You're on that long walk down the hall, brochures in hand. It's time to meet with the elders and defend your choice of loudspeaker. Caught between a pastor and finance committee is not a fun place to be. You will likely need to explain your recommendation to a group of non-technical people with un-trained ears. When thumbing through the loudspeaker brochures you brought to the meeting, they may simply see an assortment of black boxes of roughly the same size and shape, but with wildly different price tags. So when you're asked “Why not choose the cheapest one?” here's a way to explain why one loudspeaker costs $200 and another $2,000.
“Buying cheap” may be the church's approach when it comes to buying office supplies or maintenance options, but it's not the approach that best serves the church when it comes to choosing audio equipment. This can be a tough “sell” to a finance committee, as the differences between loudspeakers can seem intangible and subjective. Explaining technical specifications to a non-technical audience can be frustrating to both parties involved.
Here's a some help in defending your decision: start by explaining loudspeaker coverage. Professional-grade loudspeaker coverage doesn't normally come in a cheap buy box. Better coverage translates into an improved and more consistent listening experience for the audience. Cheap loudspeakers tend to have narrow or inconsistent coverage.
Next, explain that a professional loudspeaker should be equipped with rigging points so that it can be safely suspended. Suspension points allow a lot of options in focusing the loudspeaker (s), and focus is critical to obtaining the angle of coverage necessary to reach the entire audience. Loudspeakers with rigging points need to be reinforced and are often heavier. Flying versions with rigging points also require hardware that will also drive up the price. This hardware likely won't be available at Home Depot.
When the speakers offer flat consistent coverage, are hung in the proper place, and the mic compliment is also flat, you've got the basis of highly useful, essentially flat, overall system, ready to rise to the challenge. Only a true professional-grade loudspeaker offers consistent coverage from edge to edge, top-to-bottom.
Linearity is critical too. Will the loudspeaker become a source of audible distortion as it's raised in level, or can it maintain a decent linear response the level is run up and down. Cheaper loudspeakers tend to sound different as the sound pressure level changes. They can also sound harsh or shrill at higher levels.
Professional-grade loudspeakers also have heavier, more durable materials:
- Cabinets are made from thicker and stiffer components. Stiffer, higher-quality cabinets are not only more durable, but reduce resonance that can improve sound quality.
- Professional-grade loudspeakers will have cast-frame woofers instead of stamped frames. Cast frame woofers are stiffer and more durable. Stiffer frames can result in higher efficiency.
- High-frequency, compression drivers are generally much cleaner and clearer sounding than piezo-electric drivers.
- Professional speakers use USA or Euro-built Neutrik connectors. Lower quality, or imitation connectors are often the cause of connectivity problems that can result in reduced sound quality and loudspeaker failure.
Presenting a “good, better, best” scenario may be an ideal way to approach and defend your loudspeaker recommendation to the pastor or finance committee. But explaining the differences can be problematic and confusing. By focusing on proper coverage patterns, linearity or consistent sound quality across volume levels, and durable, reliable components your presentation will rely on features that best translate to a non-technical decision-maker.
