rigs. System specialist Alex Hadjigeorgiou describes scalability as “the new black”, in that it is the thing to have in sound rental. Big line array systems coincided with the global touring extravaganzas of the 1990s and 2000s. As well as being able to cover larger venues they were promoted as giving superior sound quality and performance over traditional horn cabinets. While the line array became predominant, the older technology never went away. As Witz at Clair Audio colourfully sums up, the
Ferrari: “Some people like muscle cars, some prefer exotic cars. Horn loaded boxes are more muscle cars and very in your face but they get you there, like the Ferrari, only in a different way.” Regardless of power, size does seem to be the crucial issue these days. Mick Anderson comments that big is still necessary but better component technology has allowed smaller format systems to produce high SPLs and give better coverage. The new breed of touring loudspeaker, whether bigger or
L-Acoustics’ K1 system, supplied by High Lite Touring of the Czech Republic, on the European leg of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ I’m With You tour in late 2011
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“Some people like muscle cars, some prefer exotic cars. Horn loaded boxes are more muscle cars and very in your face but they get you there, like the Ferrari, only in a different way”
difference between horns and line arrays is like that between a powerful but unsubtle V8 Mustang and a higher performance, sophisticated