ProAudio Review - February 2009 - (Page 55)

live review by Andrew Roberts Bag End P-Crystal R Loudspeakers This hefty full-range/mid-high powered enclosure offers superb audio and imaging — perfect for higher-end installation applications. Some years ago, when I was first exposed to the concept of incorporating power amplifiers into loudspeaker enclosures, I scoffed at the idea. What could be more hostile to a circuit board (with all the solder joints and attached components) than to be placed inside an enclosure that was producing copious amounts of low-frequency energy? In the ensuing years, loudspeaker manufacturing trends have continued to move in the direction of incorporating power amplifiers (and, in some cases, speaker processing) into cabinet design and, as best I can tell, my previous apprehensions have been nullified by years of reliable operation. Having produced excellent passive loudspeakers for many years, Bag End has begun to produce active speakers, too. Notable among those products, the PCrystal R is a full range/mid-high box that incorporates a powerful amplifier and pro-grade components into a robust enclosure. Features The P-Crystal’s cabinet is a trapezoidal affair that measures 39.5 inches high by 14.5 inches wide by 17 inches deep. The box is a two-way vented enclosure, housing two 12-inch woofers (top and bottom) and a 1.4-inch exit compression driver with a 3-inch titanium diaphragm (center). It also has a substantial onboard power amp mounted in the rear. All these components, combined with a stout 13-ply birch shell, yield a hefty weight of 115 pounds. The cabinet features a Rotex finish and has protective end caps that shield the top and bottom from surface damage. It is also outfitted with quick-release rigging points, handles, and a stand adapter (but it better be one sturdy stand). The P-Crystal has a somewhat focused dispersion area with 55° of horizontal and 40° of vertical coverage, making it suitable for longer throw applications. The cabinet features a claimed frequency response of 80 Hz-18 kHz (+/-3 dB), a maximum acoustic output of 130 dB SPL, and an internal crossover that is centered at 1.9 kHz and utilizes Bag End’s proprietary Time-Align process, claimed to improve overall clarity. The onboard amp is Bag End’s proprietary Minima One power amp. It features a switch mode design and, with minimal heat generation, has no cooling fan. By nature, the amp is professed to be very efficient (as switch mode amps are) and can operate on a wide range of incoming AC voltages (88-270 volts). It has a claimed output of 1,000 watts when presented with a 4-ohm load, and the amp is responsible for only 6 pounds of the overall cabinet weight. The amp module has an XLR input, an XLR thru, a Neutrik PowerCon AC input, a high-pass filter (6 dB down @ 8, 50, or 95 Hz), a mute switch, an input sensitivity control, and a modest three LED display to indicate power, limiting, and fault. In Use My first impression of the P-Crystal was not a sonic one. Rather, it was the strain of trying to lift the cabinet while it was still in the box. It is seriously dense for its modest size. My other initial impression was an admiration for its obvious prograde construction. The cabinet is attractive and robust with a sturdy grille and a nice, durable finish. While the end caps seem functional, they do generate a distinct look with upper and lower plateaus. Given the P Crystal’s lack of low-frequency capacity (rated down to 80 Hz), I made sure to use the cabinets in situations Andrew Roberts is a live-sound and recording engineer based in the Washington, DC area. www.proaudioreview.com February 2009 | ProAudioReview 55 http://www.proaudioreview.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of ProAudio Review - February 2009

ProAudio Review - February 2009 Contents From Razor Slice To Mouse Click Hot Gear At Winter NAMM ’09: Studio Prioritizing Good Acoustics In Tough Times Digidesign Pro Tools 8 Allen & Heath ZED-R16 Analog Mixing Console Mike Rivers Nevaton MC Series Studio Condenser Microphones FMR Audio Really Nice Series Pre-Amp and Dynamics Modules Mojave Audio MA-201 FET Condenser Microphone Genelec 6010A and 5040A Powered Loudspeaker and Subwoofer Massey Plug-Ins De:Esser Hot Gear At Winter NAMM ’09: Live White Space Regulation: What It Means To Us Recording Live Sound Summit Church in Fort Myers, Florida Bag End P-Crystal R Loudspeaker Mark Olson & Gary Louris’ “Turn Your Pretty Name Around”

ProAudio Review - February 2009

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