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Am I crazy? Powered PA for Theater...

post #1 of 14
5/14/11 at 3:07pm
Thread Starter 
I am a long time audiophile. I've had loudspeakers made by Paradigm, Magnapan, Audio Physic, and others.

As you might be able to guess, I'm also a guitar player. As such, I have had the need to buy a quality PA system. I was just plain sick of broken down, borrowed or rented PA gear. I recently purchased a quality QSC powered speaker system KW153s and matching subs. After hooking up this system and playing my Oppo 95 through it, I think I like it better than my Audio Physic home system? What is wrong with me?

It sounds to me like the QSCs just give me "more" of everything I watch movies for. Are the HI-FI/PA lines coming closer together, or is it just a phase?
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post #2 of 14
5/14/11 at 3:18pm
I owned and ran a mid level concert system for many years .. I am also a guitarist .. I much prefer the in your face SQ of pro equipment for anything from movies to music ..

I still own PA gear and I still use it once or twice a year just because I like messing with it ..

At home, however, I've stuck with horn loaded consumer speakers in order to not turn our home into a studio or stage ..
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post #3 of 14
5/14/11 at 3:24pm
ALOT of people use JBL pro speakers in their theaters. Some with dual 15"s with bigass horns for the front LCRs.

But if you get into the pro stuff with high sensitivity and high wattage, you will have to build your own subs to keep up with such speakers. Something like (8) 15"s, (8) 18"s or a few THTs.
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post #4 of 14
5/14/11 at 4:19pm
Thread Starter 
More positive responses than I thought get here already.

Yeah, the new QSCs are just clear, tight, and powerful sounding speakers. I haven't even got the subs hooked up and it's killing my Sunfire. When I hook up the 18"s, look out neighbors! LOL
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post #5 of 14
5/14/11 at 4:32pm
Also, most pro subs only go down to 30hz or so.
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post #6 of 14
5/14/11 at 4:36pm
The QSC HPR-152i design became a very hot DIY design because QSC sold the waveguides for < $20 for a long time.

Home Theater requires dynamics and controlled/constant directivity. QSC speakers are a perfect choice with those goals in mind.
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post #7 of 14
5/14/11 at 5:39pm
Can you get them with a fancy vaneer and a fancy name like Excalibur X-15b?

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post #8 of 14
5/14/11 at 7:08pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MichaelJHuman View Post

Can you get them with a fancy vaneer and a fancy name like Excalibur X-15b?


Ha... Way ahead of you. Went down and got some of that faux wood paint at the home depot. Dark Cherry!
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post #9 of 14
5/14/11 at 7:33pm
A while ago I spent a couple of hours listening to a pair of K-10's. We were amazed at how smooth they were. They were not too forward at all. Sometimes it seemed like you could here a slight resonance from the plastic box otherwise they were very good. I would imagine the KW (K series with wood) would be that much better with the birch cabinet.
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post #10 of 14
5/14/11 at 10:35pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah, the k-10s are surprisingly good too. I'm going to spring for a couple for monitor use in the band. I'm just all around impressed and surprised about the quality of the new PA offerings... and how I like the sounds I'm getting as much or more than my high end home stuff.
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post #11 of 14
5/15/11 at 5:06am
Having worked in the high end - custom industry since the early 90's I have come to the conclusion that most Hi-Fi speakers (at least the ones I've been exposed to) are exaggerated (colored)to some degree in the mid/high region. It wasn't until I heard live,real music that I realized that I was missing so much.
I was one of the first (where I'm from) to start installing active studio monitor type for dedicated theatre applications. When you hear undistorted headroom its addictive. There are now some real bargains in the PA world that just plain work. I would imagine that any self respecting audiophile would have a heart attack with the thought of a pair of QSC PA's in the room! but Its there loss! Right now I'm torn between QSC or doing something myself with better drivers.
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post #12 of 14
5/15/11 at 2:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Genelec Man View Post

........

When you hear undistorted headroom its addictive.

+1

I absolutely, whole-heartily agree. Once one spends any time config'd in this manner, highly difficult going back. We've conquered so many other distortion aspects in audio, and achieving dynamic realism is the next natural progression.


Quote:


I would imagine that any self respecting audiophile would have a heart attack with the thought of a pair of QSC PA's in the room! but Its there loss!

You're right! However if they heard them blind, they'd be head over heels


Quote:


Right now I'm torn between QSC or doing something myself with better drivers.

Any 15" 2-way design based around the acclaimed B&C, DE250, HF compression driver/waveguide combo, would largely outperform nearly any HiFi commercial offering available,... regardless of price. There are commercial pro options as well. What's the budget?

Thanks
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post #13 of 14
5/16/11 at 6:39am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Genelec Man View Post

Having worked in the high end - custom industry since the early 90's I have come to the conclusion that most Hi-Fi speakers (at least the ones I've been exposed to) are exaggerated (colored)to some degree in the mid/high region. It wasn't until I heard live,real music that I realized that I was missing so much.
I was one of the first (where I'm from) to start installing active studio monitor type for dedicated theatre applications. When you hear undistorted headroom its addictive. There are now some real bargains in the PA world that just plain work. I would imagine that any self respecting audiophile would have a heart attack with the thought of a pair of QSC PA's in the room! but Its there loss! Right now I'm torn between QSC or doing something myself with better drivers.

Totally agree... I have to tell you, I demo'd a set of speaker at a high end audio store recently, $47,000 for the pair. Add to that the $150,000 Boulder CD/Preamp/Amp combo, it was $200k. It got closest to what I hear in the uncompressed voice of my QSCs. I wouldn't say there was a $195,000 difference.

I'm just blown away. I can't believe I didn't see (hear) this sooner.
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post #14 of 14
5/16/11 at 6:40am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by FOH View Post

You're right! However if they heard them blind, they'd be head over heels

So true!
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