Any Advice on Portable Line Array PAs? (BOSE, etc)

[necrome]

Oh I didn't notice you had singing portion after the guitar clips, I think I heard it play for a bit and thought it was someone else's track. It sounded identical on both devices (ala good, neutral and clear). The Roland is definitely a step down from the AH4x4, which is why I bought the Laney! The Roland is also a MUCH older design and I'm surprised the company hasn't refreshed it yet. They did release something very similar under the Boss brand this year at NAMM with in-built vocal harmonies but that's not really trying is it? The AH4x4 does hit a bass ceiling sometimes, even more so when you use the bassboost preset which makes the whole body rumble.

[Cuki79]

Originally Posted by necrome

Oh I didn't notice you had singing portion after the guitar clips, I think I heard it play for a bit and thought it was someone else's track. It sounded identical on both devices (ala good, neutral and clear). The Roland is definitely a step down from the AH4x4, which is why I bought the Laney! The Roland is also a MUCH older design and I'm surprised the company hasn't refreshed it yet. They did release something very similar under the Boss brand this year at NAMM with in-built vocal harmonies but that's not really trying is it? The AH4x4 does hit a bass ceiling sometimes, even more so when you use the bassboost preset which makes the whole body rumble.

Laney makes a similar products to the Roland too. The AH4x4 is not meant to colour the sound, I'll use my IR convolution pedal for that.

As far as the bass ceiling of the AH4x4, taht's why I am planing to use Aphex big bottom (or homemade similar)

That's what Aphex says about Big Bottom

In certain ways, Big Bottom behaves like a bass compressor, because it extends and sustains the notes. But, unlike a compressor, it does nothing to stop the leading edge of transients. It does not reduce or diffuse the snap, pluck, or punch. And, because it uses a dynamic, constantly changing kind of boost, it progressively augments the deeper tones as they decay, making the notes more solid and allowing your amp and speakers to develop their maximum output more safely.

So when your bass notes hit the ceiling, you just have to add Big Bottom compression and the lows will sustain instead of peak higher... The psychoacoustic will make you hear more bass as if it had peaked higher. The consequence is that the speaker cone does not have to go to its maximum excursion, it vibrates without reaching break-up but a tad longer to make you "feel" more bass.

[NotValid]

Hey Cuki, did you get the 4x4 yet? Care to share your impressions?

[Cuki79]

Originally Posted by NotValid

Hey Cuki, did you get the 4x4 yet? Care to share your impressions?

I did not receive the batteries from Amazon yet.

So far so good.

The good:
1) Impressive sound if you manage the low frequencies. WIth IR002 (my best shot right now) it sounds exactly right. However I do need to keep the IR to 18000 pts to have lows. Basically my IR works as the Aphex Big bottom, it let the lows ring a little longer (like a reverbon the lows) so the peak value of lows is not so high. Definitely worj with the AH4x4. I've reduced the IR to 2048 pts (thinking AMT pangae CP-16 integration) and boost the bass as it is done with Tonedexter (around 4096 pts) and it's a bit harsh then.

2) The bag is very well designed

3) you can use it on a pole, standing or in monitoring position!

The bad:
1) The mic gain is a bit low for my old SM58. I have a cough so I could not push the preamp yet. I am going a try other mics anyway. It's not lacking but, I don't like to have this pot at 100% all the time.

2) The 50-60Hz noise GND noise is there but if you don't touch the mic then it's OK (as predicted in SoundOnsound). If you have to hand held the mic, then you should wire a small GND (no big deal).

To be continued:
1) Have to test the subwoofer ouput
2) Did not try at full power yet. But for my purpose it's loud enough.
3) I'll try to post a detailed review with samples later on.

For me it's definitely a portable battery powered "Fishman SA220". The only thing you loose is 2x4"a bit of power and EQ. But it's only 6.5Kg (14.3 pounds)!!!

Wait for my samples.

Cuki

[martingitdave]

Very good Cuki! That sounds like a ringing endorsement so far. What is the ground issue? Is there no ground or ground lift?


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[Cuki79]

It's a DC 12V PSU with two pins and the PSU has also two pins contact.

When I touch the mic, my body serves as an antenna and you get hum. The hum stops if I touch any jack "inputs" (GND part) from the AH4x4 .

So basically I get some kind of ground loop and the 50 Hz (Europe) electromagnetic noise looks for the GND and can't find it.

That's my 2 cents...
Cuki

[martingitdave]

Originally Posted by Cuki79

It's a DC 12V PSU with two pins and the PSU has also two pins contact.

When I touch the mic, my body serves as an antenna and you get hum. The hum stops if I touch any jack "inputs" (GND part) from the AH4x4 .

So basically I get some kind of ground loop and the 50 Hz (Europe) electromagnetic noise looks for the GND and can't find it.

That's my 2 cents...
Cuki

What about a 12v in-line ground hum isolation transformer. I used to use them in car stereo installations.

[Cuki79]

Originally Posted by martingitdave

What about a 12v in-line ground hum isolation transformer. I used to use them in car stereo installations.

I don't believe it would work. The correct solution is to use a PSU with ground (3 pins) but the problem does not exist if you use the battery that I've received today... So I will probably not use the PSU anymore.

Cuki

[martingitdave]

Originally Posted by Cuki79

I don't believe it would work. The correct solution is to use a PSU with ground (3 pins) but the problem does not exist if you use the battery that I've received today... So I will probably not use the PSU anymore.



Cuki

Oh I didn't realize the PSU wasn't (3 prong) grounded.


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[Cuki79]

Originally Posted by NotValid

Hey Cuki, did you get the 4x4 yet? Care to share your impressions?

Here is the beast

Note that the enclosure is made of metal (except to and bottom) and feel solid.

The bag can also be used to use it as a monitor.


Here is a sample in "real condition". Note that I did not choose to put it in the condition it sounds best but in the most extreme condition.



* The AH4x4 is at 12m (39.4 feet) from the H2 on a pole
* All pots are at max (channel and general volume)
* Recording is made with a zoom H2 with gain at mid position.
* The recording is normalized
* The guitar is looped with a Jamman pedal.
Don't bother with me saying it's at max preamps.

1) Centered on axis
2) Moving on half a circle at 12m from the AH4x4. Living the center and going on one side (see yellow line) then walking back to center and then to the other side. You can hear the tone changing. (at one point there is a small tree, see video)


Note:
a) You can't hear it but it is loud (for 35W rms /70W peak).
b) Of course it sounds better at lower volume and closer to the speaker...
For the price, weight and size, I am thrilled
c) The guitar used is a Martin D-18, with LR Baggs Lyric, and IR convolution (IR002).

Just another video to get the idea


The small tree just show important is to have a speaker pole

Next thing is to use the subwoofer ouput (crossover at 120Hz) with the JAM 150 to get deeper bass.

Cuki

[martingitdave]

Cuki, you're a wild man! Sounds great. Very clear and strong.


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[NotValid]

This just caught my eye. ANT music, a new company founded in June this year by......guess who?.......RFC.
8 inch woofer and six 2.75 inch mid/high speakers pushing 1000w and its cheaper than a Maui 5 @ €410. They have a 12 inch 2000w version coming out soon too. Niether are available as of yet but if they can fit that RFC sound into a cheaper package then I can see this brand taking off, or not, we'll see. Cant wait to hear how they sound.
Copied specs.
ANT B-Twig 8, active column system with 3-channel-mixer, 8" ferrite speaker with 1,5" VC and 6x 2,75" neodymium speaker with 0,75" VC, 1000 Watt/Peak 500 Watt/RMS, frequenzy range 50 Hz - 20 kHz, 120 dB Max SPL, 120° horizontal dispersion, 3-channel-mixer with 2x Mic/Line (XLR/TRS jack combo), 1x stereo (Aux 3,5mm minijack RCA or switchable to bluetooth), 2-band-EQ and mix-out output, slide-lock system, Inc. carrybag, Polypropylene cabinets, dimensions Sub: 304 x 385 x 443 mm, Top: 92 x 800 x 90,5 mm, weight Sub: 10,5 kg, Top: 4,1 kg

https://m.thomann.de/intl/ant_b_twig...ch=1510948791#

[Cuki79]

Looks like he harbinger mls800

Cuki

[Paultergeist]

Originally Posted by Cuki79

Looks like he harbinger mls800

Cuki

And speaking of the Harbinger MLS 800.......

Wow....the Guitar Center “Black Friday” sales pamphlet lists the Harbinger MLS 800 on sale for $399. That seems like a pretty attention-grabbing price to me.

Just sharing info.

[martingitdave]

Yes it looks like a slightly rebranded MLS800.