop for hearing aids – no obligation, no cost. On request, a member of our team can also provide an on-site product demonstration for you.
For the rental itself: you send us a request with the number of participants, the rental period, and the location, we put together the right system for you, and you simply send it back after the event. That means no effort on your part for storage, maintenance, or repairs.
How do you make the final decision?
For quick orientation, here are the key rules of thumb for your decision:
- One-off use, no budget for a purchase: rent – TG-101, TG-200, or CLIP®
- Regular use, long-term investment: buy – TG-200, CLIP®, acustra®, or CLIP® with Live Translation
- Talkback from your group matters: TG-101 or acustra®
- Multilingual groups: CLIP® with Live Translation
- Long battery life and long range needed: TG-200
- Quick, uncomplicated solution for outdoor use: CLIP®
In the end, one thing matters most: how often and how regularly you use your tour guide system. For one-off occasions, renting is the flexible, low-risk choice. If you rely on dependable equipment on an ongoing basis, buying pays off in the long run. With the TG-101, TG-200, CLIP®, and acustra®, BMS Audio covers both paths – so you'll always find the right solution for your event.
Still not sure which tour guide system fits your event? Contact our team – we'll advise you with no obligation and find the right solution together.
