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Compared to consumer-grade audio equipment, professional audio equipment tends to have such characteristics as:

  • Greater mechanical robustness and reliability
  • Many more options for "tweakability" and modification than typical consumer grade equipment. For example, whereas a typical home audio grade active subwoofer may have a factory set-audio crossover to determine at which point the audio signal will be routed to the subwoofer and a factory preset phase control and equalizer setting, pro audio active subwoofers (with built-in amplifiers and electronics) may offer adjustable crossover points, user-selectable phase control and equalizer controls[a]
  • Heavy-duty industrial-grade connectors, e.g. XLR balanced audio cables (for audio signals) rather than unbalanced cables and Speakon speaker connectors, rather than 1/4" speaker jacks
  • Designed for touring and transportation. This includes the use of 19-inch rack-mount devices for electronic effects units and power amplifiers, the provision of handles and/or dolly wheels on heavy equipment to facilitate moving gear onstage (large speaker enclosure cabinets for subwoofers and sound reinforcement system main speakers typically have handles and wheels)
  • Balanced audio interfaces (XLR) for lower noise and hum
  • Higher analog audio signal levels of 0 dBu or more[3]
  • AES/EBU digital audio interfaces
  • Lower-noise audio equipment with less Total Harmonic Distortion

The broadcast quality of professional audio equipment is on a par with that of consumer high-end audio and hi-fi equipment, but is more likely to be designed purely on sound engineering principles and owes little to the consumer-oriented audiophile sub-culture.[4]

A professional audio store is a retail establishment that sells, and in many cases rents, expensive, high-end sound recording equipment (microphones,[5] audio mixers, digital audio recorders, speakers and surround sound speakers,[6] monitor speakers) and sound reinforcement system gear (e.g., speaker enclosure cabinets, stage monitor speakers, power amplifiers, subwoofer cabinets) and accessories used in both settings, such as microphone stands. Some pro audio stores also sell video equipment, such as video projectors, as this equipment is commonly used in live audio settings (e.g., business presentations and conventions). Some pro audio stores also sell and/or rent DJ gear (record turntables, DJ mixers) and the stage lighting equipment used in rock concerts, dance clubs, raves and theater/musical theater shows.

Some of the biggest Online Stores:

Sweetwater (USA)

Thomann (EU)

Equipment

Aleksandar Iliev
Module by Aleksandar Iliev, updated more than 1 year ago
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