AES PNW Meeting Report

Sound Reinforcement Loudspeaker Workshop, in conjunction with 
WAPS (Washington Association of Production Services

January 22, 1997


What's the soundman's dream experiment? Try a few of the best horn-loaded, 
single driver per bandpass, all-in-one-box, medium-large format loudspeakers 
speakers around? Have them all at once for instant comparison? Have a real 
theater to try them in? Free food? No Problem! The PNW Section did this for 
their January 1997 meeting, the Loudspeaker Listening Workshop. Co-sponsoring 
the event was WAPS, the Washington Association of Production Services, a group 
of companies in the live event production industry in the State of Washington 
whose specialties include: Sound, Lighting, Audio-Visual, Motion Picture, 
Convention, Trade Show, and Special Event services. 

Dan Mortensen, current chair of the AES PNW Section and current President of 
WAPS, opened the evening meeting after a hectic afternoon of load-in at 
Seattle's Paramount theater. A large audience of over 80 attendees each 
introduced themselves. The result of the introductions was an overview of the 
wide variety of audio interests represented by the AES, and always gives a 
fascinating look at who attends our meetings.

Through supreme good fortune, the 2,800 seat Paramount Theater was snagged for 
the venue, and a thorough test protocol was established. Primarily, there 
would be no contest to find the "best" speaker. Attendees received a sheet of 
instructions on how to evaluate the speakers themselves. They were free to 
roam the house during the tests to hear for themselves. Speakers were be 
carefully set up to eliminate as many known variables as possible. Distances 
from the speakers and angles off axis were marked throughout the theater. 
Recorded test material was described, including pink noise, voice and various 
music styles, and played at several announced levels. AudioControl Industrial 
provided equipment and expertise to match levels and check for polarity. 
Attendees were warned to bring ear protection and to listen for:

A)	Evenness and bandwidth of frequency response.
B)	Evenness and bandwidth of frequency response throughout the width of the 
spatial coverage.
C)	Ability of speaker to *throw* to the depth of the listening area.
D)	Ways in which any of the above vary when two speakers are placed side-
by-side, with varying angles between coverage centerlines.
E)	Variability of above with change in listening level.
F)	Maximum volume attainable.


Speakers included were the Apogee C-3, EAW KF-850, Electro Voice Delta Max 
DMS-1183/64 and Meyer Sound Laboratories MSL-4. Product owners, manufacturers 
and/or their representatives were actively involved, and cooperation was the 
rule rather than competition.

Snacks were supplied by the AES for intermission, and the testing proceeded 
until all tests had been completed. Many complaints were heard about the 
amount of actual walking required to do the entire evening's tests. Special 
thanks are extended to the Paramount Theater, AudioControl Industrial, WAPS, 
and the participating sound companies.