Sensitivity Spec Question on Array 1400

[LeBon]

This has probably been answered here before, but I'm not finding it in my searches.

Is the sensitivity spec on the Project Array 1400 (89 dB) anechoic or in-room? This sensitivity figure seems low for this type of speaker, but I can't argue with the results. Any idea why it is relatively low?

Also, am I correct to assume that the peak power handling would be at least twice the rated power (300 W).

[audiomagnate]

The sensitivity of the horn combo is 98 dB (http://www.jblsynthesis.com/Products/Details/103), but it is padded WAY down to match the sensitivity of the woofer. There must be some big a** resistors in that crossover, because most (7/8ths?) of the mid and HF power is being turned into heat by the crossover. You would need 8 woofers per speaker to get the system back up to 98 dB, which is a little impractical. The WAF on these things is already pretty low.

[4313B]

Any idea why it is relatively low?

It has a nice stiff, heavy cone to accurately reproduce low frequencies. The trade off is relatively low efficiency.

Very recently JBL decided to "get back" a few dB of efficiency with the LE14H-4 model, which lost ten grams of moving mass. The trade off is that it won't go as low as its predecessors. Greg has stated that he prefers the increased efficiency.

[tom1040]

[QUOTE=4313B;329567]It has a nice stiff, heavy cone to accurately reproduce low frequencies. The trade off is relatively low efficiency.

Very recently JBL decided to "get back" a few dB of efficiency with the LE14H-4 model, which lost ten grams of moving mass. The trade off is that it won't go as low as its predecessors. Greg has stated that he prefers the increased efficiency.[/QUOTE

Not having heard the LE14H-4, I love the bass of the Arrays. At least now that I can drive them with my amp correctly. Add in a 1500 Array..... The WAF is fine in my house.

[LeBon]

As far as I am concerned, this is stricty an academic question. It is related to the issue of whether the Array 1400 can deliver THX reference level 105 dB to a HT seat 12 feet away. I believe it can (if you have a big enough amp), although I don't know why I would want to run at that high a level. I also have Array 1500s, so bass extension isn't really a concern in my configuration.

Of course, I love these speakers, so I am not exactly unbiased here...

[andywin]

The WAF on these things is already pretty low.

I think I've said this before on the forum. My wife loves the look of them and so do all her friends. It's big rectangular boxes they all dislike.

I must admit I did think she wouldn't like them

[audiomagnate]

I want a WAF like you guys have. She hated (yep I'm recently divorced) my SVA 2100s, my B&W 801s, my ADS L1530s etc. Come to think of it, maybe she just hated me. She even thought the L1/Velodyne ULD 15 in the bedroom was a bad idea. How crazy is that?