AudioFred Messages: 377 Registered: May 2009 Location: Houston
Illuminati (1st Degree)
Your question is hard to answer because you're comparing two variables: point source verus line array and active crossover versus passive. I can't answer the crossover issue, but if you were considering driver cost alone, based on my experience I would agree with Rick's initial response to your post:
"It really depends on what your objectives are and what qualities you want in your system. With an array you're spreading a limited budget over several drivers versus just a few for a point source. The largest differences will be in tonality, sensitivity, and soundstage. The point source will have better tonality, especially if it's a 3-way. The array will give you a larger (and in my opinion) more lifelike soundstage with higher sensitivity.
Personally if it's under $1,500 in drivers I tend to prefer a point source because tonality is important to me. Even in the $2500-$3500 range you may find you favor a point source but the arrays do have the edge in dynamics as well. If you can go listen to a set of arrays and decide for yourself"
My experience as the owner of a Linus II line array using ten Vifa TC-series 5.5" woofers and eight Dayton PT-2 tweeters vesus a 2.5-way using Scan Speak Revelator drivers confirms this. The point source speaker using the $200+ drivers runs circles around the line array using $30 drivers in every way except for sensitivity and dynamics. Both speakers are Selah Audio designs, so the designs are equally competent or incompetent depending on your point of view.
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