Danley's new non line array line array

[Rich4349]

http://www.lightingandsoundamerica.com/ ... ID=-K4KV9K
Some interesting quotes from Danley's president:

""More and more sound professionals are recognizing the serious short-comings of conventional line array systems," said Mike Hedden, Danley president. "The between-box interference in a line array system is horrible and generates nasty comb filters that no amount of processing can ever fix. If I could snap my fingers and have the whole industry abandon line arrays and everything to do with them, I would, but the reality is that the industry now has a line array legacy -- both perceptually and logistically -- that sound professionals are often forced to work within often choosing fast rigging at the expense of accuracy and fidelity. "
and:
"I don't even care so much that if people mistake it for a line array, as technically there really are no broadband line source products on the market"...
said Mike Hedden, Danley president.

Thoughts, Bill?

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Tom Danley doesn't do line arrays because that would make him a very small fish in a very large pond. Rather than try and compete for line array business with a few dozen other major companies he's gone in a different direction. There's nothing wrong with that. Just keep it in mind when reading press releases.

[88h88]

The between-box interference in a line array system is horrible and generates nasty comb filters that no amount of processing can ever fix.

We have a hideously expensive Nexo line array at work and after it was installed the comb filtering was the very first thing I noticed about it. It really doesn't sound like it should've cost $130k.

[Rich4349]

Are the drivers in adjacent cabinets just not close enough? Are they not as close as in the SLA or TLAH?
Do the SLA and or TLAH have SOME degree (tolerable, better than industry standards, etc) of comb filtering?

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

We have a hideously expensive Nexo line array at work and after it was installed the comb filtering was the very first thing I noticed about it. It really doesn't sound like it should've cost $130k.

I'd be willing to bet that's the result of installer errors. I don't recall hearing Nexo, though I might have, but I've heard JBL, EV, EAW, Martin and who knows how many others and never heard significant comb filtering. OTOH I've never heard a cluster array that didn't.

Do the SLA and or TLAH have SOME degree (tolerable, better than industry standards, etc) of comb filtering

They have virtually none. Even the SLA Curve Array has very little, even though it's one configuration where it might be expected.

[88h88]

I'd be willing to bet that's the result of installer errors. I don't recall hearing Nexo, though I might have, but I've heard JBL, EV, EAW, Martin and who knows how many others and never heard significant comb filtering. OTOH I've never heard a cluster array that didn't.

Very possible it's installer error, they're also pretty much enclosed where they're hung which probably doesn't help much... Either way we paid too much for a shitty sounding system because nobody who can sign off on this sort of thing has any experience in sound and it's pretty sad.

[Rich4349]

Barring getting yourself in hot water, what sort of venue acquires a system like this without knowing what they're?? (And don't say "many" or "most"!)

[Grant Bunter]

Barring getting yourself in hot water, what sort of venue acquires a system like this without knowing what they're?? (And don't say "many" or "most"!)

If you look up line array theory, you'll see it does have benefits, compared to (even vertically stacked) point source systems, most particularly in pattern control.
All the major players simply wouldn't have invested a shitload of money developing line array systems if there wasn't a substantial difference over what used to be done, like cluster arrays.
The companies also have proprietary software to get the best out of their systems too.
Sure, all those companies that did the legwork on line arrays then got savvy marketing gurus on the job promoting the benefits to promote sales, but if they aren't quantatively better, they wouldn't have sold from the outset.

However, if the system isn't set up correctly, it doesn't work like it should or can.
It's riggers who hang such systems in an install.
Doesn't mean the riggers know anything about sound, and it's more dollars to get a company guy there to make sure it's done right.
Riggers are dealing with the rig with other perspectives, weight on a cab to cab basis, and consequent total loading.

All systems will exhibit various amounts of comb filtering. It's more likely we won't notice it in vertically stacked (line) arrays because we don't go to the venue with minny tramps and bounce up and down in one place.

The kind of place that would buy a system like you linked would be one who doesn't understand line array theory, even sound theory in general, or someone who can be otherwise convinced by marketing hype, that this system is better than a line array.

I for one am not interested, because I like my subs on the ground, where they at least get floor loading...

[David Raehn]

Minny tramps? You mean Hobbits?

[Bruce Weldy]

Minny tramps? You mean Hobbits?

That would be Hobbit hookers.

[Grant Bunter]

You guys crack me up

[AcousticScience]

I've seen some theatres and clubs hang a few box J-array up quite high in a small room with quite a steep radius J - almost like a vertical cluster. Is that a situation that could generate more comb filtering than say a large line array from further back in a field?
The Jailhouse club in Hereford, and also The Courtyard theatre has such an arrangement.