10 l June 2012
www.prosoundnewseurope.com
technologyreview StageSource L3t powered speaker
The all-in-one StageSource L3t powered speaker
sometimes a harsh sound from the piezo that is hard to dial out, especially on a small system, but the L3t’s sweepable mid has it sorted in seconds. A bit of bottom end boost and treble cut with the shelving high and low EQ knobs and we’re good to go. There’s also a switchable acoustic modelling feature on channel 1. I try it out but don’t really find it brings anything to my sound – it might save the day if a budget quality acoustic piezo/ pickup is plugged in though. The built-in EQ is very flexible and has a wide range with lots of cut and boost – much more control than you would expect on a self-contained box. There’s more than enough
Mr Radiotones, AKA Dave Arcari, tunes up his guitars and his banjo and plugs into Line 6’s recently launched loudspeaker/mixer combo
AS A full-time gigging solo artist, the opportunity to review the new Line 6 StageSource L3t powered speaker was not one I could pass up. Like many solo singer/ songwriters I’ve tried a host of small PA solutions, and latterly have settled on an HK Lucas SMART system. The HK sounds great – a little underpowered for my stuff, but very compact. I rarely need my own PA these days, but when I do the SMART is easily stored or thrown into the back of the car.
The tri-amped, self-contained
(but expandable) Line 6 offering, therefore, looks like an extremely interesting proposition offering more power in less bulk and weight than even the compact HK system. On delivery, I gave the unit a whirl in the house before loading a range of instruments and carting the lot to the local village hall for a full-scale workout. Side handles – one of
which doubles as a floor stand if the unit is to be used as a monitor – mean the L3t is easy to lift and manoeuvre. OK, at around 26kg and
85cm tall it’s not featherweight, but it’s not unmanageable either. Full marks on physical design and ergonomics. It’s powered up in a jiffy and the
nearest instrument – a banjo with a ‘kavanjo’ pick up – and vocal mic are plugged into the in-built mixer. The inputs are XLR/jack combos so ready for anything, and the two-channel mixer is accessible and clearly laid out. The banjo isn’t the easiest thing to get a good sound out of, but it immediately sounds good… and the initial vocal sound perfectly serviceable even at low ‘house’ volumes. This demonstrates that the L3t could be a suitable solution for house concerts or coffee-house shows where only minimal sound reinforcement is necessary and space is tight.
Both channels have
‘mod’ and reverb controls and the dry sound in my house lets me check them out without fighting natural reverb sounds in a bigger space. The ‘mod’ control is a kind of doubler/short delay effect which some people might like on
vocal and others might not (I’m not so keen). The stock reverb was good enough quality but a bit short for my taste. Both effects, though, are adequate and useful additions if the L3t is being used entirely as a self- contained solution. I wouldn’t be surprised if Line 6 offers custom reverb settings via some kind of online/connected system update. (I should say here
that it’s an expandable system – more L3t speakers, L3s subs and the forthcoming StageScape mixer can be connected easily using Line 6’s digital networking technology.) The quick ‘is it working’ test
done, I head to the village hall where the L3t is up and running in seconds. Live, I use two National
Resophonic guitars equipped with Highlander piezos (for acoustic sounds) and humbuckers (when I want to use overdrive). I don’t use an amp on stage, everything is DI’d via an effects board which includes a dual valve Damage Control Liquid Blues pedal. The acoustic National is first for the soundcheck. There’s
power for the village hall which has a 150 or so seated capacity. With an audience, I guess I could have pushed the master volume beyond halfway without it sounding too loud.
The challenge for other compact systems usually comes when I plug in another National and use the humbucker through the valve overdrive. I often push the system results in compression to save the speakers but the L3t copes admirably with my nuclear holocaust guitar and screaming vocals – more than enough volume with the limit LED beside the master
volume on the back only occasionally flickering, and no signs of the sound being squashed out front. Next up I throw banjo, a
regular acoustic (with undersaddle piezo) and solidbody National at the unit…all sound good with minimal EQ or messing around. None are enhanced with the acoustic modelling function, so I leave that out. I turn everything up loud enough to try to get the thing to feedback. It’s difficult to induce, but when I do, the feedback suppressor (switchable on both mixer channels and also the main line in on the back panel) does a
PRICE AND AVAILABILITY f L3T is shipping now and retails at: £1,049.99 (€1,310)
www.line6.com
TECH SPECS fDual 10", tri-amped loudspeaker system
fFrequency response (+/-3dB): 47Hz to 18kHz
fMaximum SPL output: 132dB peak @ 1m (unweighted)
fCoverage pattern (-6dB): 100º H x 50ª V
fDigital networking: L6 LINK Intelligent Speaker Networking System
fDimensions: 86.1cm (h) x 31.2cm (w) x 31.2cm (d)x
fWeight: 26.1kg
PROS fAll-in-one solution fPowerful EQ fPower – size ratio fExpandable
CONS fLack of control over built-in effects
fIntegral mixer may colour sound
reasonable job at killing it without robbing too much tone. Overall, the L3t has plenty of
volume and flexibility. The EQ gives you control of a broad slice of the spectrum, and can be used aggressively if you wish. If I was to be critical, it would
be that the sound/dynamics seemed a little coloured by the built-in mixer and extra functions when I plugged one of the piezo Nationals through it. However, when used as purely a powered speaker in this set-up, with an external mixer (I use a little Bose digital) the L3t was natural, transparent and really came into its own.
The system packs a fair punch
for its size; it’s a fantastic all-in- one solution, particularly for a solo artist. And let’s be realistic here – this is a compact, ready-to- go powerhouse for a little over a grand. It does all that could be expected and more. I already own a PA; but if I didn’t, I’d buy this – I’d buy two, in fact – in a minute.
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