At Community, the task of collecting accurate and relevant loudspeaker data is a process approached with equal parts of human mindfulness and hardcore science. At this point in the Chester, PA-based manufacturer's 33-year history, it is also a time-honored tradition first advanced in 1975 by founding partners Bruce Howze and John Wiggins. (Click here to read companion commentary and explanation from Bruce.)

Taking to the Pennsylvania countryside with test apparatus in tow resembling something straight out of Rube Goldberg's basement, Howze and Wiggins set out in those early days to collect test data on products from Community's own inventory as well as competitive offerings.

“Outstanding in the field” – Bruce and John doing measurements in the great outdoors, circa 1976.

Employing "free field" principles calling for each loudspeaker subject to be put through its paces in an outdoor environment, the duo collected measurement data using pink noise and a third octave analyzer photographed with a 35mm camera. The results of their extensive testing was published as part of the company's now legendary "White Catalog". Once discovered by the rest of the industry, the documentation was widely hailed as one of the most complete and reliable resources of its kind, and soon found its way into the hands of audio professionals worldwide.

Today, Community still subscribes to the notion that far more relevant data is obtained by testing loudspeakers at measurement distances that correspond to actual listening distances. "Based upon our experiences," Howze says, "testing in the near field and then trying to extrapolate that information back out to realistic distances generally produces data with serious flaws, especially when you're dealing with multi-way systems.

Mr. Howze, with groovy backdrop, demonstrates an unsafe listening distance for the benefit of all. (Sorry – saw the photo and couldn’t resist.)

Further, testing in the far field has significant benefits in terms of accuracy, particularly when it comes to angular data. In some respects, the way we collect data today is reminiscent of what we did long ago. The changes that are evident, both in the products themselves and in the methods and depth of the documentation, are a graphic example of how both Community and the professional audio industry have progressed since the '70s."

Now serving respectively as Community's President/Chief Engineer and Executive V.P., Howze and Wiggins have long since relinquished their data-seeking roles to other qualified individuals. Giving guidance to the process these days is Dave Howden, a former Clair Brothers technician and independent engineer with 15 years of sound reinforcement experience.

Having added his name to the Community payroll on July 9, 1998, Howden, as the company's official System Measurement Technician, literally occupies a lofty position within the company. Working from a third floor aerie in the tallest building found within the Community world headquarters campus, his office has significantly more than a corner window with a view.

"I have an opening in the wall up here the size of a barn loft which allows me to roll almost any loudspeaker out over the free field of the parking lot below for testing," Howden says of his airborne laboratory, which has a reputation both internally and within the surrounding neighborhood as a source for curious Dr. Frankenstein sounds and other odd electronic bleeps and chortles. "People are always wondering what the heck is going on up here. To the casual and more informed observer alike, my work seems to be shrouded in mystery."