LD Systems Dave 12+

The surprisingly affordable Dave 12+ PA system is apparently named after its designer and follows the now familiar format of two smallish tops or satellite speakers teamed with a substantial sub that also includes all the necessary power amps and component protection electronics for the system. All the cabinets are built from 15mm plywood and have a textured paint finish plus foam-covered metal speaker grilles, giving them a very traditional European look.

Set into the recessed wooden rear panel is a large metal plate holding the electronics and also doubling as a heat sink for the power modules. Four ventilation grilles are arranged along the top, with an inlet fan in the centre of the panel, and judging by the large bolt head that almost certainly holds a toroidal transformer in place, it seems likely that the amplifiers use conventional analogue technology rather than Class D. During my tests the fan was either very quiet or didn’t come on until the system was working hard. Either way, fan noise won’t be an issue. While Class-D amplifiers have the advantage of being very light and powerful, they can be very difficult to repair in the event of failure, so there’s a lot to be said for ‘simple and safe’, even if it does weigh a bit more. A nominal 40Hz to 150Hz frequency range is quoted for the sub.

By way of connections, there’s a pair of balanced combi XLR/jacks for the inputs, along with unbalanced RCA phonos, so you have all the commonly used options available. XLRs are also provided to link the input signal through to further systems should this be required. Two Speakons (two wire) feed the satellites in stereo, whereas the sub receives a mono feed of signals below 150Hz or thereabouts. A phase switch allows the sub’s phase to be flipped, which may be beneficial in some locations, and there are two separate level controls for the sub level and the main or overall system level. Setting the sub level at around its mid position is recommended (by the handbook) to produce the best frequency balance, but with recorded music played from my iPod I found the best subjective balance was achieved with it set only around one third of the way up. An illuminated power switch is sited next to the IEC inlet and there’s also a separate red power LED. If the electronic protection kicks in for any reason — for example, a shorted speaker cable — a rear panel red warning LED comes on.

As with the sub, carry handles are cut into the wooden sides. Overall cabinet shape is a little more elaborate, with a curved front panel and angled rear corners. Both the subs and tops have rounded edges, which reduces the risk of painful knocks during loading and unloading. A novel feature of the satellites is the use of an adjustable pole-mount socket that can swivel in four-degree steps up to a maximum angle of 18 degrees, so it is possible to rig them high and then aim them downwards to get optimum coverage. Optional carry bags are available for both the sub and the satellites, and there’s also an optional ‘wheel board’ for transportation on flat surfaces.

The sub adds an impressive depth to the sound of a full-range mix without sounding unduly flabby or boxy, and the sound holds up well at higher-level settings.

The maximum SPL achievable by this system (118dB) is clearly a limitation, as the total system power is only 500W, but it should be fine for pub venues and the like, where you may need to help out the kick drum and bass guitar a bit by putting modest levels of those instruments through the PA. By comparison, most serious 12-inch systems manage somewhere between 122dB to 125dB, whereas a high-end, full-range, 12-inch speaker might manage to climb into the low 130s, so the SPL comparison here is probably closer to what you’d expect from a pair of typical 10-inch active speakers, but with the extra depth afforded by the sub.

As a system for playing back records, the sound quality is very listenable, so mobile DJs may also find it attractive. And, of course, it would also suit solo artists and performers who use either backing tracks or keyboards capable of full-range sounds.