Why not test more pro audio?

[More Dynamics Please]

Here you can find lots of modern PRO loudspeakers tested. Measurements are done by Anselm Goertz so the quality of measurements is great and you get indepth view.

Test | Production Partner

Hier gibt es alle Test-Berichte von PRODUCTION PARTNER auf einen Blick

www.production-partner.de

Exampe for RCF Art 945

Test: RCF ART 945-A | Production Partner

Mit der Serie ART 9 bringt RCF 2021 die nunmehr neunte Generation der seit 1996 erfolgreich am Markt vertreten ART-Baureihe heraus. Neue ...

www.production-partner.de

I've read many of the PA speaker reviews on production-partner.de and they do an excellent job of testing, lacking only the specific perspective of using the speakers for home audio. Though lacking measurements and not going as much in depth soundonsound.com also has decent PA speaker reviews, also lacking the home audio perspective. Many of these reviews do briefly mention the quality of sound when playing recorded music though they don't go into depth on that aspect.

PA / Live Sound | Sound On Sound

www.soundonsound.com

 

[sarumbear]

By pro audio I mean like DJ speakers. I haven’t seen anyone doing these types of tests on real pro gear. Seems like that could attract a whole new audience of professionals that are probably in the same mindset as this forum. Although more focused on SPL, but also not the snake oil types.

ASR search is your friend. Here is the JBL SRX835P "PA/DJ" powered speaker test.

Here is the wife evidence. Half-way through the testing my wife came into the garage. I expected an complaint about the sound level. What transpired was an impromptu dance session to what I was playing then...

 

[Chr1]

Using several pairs of 97db pro audio "PA" Tannoy V12 speakers myself.
Same HF driver as their expensive modern hifi coaxials and designed for use with subs... which is a definite plus imho.
Heavy braced cabinets, quality crossovers and sound great to my ears...
Pro audio, just like hifi quality ranges from extremely sh** to very good indeed. (Specs are often more easily found tho. Less snake oil )
So... If studio monitors don't do the SPLs you need... and the "hifi" option is consequently too expensive, then well worth looking into, I would suggest!

 

[Ricardus]

I would be more interesting in tests of things like vintage Neve 1073 mic preamps and API, etc. These are hailed as magical items among most recording engineers, and I would be curious to see what Amir's test rig says. Then do some comparisons with more moderrn preamp designs which are all IC based, like an SSL9000 preamp.

 

[Chr1]

Cool... But what relevance to home audio?

 

[Ricardus]

Cool... But what relevance to home audio?

We're literally in a thread about testing pro-audio gear. So I suggest asking the thread's author.

 

[Chr1]

Aye, indeed but pos best not to diverge too much into stuff not relevant here...
ie not much point in getting into Fender 65s, Vox AC3Os or whatever...

 

[LTig]

I would be more interesting in tests of things like vintage Neve 1073 mic preamps and API, etc. These are hailed as magical items among most recording engineers, and I would be curious to see what Amir's test rig says. Then do some comparisons with more moderrn preamp designs which are all IC based, like an SSL9000 preamp.

Those mic preamps are sound processors for specific tasks and IMHO not suited for replay of recordings.

 

[LTig]

Which is not to say people don't also use 'pro' speakers for home use. See for instance here. It does require a... certain decor aesthetic. At the least, assume they'll need subs or at least some sort of bass bin for full range, [..]

That's the consequence of having high sensitivity - for a medium size you can have high sensitivity or low bass capability but not both.

 

[Chr1]

I actually want large 12" mid drivers for mids only... So I want speakers made for use with subs. Always. Bit of a no-brainer. Most hifi should be this way too now surely...

 

[Ricardus]

Aye, indeed but pos best not to diverge too much into stuff not relevant here...
ie not much point in getting into Fender 65s, Vox AC3Os or whatever...

There are literally threads ALL OVER this forum that aren't about home hifi stuff. This thread claimed to be about pro audio. I work in recording studios and would love to see some tests.

 

[Ricardus]

Those mic preamps are sound processors for specific tasks and IMHO not suited for replay of recordings.

How do you know?

They're preamps. They'll pass signal for whatever you put into them. Adding more test data to what we have would be fascinating.

 

[dfuller]

I would be more interesting in tests of things like vintage Neve 1073 mic preamps and API, etc. These are hailed as magical items among most recording engineers, and I would be curious to see what Amir's test rig says. Then do some comparisons with more moderrn preamp designs which are all IC based, like an SSL9000 preamp.

Would certainly be interesting because a lot of those preamps are prized for their tonal coloration (i.e. distortion profile and input impedance characteristics).

 

[Ricardus]

Would certainly be interesting because a lot of those preamps are prized for their tonal coloration (i.e. distortion profile and input impedance characteristics).

Exactly. I suspect the transformers are just distorting frequences below 100Hz more that other frequencies, and that's why we like the thump the create when you run things like drums and bass guitar through them.

 

[Blumlein 88]

Read this page. It is all about coloration under control of the operator of the Sheldford Channel.

You would spend many hours measuring even a small number of possible settings to find their influence on sound. Using Deltwave would probably help and it would take many, many hours.

The Shelford Channel — Rupert Neve Designs

The Shelford Channel is built around Rupert Neve’s first new transformer-gain, class-A microphone preamplifier in over 40 years, a “best-of-the-classics” inductor EQ section incorporating elements from the 1073 and 1064 , an updated 2254 style diode bridge compressor, and the power of variable Silk.

rupertneve.com

 

[Ricardus]

Read this page. It is all about coloration under control of the operator of the Sheldford Channel.

You would spend many hours measuring even a small number of possible settings to find their influence on sound. Using Deltwave would probably help and it would take many, many hours.

The Shelford Channel — Rupert Neve Designs

The Shelford Channel is built around Rupert Neve’s first new transformer-gain, class-A microphone preamplifier in over 40 years, a “best-of-the-classics” inductor EQ section incorporating elements from the 1073 and 1064 , an updated 2254 style diode bridge compressor, and the power of variable Silk.

rupertneve.com

Already read that. But that's his new stuff, not the 50+ year old deign of the 1073, which people still prefer over the new stuff. I just built 4 1073 clones, myself.

 

[Ericglo]

I have mentioned the Behringers in the past. They are popular on AVS with many people using them in their HT. Seeing the spins on them would be interesting.

 

[Ricardus]

One club I used to run sound at had some of the inexpensive Behringer self powered PA speakers with 15" woofers. They were like (supposedly) 1000 watts per cabinet Class D. I thought they sounded fine. Some people used to make fun of them because they were Behringer. I'd be curious to see how those measured.

 

[Ericglo]

One club I used to run sound at had some of the inexpensive Behringer self powered PA speakers with 15" woofers. They were like 1000 watts per cabinet (supposedly) Class D. I thought they sounded fine. Some people used to make fun of them because they were Behringer. I'd be curious to see how those measured.

It is interesting that you say that. I had a friend that brought some to a party. I didn't listen to them critically, but I thought they sounded good for what they are. I could see a lot of people being satisfied with the sound for HT or an upgrade over a soundbar.

Behringer has the Eurolive and PK speakers. Not sure of the differences beyond price. I would be willing to throw in $25 to get one of these tested. I think some over on AVS would throw some money at this as well.

 

[Ricardus]

It is interesting that you say that. I had a friend that brought some to a party. I didn't listen to them critically, but I thought they sounded good for what they are. I could see a lot of people being satisfied with the sound for HT or an upgrade over a soundbar.

Behringer has the Eurolive and PK speakers. Not sure of the differences beyond price. I would be willing to throw in $25 to get one of these tested. I think some over on AVS would throw some money at this as well.

These were the ones we had. We had 4 of them in a smallish club, and I used to push them and they never sounded bad. When I first was asked to run sound there I brought some music with me that had really well recorded drums, and I listened to that, and I could feel the kick drum in my chest, and everything else sounded fine. I'd actually recommend these for basic live sound reinforcement.

Behringer Eurolive B115D 1000W 15 inch Powered Speaker

1,000W, 15" 2-way Active PA Speaker with Wireless Option and Integrated Mixer (each)

www.sweetwater.com