The Live Sound International (LSI) Loudspeaker Demo – a.k.a., “The Ultimate Audio Experience” – returned to the Church Facilities Expo (CFX) in Dallas in early October, presenting the unique opportunity for hundreds of show attendees to listen to, evaluate, and compare more than a dozen top professional loudspeaker systems in a controlled listening environment.
The event, emceed this time out by long-time audio industry veteran Bernie Broderick, has attracted nearly 10,000 attendees over the past decade-plus. Held in an exhibit hall (ballroom A3/A4) at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in downtown Dallas, site of the CFX show, the event featured both Round Robin (all systems) and Individual Demo sessions in addition to offering the opportunity to speak directly with representatives of every manufacturer for more information.
This year’s format featured sessions for both portable and compact loudspeaker systems hosted in one area. (Compact systems are larger-format, flown loudspeakers, while portable systems are smaller-format, ground-based loudspeakers.)
During each Round Robin session, the systems were fed identical music tracks. Listeners could evaluate what they were hearing and also observe each system’s scale, components and other important details, in addition to getting further technical details and pricing information from qualified representatives of each company participating in the demo. All systems were level-matched prior to each session, with Rational Acoustics Smaart SPL employed to both set and then monitor levels.
Participating loudspeaker companies included:
• Alcons Audio
• Biamp
• Electro-Voice
• Innovox
• RCF
• Renkus-Heinz
• TW AUDiO
Technology sponsors:
• Allen & Heath (console and stage boxes)
• Lectrosonics (wireless systems)
• Rational Acoustics (system measurement and level monitoring)
• Barco (video projection and screens)
• MEGA Lite (lighting fixtures)
Also note that following the conclusion of each Round Robin session, there will be drawings for great audio equipment prizes from manufacturers such as Biamp (loudspeakers), Electro-Voice (microphones), Renkus-Heinz (monitors), Rational Acoustics (Smaart software suite and measurement mic), RCF (monitors and interfaces), Ready, Set, Show (mic trainers) and more.
CFX 2024, slated for next fall in Chattanooga, TN, will be the site of the next loudspeaker demo event. More information will be available soon at livesound-demo.com.
