Why so few high end line arrays?

JB

Thanks for the response regarding higher impedance speakers. I currently use a Zero autoformer to raise my current 4 ohm speakers to 8 (anything higher than that and it didn't sound right)

Your system looks great as well.

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.