The copycats will be coming out of the woodwork.

This one by Beacon is the first I've seen.

Read all about it:
http://www.anchoraudio.com/beacon.php

Not my intention to advertise for them, but it's pointless for all of us searching the web to find out more.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ST,

Only 300 watts with a base price of $2700.00. Gee, let me think.......


Jeff
http://www.theunmentionables.com

Reminds me of 2 402's sitting on an MB4, hmmmmm

It is in the new Full Compass catalogue that I got yesterday.

quote:

It is in the new Full Compass catalogue that I got yesterday.

Yep, that's where I saw it. Looks pretty clunky to me, and expensive. Only redeeming aspects are the retracting handle and the nerdy approach to the setup videos, that's really popular these days...think Napoleon Dynamite.

I couldn't find the user forums. I don't think I'll be selling off my Boses just yet.

You know, I hope these actually work as advertised. I'd prefer that portable Line Array systems get a generally good reputation, and that the Bose System is recognized as the best of them.

I think that would be preferable to portable Line Arrays getting a bad reputation because of poor products.

We could spend a lot of time (I've been spinning this around in my head all morning), speculating on the technical merits of the Beacon. But, just like our Bose Systems, I'm sure you'd have to hear it to know.

quote:

You know, I hope these actually work as advertised. I'd prefer that portable Line Array systems get a generally good reputation, and that the Bose System is recognized as the best of them.

Good point....let's hope they kinda work good!

Jeff
http://www.theunmentionables.com

I have not had good experiences with Anchor products. They build some nice-looking stuff, but sonically have not been up to the asking price. They make podium systems that can run into the thousands of dollars, but they are not high fidelity IMHO.

Cool, huh? I saw this web site a few months ago and I think they've got a good little product there. Some of the differences I noticed were:

1) The larger drivers in the array bring the side dispersion angle down to 120 degrees. This would make it really hard to use in the "new approach" (a.k.a., one mix) way for bands that we are talking about.

2) The weight is very good 42lbs for the whole thing.

3) The array is kind of short so you're not going to get a cylindrical wave front from nearly as many frequencies. My guess is that they are only going for "spoken word" performance so the shorter array will work.

4) I think we're a better value because we'll make a better cylindrical wave (wider and more frequencies) and we cost about the same or less.

I agree with ST. Let's hope more products like this come to market and may the best speaker for your needs win.

Steve

PS Time to eBay all that old stuff while it still worth something.

Steve, you forgot one.

5) NOBODY on this planet comes close to matching Bose's customer support.

g-j,

Wow, thanks. I (humbly) agree that we're trying our best to make world-class support happen. It's a choice.

That said, with owners like we have on this board, it just takes it all to a new level. Feel free to tell your musician friends we'll take care of them; we've got your back.

Steve

Never a bad thing when you have some competition amongst products/services. Much like a music store which has a competitor move-in nearby, overall traffic volume is usually increased for people shopping gear. They don't wanna drive all over town to shop/compare so they often go someplace where there's more than one store located in the vicinity. I've seen all types of "specialty" stores thrive together by having a niche within a busy market along with other quality product/service providers.

But what if the competition is poor? ST is so correct, poorly designed systems could kill the reputation for line-array as a whole and make it impossible to market and thrive. Hopefully, competitor products will offer good value and Bose will continue leading the pack via their performance and quality service!

Bose has a good thing. I know they're listening and hopefully developing improved and perhaps other varieties of Personal Amplification Systems? Did I spell all of that right? LOL...

Lighter/smaller, alternate power sources would be awesome cause just last night, I would have loved to go PAS but the size/cartage situation just didn't allow for it. Smaller/lighter rig? I would have gone for it.

The big stuff is cool too and (btw, how's that coming along?) well-worth developing for commerical applications but I think there are a lot of gigs/venues where the entire capability of a Personal Amplification System will never be utilized.

Probably a huge amount of R&D involved developing a lighter, less powerful speaker and lighter weight base/amp. It would probably cost more than the current model. Crazy stuff, eh?

Ready, set go...

quote:

Personal Amplification Systems? Did I spell all of that right? LOL...

Sooooo close:

Personalized Amplification System(tm)

Thanks for trying though.

...and now there are more (gleaned from a thread on Talkbass Forum:

http://ratch-h.com/farm.html

http://ratch-h.com/pa-speaker.html

http://www.partsexpress.com/projects.../Kuze3201.html

quote:

Steve, you forgot one.

5) NOBODY on this planet comes close to matching Bose's customer support.

Nope. He forgot two!!!

6) The presets in the Bose PAS let you refine the sound to perfectly match the incoming source and the venue.

(Not to mention the remote!)

I've learned to appreciate BOTH of these features enormously.

Hi Mark,

Did you catch this other discussion
Aliert: Line Array Towers - rival ... ?

Fun discussion starting with some pictures of home built line arrays.

I was reminded of this discussion when I read Don's new thread The world needs an L-1 podium. I still think that Anchor is inferior sound quality, but I quite like the small footprint of this Beacon design.

wow........"Reach Crowds of 5,000 +" lol

Yeah Ric, bring that up over at Harmony.