Why so few high end line arrays?

Emailists:

Your system is impressive. You take your vinyl as seriously as I do my cds!

Headsnappin:

Have you heard the effect of comb filtering in more than one line array model designed for home audio? Can you elaborate on what I should be hearing (or not hearing) that is deleterious to the music? How would you compare/contrast it to the comb filtering of the much more commonplace MTM designs?

Has anyone heard the Audience line arrays?

I am referring to these speakers.

http://www.audience-av.com/loudspeakers/index.php

I've heard several line arrays. Like any design they seem to do some things wonderfully, but also seem to have issues of their own to contend with and overcome. It's always a trade off for what you consider important.

In my experience and on the ones I've heard, they seem to have:
- very good dynamics, both micro and macro
- very good imaging and soundstaging
- however the image can tend to be overly large, like a 6 foot tall saxophone or a 3 foot wide nose on the singer

From what I understand the overly large image can be compensated for in the design of the crossover and speaker connections. I'm sure newer designs have done this.

It's also important to have proper amp matching, but this is true of any speaker.

Hi Ptmconsulting,

My arrays stand 5.5 feet tall, shorter than the really big 'uns. Image height is not noticeably exaggerated where I sit (the back of the "nearfield zone").

As well, the image "forwardness" at high volumes in my system goes away below 80 Hz, and is nicely centered/deep at my listening volume sweet spot (about 75 dB average).

In fact, one trait of my arrays is exquisite expression of low level detail and tight, (relatively) impactful bass at such modest spls. It's a benefit that perfectly suits how I prefer to listen. Most array discussions seem to focus on the clarity and dynamics at very high spls - yet at low/modest levels these characteristics transcend any other loudspeakers (lots) I've had in my systems.