ProAudio Review - March 2009 - (Page 45)

Product Points Compact and lightweight Sounds amazing for the money Cumbersome to carry and handle Offers limited gain NL2 connectors on grille of speakers are unsightly System clips quickly Fast Facts Applications Applications: Small corporate breakout rooms or press conferences; acoustic performances in small spaces at lower volumes Key Features 8-channel mixer; a 250W @ 4ohm amp per side; two lightweight speaker cabinets powered by Celestion neodymium drivers, two Fender mics; all necessary cables included; onboard Feedback Elimination circuit. Price $1,999 list The PD-500 is a good compact PA with a great sound, but a bit unwieldy. Score sounded OK, but not great. I switched one with a Shure SM58 and ended up with a richer, broader bottom end response on vocal. While Contact trying the Fender mics, I noticed that the input would clip when its Fender | 480-596-9690 | www.fender.com gain was set at “4” or higher. Naturally, its signal wasn’t very loud, and I found myself turning the system’s master level above the manufacturer recommended “5” to get workable volume. In turn, the monitor outputs — only tone adjustment for the main outs — the master volume introduced a lot of hiss to the system; with the which was a slight negative, in my opinion. However, feedback master volume all the way up, this system probably would not fill elimination seemed to work through all outputs. more than a small barroom without clipping inputs. The PD-500’s Feedback Elimination button appeared to be one of Summary the key features on this system. The Fender speakers alone I found the Passport Deluxe PD-500 to be a great setup for small seemed to have very good feedback rejection in general. When and basic shows. It would be ideal for small press conferences engaged, it is always scanning the frequency spectrum. When a where you need compact and sleek size with alt sends for press microphone was pointed into the speaker, it fed back for a second mults, various recordings, etc. Its compactness and ease of use until the unit latched onto it, then I tried it a few seconds later. It make it ideal for a one-person act or when size in transport is a released that frequency and again fed back and had to latch onto it. major concern. If this was set up in a situation where feedback elimination was truly needed, there would be feedback issues with the occasional squeal until the system RUDY VAN GELDER re-latches onto it. After it latched onto a frequency, Recording/Mastering Engineer the system did not suffer sonically. It didn’t sound Member of the Audio Engineering Society muffled or hacked like other feedback eliminators do after latching on. It took out just what was needed, and no more than that. I decided to try the PD-500 in the field with an acoustic act featuring two acoustic guitars and two vocals. The two Fender microphones were used on vocals. For the initial test, I went into the powered mixer directly from the guitars using 1/4-inch TS instrument cables. The guitars sounded very clean and warm; I was very surprised by the tones that I was hearing. The vocals were clean, but again, I didn’t like the microphones’ lack of body. For the act’s second set, I switched out the microphones with two Beta 58s and was much happier. I used the monitor out to go to an EQ/amp rack for their two floor wedges; the controls of the Fender were easy to find and use. If I had brought powered monitors, this would have been a very sleek, compact system. I must note that there are no tone controls on AES member. I’m an Are you? Join me. March 2009 | ProAudioReview 45 www.aes.org/join PHOTO BY TONY DAENEN http://www.fender.com http://www.aes.org/join

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ProAudio Review - March 2009 Contents Technically Speaking New Studio Products Opinion: Studio Sense Gear Trends In Nashville Focusrite Liquid Mix HD TDM Plug-in Daking Mic-Pre One sE Electronics RNR1 Active Ribbon Microphone WAVES Tony Maserati Plug-in Collection KRK Systems Rokit 8 G2 Monitors and 10s Subwoofer JBL Control 2P Powered Desktop Monitors Neumann TLM 103D Digital Microphone System Violet Design “The Wedge” Condenser Microphone New Live Products Opinion: Worship Audio Fender Passport Deluxe PD-500 Portable PA PAR Contributor Of The Month Behringer 2442FX 10x4x2 Analog Mixer Single Slice

ProAudio Review - March 2009

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