Moran has noticed an audio quality difference. “By staying at the native sampling frequency of 96 kHz in both the Dolby Lake Processor and Lab.gruppen PLM amps, you benefit from minimum A/D and D/A conversion latency, get great sound quality all the way to the loudspeakers and can take advantage of the Lake 32 kHz + EQ without adding any artifacts.”

This results in a very low THD of 0.00063% typical, 20 Hz to 20 kHz, unweighted with 113 dB of dynamic range after the combined A/D and D/A conversion.

“With the added advantage of true voltage peak limiting in both the Dolby Lake Processor and PLM amps we are able to take maximum advantage of the high efficiency/high power characteristics of the McCauley loudspeakers.

“What’s more is that I can run other things across the network at the same time. Dante just doesn’t care whether it’s sound or even the Internet. To Dante, it’s all data.”

Because Dante works on Ethernet, the same networking protocol is used for LAN’s and the Internet, so any data can be run on the network simultaneously.

Alex Moran setting up the Lab.gruppen PLM amps - an Ethernet cable connects the switch at the top of this amplifier stack to another switch at Front of House (click to enlarge)

The same laptop used to run the sound system is connected to the Internet to run daily business, and communicate with clients and vendors, while working at a show.

.

The savings on the new setup has been a real relief for the tight budget. Considerable money – about $10,000 – was eliminated for items that would usually be allocated to connect analog amps to the system.

Instead of buying costly copper snakes and input output panels, Ethernet cable and common networking devices were found at a local big box electronics store.

If any of the networking devices ever fail, a replacement can easily be found.

Savings will keep on coming; storage space, transportation, and setup time are all reduced and less time will be spent maintaining the connectors on copper conductors.

Lately Moran, a true audio geek, has been eager to talk about $100 wireless routers, inexpensive Ethernet cable and “off-the-shelf” switches bought for a pittance. He’s pretty happy with the new PLM amplifiers, too.

With the larger new main PA system in place, Spider Ranch is ready to take on more challenging shows and make the leap to the next level.

Shannon Dunn is a writer, photographer, graphic designer and web designer.

Page 3 of 3
Previous  < 1 2 3