Are Line Arrays Better?

Point source systems and line array systems each have their advantages and issues. While it is important to utilize the optimal system for the application, line arrays have one significant advantage that is easy to understand and difficult to measure.

Line arrays put all the problems where where its hard to hear them.

This is a trimmed and cleaned up version of a video from 2020

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[acousticbutler]

Why has it taken 30 years for someone to explain them like this?

[erniesanders]

The Master speaks. As usual you explain everything so simple and straightforward. Thank you for sharing this with us.

[lightaces]

Fun fact; the Grateful Dead tried to cover a venue with one speaker and a giant horn under the stage. It didn’t get past sound check, as it almost shook the stage apart. Or so one of their sound guys explained to me he was explaining The Wall of Sound to us in my live sound class at Berklee. He did half a tour as one of the techs for the Wall of Sound, and when he expressed doubts his first day, the lead sound guy set him at the front of the stage with a dB meter, and had him watch it as he walked away from the stage.

I’ve still never heard a show on a line array which sounded good to me, though. Efficiency aside, I don’t like them.

[Edwin-van-der-Putten]

Nice one, Dave! And really thanks for once again making it clear what something means in audo, with a practical explaining! You're great!

[MyFatherLoves]

My favorite version of a multi-driver system is still Danley Sound Labs. I've heard and mixed incredible line arrays. I usually mix on a fairly large line array regularly that was tuned by the dude who designed the Aardvark for Prince. I can't remember his name for the life of me. I think he works for Harmon now? We call him the Wizard and we've called him that so often that I can't remember his name now. Whoops.

Point is, I've heard a lot of very well designed and integrated line array. My favorite system that I've ever heard was a DSL system. Unbelievable spatial information and clarity. It's truly likely listening to a pair of excellent near-field studio monitors.

[JoshuaCharles]

Dave you are a genius!! I finally understand this concept!

[coreygalletly]

Besides being the best audio person I’ve ever heard you might be the best video editor I’ve ever seen

[peniku]

I'd like to add that line array speakers have a much narrower vertical coverage than typical point source loudspeakers, so you're hearing fewer individual loudspeakers where you stand, which reduces the comb filtering you might experience.
And you forgot about the metalheads. Stand at your position and headbang=solely vertical movement! :D

[zambotv]

Weight and trucking as well Dave.... I still love the look of old monster PA systems

[samollari]

Did you use Adobe Podcast Enhance or something when you're talking? I hear some of the weird resynthesis artifacts of it being pushed a little too hard

[marstedt]

How are those boxes put together? They look unusual.
Great video and demonstration, thank you!

[kwamesha]

Thanks for this simple analysis Dave. My question is: what is the benefit of flying point source speakers in concert/festival situations?

[imagemedia]

That was a brilliant demonstration and explanation. Obviously, line arrays have tremendous benefit for covering distances, but the comb filtering in the horizontal plane is one consideration we really don’t give much weight to in selecting a line-array. I think it’s more of a side benefit than the main purpose though. My usage of point-source speakers is in the same coverage method as line-arrays, so for me, a line-array isn’t a specific value-add. However, my setups were always done with the overlaps in non-listening areas, like aisles. I devoured the “Sound System Engineering” book by Don and Carolyn Davis, and that explored this concept in great detain.

[DanielEdwards-]

I think a lot of sound professionals, particularly snobby ones that think they know everything (I’m sure you’ve met your fair share!) often don’t entirely understand how line arrays work, and often don’t realising a lot of what live sound work is, is compromise. I remind engineers that walk from the back to the front of a venue that any phasing anomalies they hear is coming from the vertical axis, and what they perceive is the vertical shift from one array box to the next. And that’s before you factor in the left and right arrays interfering with each other.

[mickduprez]

makes perfect sense, thanks!
So, just spit balling here. In a horizontal setup almost half of your spl is lost to the ground (by laying a vertical array on its side, half the projected sound waves are lost or bounce off the ground causing other issues like cancellation) whereas in a vertical array the spl is concentrated (i.e. added together at the source) so you get good spl and therefore coverage horizontally(?)...

[russellhltn]

In physics, I learned that a vertical line source will project better - less dispersion vertically, but good dispersion horizontally.

[jakubpodesva]

Fantastic explanation Dave, thank you! Btw.: I am awaiting some SoundTools stuff for being installed in our venue - some WallCat8's and some CatTails as well, great idea, can't wait to try them out :)

[FOHGeek]

Both line arrays and point source systems have their favorable scenes and methods of application. Line array speakers need to be hung up at a certain height and splayed in specific angles to ensure an even coverage pattern. In compact venues with low ceilings like live-houses, small bars and clubs, conference rooms etc. deploying a pile of line array speakers from the ground to the rooftop won't necessarily lead to better acoustic result than rigging up a pair of 15-inch point source cabinets.

[doougle]

The whole reason I'm a sound guy is my fist was the right width to space out KF850s back in the stacking PA days 😂

[IrenESorius]

I would say that most line arrays Iw heard sounded way "better" than the 4 complete, EV MT4 systems, we had in the 1990, s,
when we were out touring on all sorts of biker events, , and we had no forklifts etc. All where hauled by hand, , 🤪.
I and the drummer where the only two that where strong enough to lift up and down the MT4 top, s, on top of the subs, , 16 x ca170kg every f, , kn venue.
My back still hurts. 😥(Not to talk about rack-cases full of Crest Audio 10001, s and 9001, s 😬. We had wheels on them at least. )
Btw, your totaly right about Globen and its chaos acoustics. What a mess, , 🤡. Cheers friend, , 🍻😎🤘‍‍