Live Sound: who makes the best speakers?

[superchibisan]

so, i've been bouncing around the internets, to find out exactly which company makes the best live sound rig.

funktion 1, kv2, adamson, d&b... who am i missing and who do you think provides the most comprehensive, best sounding live sound you've ever heard?

im partial to kv2, but i don't know if they are the best. adamson has some neat software, but i don't know what their speakers sound like (can't be bad!)...

[nickynicknick]

I think you are in the wrong place...but there really isn't a right answer here...maybe you should ask what our favourite boxes are to mix on for a specific genre.

Nick

[superchibisan]

dunno where else to ask...?

[nickynicknick]

Originally Posted by superchibisan

dunno where else to ask...?

Oh I meant Remote possibiities...that's the "live" forum

[Marogru]

Yep, it supposed to go to Liv forum, but since you ask, I have 2 my favorite words: Mayer Sound, nothing to add.

[Mo Facta]

Originally Posted by Marogru

Yep, it supposed to go to Liv forum, but since you ask, I have 2 my favorite words: Mayer Sound, nothing to add.

Yup, Meyer is brilliant. Lately I've been doing a lot of work on a d&b array with an M7CL. Really powerful and warm sounding system that doesn't have the usual throaty tekky tekky clunkiness of cheaper (and sometimes not-so-much-cheaper) line arrays. Vertec, I'm looking in your direction .

Anyways, with an M7 and a d&b you're sure to have a great gig.

Cheers

[kosmokrator]

now everybody hail V-DOSC!!

[studjo]

Meyer Sound.

[mxeryus]

Please define best.

I am very impressed by Funktion One. Clear, detailed and enough weight for any kind of music. If you have the possibility to listen a set, please do.
For more info about live sound look at http://srforums.prosoundweb.com

[muziekschuur]

BAGEND

Bag End Loudspeakers 847 382 4550

hangs in the yankee stadium.

[jonboyrock]

My favourite is the d&b J series line array with J Subs. Insane. A close second is Nexo Alpha, get lots of boxes in a cluster and that is some serious rock sound... And L'Acoustics V-Dosc for 3rd.

[Roland]

A lot depends on how the system is set-up. Well teched system from any of the top manufacturers will sound great. In my personal opinion the best systems I've ever heard/used are from D&B, Meyer, Clair Bros, L Acoustic. Generally the latest J series stuff from D&B has the nod from most engineers that have heard/worked with it, but it's also one of the most expensive and again doesn't suit all events.

Regards


Roland

[t-hiho]

KV2!
If You are for a small active system, there is NOTHING better. we have 4 stereo systems of KV2 here at our facility. those are the most hifi-sounding PA-speakers known to mankind.

[Aisle 6]

KV2...don't let the affordable price make you believe that they are anything but stellar.

[Fletcher]

Of the systems I've heard over the past few years the Clair Bros. "I-4" system seems to be the best I've heard in terms of Line Array systems [the Vertec and V-Dosc systems being close seconds].

I the realm of "big box systems" I've always been a fan of Clair's "S-4"s... but they're big [!!!] and heavy [!!!] and take up boat loads more truck space than is necessary with the technology currently available.

You might want to ask this question on ProSoundWeb.com's "Live Audio Board"... where I'm sure you'll get some very lively and experienced responses.

Peace.

[kosmokrator]

As in studioland, there is no 'best'.
V-dosc for example IMHO has a very 'SSL'-sound. Punch and in your face.
Also, 'best' for the production manager is efficient truckspace-wise, for the FOH-mixer the sound, for the rigger the - well - rigging, for the monitor mixer the amount of spill to the stage, you get it.
The very highend-systems you cannot rent without a certified tech setting it up.

A very nice system for all but the biggest venues is dV-Dosc, IMHO.
I also happen to like the old turbosounds for certain applications.

[Perelandra05]

It's hard to beat the V-DOSC, however, I love the punch you can get out of the QSC widelines. I usually fly wideline arrays coupled with L Acoustics dual 18" subwoofers cabinets ground stacked.

[nickynicknick]

V-dosc is still my favourtite line array to work on, adamson y-10's are great as well...but as Roland pointed ou,t when it comes to line arrays it's all about the set up and the systems tech...I'm not a fan of Clair I-4's at all but the guy teching The Police did an outstanding job and the rig sounded fantastic...BTW their FOH guy uses a PM 5000 analog console

Line array is not appropriate for everything though...I still love mixing rock shows on kf750's and turbosound had a rock box out a few years ago that was fun to mix on...

this is a very tough question to answer right

Nick

[nickynicknick]

BTW Fletch S-4's eh?...that's some serious air that moves with those...those big ol' beasts could sure punch you in the face..

[trompetfreak]

Hi there.
I mix on a Meyer array 3 days a week. Works really wel, very low noise and beautiful response.
The best system I ever worked with is a L-accoustics array.

D&B C7 (subs and tops) works great on a wide range of genres, from jazz to dance/electro.

I can't stand what Funktion-1 does with live music/bands, but sometimes it works on electronic music. There's a lot of sub and a lot mid-highs in the system, but harldy any mids and top-high. It all ends around 10K. It doesn't sound realistic at-all.

EV is usually very harsh around 4K


If you're looking for a small pa-rig, I can really advise D&B's E6 series. The response is great!

[Denny McNerney]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

I the realm of "big box systems" I've always been a fan of Clair's "S-4"s... but they're big [!!!] and heavy [!!!] and take up boat loads more truck space than is necessary with the technology currently available.

ahh, yes, good ole S-4's.
in '78 or '79 i mixed a stadium show w/ 96 of them...

and yes, heavy. 440 lbs, if i remember correctly.

but, i have been the most impressed, present day, w/ L-Acoustics V-DOSC.

[Thumper]

Can't believe no one has mentioned Martin Audio yet. They are my pick, I love horn loaded boxes.

[txgator]

D&B and Martin are my favs

[plexisys]

Of the systems I've heard over the past few years the Clair Bros. "I-4" system seems to be the best I've heard in terms of Line Array systems [the Vertec and V-Dosc systems being close seconds].

I the realm of "big box systems" I've always been a fan of Clair's "S-4"s... but they're big [!!!] and heavy [!!!] and take up boat loads more truck space than is necessary with the technology currently available.

Fletcher, you've restored my faith in you.

in '78 or '79 i mixed a stadium show w/ 96 of them...

pussy

[Denny McNerney]

Originally Posted by plexisys

pussy

oh, you wanna start?

[plexisys]

Originally Posted by Denny McNerney

oh, you wanna start?

Having some fun with you but I think that rig was smaller than what we had at the Cal Jam and/or Us festival.

I once blew out every speaker on a 40 bin rig while mixing the Clash. The band thought it was the greatest thing in the world. Gene and Roy weren't to happy.

[Denny McNerney]

did you mix on a clair superboard?

[plexisys]

I've used pretty much everything going back to the Soundcraft 2 in the 70s up until what's been out since. I don't mix live anymore but I still go out to trouble shoot/consult on tours and festivals.

Soundcraft, Midas, Gamble, TFA Electrosound/Clair/Showco/Maryland Sound/Audio Analyst and pretty much everything in between.

I miss the crews but not the lifestyle. Dam I'm getting old.

[Denny McNerney]

yes, me too. i've worked on everything...

but i still remember that clair board that folded up, and those dual action meters next to every input fader. faders horizontal, and the eq and trims on the slope.

beautiful console.

[plexisys]

That was indeed a fine console. Luckily I was brief casing it by that time and didn't have to try and hump that sucker.