Line Array VS Traditional Box Speakers, Why not just get the line array ?


I am sure this question has been posed many times over but I am curious as to response from the current active crew here.   Since I attend live music on pretty much a weekly basis for the most part I always come away with the same.  I actually need that line array at home thought.  Even if its not the band but the music between sets , I still need that line array.

We all spend good money on trying to recreate the live sound at home.  Why not use the same pro gear that bands do, DJs, Clubs etc...for a fraction of the cost of some of the crazy systems you guys have.  I have heard systems that cost ungodly amounts of money and no home system at any amount of investment that I have heard truly sounds like the real deal.  Some folks spend stupid money on AMPs, cables speakers and the sound is amazing but again it doesnt sound like it really does live.   For a fraction of the cost you  can get you the real pro AV sound.  

I look forward to the responses as I know a bunch of the cats on here are musicians as well.

128x128searchingforthesound

Showing 1 response by mgrif104

It’s a good question.  

The acoustic science behind Line Arrays is significant.  They are designed to project high volumes a long way.  There is a reason they’re used in large facilities - because it’s very difficult to get full volume to the back of a large venue/arena without adding side fills or back fills - which then have to be on delays so the sound arrives in back from all sources somewhat evenly. Roughly speaking, line arrays are built such that the amplitude of the sound wave is multiplied because of the specific proximity of the drivers to one another.  But, this comes at a significant cost in other areas.  They’re inherently narrow dispersion (hence the ability to push sound a long way) and they have a LOT of phase cancellation issues - particularly when run in stereo.  (Most live concerts are run mono - not stereo).  If you were able to walk around a venue while a crew is doing a sound check, you would hear the sound materially change moving just a few seats.  Of course, you could tune your array for the sweet spot in your living room.

And, as @russ69 points out, pro speakers are built to play loudly - not accurately. There’s an adage: you can have loud, full range, accurate, or reasonably priced. Pick two.

The cabinets are designed to take the beatings of load in/load out on a daily basis. But, they have to be moveable too.  So, the cabinets are simple felt covered plywood boxes which vibrate (and therefore speak) like crazy. 

But, there is a way to get what you want for home use. Look at JBLs, Klipsch or any number of companies that make speakers for both uses (pro and consumer) as there is some commonality to their house sound, dynamic range, etc.  They’ll give you that “jump” factor.

Best,