Alesis ProLinear DSP, Reference Manual

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Frequently Asked Questions
4
Voicing and EQ FAQs
1. How is the ProLinear DSP’s frequency response set at
the factory?
The response is set to be as flat as possible, typ/-
1.5db from 50Hz to 20kHz with advanced bass compensation.
They are calibrated for “open space” placement (not against a
wall). However, the ProLinear DSP can be tailored to
compensate for many placement and mounting scenarios.
2. If this speaker is so flat, why do smaller, older
speakers have more bass?
The most likely reason is that the older speaker was EQ’d with
too much bass to compensate for its small size. By the way,
this is not true low bass, but is actually more in the mid-bass
range. Some users find this mid-bass boost appealing, but
those who are looking for accuracy probably won’t. There is a
penalty to pay for doing this, too, in addition to the bloated
sound: the loss of dynamic range. This occurs because it takes
a less powerful signal to reach the limits of the speaker; it will
start to distort or compress noticeably sooner than a larger
speaker like the ProLinear DSP.
3. Is it OK to set all the speakers to the same EQ via the
serial port connections?
That depends on how critical the listening application is for
the speakers. A speaker’s placement has a big effect on its
frequency response. Some applications may not be critical, but
others might dictate a flat response, such as using the speaker
for reference purposes. Keep in mind that the settings for one
listening position may not be adequate for another. In such
cases, it is possible to tune the ProLinear DSP speakers
individually by assigning each speaker to a separate channel.
With the user-defined EQ settings, you can have patterns for
various listening positions.
4. I need a speaker that plays loud. Monitor “X” has
twice the watts than the ProLinear DSPs; therefore, they
will play twice as loud, right?
The simple answer is no! Power is only one factor as to how
loud a speaker will play. You have to take into account driver
efficiency, compression and distortion as well as cabinet
design. Keep in mind that when you double the power into
the speaker, the most you can get is a 3dB increase in volume
(and most of the time it’s less, due to the factors mentioned
above).
The drivers we’ve chosen were selected for their low
distortion, extended response and clean output at maximum
level. The design was optimized for a near field monitor and
as such, can play loud enough to damage your hearing if
turned up too high. We have also tested them far-field in
medium size rooms and they will play cleanly at reasonably
loud levels.
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