Q. Why do some of the Lynx kits cost more than a brand M, H or TE speaker with a similar driver arrangement?
A. There are only a few factors that affect the cost of a speaker system. The single greatest expense other than the cabinet is the cost and quality of the drivers used in a system. For example: a typical 10" OEM driver used in most of the brand name cabinets can be bought for as little as $18.00 ea. On the other end of the scale, a top of the line Eminence 10" musical instrument driver used in the Lynx EVX Kit has a cost well over 5 times as much. In a 4x10" speaker cabinet the difference in cost of the drivers alone would be $720 - $72 = $648. When other features like the Powermax speaker protection system, (only available in Lynx kits), are added in it's easy to see why some of the kits cost more.
Q. Why do the top of the line speakers like Electro Voice and Eminence cost so much more than other speakers?
A. The differences between a standard OEM speaker found in most brand name cabinets and Premium speakers are many. Two of the most notable differences are the amount of long term (RMS) power a driver can sustain before failure and how much mechanical abuse a driver can withstand from peak impulse signals. Peak impulse signals are generated in musical instruments when a string is plucked, or a drum or cymbal is struck, for an example. A 10" OEM speaker found in a brand name cabinet will have a typical power rating of 50 watts RMS and 100 watts Peak (or Peak impulse). An EV 10DLX 10" driver by comparison has a rating of 300 watts RMS and 1200 watts Peak. Not only can the EV stand 6 times as much sustained (RMS) power but can handle 24 times the peak impulse power which would shred the cone of a typical OEM speaker under the same conditions. The benefit is obvious if you're using the speakers to perform and make a living with.
Q. My brand H cabinet had a power rating of 400 watts and my amp is rated at 400 watts. What kit power rating should I buy to work with my amp?
A. Choose a kit with a peak power rating of 400 watts or more. The majority of the musical instrument speakers like your brand H are rated by their peak power capability. Your brand H had a 200 watt RMS / 400 watt Peak rating. The lowest power Lynx kit available has a 280 watt RMS / 400 watt peak rating.
Q. What size amplifier should I use with the EVX 410?
A.
The EVX 410 has a 1200 watt RMS / 4800 watt Peak rating. Although any amp with 300 watts or better @ 8 ohms will work, to get the maximum potential from the EVX series we would recommend an amplifier with a power rating of 2000 watts at 8 ohms. The Crown CE 2000 would be a good choice here.
Q. What does a Powermax system do?
A.Lets first look at two other common speaker protection systems currently being used by other manufactures. A fuse or circuit breaker in the driver's circuit does nothing more than shut off the speaker until you replace or reset it. Another protection scheme used is a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) resistive device (light bulb) that is wired in series with the drivers. The problem with a PTC is that it is always in the circuit and changing it's resistance depending on how much power is being applied to the cabinet. This can cause noticeable distortion in the sound at moderate to high power levels.
The Powermax driver protection system monitors the power being supplied to each cabinets driver system. When either the short term sustained power or long-term average power exceeds a safe level the Powermax system will insert an additional fixed resistance equal to the speakers impedance until the overload has been reduced. The effect of this is that the power being delivered to the drivers is cut in half. The end result is a barely noticeable -3dB drop in audio output with out distortion from the affected cabinet during the overload condition. Once the input power to the cabinet has been reduced to a safe level the Powermax system will automatically reset to normal operation. The big advantage of the Powermax systems over other protection systems is that the cabinet will continue to operate with out distortion under an overload condition. The Powermax system might make the difference between a standing ovation and you not getting paid for a performance someday. If you've been around awhile I'll bet you've been there done that and have the T-shirt to prove it.
