Yeah, but is this so effective and important in practice ?
In live sound, which is their main scope, and also in high output pro studio use (as mid/far-field monitors), yes absolutely.
In my circles (live audio engineers), it is common knowledge that the limiting factor in usable clean output is generally set by the compression drivers distortion wall (usually well below their rated power limit), and not the woofers.
This is *precisely* why companies have devoted insane R&D resources into objectively perfecting multiple diver combiners like Danley’s Paraline.
For example, I’ve put the Danley SH96HO (1x1.4” compression driver) and the Danley J7 (8x1”) in a side by side comparison.
The J7 has only 67% of the woofer cone area of the 96HO, and only 70% of the physical volume, yet it effortlessly plays 8db louder. Wonder why? It’s the brutal distortion wall that the single CD of the 96HO hits, while the woofers and midranges are not even trying.
The Alcons ribbon tweeter’s seems like it just doesn’t have a limit. And they cranked it to legitimately terrifying levels and there was absolutely zero audible distortion.
Has anyone carefully listened to their new monitor range (the M series) ? I would like to know how they compare with big Genelecs, Neumann, JBL M2 and other "big boys" ?
Me, my friend (multiple time riaa platinum studio engineer), and my boss (
very well respected live systems engineer) listened to them <1min after listening to the 8381a.
I’m aware sighted/subjective listening is flawed, however, a few seconds into the demo we all looked at each-other with the unmistakable expression of “holy sh*t this is on a different level”
Don’t get me wrong the 8381s are unreal good, absolutely untouchable in full passband pattern control outside of the Danley Hyperion (and in bass by Kii 3+BXT), but where the Genelecs (spl certified with my pocket meter) were audibly getting stressed out in the dreaded 2-7khz range, the Alcons were playing so effortlessly surgically clean, the only thing that has come close for me have been headphones.
I will also say that, as someone who went to every demo at NAMM, not a single booth even came remotely close to the amount of people sticking around after the demo to speak to the engineers and sales reps as Alcon. Which is very telling.
Fellow listeners have also corroborated my experience in this very thread, and also in
this thread from seriously knowledgeable engineers/designers I respect a lot. See attached photo too.
I really recommend finding a demo of them if you can. As someone who works with their much more well known competitors, the Alcons have somewhat shattered what I & many others thought was possible
