Line Array VS Traditional Box Speakers, Why not just get the line array ?

Sounds like a good horn loaded speaker system is what you’re looking for. They can offer the dynamic range of a live performance like no other type of speaker can. They can play very loudly without heroically priced & sized amps, start & stop very quickly & can sound much better than most amplified concerts I’ve heard that are so hard with minimal clear frequency extension at both ends. 
 

But, you often can be subject to horn colorations & “honkiness” that are often a byproduct of their design. They also can be very large & dominate a room. A really good balance I’ve recently found & own are the Volti Audio Rivals. They’re not huge, beautiful, natural looking cabinetry, very efficient & dynamic & most importantly sound excellent with even modestly powered tube amps. They’re not fatiguing at all which to me is a real test of a system & w/ a good recording, can put you 10 rows back in a live performance. Lots of fun! Check them out. 

Good stuff guys.  I guess if you  do not like live music then you would search for more sterile recorded audio but in the end all musicians are trying to get that performance to come across as if they were playing to you.  Hence that is what I would consider the perfect system.  The soundstage that presents itself like the folks are in the room.   For sure some systems sound better then some rooms as acoustics are not the best at many venues I have seen shows at.  Places like Royal Albert  Hall, The Beacon, The Met , Carnegie Hall and  many many other small theaters I have seen shows at have incredible acoustics if you are in the right location in the venue.   The old Palladium, The Lone Star, CBGBS, Commack arena just to name a few Horrible acoustics.   Yes rooms all differ, acoustics all differ and some venues are absolutely horrible, outdoor shows are not going to provide solid acoustics  as well. 

As noted , I already have horn loaded Klipsch Fortes with a few choices of amplification.   I know Klipsch strives for the live sound and they get pretty close .  At low volumes just incredible accurate sound out of my Fortes.  I would go for La Scalas if it could fit them  as maybe I need that to get to where I want to

I will look into some of the other speakers mentioned as well but still have the question, why not a small array for home?  There is a guy that built a mini wall sound and now is building another larger one.  The mini system probably would be something I would dig.  It is built for instrument separation as was the original wall of sound.  If you haven't followed that its pretty cool .  Do some searches

@johnk —

Audiophiles will tell you pro audio suxs till it's remarketed to them at a very high price than its the bees-knees.

Exactly. 

If you are interested in achieving live sound in your home I think that your instincts are good, but I’m not sure that actual, pro line array speakers are necessary unless you have a large room and are looking for exceptionally loud volume.

There are other things I would look at first such as multi-amping and active crossovers. At the very least a live audio engineer has separate control over the bass and the mid/highs. This helps in tuning the system to the venue acoustics as well as styling the system to the type of music being reproduced. This would be the same as adding a subwoofer system with an active crossover to your main system in home audio.

The other thing that is very important in live audio is dealing with venue acoustics, by far the biggest challenge, especially for traveling shows since using room treatments is not an option so they have to do it electronically. Also, all of their gear is electronically balance using the AES48 standard. This may not big the biggest difference maker, but is still part of the equation of what makes live sound what it is.

If you still think using line array speakers is the answer I would be looking at Meyer Sound.

https://meyersound.com

https://meyersound.com/product/leopard/

https://meyersound.com/download/leopard-datasheet/?wpdmdl=1992&masterkey=58b9e691f3002

https://meyersound.com/product/x-400c/

https://meyersound.com/download/x-400c-datasheet/?wpdmdl=2535&masterkey=58b9e786b6403

Ok, so the O.P. wants his sound to as closely reproduce the sound he gets at live venues.

I know exactly what he's talking about. And also, what he is after.

Almost everyone here keeps talking about, "Line Array's".

Almost no-one has even mentioned, "Line Source Array's".

Which, contrary to popular belief? Is an entirely (different) animal.

But "Line Source Array" systems are indeed the one's which are closest to reproducing the music. In the way in which he enjoys it most, as he "perceives" the music played at live venues.

Some of you have read the white paper on "Line source theory" and some have not.

But that does not seem to matter. Because as far as I can tell. Almost nobody actually "Gets It". Especially the ones that should get it! 

I have gotten to the point where I can look at any home, "Line Source" system. And I can tell you within (15) seconds whether it will perform, "AS" a line source system.

Up to this point? I have seen (0) systems that will do this. And by this, I mean - Produce a perfect, outward expanding. Circular patterned - (At a full 360 degrees.) wave of phase coherent sound. Without, "Beaming". And that does exactly what the White Paper says that it should.

Only in point of fact? If built correctly, it does much more. It will perform what I have begun to call, "Line source effects". None of which are listed in the White Paper. Or anywhere else for that matter. And seem wholly dependent on the "Line Source" design drawn directly from the theory. And, as well predicate to the correct "physical application" of this theory. And you have to hear these to believe it. Otherwise? You simply will not.

Everyone still calls it, "Line Source Theory" for a reason.

Except for me.

And these do NOT have to be crazy expensive. But currently, they simply aren't exactly cheap to build. But that was my goal.

Anyone?